Horse Charmer by Angelia Almos

Author:Angelia Almos
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Thoroughweb Press
Published: 2011-05-16T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Are you going to tell me what's between you and Fayline?" Cassia asked as they bedded their horses down in the barn.

They were alone for the first time since riding into Alrik's homestead. They'd been briefly introduced to Pakelika, Alrik's son, who was almost the spitting, if younger, image of his father. Pakelika had shown them the barn with few words before going back out to help his father and Fayline with the herd.

Luki didn't even look at her. "Nothing."

She bit her lip. Normally, such a terse tone would have silenced her. Leaning against Kali and the mare's quiet encouragement, she pushed aside the tiny little voice telling her Luki's personal life was none of her business. "What I saw wasn't nothing."

He grunted. "She wants to marry me."

"Oh." Okay, she hadn't seen that one coming, but than again, maybe she was just stupid. Fayline clearly had an attachment to Luki.

He turned to face her fully. "Your father approved the match."

"I didn't realize my father arranged marriages outside of his own children."

"He didn't arrange the marriage." He finished spreading the straw around his horse. "He approved it. Alrik took the match to him hoping to convince me to agree to the union."

"And did you?" She held her breath.

"No, and that's made everything weird and extremely uncomfortable between us. Alrik feels insulted and I feel…"

"You feel," she prompted.

"Pressured. I haven't been back here since the last time I said no."

"Which was?"

"About half a year ago."

Cassia frowned. "But she's so young."

Luki laughed. "Only a year younger than you. In case you hadn't noticed, that's marrying age. You only got a reprieve because your father couldn't agree on the treaty that included your marriage. You'd be married now if you hadn't run."

"So, our staying here?" She waited for him to continue preferring not to think about her own almost wedding.

"Wouldn't be my first choose. It's not like Alrik's going to attack me in the night. It's just uncomfortable. They're all waiting for me to give up."

"But you won't," she said, hearing the firmness in his voice and wondering at his firmness not to marry.

He shot her a determined gaze. "I won't yield to pressure."

"Fayline is very lovely." She didn't know why she felt compelled to point that out. It wasn't like she wanted him to change his mind.

"Her beauty isn't a concern. The issue is…my feelings. I don't have those feelings for her. I considered her to be a nice enough girl until everyone decided we should marry."

He turned bright red as if suddenly realizing how much he'd admitted to her. He busied himself checking the leather straps on his gear for wear.

She should drop the subject since he clearly didn't want to talk anymore, but just couldn't let it go.

Someone is approaching.

Cassia jerked and turned to the intruder, expecting Fayline, but it was Pakelika.

He has a touch, Kali said.

Like Luki?

Kali was quiet as she evaluated him. Not as strong as Luki, but stronger than his sire. He's using it right now on Dall.

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