“What’s your next move?” Ackley inquired.
“I’m going to kill Jana and retake my kingdom. What’s yours?”
Ackley smiled. “The same. We’re going to oust the traitor king and put Owen on the throne.”
Kerdan nodded. “Once we’ve each accomplished our goals, let’s meet again.”
“Agreed.”
“I have two horses saddled and ready to go. Hopefully the next time we meet will be under better circumstances. If you’ll excuse me, I have some guests arriving shortly, and I must prepare.”
“Second spear on the south wall?” Ackley asked.
Kerdan smiled. “Yes. And it’s nice to meet a fellow warrior-prince.” He left the room.
Harley had a million questions for Ackley, but now was not the time.
Ackley rushed over to the spear, pressing on it. A door in the floor opened, revealing the tunnel they’d entered through yesterday.
They made their way back through the tunnel. When they climbed out, they found two horses saddled and loaded with the necessary provisions for a week of traveling.
Harley wrapped the cloak around her body, then climbed on the horse. They traveled about a mile before she spoke. “What did you think of Prince Kerdan?”
“He will be King Kerdan soon, of that I have no doubt.”
He did seem the sort of man who succeeded in all he did. “I’ve never met anyone like him before.”
“Neither have I.” He adjusted the reins in his hands. “He is far more complex than what I thought upon first meeting him. He seems to be an intelligent man. And skilled in fighting. I wouldn’t want to go up against him.”
“Why?” she asked, the desire to taunt him rising. “Would you lose?”
Ackley eyed her sidelong. “No.”
“I can understand your hesitation. He was a foot taller than you and twice as wide.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t want to go up against him because then I’d have to kill him. And I rather like the guy.”
“You have that much faith in your skills?”
“He’s a trained soldier. I’m a trained assassin.”
The words hung heavy between them. She finally found the courage to ask what had been bothering her all along. “Why train a prince to kill?” They had soldiers for that sort of thing.
The wind whipped down the mountainside, blowing against them so forcefully Harley felt the horse shift. She pulled her cloak tightly around her.
“It’s a long story. The gist of it is I was used and manipulated. I was made a weapon to take down my father and his legacy.”
“I thought you said the knights were the protectors of the kingdom?” Didn’t that include the king?
“They are. But what I became, who I became, was something else.”
“But why you?”
“Let me ask you a question,” he said, his voice suddenly softer. She gestured for him to continue. “Who’s more dangerous? An assassin who sneaks into a castle late at night to kill the king? Or the woman lying in bed with the king while he’s sleeping soundly?”
With that analogy, she understood why a prince would make the perfect assassin. “You have access to people and places normal people do not.”
“Exactly.” He adjusted the reins in his hands. “I knew my way around the castle, I knew the castle’s secrets, where my father liked to go to be alone.”
The sky darkened. The wind whirled by so violently that the sound made the hairs on her arms rise. “Am I to understand that you enjoy being a knight but not an assassin?” Or was she reading too much into what he’d said?
“I enjoy helping my kingdom and my family. I love the freedom being a knight gives me.”
It seemed like there was more he wanted to say. There was definitely more she wanted to know, especially since he hadn’t addressed the second part of what she’d said about being an assassin.
However, he kept glancing at the sky. “I think it’s going to start raining. We should find shelter.” A large mountain loomed to the north, a forest to the south. Ackley led the way between the towering trees. After fifty feet or so, he stopped. “I don’t want to go in any farther and risk getting lost.”
Harley dismounted. “Lost? You? I didn’t think it possible.”
“There’s even a tent in these supplies,” he mused.
“You take care of that, and I’ll tend to the horses.” Harley led the animals over to a low-lying branch, which she tied them to. Then she patted them down and gave them some water. After she finished, she joined Ackley inside the tent. They shared a loaf of bread.
“I hope the storm passes through while we sleep. Then we can be on our way tomorrow first thing.” Ackley handed her a blanket. “There’s only two. One for each of us.”
The temperature continued to drop now that the sun had set. Harley feared it would snow instead of rain. “Maybe we should share.” She didn’t look at Ackley’s face because she didn’t want to know what he thought of her suggestion. While they might have shared the bed last night, she didn’t want him to think she was coming on to him. “I also have my cloak. It seems better to share than for each of us to be cold and not sleep.” Although, he probably intended to keep watch and wouldn’t bother sleeping.
“Harley.” His gruff voice made her toes curl. She loved when he said her name like that. “Are you sure?”
She looked at him then. “I’m certain. It’s not like it means anything. We’re just trying to stay warm.”
“Okay.” He spread out one of the blankets on the ground and then laid down.
She stretched out next to him, being careful not to touch him. Then he covered them with the other blanket, placing her cloak on top of that.
“It’s going to get a lot colder,” he said. “If you need to nestle next to me, I’ll understand.”
“I think the blanket will suffice.”
He chuckled. “Why are you afraid to touch me?”
“I’m not afraid to touch you.”
“Prove it.”
She jabbed him in the ribs. “See?”
