PARADOX III
Page 22
He was tall, at least several inches taller than she, and was broadly built. Even though it was obvious he'd been sorely misused, he looked strong. His upper body was corded with a thick layer of muscles, though he wasn't a bulging brute like a soldier or a blacksmith. She crouched beside him and pushed a tattered section of his shirt aside to reveal the abraded skin stretched across his ribs. Judging from the marks on his body, he'd been treated badly for several months at least. Some of the bruises and whip marks were old while others were still fresh. But with a few weeks of good meals and ample rest, this man would be back in fighting form.
Bran cursed beneath his breath as she covered him up again. "What are you going to do with him?"
"Clean him up, hire him for some work around my home, then grant him his freedom." She rose. "I could use an extra pair of hands for a few weeks."
He shook his head. "You watch yourself, Nova. You know nothing about this man or his character. Judging from his earlier behavior, he could be dangerous."
She couldn't help but laugh and she nudged him with her elbow. "You're a fine one to talk. I knew nothing about your character either but that didn't stop me from pulling you out of a trough when that innkeeper in Lanaise tried to drown you."
"And I'll wager you've regretted it a time or two since." He smiled at the memory.
"That's an understatement."
Bran was probably the only person in the world she would even think to call a friend. Their paths had crossed frequently as they'd traveled all over the country. With their common goals of gambling and amassing their fortunes, they'd made a good pair, though she'd always suspected he'd come from money to begin with. Being born into a moneyed family always left a mark like brown hair or green eyes.
"Shall we get your new hired hand out of here?"
She wrinkled her nose at their fragrant surroundings. "Yes, please."
Taking note of Kelwyn's deep abrasions from the iron cuffs that now lay on the floor, she grabbed one hand while Bran took the other. As they pulled him toward the door, she couldn't help but notice his skin was very warm and his fingers were callused. Obviously he was a man who'd been used to physical labor before being caged like an animal.
When they reached the door, Nova leapt out and took several deep breaths of the sweet fresh air, willing the stench away. The scent of human waste and rotted food always brought back memories of her own enslavement. She shook away her dark thoughts to maneuver the cart closer to the door of the wagon. Together they lifted him, with Bran supporting most of his weight, and transported him the few feet into the clean hay in the back of her cart. Once he was settled, she offered her thanks to Bran.
"You've done me a great service, my friend," she said. "You know where to find me?"
"Indeed I do." Bran tweaked her braid. "Be mindful of your surroundings, Nova. Perhaps I will see you soon."
"And you, my friend, be mindful as well."
He retrieved his torch and, with a wave, headed for the front entrance of the gaming hall as the stable master returned out of breath. He carried a pile of blankets as well as a heavy black cloak. Behind him were two sleepy-eyed kitchen girls, each bearing overflowing baskets of provisions.
Taking charge of the blankets, Nova and the women carefully bundled the unconscious man before placing the cloak over the top. While she hated putting clean blankets against his filthy body, she had no choice in the matter. Once he was up and about he'd be able to wash himself and they could burn the blanket lying closest to his skin. After seeing to his comfort and stowing the baskets, she showed her appreciation by giving the girls a few extra silver coins.
Thanks to the addition of her new companion, her journey would be lengthened by at least a day, but that couldn't be helped. Until she was sure of his physical condition, she'd have to take rest breaks every couple of hours or so just to see to his comfort.
She looked at Kelwyn, unconscious in his slumber. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving him in this condition and in the hands of a master such as Evi. She shuddered. While enslaved, the number of times she'd wished someone would rescue her were countless. In the end she'd had to rescue herself.
Besides, she could afford an extra day on the road. It wasn't as if anyone or anything awaited her at the end of her journey. Just an empty wreck of a house and a hidden bag of gold coins and neither would object to her late arrival.
Climbing onto the narrow seat, she picked up the reins and gave them a jiggle. As the first rays of sunlight kissed the horizon, the cart moved forward with a jerk.
Nova was going home.
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ABOUT ROSEMARY LAUREY
AND J. C. WILDER
Rosemary Laurey is a retired special education teacher who now spends her days writing about vampires and dragons. It's a lot more fun than phonics. Visit her website: www.rosemarylaurey.com.
J. C. Wilder lives in Westerville, Ohio, where she's owned by a really obnoxious Jack Russell Terrier named Copper Penny. She spends the majority of her time dusting her 6,000 books and staring at her blank computer screen in complete terror. When not writing, she devotes much of her time to studying the medicinal uses of herbs and essential oils and howling at the moon. You can write to her at wilder@jcwilder.com.
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