A Suitable Bodyguard by R. Cooper

Author:R. Cooper [Cooper, R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-21T18:30:00+00:00

Thirteen

Tahlen had not appeared happy with Zelli when he woke up before dawn and found Zelli struggling to stay awake. He’d narrowed his eyes and gotten to his feet, no traces of last night’s incredible fondness for Zelli to be seen.

Nonetheless, Zelli had told him the ideas that had occupied him during his damp and sleepless night, and Tahlen must have agreed with them, because after shaving and cleaning up, he had spoken to Let. The Lyralinah guards could not stay here and Tahlen and Zelli had to return soon. If the guards wanted Tahlen and Zelli’s protection or help, they must leave with them. Considering the distance to travel in a day, they had to leave early.

Tern could ride on Lemon Blossom, Zelli had also decided. Zelli would walk.

He thought that as he helped the guards take down their camp, and introduced Lemon Blossom to Tern, and hastily combed and braided his hair because he didn’t want to bother Tahlen. He continued thinking that until Tahlen appeared from nowhere and put a hand on Zelli’s shoulder to steer him toward Starfall, who now bore no packs or even Tahlen’s short staff.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t leave you to walk,” Zelli tried to argue, already placing his boot in Tahlen’s hands as though he’d been trained to by the sight of Tahlen kneeling in front of him. Starfall’s ears flicked back and forth at the sound of Zelli’s breathless protest. Starfall himself stayed still until Tahlen slid into the saddle behind Zelli and Zelli tensed without thinking.

Tahlen clicked his tongue and Starfall calmed. Zelli kept his back straight but otherwise tried to relax so he wouldn’t disturb the horse even more.

“Tahlen,” Zelli whined, voice rising at the end when Tahlen’s hand landed on his hip. He almost thought Tahlen might click his tongue at him this time.

“You need to rest,” Tahlen informed Zelli in a low tone. “And I don’t trust you not to run off in search of blackberries and stumble into those ten riders we all fear so much.”

Zelli managed a scoff but couldn’t argue with most of that, since he had stopped for blackberries and run into a group of people they’d been looking for. Unsure what to do with his hands, he crossed his arms over his chest. “If we cut across the fields—carefully, to minimize damage—and do not stop, we should reach Mayor Sar’s inn tonight.” He had already told Tahlen this, but he had to say something. Tahlen’s chest was firm and his thighs were firm and Zelli had to think of anything else lest he embarrass Tahlen and not just himself. “I really could walk the whole way,” he added, refusing to look over toward anyone else who might be watching him blush and lean away from Tahlen’s lap.

Tahlen briefly put his chin over Zelli’s shoulder. “It’s been a long time since anyone but Esrin has looked out for me.” He let that float between them as if aware without asking that Zelli was warmed by it.

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