Veda shrugged. “It’s where the army trains, and it hasn’t rained in a while.”
“There’s an army?Here? Where on earth do they sleep?” How could she not have known there was an entire army just outside the walls of Tallorc? Did Angus walk right past them? He’d been missing for days now. She had started hoping that maybe he was hiding somewhere nearby, biding his time. It was a longshot, but notentirelyimpossible, and hope was all she had.
“They have tents. And an enclosure for the horses. Do you want to see?”
“Aye. That is, if you don’t mind…”
They rounded the top of the hill on the opposite side of the settlement from the gardens, and for the first time, Nessa could see the training grounds in the small valley below. Men milled around in the distance, some on foot, others on horseback. As they walked closer, Ru, who had been following them, barked twice and ran off towards the woods to the west, probably to hunt down some dinner. Yesterday the dog had deposited the gift of a dead and rather mutilated rabbit at her feet. Flattering, if not particularly appetizing. It had gone into the stew pot in the kitchens anyway, so as not to be wasted.
“Bye, Ru.” She smiled and gave the dog a wave before turning her attention back to the scene before her. It was as if she was watching a movie; it was so unreal to her. “There’s so many of them. I never would have thought…”
“Yes, we have thousands of warriors”, Veda said proudly. “More arrive every day from Chiefdoms all across Pictland. They say it will be the largest war party ever assembled. And there is our king, leading them all. He works his men hard, but they reap great rewards, both in honor and in gold.”
Nessa’s gaze zeroed in on Bridei. He was not hard to notice, at the center of the action astride a powerful black stallion. Today he wore his dark, silky hair loose, and it flew out behind him as he sped towards his opponent, whom she recognized from Beltane night as Domech. They rode around each other in a wide circle, eyes never leaving the other, both men moving as one with their horses. Then Domech cut across the circle towards Bridei, who spun his horse to the side, leaning so far over that Nessa wondered how he didn’t fall. She heard, more than saw, the clash of metal as swords met, then they were moving apart again as grass and dirt flew into the air around them. It was an intricate, skillfully executed dance.
Though she knew they must be only practicing, it looked so real that Nessa kept wincing and gritting her teeth, expecting at any moment to see blood flowing onto the ground below. She and Veda stopped a safe distance away to watch. It was far enough that they wouldn’t be hurt by flying stones or trampled by the horses, but close enough that Nessa could see every inch of smooth hard muscle in Bridei’s bare arms as it bunched and flexed in perfect timing with the motion of his horse and the elaborate movement of his weapon through the air.
She knew the very moment he saw her there watching him. His eyes narrowed as he glanced her way, his posture changed just a little, and his actions became far more aggressive. That was when she realized that having her here was weighing on him more than she ever would have guessed. He obviously wanted her gone and out of his way so he could concentrate fully on the coming battle. That was completely understandable, and she wanted the same. Damn her uncle for disappearing. And for bringing her here in the first place and messing up her happy, quiet life. She could only hope that one day she would be able to look back on this experience as a wonderful—if terrifying—adventure that had turned out just fine in the end. Maybe she would tell her grandchildren of the time she accidently ended up in ancient Pictland, and watched one of the greatest kings of all time practice for an epic battle.
As if by unspoken agreement, Bridei and Domech both stopped their horses and then rode past each other. They clasped hands for an instant as they did so, which she supposed meant the duel was over. Then Bridei did something that nearly stopped her heart. One second he was astride the horse, and then in a graceful move worthy of any gold medal gymnast, he was standing on the animal’s back, coming toward her at a full gallop, the sound of hooves pounding against the packed earth growing louder by the second. Just as she was about to dive out of the way, the horse turned, and Bridei leapt to the ground, landing just in front of her. Her hand flew to her chest as if she could slow the rapid pace of her heart. He whistled, and his horse stopped short, turning and trotting back to him. Her eyes darted between the horse and the man. Both were strength and virility incarnate. The horse snorted and pushed his huge velvety nose toward her, his nostrils flaring as he took in her scent.
“Can I touch him?” She held her hand up tentatively as the stallion eyed her curiously.
“Aye.” He put his arm around the beast’s thick neck. “It’s better that he knows you, or he may have the notion to stomp you into the ground. He doesn’t care for strangers.”
Her hand stopped in midair, but as she looked into the stallion’s eyes, she didn’t see any malice there, only a burning light of pride and power, much like what she saw in his master. She pet his silky muzzle, and the horse nipped gently at her fingers, making her smile. “I think he’s hungry.”
“Of course he is. He’s worked hard this day.” He patted the stallion’s sweaty, dust-covered neck with affection, then leaned across and hooked a braided lead onto the thin leather halter.
“How long have you been riding?” she asked. She had never seen such skill on horseback, not even at the circus where performers worked their entire lives to do half of what she’d just witnessed.
“Forever”, he said. “Don’t you ride?”
“Of course, but not like that. And with a saddle.” There were horses on the farm when she was growing up, and she’d ridden almost daily, mostly to find lost sheep in the hills.
He narrowed his eyes. “The Saxons use saddles. I don’t know how they feel the animal beneath them with all that wood and leather. It’s probably why we’re better horsemen.”
Nessa was suddenly uneasy. Had she messed up again? She really had to start thinking more before she spoke. It was far too easy to incriminate herself with careless words. “I’m not a Saxon”, she told him.
“Aye, of course not.” His tone said that he didn’t believe her. “Veda, you may go.”
The girl turned and obediently walked away without question, leaving Nessa alone with the King. “Why did you watch?” He started walking, leading his horse loosely by the reins, and she followed.
“I saw the cloud of dust from the horses. I asked Veda what it was, and she showed me.”
“You are curious.”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
“Curiosity can be a danger, or an asset. Which is it for you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“If I wanted someone to find something for me, I would choose someone whose curiosity would likely lead them to look harder than anyone else.”
She gritted her teeth. “I’mnota spy. I’ve never even met King Ecgfrith.”
“We’ll see.”