“No one will know if we’re snuggled up together or not.”
“Did you just use the word snuggled? You? Ackley? An assassin-prince?”
“I thought the word might be more enticing. All I’m thinking about are my toes. If you’re next to me, my toes will be warmer. And really, that’s all that matters.”
She wanted to roll over and curl her body next to his. But she couldn’t. He was a prince, and she only a lady. They weren’t even from the same kingdom. And her husband had recently died. She should be in mourning, not lying beside another man.
“You’re not eager to cuddle since you have those warm socks on,” he teased. “The ones I purchased for you back in Landania.”
“You’re right. I am rather warm from the socks and pants. Too bad you don’t have warm socks and pants like me. What’ll I do if I wake in the morning and find you dead? What if you actually freeze to death?”
“It’ll be your fault for not snuggling with me.”
“Isn’t snuggling just another word for stealing my body warmth?”
“If you don’t want to share your body with me, Harley, just say so.”
She sucked in a breath, not knowing how to respond. She’d thought they were simply teasing one another, but now, she wasn’t so sure. Was there a kernel of truth to what he said? Did he truly want to cuddle with her? Not for warmth but for need? Every moment she’d spent with Ackley, she’d learned more about him. While he was still the arrogant prick she’d first met, she’d also discovered that he was sincere, kind, compassionate, and considerate. Her entire body warmed thinking about being intimate with someone like him.
And that was why she couldn’t get too close. He was slowly chipping away at the steel cage she’d erected around her heart. The cage that protected her from men like Lyle. Men who only used. If she let Ackley in, it might be wonderful for a while. But it wouldn’t last. He’d return home and find a pri
ncess to marry. Someone equal to him in every way. And she’d be left here to pick up the pieces. She wouldn’t do it. She would never give herself to a man. Now that she was finally free from Lyle and her marriage, she would be her own person, not owned by another man ever again.
In the darkness, she could barely see the outline of Ackley’s body, only a foot away.
“Stop worrying that pretty little head of yours,” he whispered. “I’m just teasing you. In case you haven’t noticed, I like to tease. Now go to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
Traveling via horseback was much faster than being stuck in the back of a cart traveling over a rickety dirt road. The horses were strong and quick, taking them to the Russek and Melenia border late the following day.
“Let’s cross before we stop for the night,” Ackley suggested.
“Good idea.” While Kerdan had been kind, she didn’t trust other Russeks to behave the same way. The sooner they were in Melenia, the better.
“The horses may be a little skittish when we cross,” he said, implying that the animals wouldn’t handle the rotting heads on spikes well.
She couldn’t blame them—she could barely handle it herself. The only way to survive was to ignore what she saw. Because if she allowed herself to dwell on the death and devastation around her, it would be too much to recover from. Keeping a tight hold on her horse’s reins, Harley steered her way between the line of death. Once her horse stepped foot in Melenia, a sense of relief filled her. “Is this the sort of thing you do back home?”
“What do you mean?”
“This. Going on missions. Meeting with important people in secret.”
“Yes.”
“Do you usually go on them alone?” Even though she’d gotten to know Ackley better over the past few days, she didn’t know much about his personal life. Like if he had a woman back home. The thought didn’t sit well with her.
“It depends. Sometimes my brother accompanies me. I have a group of men that I travel and work with. Why do you ask?”
“I’ve enjoyed our time together,” she admitted. “I’ve gotten to see more of the world this trip than I have previously seen.”
“You sound like my sister.” He adjusted in the saddle. “It is one of the reasons she came here. She wanted to see more of the world.”
Harley understood. “How long do you plan on remaining in Melenia?” Perhaps she could go on another mission with him.
“Until my sister is married, crowned, and I feel Melenia is safe for her. Then I will return to Marsden.”
So he wouldn’t be here for more than a season or two. She needed to stop becoming attached to this man. This assassin-prince.
They crested a low hill. At the bottom, a long, narrow road stretched out before them. About a mile ahead, two people on horses blocked the way.
“Who do you think that is?” she asked. It couldn’t be Russek soldiers. Not only did they have a different build, but she didn’t think they’d be in Melenia. That only left two possibilities. Either they were soldiers under Owen’s command, or soldiers under the traitorous king.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
Ackley
Ackley knew exactly who the one rider was, and she’d only be here if there was a problem. A complication. And he’d much prefer if there were none of those right now. However, one thing was always certain—things never went according to plan.
“Is that Ledger?” Harley asked as they rode down the hill.
He squinted, trying to get a better look at the second rider, who appeared to be Ledger. An interesting pairing. Yet, somehow it made sense.
As they approached, Gytha’s eyes narrowed, watching the two of them. She probably didn’t recognize Harley in pants.
“Is my sister okay?” Ackley asked when they were close enough for Gytha to hear.
“Your sister is well.”
“Then what is it?” he asked, pulling his horse to a halt.
“Not here,” Gytha said.
He turned his horse in a slow circle, verifying that they were indeed alone, not a person around for miles.
