“Nae as great a one as ye think, I am certain. Are we on an old woman’s ride then, little one?”
“Ah, ye want some speed, do ye? Then ye shall have it.”
He laughed as she spurred Elfking into a gallop. As he rode with her, he was acutely aware of her skill, of how at one she was with her mount. He doubted that there were many other women who could ride as well as she. It was something he deeply admired.
So too did he deeply admire the horse they rode. His guilt over his ploys to gain her stallion would have been greater except that he grew more certain each day that Aimil would remain at Dubhglenn. It would be a sharing of her horse that he acquired, not full possession. He grew as eager to make Aimil a permanent part of Dubhglenn as he had been to make Elfking a permanent part of his stables.
The ride was short for she did not want to tire Elfking. It was a relatively long ride to the Dunmores. So too was she certain that Parlan would wish to experience Elfking’s full potential while he held the reins. She reined in at a small clearing.
“Here is as good a place as any for your maiden ride.”
“Are ye sure he willnae toss me to the ground?” he asked as she slowly dismounted.
“Nay. This is how I got him to allow Leith upon his back. To get him to toss Leith, I must order him to do it. ’Tis a way to discourage strangers. If ye had mounted alone, ye would have found yourself sprawled in the dirt but because I have let ye on with me then left ye on, Elfking willnae object to ye. Weel, go on then. Ride away.”
Hearing the reluctance in her voice, he smiled. He bent down, grasped her chin, and pressed a brief kiss to her slightly pouting mouth. Then, because he could no longer wait to take his first ride, he spurred Elfking on, leaving Aimil behind.
Aimil stood watching them disappear and sighed. He did look magnificent upon Elfking. They were two strong yet graceful male animals. She simply wished she did not feel as if she was always giving but never gaining. Forcing away such depressing thoughts, she smiled at Lagan and Malcolm as they rode up to her. She wished that they did not look so sympathetic. It made her fear that her feelings were all too easily read.
“We willnae have to go and find where your beast has tossed him, will we?”
“Nay, Malcolm.” She smiled a little. “Ye may have to search him out to remind him that he has work to do though.”
Parlan had to remind himself sharply of the plans he had made. Reluctantly he reined in, sitting and gazing around at his lands briefly before returning. He also savored the feeling of sitting astride one of the finest pieces of horseflesh he had ever seen.
“She isnae slow of wit, Elfking. She kens what she has done. I just wonder if she kens the why of it.”
He continued to think about that as he returned to collect her. They rode back to Dubhglenn in relative silence. He then shooed her away so that he could see to Elfking’s rubdown and order the preparations for his journey. It did not really surprise him to see Malcolm lingering for the man had never approved of his plans to gain the stallion.
“So ye finally got your arse on the back of her horse.”
“Aye, Malcolm. I mean to ride him to the Dunmores.”
“Ye will make a fine show.”
“We will that.”
“She has given ye a verra fine gift.”
“She has. ’Tisnae a gift though but a sharing.”
“Ye dinnae mean to keep the beast in your own stables?”
“Aye, I do, but I mean to keep his mistress in my own private stable as weel.”
“So ye have decided that, have ye?”
“I think I would be a great fool to let this one slip away.”
“Weel, I wouldnae be saying so,” Malcolm drawled, slowly grinning.
“Mayhaps not, but ye have been thinking on it. Nay, the thought entered my head that first night and hasnae faded, only grown to a conviction. She will make a fine lady of Dubhglenn. I will see to that when I return from the Dunmores.”
“Are ye taking that bitch, Catarine, with ye?”
“She willnae go. She claims she prepares to return to Stirling.”
Malcolm made a sound of scornful disbelief. “She means to fill the wee lass’s head with poison about ye.”
