He hummed a yes, not pausing in his search for traps.
Bree went back to her surveillance. “I hope she’s okay.”
Horland paused and gave her arm a quick pat. “I’m sure she is safe and well.”
Bree glanced at him to smile a thank-you, but he didn’t take his eyes off the side of the road.
Two miles on, they finally descended the last slope and were once again on flat ground. The road widened into a cleared dirt area big enough to fit three large wagons and their horses. They stopped and scanned the area. One covered wagon was parked to the side, but no horses were in attendance.
“Hang on, this wagon tells me we could have driven or rode here. Why were you walking?”
“I wanted to surprise Garlain.”
“You mean you wanted to sneak up on him.”
He grimaced. “Perhaps.”
Bree shook her head and wandered over to the wagon. She pulled up the back and looked inside. It was completely empty. She let the cover drop and walked around the front. A narrow track left the parking area, and she was about to step onto it, when Horland stopped her.
“Let me check first.”
“I’ve already looked, there’s no traps, at least none that I can see.”
“Garlain would have been more careful with hiding any he set so close to the ruins.”
Bree shrugged and let him go ahead while she gazed over the bushes and spotted the head of an old statue. She scampered up onto a tree branch just high enough to see over the bushes. The statue was a woman with a small boy hanging onto her skirt, emptying a bucket into a dry pond. Although dirty, the statues were still intact and beautiful.
The fountain would have been stunning when it was working; in fact, the whole courtyard would have been amazing. Most of the blue and white tiles that covered the floor area were broken or chipped and covered in dirt and leaves, but Bree could imagine what they once looked like.
She sighed. How wonderful it would have been to spend time there either sitting and reading or tending the plants that she imagined bordered the courtyard.
From her vantage point, she could see Horland checking every square inch of the track. She snorted. He was thorough, that was for sure.
He turned back and, spotting her sitting on the branch, smiled, and waved at her to come down.
His wide shoulders and stance had her wondering if he thought he was going to catch her. She wasn’t that high, and she sure didn’t need saving, but it could be nice to fall into his arms. She would be reunited with her father soon and once he told Horland to give the orb back, she would be on her way back to Garrett and Laura.
She eyed the distance between her and Horland. Her pulse quickened at the thought of being so close to him again.I might as well enjoy what little time I have left with my handsome knight. And with that thought, she jumped.
He stepped back and she had to quickly rebalance, bending at the knees as she touched solid ground.
“You nearly fell on my head.” Horland smiled at her bent form.
She straightened. “Well I didn’t, did I?”
She couldn’t believe she was so stupid. He had no intention of catching her; he hadn’t even thought about getting close to her again.
Not wanting to make eye contact, she scanned the area. “Did you find any more traps?”
She could feel his eyes boring into her, trying to figure outwhat she was thinking. “No,” he said.
Her face heated and she knew she must have been red as a candy apple. She turned away, and looked this way and that, hoping he would think she was still trying to find traps.
Unable to put up with his scrutinizing gaze any longer, she trotted past the wide tree trunk. The ground gave way under her feet. She screamed as she fell through the air, hands going every which way, trying to find anything to grab hold of. But the sides were out of her reach and before she could consciously think about that, she hit the bottom. Hard. Her legs gave way, and she smashed her side against the rocky ground. Excruciating pain radiated down her arm and she groaned.
Horland’s voice echoed down the hole. “Briana. Briana.”
Bree could hear him, but she couldn’t think above the ache filling her whole side. The pain enveloped her in an agonizing shroud she would never escape.
