Duty: a novel of Rhynan by Rachel Rossano Read Free Book Online Page B

you see the anger in her eyes? Now that is a
woman of spirit.”
    “I don’t envy him the task of taming that fire.”
    I focused back on my stinging hands as they glanced
my way.
    They fell into discussing the advantages of the long
bow over the crossbow. I lost interest.
    “I have been accused of neglect.” Irvaine’s deep
voice interrupted my thoughts as his knee brushed mine. “Show me
your hands, Brielle.”
    “They will survive. I have suffered worse.” True, but
not for such a length of time.
    “Brielle!” The harsh tone of his exclamation brought
up my pride.
    “It isn’t that bad.”
    His hard glare clearly indicated his disbelief. He
drew off his left glove with his teeth while reaching for my reins.
After pulling my horse to a standstill, he tugged off his other
glove.
    “Give them here.”
    I attempted to release the leads. My fingers
uncurled, but fire spread from the tips to the knuckles. Tears
escaped my eyes, but I bit my lip to hold back the cry that clogged
my throat.
    “Why didn’t you say something?” Claiming my right
hand, he enclosed it in his warm palms. “Give me the other one
too.”
    I obeyed.
    “Have I been so boorish that you feared asking?”
    “No.”
    “Then why?” His dark gaze raked my face, seeking—no,
demanding—an answer. “I told you I would care for you.” He swore.
“Didn’t you have gloves yesterday?”
    “No. My last pair became useless last fall. I hadn’t
replaced them yet.”
    The day before had been mild. I saw no need to point
out the inadequacies of my gear. Today, however, had passed
differently. Since morning the temperature dropped steadily as the
wind grew stronger. Our breath grew misty in the air and the stream
we crossed at midday boasted ice along its edges.
    “Brielle, I can’t read your thoughts. I need you to
speak up when you need something. Your hands are freezing. Much
longer and you would risk losing fingers.” He rubbed them. Burning
pain flooded through my hands.
    I cried out. I couldn’t stop the sound. I bit down
hard on my lip to prevent another protest.
    “I will stop rubbing them.” He pressed them between
his palms instead. Bringing our clasped fingers to his mouth, he
breathed on them. “From now on you are using my gloves.”
    “But what about your hands? You need protection as
well.”
    “I will seek out a spare pair.”
    In his silence, I realized three men had stopped with
us. Lingering at a discreet distance, they conversed among
themselves. Two of them were my previous companions. I caught the
blond one’s gaze. He dipped his head.
    “What must I do to earn your trust, Brielle?” The
hurt in the tone of Irvaine’s voice irritated my conscience. His
strong fingers worked warmth into my frozen ones.
    “You were preoccupied.”
    A lame excuse, but it remained the truth. He spent
the travel time with many of his men, listening and conferring.
Interrupting him then required drawing attention; something I
loathed doing, especially in the company of so many strangers.
Besides, the business at hand seemed so much more important than a
bit of discomfort on my part.
    I lifted my eyes to find him studying my face.
    “You are more important to me than my men, Brielle. I
carry a duty to them, but I did not swear my hands to their comfort
and my shoulders to their provision as I did to you. You cannot
convince me that this is comfortable.” He squeezed my hand gently.
Exquisite heat emanated from his rough skin, easing the cold’s hold
on my fingers.
    Shame burned my cheeks. I lowered my face to hide the
moisture in my eyes.
    “Now don’t hide. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He
brushed away an old tear with the back of his fingers. The cracked
skin of his knuckles caught at my cheek. “I am just disappointed
you didn’t come to me. Next time, ask. Promise me you will
ask.”
    I nodded without meeting his dark eyes.
    “I mean it, Brielle.”
    Before I could nod again, a male voice tore the
winter stillness.