“Don’t worry. They won’t kill him,” hercompanion informed her. “New recruits often have that reaction.They’ll beat him as a warning not to do it again, but mostly theytry not to break bones since that would make him useless forseveral weeks.”
Shea flinched at the thud of flesh againstflesh and the pain filled cry that followed.
“Still no reaction?” the man looked at herprofile as the horse carried them out the front gate. “You’re onecold bitch.”
“What’s your name?” Shea was gratified whenher voice came out almost normal despite the tight feeling in herthroat.
“She speaks,” the man answered sarcastically.She twisted to glare up at him, her eyes showing just a hint offire. He cocked his head when she faced forward again. “There sheis. I was beginning to wonder if I had a mouse riding with me wheneveryone swore you were a lioness.”
“You’re very chatty.”
He chuckled, his chest vibrating against herback. The way she sat on the horse in front of him didn’t allow fora lot of space between them, but he was being relatively good aboutkeeping himself to himself.
She appreciated that. Though she would haveappreciated her own horse more.
They fell in with the string of horsesheading out of town, taking their place in the middle. Darius andhis friend with the scar were several horse lengths ahead, engagedin conversation. Witt and the others brought up the rear and weremonitored by a team of rotating guards who followed along behindthem. Wagons filled with wheat rolled out after them.
“You’re not the first person who’s told methat. My name’s Damon.”
Shea didn’t care. She just wanted him to stopspeaking so she could think. He, of course, didn’t.
“Did you really climb a cliff to escapeFallon?”
“Yes.”
“Hm.”
Blessed silence reigned while Shea watchedthe countryside drift by. It was pretty land. Not breathtaking likethe Highlands were, where the view gripped your soul in an ironfist as you were brought face to face with the wild, untamedfierceness that came from being on the edge of the known world.This land was too settled for that kind of beauty.
This close to Goodwin of Ria, the land wascivilized and over-populated compared to the Highlands. Everythingin its spot and hardly a leaf out of place. Nice, but not the wildbeauty that Shea’s soul craved.
Goodwin of Ria got most of its water from themountains that lurked in the distance. They weren’t the mountainsof the Highlands. Their peaks weren’t so high that they stabbed thesky’s belly, but they were big enough and high enough to serve as areminder that the relatively flat land of Goodwin of Ria was notthe norm.
“Why did you put me in front rather thanbehind you?” Shea voiced a thought that had been bothering her.
She felt his chest move as he shrugged. “Lesslikely that you’ll try to run away if you’re in front. Not thatyou’d get far, but this way you won’t be tempted. That means Iwon’t have to punish you for the attempt, and Fallon won’t be upsetthat his new toy has a few scratches.”
Shea smoothed her fingers through the horse’smane. It might be more difficult to escape then she hadthought.
Having nothing else to say, she lapsed backinto silence, keeping an eye out for anything that might beuseful.
She craned her head around Damon for a lookat her men. They seemed to be doing fine, though a little angry atthe forced march.
Paul was the exception. Shea couldn’t helpthe wince of sympathy when she got a good look at his face. Oneeyelid had swelled closed and blood coated his chin and shirt. Theskin on the right side of his face had already turned purple andblue. Not a good sign. It would be worse tomorrow.
He walked gingerly, as if his ribs werebruised. Burke and Owen shadowed him, keeping close watch in casethey had to steady him.
Damon was right. His beating hadn’t left anybroken bones, just a lot of bruises and some painful memories.
Witt and Dane walked near each other andevery so often they would converse quietly, until one of thewarriors guarding them would bark a sharp word, at which pointthey’d separate again.
Witt looked up just then, meeting Shea’s eyesbriefly. The look on his face was blank, as if he was looking at astranger, before he looked away.
She turned around.
A large group of men rested in the shade ofthe trees off the side of the road about two miles out of town. Thegroup was double the size of the one that had ridden into thevillage. When Darius jerked his head at the waiting men and keptriding, Shea figured this was the other part of his company. Themen moved quickly, mounting and joining the procession.
Damon lifted a hand in greeting as theypassed.
