Chapter Nineteen
Rhylen
The sun is completely gone as we set out towards Windamere, the village that’s being held hostage.
A cool breeze settles in as the stars sparkle overhead.
I try to ignore the anxiety that’s rising in my chest at my best friend’s brother being tortured.
Isla sits in front of me on Fia. Unnecessary, when there were so many horses she could have ridden, but I’m desperate for control.
I need her next to me, in my arms while we ride into danger.
I curse myself again for allowing her to come.
It shouldn’t matter. I should be indifferent.
I blame her looks for throwing me in a loop, for wrapping me up in a siren haze of lust for her, but at the same time, I need her to see the truth.
I need to hammer the final nail in the coffin of Isla’s naivety.
With my hood high, my bow strapped to my back, and Isla positioned in front of me, I push Fia into a canter. Isla melts into me, following Fia’s deep strides, as if we’d been doing this all our lives.
Her leather breeches and cream tunic were borrowed from one of Ewan’s younger brothers. She wears a burgundy hood that compliments her eyes and knee-high boots that send a thrill up my spine.
The night’s balmy as the silver of the moon peaks out between the clouds that are settling in. I’m thankful the full moon cycle is over. We need minimum light to slip through the village's defense. The ride only takes an hour before fire light from the village begins to appear over the horizon.
Argus stops abruptly in front of us. “What’s the plan, boss?” He grunts.
“Let’s split up. Move into the village in different groups. Isla and I will ride in with Ewan first. We’ll see you three at the pub.”
“Why the pub? Isla questions. It’s a stark reminder of the sheltered life she’s lived.
“Loose lips spill the best secrets when the alcohol is flowing. That’s where Captain Cahir’s men will be.”
The men nod. Irric, Wyll, and Argus sit for a few minutes, letting us depart first. Isla shifts in front of me. “What will we do?”
“Just follow my lead.”
We head towards the village before two soldiers stop us. “What do you three think you’re doing?”
“Just traveling through. We just got married,” I answer gruffly. Isla tenses a fraction in my arms. “We’re traveling to Eldsford Keep for the festival. My wife wanted to see the lights. Her brother here is making me fulfill that promise.”
The men nod, stepping out of the way. I push Fia on through the village until we make it to the village inn. Dismounting, a boy rushes up to grab the horses. Ewan slings his saddle bag over his shoulder. I flip the boy a coin as he leads the horses away.
The inn is a plain, three-story building. The rooms are upstairs, while downstairs holds the boisterous pub for the town. There’s an old, worn woman working the bar. Her hair is gray and haggard, but her breasts spill out of her top.
“We need a room, please.”
“Awfully late to be out and about,” she replies. Nosy women will be the death of me. I hold back an annoyed sigh.
“My wife and I are traveling to see the lights for the festival. We’ve been on the road all day.”
She looks back and forth at Ewan, Isla, and I. “Just the one room?”
“Please.”
The woman nods, handing us the key in exchange for coin.
She points towards the stairs in the back of the room.
I nudge Isla towards the stairs. “Come on, love. Let’s go get settled for the night,” I say loudly, winking at the barmaid.
Isla’s skin flushes in embarrassment. Ewan moves straight for a table, ordering a pint.
“You’re a rake,” she whispers when we reach the stairs. “Married? That was the best you had? No sister?”
“Would you rather me call you my whore?” I ask, my eyebrow raised to my hairline.
“Your sister!” She whisper-shouts.
I scoff. “Trust me, love. My thoughts are anything, but brotherly,” I whisper into the shell of her ear.
She shudders as my lips graze her ear. The main floor of the inn is rowdy. Soldiers lounge all over tables, flirting with scantily dressed barmaids while they bring them food and pints by the handfuls.
A few minutes later, Isla and I are walking towards the table Ewan is holding down. Two pints and bowls of stew are placed in front of an empty chair. “Took ya long enough,” Ewan grumbles, looking between Isla and me.
“There’s only one chair,” Isla murmurs. I quickly sit down and pull her into my lap. Her left arm wraps around the back of my neck. “What are you doing?” She whispers.
I nuzzle into her. “We’re married, love. Act like it.”
She fakes a giggle, covering her hand with her mouth. “I hate you,” Isla growls through her teeth. I try to ignore how right she feels in my arms or how intoxicating the smell of her is.
The tables are close together, so it isn’t hard to overhear any of the conversations around us. It doesn’t take long for one of the men to boast about the Hood’s men they had captured.
“We’ve got ‘em. Right here” he slurs. “That ‘Ood ain’t so bad ‘is ‘e? Bet I could take ‘im on one ‘anded.”
His partner scoffs. “YOU? Not a chance.”
