half and start chewing. Then, with mouth full, he went on, “And she’s got nerve, head-to-head with you?” he shook his head and shoved the rest of the meat in his mouth even though he wasn’t done with the last. Then, still with mouth full, but his voice was different he said, “But you know that, don’t you? Was you told me she had the spirit and, by the gods, man, we learned today you were not wrong.”
I was interested in this spirit business and I was feeling all warm inside because I’d obviously earned Kell’s respect and equally obviously Frey had been talking me up but, as nice as they were, both of these things made me feel slightly embarrassed.
Therefore I admonished, “Kell, there’s a lady at the table. Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
His eyes came to me then he smiled huge exposing meat in his teeth.
I shook my head and couldn’t stop my quiet laughter that mingled with the same coming from Frey’s men around the table.
Then Kell reached out for another hunk of meat while barking, “Boy! Where’s my horn?”
My eyes moved to Skylar who I was stunned to see was looking at me and as he did it he was clearly in another world. His boyish face was soft, his eyes active and wheels were turning in his mind.
“Boy!” Kell barked again and Skylar jumped then dashed to the chart table where he’d put the pitcher of ale and the horns.
I looked to Frey to see he was also studying Skylar then I called, “Husband,” and he turned to me. “Are you still angry?” I asked.
He shook his head and lifted his hand to trail his fingers along my jaw while his eyes roamed my face and he muttered, “No, as all is well.” Then he dropped his hand, faced the table, his gaze circled the men and stopped on Gunner. “Not that this will happen again but if it does, Finnie goes nowhere without heavy guard. I don’t care if you have to arm half the crew and take them ashore.”
“That was my idea, Frey,” Stephan put in and I looked to him. “Gunner, Kell and I discussed it and we thought, considering it was simply a visit with her uncle, if we went in with three boatloads of men, it would expose too much. A visit of niece and uncle wouldn’t normally require that precaution. We decided it was likely he was there because he was suspicious about your ship anchored offshore and what you were doing and wasn’t there to take action against Finnie. And we hoped that she and Kell could pull off something to provide you cover. With that, we didn’t think you’d wish to tip the fact you consider him a threat by making that show.”
“It was an understandable risk you took, Steph,” Frey conceded, “but it is likely, if he’s not behind them, that by now news has travelled to Baldur that at least one attempt has been made on Finnie’s life. Therefore, he would understand because of this, even on a visit to her uncle, her guard would be intensified.”
Stephan inclined his head, Frey nodded to him and I watched in fascination mainly because Frey thought Stephan, Gunner and Kell had fucked up and that fuck up could have been huge. Frey was angry about it but he didn’t blister them with his wrath or order them tied to a mast and flogged. He listened, disagreed, explained why and made his wishes known.
It was a cool way to command and I liked it.
“Uh… you think we could quit gabbin’ like a bunch ‘a women, pull anchor and get the bloody hell outta this place?” Kell asked, grumpy eyes on Frey.
“Yes,” Frey agreed and turned to Thad. “Take the helm, Thad. We’re away home to Lunwyn.”
“Uh… don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Kell stated quickly and Frey and I looked back to him. “We kinda told the king we were on our way to Hawkvale. It probably ain’t a leap to think he’s already dispatched boys to the shoreline to watch where we’re goin’ if he hasn’t set sail to ships to follow us. Best we head in that direction.”
Frey studied Kell then he sighed and looked at me.
“Fancy a stay in my chateau?” he asked and I grinned… big.
Frey’s eyes dropped to my mouth, his lips twitched then he turned to Thad.
“Pull anchor and make way to Hawkvale. The minute we’re out of Middlelandian waters, send a man ashore to head up to Lunwyn to meet with Ruben. He’s to tell Ruben to make haste to my chateau. Yes?”
“Right, Frey,” Thad muttered, sucked back what was left in his horn, set it on the table, got up and left the room.
The rest of the men fell on the food.
Suddenly starving, I did too.
“Sky, refill your lady’s horn,” Frey ordered and I looked to my husband, a cracker with cheese on it in my hand.
His eyes came to me then his hand came to me, curling around the back of my neck. He pulled me to him as he leaned into me and touched his mouth to mine.
When he pulled away slightly, I smiled at him and I knew my face was soft because I saw his eyes move over it and his got soft too.
“That, wife,” he whispered, “is the welcome back I’d prefer in the future.”
“No way,” I whispered back, “as soon as I get good with my bow and daggers and learn some stealth tactics, I’m totally going with you…” I paused then finished, “in the future.”
Frey stared at me.
Then he pulled me super close, so close, I nearly came out of my chair. Then he shoved my face in his neck and burst out laughing.
* * * * *
The men were gone, including Frey to check with Thad at the helm.
I was curled under a blanket in the chair reading by lantern light a book that my girls had packed for me.
Skylar was tidying the table and I was pretending he wasn’t there so he could do it comfortably.
Therefore, when Skylar called, “Er… milady?” I was surprised.
I looked from my book to him to see he had a stack of dirty but devoid of the barest hint of food trays in his hands and his eyes were on me.
“Yes, Skylar?” I responded quietly.
He licked his lips then worried them by pressing and rolling them together.
I waited.
Then he said, “You coulda died today? Uh… makin’ that journey to the king an’ all.”
Even more surprised at his question and that he’d ask it, I quickly assured him, “It turned out not to be that dangerous.”
“But…” he hesitated, “you didn’t know that.”
“No,” I said softly, studying him and taking care with the first conversation he’d instigated between us. “I didn’t know that.”
“And you did it for the captain?” he asked.
“Yes, I did it for the captain,” I answered.
He nodded then worried his lips again.
Then he whispered, “And you’d do it again? Like you said, in a heartbeat?”
“Yes honey,” I whispered back, “for my husband, I’d do it again.” I paused then finished, “In a heartbeat.”
He worried his lips again and his face went from cautious curiosity to fear and I felt my heart hurt because I thought we were making some headway.
Then he took a step forward before he immediately retreated and took a step back.
Then he blurted, “Mama used to try an’ teach me.”
I blinked. Then I asked, “What?”
He didn’t repeat himself. Instead he said, “She got real mad when I got things wrong.”
I felt the backs of my eyes start stinging and I held his gaze as I felt them get wet but didn’t say anything.
“Tried real hard,” he whispered, “to make certain sure I got nothin’ wrong.”
I bet he did.
I didn’t respond.
“Always got somethin’ wrong,” he murmured, his voice aching from old wounds that in no way were healed and I felt them score at my own insides.
