“The people are poisoned against you, and it will no longer be safe for you to stay here. I cannot protect you every minute of the day and I cannot allow them to harm you. Tomorrow morning we’ll leave.”
Alyx, so aware of the hate of the people just outside the thin walls, could barely listen to him. “You cannot leave,” she murmured. “The King will find you.”
“Damn the King!” Raine said angrily. “I cannot stay here and worry that each day one of them will turn on you. You cannot sing your way out of this, Alyx. For all their look of it they are smarter than the horses you charm. They will do what they can to hurt you.”
Alyx was beginning to listen to him. “You would go with me?”
“Of course. I couldn’t very well let you leave alone. You wouldn’t last a day outside in the world.”
Tears blurred her eyes. “Because other people would also find out what I am? That I am a vain, arrogant person who cares for no one but herself?”
“Alyx, you are a sweet child and you care for me.”
“Who could not love you?” she asked simply. “You have more kindness in your little finger than I have in all my body. And now you risk capture and imprisonment to save me.”
“I will take you to my brother and—”
“And Gavin will risk the King’s wrath because he harbors a woman wanted for witchcraft. Would you jeopardize all your family for me, Raine? Do you love me that much?”
“Yes.”
Alyx’s eyes flew to his, saw the love there, and instead of giving her pleasure it gave her pain. “I must be alone,” she whispered. “I must think.”
He followed her to the tent flap and as she left, he called Jocelin to him.
As Alyx made her way through the dark forest to the stream, her thoughts jumbled about in her mind. She sat on a rock, staring at the dark, sparkling water.
“Come out, Joss,” she called. “You are a poor follower,” she said despondently when he sat beside her. “Did Raine order you to protect me?”
Joss remained silent.
“He has to protect me now,” she said. “He can’t leave me alone for even minutes for fear someone will punish me.”
“You have done no wrong.”
“I have not stolen, true, but what good have I done? Look at Raine. Now he could be in another country living in comfort, but he chooses to stay in this cold forest and help his countrymen. He protects them, sees that they are fed, works for them always. And yet there is a reward on his head and he must stay here while his family needs him. His sister is raped and commits suicide and in his grief he does not even stop work for an hour.”
“Raine is a good man.”
“He is a perfect man,” she said.
“Alyx,” Jocelin whispered, his hand on her arm, “Raine will protect you from the people, and what time he can’t be near, I will be. Your love for him has helped him through his grief.”
It came as no surprise to her that Joss knew she was a woman. “What good is my love? I am not worthy of him. Tomorrow he plans to leave this camp, to ride freely into the sunlight of a country where he is fair game for the King’s wrath. He will leave the safety of the forest and risk prison or even death to protect me.”
Again Jocelin was silent.
“Don’t you have anything to say? No soothing words telling me Raine’s life will be safe?”
“He will be in great danger if he leaves the forest. Raine is well-known and easily recognized.”
A great sigh escaped Alyx. “How can I let him risk so much for me?”
“So what do you plan to do?” Joss asked sharply.
“I will leave by myself. I cannot stay and cause Raine worry, and he cannot leave with me. Therefore I will go alone.”
Joss’s laugh startled her. “I’m sure Raine Montgomery will be as obedient as a lap dog. You will inform him you plan to leave and he will meekly kiss you goodbye and wish you well.”
