Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 102424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
His family had expected him home a couple of months ago, but he had sent word to his brother about following some leads he had on Raven’s whereabouts. Royden would know that he would follow every single one. He, Royden, and their da had made a promise to keep Raven safe and they had failed her, hadn’t even known what happened to her. Arran couldn’t live with that. He would find her and bring her home.
He rested his head back against the tree trunk and shut his eyes.
A nudge from his horse’s nose had him opening his eyes and rubbing her face. “It’s all right. You and I will be on our way soon enough.”
He had acquired the mare not long after his release. The animal had been in poor shape, the owner only too glad to exchange her for a bit of food and a day’s worth of work on his farm. With some gentle care, the mare had improved and he had seen in the mare’s eyes something he had once felt himself. Hopelessness. So he had named the mare Hope.
“I’m not leaving you here, Hope. We leave together,” he assured the horse. For some reason the mare had attached herself to him. It was as if she feared him leaving her, so he had found himself assuring her often that they would not be parted, and he meant it.
“I’ll tell you again, Hope. We’ll settle—you and I—in one of the crofts a distance from the keep and village. We won’t have to bother with anyone unless we want to.”
The horse snorted and nodded her approval.
He never thought he’d want a solitary life, but at the moment it was necessary. In time that might change, though in all honesty, he didn’t believe it would. He’d lost too much of himself that he’d never get back and he didn’t care if he did.
“Go eat your fill as will I and we’ll be on our way,” he said and the mare moved only a few steps from him to munch on the grass while he closed his eyes once again.
Purity found him sound asleep and was grateful. She hurried to place the bread and quail eggs she had wrapped in a cloth on the ground beside him, spreading the cloth out. She added a skein of wine and stepped back, keeping her hand hid beneath her tunic. He’d probably ask her where she got the wine, but she was prepared for that.
She stepped away from him, though kept her eyes on him. There was a hardness to his features that in no way distracted from his fine looks. It did, however, disturb her. What horrors had he been through that had stolen his smile and jovial nature?
She turned when the horse nudged at her back with her nose. She didn’t know what it was about animals that drew them to her and made them feel at ease around her, but animals forever approached her without fear.
“You’re a beauty,” she whispered, resting her face to the mare’s and rubbing her gently. She could tell that the mare had suffered some neglect, but there were signs of improvement as well, and it brought a smile to her face. Arran had always treated his horses well and she imagined he was the source of the mare’s healing. Somewhere beneath his newly hardened features, the old Arran still lurked and that made her happy.
She heard a rustle of leaves and turned with a sharp warning, “Don’t you dare touch that quail egg!”
Arran’s hand froze. “I thought you brought them for me.”
“My apologizes. I didn’t mean you, please enjoy the food.” Her eyes shot to the branch above his head. “Get out of there this minute, King. Those quail eggs aren’t for you.”
Arran looked up to see the cat perched on the edge of the branch ready to pounce.
“Scat! Now!” she said with a sharp clap of her hands and King turned on the branch, his tail shooting up in the air, presenting his backside to her, and strolled up the branch. She quickly dropped her hand to shove beneath her tunic, glad Arran still focused on the cat.
He snatched up the small quail egg and popped it into his mouth. He picked up the hide skein to drink, and after two bites finished the egg. His brow shot up at the taste. “Wine and good wine at that. Where did you get it?”
Purity was ready for the question. “A merchant got lost in the woods one day and gave it to me for helping him find his way out. He returns occasionally with more wine and other things I might need.”
To her relief he seemed to accept her explanation and continued eating.
“I’ll leave you to enjoy your food and drink,” she said after a few minutes of silence, and he nodded. She was glad he did, since she didn’t want to take the chance of talking with him and stirring memories.