“Is my cousin okay?” Harley inquired.
“Yes,” Ledger replied. “No harm has come to him.”
“Then let’s have it,” Ackley said, wondering why all the hesitancy.
“It’s getting dark,” Ledger stated. “I’d like to get farther away from the Russek border before we’re forced to stop for the night. Once we’re in a secure location, Gytha is permitted to repeat King Owen’s message.”
“Then lead the way,” Ackley said, now more nervous than before, not buying the bit about them being too close to Russek. He suspected they didn’t want him doing something stupid. By waiting until dark to tell him, it limited his options.
They kept to the road, heading west, deeper into Melenia. Gytha and Ledger rode in front, Ackley and Harley behind them.
“What do you think it is?” Harley asked, chewing on her lip. She did that when she was nervous or thinking about something.
Ackley pulled his horse to a stop so he could look her in the eyes. Her blue eyes were clear, open, wanting an honest answer. “I don’t know. Owen chose to send someone I trust and someone you trust. Whatever it is, it must be important.” Especially since Gytha had left Idina’s side.
“What are the two of you doing?” Gytha demanded. “We need to keep moving. Let’s go.”
“Does she always speak to you that way?” Harley inquired.
“She does.” He smiled. “It’s one of the reasons I like her.”
“Oh.” Her head jerked back slightly.
“Now!” Gytha snapped.
Chuckling, Ackley nudged his horse.
“I didn’t realize you and Gytha had an arrangement.”
“An arrangement?” He had no idea what she meant by that.
“Or whatever you call it where you’re from.”
“An arrangement,” he repeated, trying to understand her.
“I didn’t realize the two of you were involved romantically.” She raised her chin, her focus on the road ahead of them.
He burst out laughing. “What gave you that crazy idea?”
“You just said you liked her.” Her brows furrowed in confusion.
“I do. I like her as a friend and a soldier.” He mulled over how much to tell her. “We’ve been through a lot together.” She didn’t need to know the details. He didn’t want to relive them anyway.
“Oh.” She chewed on her lip again. “You’re not married, are you?”
“Me? Most certainly not.”
“Engaged?”
“No way.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
He threw it right back at her. “Did you enjoy your marriage?”
She pursed her lips. “No.”
“Because of your position, you had to make an advantageous match. You weren’t consulted about who you married, were you?”
She shook her head.
“So you can see how someone in my position would be forced to make a political match, as well.”
She nodded.
“That’s my problem. I refuse to marry for someone else’s agenda.” He couldn’t believe he was talking about this with Harley.
“It would be nice to marry for love,” she said so softly he almost missed it.
“Love?”
She nodded again.
Curiosity got the better of him. “Have you ever been in love?”
“Once when I was much younger. He was my brother’s friend.” She smiled. “When my parents found out I fancied him, he wasn’t allowed to come to our house anymore. I never saw him again. My brother said he wasn’t good enough for me.”
Strange that they considered Lyle good enough for her. “I imagine a great many men aren’t good enough for you.”
“There’s an abandoned barn up ahead,” Ledger announced. “We’ll sleep there for the night.”
“We passed it on the way
to meet you,” Gytha added. “We checked it out. It’s safe.”
As the sky darkened, the four of them reached a small, secluded barn on the outskirts of a village. There were no horses in sight, leaving Ackley to believe that Russek must have taken them. He dismounted, observing the area. The walls had holes, and the roof was in dire need of repair. If a storm came through, he wasn’t certain the barn would hold up. Perhaps there weren’t any horses because no one lived here and the place was abandoned. However, it would be better than sleeping in a tent for the night.
While removing his horse’s saddle, Gytha approached.
“We need to talk,” she whispered.
Harley dismounted, and Ledger rushed over to help her. He removed her saddle, irritating Ackley because she was perfectly capable of doing it on her own.
“What’s your take on Lady Harley?” Gytha whispered.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Owen wants to know if you have any hesitations about trusting her implicitly? Something about depending on how it went with her parents?” Her face remained expressionless, although Ackley could tell she wanted to know the details.
“I trust her. Owen doesn’t need to worry.”
She nodded.
“Why?” he asked.
“Your answer determined our next course of action.”
“Which is?”
“There’s a well not far from here,” Ledger said, interrupting them. “I’ll get the horses water.”
“And I’ll handle supper,” Gytha said.
“Harley and I will see to the horses.”
“We’ll finish this conversation later,” Gytha whispered before going over to her horse and grabbing a bow and arrows. She slunk into the nearby forest.
“Is Ledger from these parts?” Ackley asked Harley when they were alone.
“I have no idea.”
It surprised him that she didn’t know much about the man, considering she’d spent several weeks with him.
Once all the saddles had been removed, Ackley slid the barn doors open. Harley led two of the horses inside while he brought the remaining two in. After situating each in its own stall, they found some hay and fed the animals. Ledger returned with buckets of water, putting one in each stall.
Sword of Rage: Reigning Kingdoms, Book 1 Page 21
