Instead,he found himself reaching for his cloak, swinging it off his shoulders, and wrapping it around her. The heavy wool engulfed her smaller frame, and he pulled it closed at her throat, his knuckles brushing the soft skin there.
Her breath hitched.
"Keep that on,"he ordered, his voice rougher than intended. "And stay close. Daenae wander off, daenae talk to anyone, and for God's sake, daenae draw attention to yerself."
"I'm only wearin'me shift," Maia pointed out, pulling the cloak tighter around herself. "I think people might notice that regardless."
She had a point.The thin cotton barely covered her, and even with the cloak, it was obvious she was improperly dressed. Ewan would need to remedy that soon, find her proper clothing before they attracted too much unwanted attention.
But first,rest.
He keptone hand on her arm, his grip firm but not painful, and guided her toward the inn's entrance. A stable boy materialized from somewhere, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of Maia's bare feet peeking out from beneath the cloak.
"See to me horse,"Ewan said, flipping the lad a coin. "Rub him down proper, give him oats and water. I'll be wantin' him ready to ride later."
"Aye, sir."The boy caught the coin and scurried off to tend to the destrier.
Maia opened her mouth,either to ask about the horse, or comment on the inn's exterior, or share some observation about the chickens scratching in the yard, but Ewan squeezed her arm in warning.
"Silent,"he reminded her. "Until we're alone."
She nodded,though her eyes sparkled with barely suppressed words.
The inn'scommon room was dim and musty, smelling of old ale and wood smoke.
A handfulof early-morning travelers hunched over bowls of porridge at rough-hewn tables, too focused on their meals to pay much attention to new arrivals. A serving girl moved between them, her movements efficient and disinterested.
Behind the bar,a portly man with thinning hair and a grease-stained apron looked up as they entered. His gaze swept over Ewan—taking in the weapons, the travel-stained clothes, the general air of danger—and his expression shifted to cautious welcome.
"Good day to ye,"the innkeeper said, his tone carefully neutral. "Ye'll be needin' a room?"
"Aye."Ewan approached the bar, keeping Maia tucked against his side. His hand moved from her arm to her waist, fingers splaying possessively across the curve there. "Two beds. And food sent up. Whatever ye have that's hot."
The innkeeper'sgaze flicked to Maia, taking in her disheveled appearance and bare feet, then quickly away. Whatever he thought about the situation, he was smart enough to keep it to himself.
"Ah."The man scratched his chin. "Well now, that's a bit of a problem. We're fuller than usual, what with the market day comin' up in the next village over. Most of me rooms are spoken for."
Ewan's eyes narrowed. "Most."
"Aye, most."The innkeeper shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable under Ewan's stare. Ewen could see him gulp nervously. "I've got one room left. But it's only got the one bed in it. A good bed, mind ye, clean linens too."
"I'll take it."
"But…"Maia started.
Ewan's handtightened on her waist in warning. "We'll take it," he repeated, his tone brooking no argument. He pulled another coin from his pouch and set it on the bar with a decisiveclink. "The room, food, and privacy. I daenae want to be disturbed."
The innkeeper'seyes lit up at the sight of the coin, more than enough to cover the room and food, with plenty left over for his trouble. "Aye, of course. Privacy, ye say? Ye'll have it. Top of the stairs, last door on the right. I'll have the girl bring up food directly."
He handedover a heavy iron key, and Ewan pocketed it before steering Maia toward the narrow staircase in the corner of the common room.
They'd barely madeit three steps when Maia dug her heels in, forcing him to stop.
"I'm nae sharin'a bed with ye," she hissed, her voice low but vehement. "I daenae care what that innkeeper said, I refuse."
Ewan looked down at her,taking in the stubborn set of her jaw and the fire in her grey eyes. She'd been so pliant during the ride, so distracted by her surroundings, that he'd almost forgotten she possessed a spine.
Good to knowit was still there.
