The Shortcoming by Shay Savage

Author:Shay Savage
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Shay Savage, LLC
Published: 2016-07-11T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5—Dolefully Struggle

“War?” The word came out of my mouth in barely a whisper.

Branford nodded his head once.

“With Hadebrand?”

He nodded again.

“King Edgar has amassed an army.” As Branford confirmed my fears, I remembered the words of the forester from days ago. “Those that attacked us were not robbers but men from Hadebrand, hoping to ambush me on my way back from Sawyer. If we had paused much longer, they would have had many more men waiting to claim my life and likely yours as well. They sit near our borders now, barely a day’s ride from here. Their intent is clear.”

I was completely unable to respond. Since the day we were wed, I knew this was what he wanted—what he had planned to do since long before he brought me back here as his wife—but his words were unexpected, nonetheless. I knew though—I knew something was wrong since the day we picked up Amarra from William and took her to meet the rest of Branford’s dogs. Since that day, he had been distant and often completely absent.

We rode back to the castle in near silence, speaking only of mundane things and not broaching the subject of Branford’s impending departure. He gripped me tightly against his chest, and he kissed the top of my head over and over again.

When we returned to our rooms in the evening, my eyes fell upon the leather-wrapped package I had planned to save for the celebration of Branford’s birth. I felt pressure behind my eyes as I reached for the gift and picked it up slowly.

“My…Branford?”

Branford broke into a smile for the first time since we had left the meadow.

“Yes, my Alexandra?” He cocked his head to one side and graced me with his half smile. I felt my cheeks redden. If we were married for fifty years, I would never get used to that particular expression.

“May I…may I give you something?”

“I can think of something I would like to get from you,” he said darkly. I turned to find his eyes moving slowly down my body and back up again.

“It is not that,” I said as I shyly turned my head back to the bound leather. I unwrapped it, reached in, and brought out the saddle blanket I had made. “I…um…this was some of the cloth you bought for me. It is actually for Romero, I suppose.

I decided to just hand it to him before I lost my nerve altogether. Branford took the bundle of cloth from me and examined it.

“I have been learning to embroider,” I explained, abruptly feeling foolish.

“You embroidered the Sterling coat of arms?”

“Yes,” I replied. “It does not look as good as the queen’s work, but I am getting better.”

“You have done a fine job,” he said. He opened up the cloth and examined the whole piece. “It is a saddle blanket, yes? The embroidery will rest right near Romero’s left shoulder.”

“Yes, it will.” I smiled, glad it was obvious.

Branford’s gaze met mine, and he leaned forward to kiss me lightly on my lips.

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