Black Lion's Bride (Warrior Trilogy Book 2) by Lara Adrian

Author:Lara Adrian [Adrian, Lara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lara Adrian, LLC
Published: 2013-11-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

And Sebastian was right. The storm did worsen, but the bluster and battering of the unseasonable torrent was nothing compared to the chilly silence Zahirah had endured upon joining the caravan with Sebastian. He had given her no eye contact, not a single word of conversation, in the endless half hour it took to find shelter for the traveling party along the road. He purchased rooms for the group at a village caravansary, then left Zahirah to her own devices while he went off to confer with his men.

She had no idea how long she sat there, alone in her modest chamber of the small, two-story inn. The owner and his wife brought Zahirah a prayer mat and a light repast to eat at her leisure, but she left both courtesies untouched. All she could think about was Sebastian, and the horrible mess she was making of both their lives.

More than once, she thought about slipping away from the caravansary and disappearing into the night, before she let her feelings toward Sebastian get any further out of her control. She could leave with a clear conscience where he was concerned. She had warned him of the raid; his safety was assured. In the morning, he would turn the caravan back toward Ascalon, and Halim's designs for an ambush would be foiled.

It should have been the easiest thing to do, getting up and walking out of that unguarded lodge. It should have been the most logical thing in the world to seize this chance to flee the Frankish captain who was but a hair's breadth from discovering her for who—and what—she really was. But to her dismay, Zahirah found that her limbs would not obey logic.

No, she realized, it was her heart that refused to obey.

It leaped into her throat not a moment later, when a hard rap sounded on her door. The panel creaked open, but to her alternating relief and disappointment, it was not Sebastian standing at the threshold. His brawny lieutenant seemed attuned to her uncertain reaction, for he gave her a small but reassuring smile.

“The captain wishes to see you now, lass. Come, I'll take you to him.”

She followed the big knight through the heart of the caravansary lodge, past a common room of tables and benches where some of the soldiers and caravaneers were having food and drink. The room opened out onto a courtyard, not unlike the ones at the palace in Ascalon, if far less lavishly appointed. Ordinarily, it would be there, under the stars, where pilgrims would converse and take their rest, but not tonight. The rains were quieting at last, Zahirah noted, glancing out into the dark of the courtyard before she was directed up a short flight of stairs. Gone was the furious beat of falling water, replaced now by a steady, soothing patter on the ground outside.

The worst of it had passed, she thought, feeling a measure of relief . . . until she was brought into another chamber and met with Sebastian's stormy gaze.

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