“Oi, what you mean? You don’t think I could take ‘im?”
“Oh, come off it, Bucky. You’d have no chance. They don’t call him the Hood for nothing”
“’Ave you seen ‘em?” Bucky peers at his friend. The man shakes his head.
“I have,” I speak up, pulling myself into their conversation. Both men turn their heads and eye me up and down.
“You’ve seen ‘im?” Bucky asks.
“Aye, and I agree with ya. You could take ‘im. Easily.” Ewan snorts in his drink but quickly recovers. He nods his head, agreeing with me.
“When did you see him?” His friend asks. He leans towards us. The curiosity of a “Hood sighting” too good to ignore.
“A few months ago, outside of Rockstall. Ain’t that why it's gone?”
Both guards somber up at the mention of the village. Interesting. They both nod. “Aye, we were there. Nasty business, but ‘ad to be done.” Bucky replies. He waves his hand as if they hadn’t condemned an entire village to death.
“So, you two are with the honorable Captain Cahir?” Ewan asks. They puff their chests out and nod. Ewan’s eyes go wide with amazement. “That is amazing. It’s an honor to meet you all. An honor, indeed. The bravest, strongest regiment in the Royal Guard.”
Bucky’s cheeks heat at the praise. “The Captain is here, ya know?” Ewan looks around in response, as if Oliver would come out and greet us.
“Not here, in this building, no. He’s down at the brothel visiting the Mistress.
He likes her company the best,” the friend winks at Isla.
I dip my hand under the table, resting it on her knee.
I squeeze it gently. Isla’s cheeks turn a shade of pink.
She dips her face into the crook of my neck.
Her hand squeezes my neck a little tighter.
“So, you said you have him? Who?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation back onto Baelur.
“Ach, one of his friends, I s’pose. We caught ‘em ‘andin’ people over the border. People that were supposed to be ‘andled by the Jollies, if ya know wha’ I mean.” Bucky winks again. I swallow down the anger that courses through me and laugh. The urge to rip his eyeballs out is hard to ignore.
“Good on ya,” Ewan answer. “I bet he was a tough bastard, wasn’t he?”
“‘E bit off Jinkins fingers, ‘e did!” Bucky shouts. His friend elbows him.
“Quiet down, you idiot,” he chastises. “We don’t want word to get out that we have him.”
Bucky scoffs. “So wha’? You think ‘is friends are gonna come and save ‘im? They’re all cowards.” Ewan and I nod, but I grip Isla’s knee a little tighter in anger.
“But no matter, ‘e’ll soon be gone anyways. Cap’n wants to get rid of ‘im tomorrow mornin’. Send ‘is ‘ead off to ‘is parents. I’ll be glad. I’m tired of spendin’ the nigh at tha’ place. It stinks is all. Oof,” he grunts. “Was tha fer?” His friend huffs in annoyance.
“You bloody talk too much, Bucky. Let’s go.” His friend shoves him up and out the door. Ewan and I look at each other. I stretch my arms up and fake a yawn.
“Well, my love,” I look at Isla. “Bid your brother goodnight. I’m ready to have you to myself.”
“Sleep well, sister,” Ewan winks. We all stand up and leave the table.
Ewan leaves in the opposite direction. I guide Isla towards the stairs and up to our room.
Before we can make it down the long hallway, I recognize Captain Cahir’s voice.
He’s barking orders at some of his men. I shove Isla into the little alcove off the stairs.
“Hold still, love,” I whisper before I slam my lips to hers. Isla stiffens against me for two seconds before she finally relents, melting into me.
Thank the fates, I think as my hands cup her face. I kiss her, deeply and unrelenting, hoping that the Captain would see two lovers wrapped up in an embrace and ignore them.
Isla clings to me as if being close to me gave her the life she needed. What was meant to be a distraction, a mere moment of weakness on my part, evolved into a manic need for her, for her lips, for her taste. For all of her.
I dig my hips into her, reveling in the soft moan that pulls from her throat. Bitterness slips through as I pull away, ruining a moment I never wanted to end. Her flushed face is a look I commit to memory, unsure if I will ever see it again. Anger flashes in her eyes.
“What the hell, Rhylen?” Isla snaps. The moment effectively broken.
I shrug in response, pulling her towards the door to our room. “Couldn’t let him see you, love. Not yet at least.”
We walk into the small, rented room. Isla stops in her tracks, whipping her head towards me. Revulsion fills her face. “One bed? Seriously?”
I smirk at her, wishing I could revel in her astonishment just a little bit longer. “It didn’t seem like you would mind in the hallway.”
Her hand slams into my gut, causing the air to whoosh out. “You’re sleeping on the floor,” she grits out between her teeth, causing me to burst out in laughter.