Epic Of Palins 01 - Dagger Star by Elizabeth Vaughan

Author:Elizabeth Vaughan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-01-17T23:31:52.845279+00:00

TWENTY

…AND hesitated.

“Lady?” Lord Fael asked.

Red stepped away from him, and shook her head. She almost didn‟t believe the words that came out of her mouth. “I cannot.”

When she spoke, she realized that it was true. What used to mean little other than physical pleasure now meant something else. It had changed somehow. She‟d just gotten Josiah‟s eyes to laugh. How could she cause them to fill with pain?

Lord Fael smirked. “What? You aren‟t going to spread your legs for the cause?”

Her anger flared at the insult, and it was a relief. Anger was familiar. Something she understood.

Red snarled, “If I thought it would win your honest support and loyalty, I‟d bed you. And leave you panting and stupid.” She put her hand on her sword hilt, but went no further. It wouldn‟t do to kill him. “How do I know that your loyalty won‟t shift when another woman enters your bed?”

“A shared throne would be an incentive,” Fael replied.

Red pressed her lips together. “There is”—she had to pause for a moment—“there is someone else.”

Lord Fael gave her a look. “You are bonded?”

“No.” Red shrugged, uncomfortable. “But there is someone who would be hurt.”

“And that bothers you.”

“Yes,” Red growled. She didn‟t really want to think about that, but—

“You surprise me, Chosen.” Lord Fael sat back down. “I‟d have thought you‟d do almost anything to win my support.”

Red thumped back down in her chair. “So did I.”

“Who is this…man?” Fael asked.

“Lord Josiah of Athelbryght.”

Fael‟s eyes narrowed. “You lie. Josiah of Athelbryght is dead these handful of years past.”

Red shook her head. “He lives, isolated and alone in the ruins of his land.”

Fael sat back. “Josiah was…is…a good man. A friend as well. Why didn‟t he accompany you?

His presence—”

Red sighed. “Call for more ale, Fael. This will take some time to explain.”

They sat by the dying fire as Red explained. Fael‟s eyebrows kept going up and up at her words, but he listened carefully and didn‟t interrupt.

When she was done, he leaned back again. “You have trusted me with much, Red.”

She shrugged. “If I‟d have you as an ally, I must trust, Fael.”

“Yet you refuse me, for Josiah‟s sake.”

Red nodded.

Fael shook his head. “Ah, Red. If I‟d have done as you have…made the same decision.” He sighed. “Well, what‟s past is past.”

That made little sense to Red, but they‟d drunk more than enough ale that it might make sense to him.

“My servants will see you to your lonely bed.” Fael‟s tone softened his words. “You‟ve given me much to think on. In the morning, we‟ll talk. Maybe spar a bit, eh? And we will see.”

And with that, Red had to be content.

LADY High Priestess Evelyn was surprised by the knock on the door of her room. But she was even more shocked to find Red Gloves standing there, scowling, her arms filled with bedding.

“What?”

Red pushed past her and into the room. “I‟m sleeping here tonight.”

Evelyn looked out into the cold hall, then closed the door quickly to keep in the warmth. Red dumped the bedding before the fire, and started to take off her sword belt.

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