My Man Godric by R. Cooper Read Free Book Online Page B

dropped his gaze.
    Outside in the courtyard, Godric’s horse had
been waiting, with a saddle with stirrups as his people rode,
bedecked in Aethir’s colors. Godric himself had been armed with his
broadsword at his side and a helmet under his arm, an array of
short daggers in his belt. His other hand had held flowers, long
red amaranthus and the white stars of bittersweet.
    Someone must have thrown them at him. It was
how soldiers were honored. If someone had especially longed for his
return, if Godric had had a lover, the flowers would have been
woven into his hair.
    After the incident with the cat the night
before, Bertie had deliberately kept himself from sneaking out to
pick some. Godric had been embarrassed enough about the cat, and
then furiously quiet since Bertie had announced his intention to
stay. He had only broken his silence once they had stood there,
after long moments of staring without saying farewell.
    His words had been sharp and unusually
plentiful, shaking with hints of what the invaders had done during
the last wars, of how far away Godric would be from Bertie and what
would happen if Bertie stayed in the valley much longer.
    “But they need me to, beloved,” Bertie had
tried to explain, babbling away about traditions and blood and duty
as Godric’s frown had only intensified.
    “Then you must promise me that you will send
for me if you feel the faintest threat, and that you will return to
the capital as soon as possible. You must, my lord.”
    They were nearly words to swoon over. Bertie
had tried to control himself with a laugh. “Really, Godric, I
don’t….”
    “Promise me, my lord.” Godric had shifted
and with his armor gleaming had ducked his head in a manner too
like begging. “Please.”
    “I….” Bertie could not see him like that. “I
swear,” he had promised, as though he would not fly to Godric if he
had the chance. It had seemed a fool’s request and an easy vow to
make.
    He should have known. Godric was not the
fool here.
    “Well I am sorry I did not listen. Though I
do not think my answer would have been different.” Bertie tried a
laugh and shook away the memories. “I find I don’t much care for
duty, Godric.”
    “It can get in the way of your plans, yes.”
Godric closed his empty hands.
    “How often has it led to you following after
me and putting up with my ways?” Bertie sighed. “It’s never my
intention to embarrass you. I just seem to. But I do try not
to bother you, my Godric.”
    “That….” Godric was still peering at him,
with that face he made when receiving new information and had to
quickly adjust his strategies. His brow furrowed. “That was never a
duty, my lord.”
    Bertie knew he looked startled. It took him
a moment to remember to blink. When he did not speak, Godric turned
and extended a hand to little Godric, who trotted over like a
puppy, or a very, very smart cat. It rubbed its cheek against his
fingers.
    “This cat….” At the words Bertie nearly
flinched but Godric seemed not to notice. “You gave it my name.” To
distract himself, Bertie reached out to pet the cuddly bag of bones
and felt fur ruffled from Godric’s attentions. “To keep it with
you,” Godric went on with a sigh. “You shame me for doubting you.”
Shocked, Bertie almost pulled his hand back, but then Godric went
on. “You are quite brave, you know.”
    Bertie very much feared he squeaked.
    “For taking in a cat?” He was hot all over.
Godric simply took his hand from his feline counterpart and let it
rest atop Bertie’s for one inconceivable moment. Bertie held his
breath, but there Godric’s hand stayed, two heartbeats, three, and
then Godric took his hand away to resume scratching the cat and
speaking calmly as though he was not leaving Bertie devastated and
yearning.
    Perhaps this hand holding was what they
called flirting in the southern part of the country, for though
Bertie had said and done more brazen things and had them done to
him, he felt a