Daughter of Shadows by Mirren Hogan

Author:Mirren Hogan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mirren Hogan

Chapter 20

In spite of being certain she wouldn’t sleep, Ataryn slept deeply that night, waking not long before dawn with a stiff shoulder. She must have lain in that position all night. Rubbing to loosen the muscles, she rolled and climbed out of bed as she heard the first stirring of the men waking in the rooms around her.

Just as the night before, Garrich stood watch over her. He gave her a smile and a nod before turning away to give her privacy so she could dress. She rolled her eyes at his back. She’d slept in the floor-length, white under dress, more prim than she could ever remember looking. Still, it was a kind gesture on his part and she’d have liked him for it under different circumstance.

She pulled the green dress over her head, wiggled her hips to work it down and tugged it into place.

She was sitting on her bed putting on her boots when Kael opened the door and walked in. Was there a hole he could peek through, she wondered. No one could have such impeccable timing, consistently, by coincidence. Whether there was or not, he was starting to irritate her.

Not even deigning to look up, Ataryn laced her boots, making sure they were even before tying them, producing neat bows after a few tries.

She got to her feet and smoothed her long skirts into place, taking an extra few moments to adjust her sleeves.

Only once completely satisfied, did she look up, feign surprise and say, "Oh, good morning." Her bleak tone contradicted her words; she could admit that it was morning. She didn’t believe it was good.

She knew she hadn't fooled Kael for a moment. He’d known she’d been aware of his presence all along, although he pretended to rise to her bait.

"Good morning. It’s blowing a stiff breeze, so we should make good time."

"Well goodness, we wouldn’t want to be late, would we?" Ataryn replied sarcastically. "We might get punished by your beloved king. Just think you could be tied to the stake next to mine."

She almost regretted her words when she saw a look of dismay on Garrich’s face. The young man was staring at his commander, his mouth open, looking very much as though he hoped Kael would contradict Ataryn.

Kael didn’t look at him and Ataryn decided the young guard should get a dose of cold, hard reality. She went on.

"But then, he wouldn’t do that to you, would he? I’m sure you’ll get the best vantage point, with the torch in your hand. Just make sure the wood burns quickly, would you, I wouldn’t like to upset everyone’s day by screaming too much."

"Are you finished?" Kael asked, his dark eyes as cold as his tone.

"I haven’t even started," she replied, staring back, her eyes matching his, not wavering for a moment.

After a minute’s silence, Kael drew himself up to his full height.

"There’s breakfast in the kitchen, eat fast, we leave in half an hour." Then he turned and left.

"Is he

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