I had a laugh.
- I know the king's cousin and he's nothing but a cocky idiot. - said standing up. - You don't sound like an idiot, but I appreciate your help. I don't need an escort. I can go on my own as soon as my horse is recovered.
The man snorted. Removing the hood, he revealed the known face of Alistair's cousin, whom I hated right away. I could not remember his name, I only recorded his features, which belonged to a very arrogant and dark man. The eyes were of a dark blue almost black, just like Alistair's. He had short hair that flew in the wind. The face had a square chin with a close beard, which joined the ribs.
Bruce approached me threateningly and grabbed my arm making me stand.
- You know, that sharp tongue of yours will still cause you trouble. - he said by grabbing my neck to analyze the blow I took. - I didn't want to come, but the queen begged me to find her and take her safely. Like it or not, you come with me. If I do anything that makes it difficult for us to travel to Dunhill, I'll have the pleasure of tying her up and throwing her over the back of my horse.
I rolled my eyes at your threat.
- I wouldn't dare do that! - I fired.
- Try me, miss! - he challenged. - And you'll see what I can do.
Chapter 04
Bruce
- Then we stall! I've never seen someone more arrogant and insensitive than you.
- I'm not arrogant and I'm not insensitive.
- No? The cold way you broke that horse's neck. You wouldn't happen to have a heart?
- You're the one who asked me to do that. What did you want? That I'd stick a dagger in his heart and let him die slowly?
- Of course not!
- Then don't say what you don't know.
She growled frustrated and folded her arms. The cape she wore was with the hood on her back, leaving her silver hair on show. They were tangled up like she just woke up. The dress he was wearing was dirty with a torn bar full of mud. She didn't wear a pair of boots, but a pair of sneakers, which I thought would make her feet cold. I had to admit Annabel was an unconventional maiden. It was then that I remembered Aideen and his immeasurable courage.
Aideen was far from being a great warrior, but in a short time I could see her evolution. Every day she became an expert in fencing and horseback riding. All performed with maximum safety because of the baby. She also spent hours in the library struggling to learn about politics to deal with the people's conflicts and war that we tried not to let go. From the damage I saw on the way here, I was sure Annabel had been trained by her sister in the same way, but for much longer. She just didn't seem like the guy who solved things on the sword, because she turned out to be a fragile girl.
- All right! All right! Dark Lord! - Annabel started talking to me again out of reverie. - What about the fact that you knocked me off my horse? Don't you think it was a little stupid and rude?
- No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
- No? What do you mean, no?
- You'd fall anyway, if we had to gallop out. - I answered with a frown. - I just saved myself the trouble of having to go back and collect the pieces.
A flash scratched the sky illuminating the trees. In seconds the day became night announcing that it would soon rain. Another risk illuminated everything again and thunder snored not far away.
- Oh, shit! - I grunted when the horse grunted frightened. - We have to find shelter before that storm collapses.
- I tried to say that, but somebody wouldn't let me. - Annabel hummed in a debauched way.
I shook my head from side to side and turned my eyes.
- There's an inn not far away. - said pointing to the front of the road. - We can spend the night there or stay there until the rain passes. Of course, that's all right. Madame won't bother.
- I'm not madam! - she grunted by closing her fists. - And no, I won't bother spending the night in an inn. So much so that there is a warm bed and a bathtub of warm water, I will be very happy.
I shook my head from side to side and hit the reins to make Esperanza move faster. Even before she took the first step, a buzzing sound passed by my ear. I looked back in time to see at least eight soldiers armed with beasts coming after us.
- Hold on tight! - I ordered it before I spaced Esperanza with my heel.
Annabel grabbed my arm hard. Another arrow went through the air, passing close to my head.
- We'll die if we don't lose them. - I said screaming. - There's a clearing right ahead. We can hide there before we go any further.
- Good, but first we need to stay alive. - she said. - I can take down a few, but it'll be a little uncomfortable.
- How uncomfortable? - I asked intrigued.
Before I knew it, Annabel started to move in the saddle putting one of her legs to the other side and facing me. Her small, delicate hands touched my
