The Mercenary's Marriage by Rachel Rossano

Author:Rachel Rossano
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: seige, Medieval, knight, Romance, rossano, Adventure, sword, clean, romance fantasy, trust, novella
Publisher: Rachel Rossano
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Part IV

The rain had stopped, but the air was heavy with the threat of more. Darius felt the moisture that had been collecting on his skin and clothes despite the cold. Surveying the edge of the clearing, he wiped his forehead with the back of his glove. He despised this weather. Wishing it would just rain and get it done, he spotted movement among the trees. After another moment, Brice began to come into view.

Darius cringed inwardly as he watched Brice’s slow progress back up the path from the woods. Being the only woman in camp, she had the eastern side of the encampment to herself as long as she gave the sentry ample notice. As much as it bothered him, Darius found he also admired her spunk. She insisted on walking, unaided, on her own two feet. She fetched her own breakfast and returned the dishes on her own. She did not complain or even wince unless she thought no one was looking. Only last night, vulnerable and exhausted, had he seen the true extent of her trial.

She reached a fallen log on the edge of camp and sank onto it gratefully. Darius had yet to tell her the plans made the night before. She would probably be happy to leave him behind. He, on the other hand, was growing attached to his little brown bird and was not sure he wanted to have her out of his sight. Breathing deeply, he began his approach. She looked up almost immediately.

“Hello.” A wobbly smile flitted across her lips but did not reach her eyes before it disappeared.

“How are you doing?” Darius was not sure he would get an honest answer, but it was worth a try.

She shrugged. “Kurt said it is going to be really hard for a few days. My ribs alone will be tender for a very long time.”

Nodding, Darius glanced at the ground and crossed his arms in front of him. “There has been a change in plans since yesterday.” Looking down at her, Darius met green eyes. Immediately they dropped their gaze to the ground at his feet. “I want you out of danger and the king needs to know what will be greeting us on the other side of the city walls, so we decided that you and a scout are going to enter the city this morning. He will be leaving you inside and returning with news tonight.” He could see she was fidgeting with her skirt. “Ewian’s wife will give you a bed until I can join you.”

She said something that he did not catch. Squatting so that their heads were level, he asked, “What did you say?”

“How long will it be before you return?”

“If all is well, it might be only a day.”

“And if not…” he felt her gaze again on his face.

“I honestly don’t know,” he reluctantly admitted. This time, when he met her eyes, she kept them on his face. “Karyn will supply you with anything you will need and Timothy should be arriving in a few days.

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