‘Time to get out,’ he said. ‘The water’s freezing.’
One minute, she signed, even though he could not understand her.
‘You know I don’t understand you when you sign.’
There was nothing she could do about that. The words would not come any other way.
She looked past him to where the tent was now packed up and the horses were being saddled. It was time to leave.
Releasing a heavy breath, Roul yanked off his boots and began rolling up his trousers.
What are you doing?
He trudged into the water.
I’m not dressed, she signed.Go away.
If he did not understand what she was signing, he likely knew what she was saying from expression alone, but he continued towards her anyway. He pulled her to her feet, eyebrows drawn together in an angry line.
‘He was young,’ he said. ‘You feel bad. I get it. But we’re in no position to take prisoners. If we had let him live, he would have returned home and told the rest of his group what happened. Then they would have come after us.’ Eda went to sign something, but Roul took hold of her hands to still them. ‘You have to speak. If you can’t, then we may as well turn around and go home, and that boy’s death will have been for nothing. We can’t show up at Harlech Castle with you signing.’
She stared up at him, eyes burning. He was right.
‘Youwantedto play defender,’ he continued. ‘You chose this. Well, this is what we do. We kill people, and we go about our day, so don’t act surprised.’
Eda pressed her eyes closed, then let her forehead drop to his chest. She could not bear the lecture, so she sought comfort instead, knowing he would not push her away.
Slowly, Roul released her hands and wrapped his arms around her. A second later, she felt his warm lips atop her head.
‘Tell me you can still do this,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘Tell me you won’t hesitate again. Because the next time you fail to release that arrow, it might cost you your life.’
She tipped her head back to look at him, then swallowed. ‘I can do this.’ If anyone could bring her words back, he could.
He searched her eyes, his face tense with concentration. ‘Trust me to keep you safe. That means standing up when I tell you to stand up and picking up your weapon when I say so.’ His hand moved to settle on her jaw. ‘That’s how I get you home to your family.’
His touch felt like it was burning a hole in her back. Maybe it was the proximity or the calloused hand cradling her face. Or maybe it was the words he had spoken. But the next thing she knew, she was pushing up on her toes to kiss him. He did not pull away. He remained still, lips soft against hers.
The kiss was different to the one in the alleyway. It was gentle, tender. Her mind went quiet. Her body melted against his. Then suddenly it was not, and Roul was lifting her out of the water, guiding her legs around him. She sucked in a breath at the sensation of cold leather on her bare thighs. His mouth travelled along her jaw to her neck, kissing softly, making her legs tighten around him. He stopped then, resting his forehead on her shoulder as he caught his breath.
‘This is why I slept on the other side of the tent.’ The words vibrated against her skin.
She held the back of his head, her eyes closed. ‘I don’t want you to sleep on the other side of the tent. I want to hold your hand in the dark.’
He lifted his head to look at her, his eyes a brilliant contrast of gold against the bleak light. ‘You want to hold my hand?’
She shrugged. ‘It’s platonic, is it not?’
A throat clearing made them both look in the direction of their camp. Standing at the top of the rise was not one but all four defenders. Roul immediately lowered Eda back into the stream, and she tugged her shirt down as low as it would go.
‘There’s something you need to see, Commander,’ Tatum said, trying very hard to hide his smile, while the others looked deliberately away.
Roul’s eyes returned to Eda.
‘Go,’ she said. ‘I’ll be right behind you.’
Roul nodded, then exited the water. She watched him snatch up his boots and walk up the hill, and then she went to dress. She gave herself permission to put the events of the night aside and start the day afresh. There would be plenty of time to process her guilt once she was safely behind Chadora’s walls. For now, she had a job to finish.
She went to join the rest of her unit, who were gathered together, looking at something. Her feet slowed when she saw what it was. In the middle of the group stood a donkey loaded mountain high with various supplies. How it was standing beneath the weight of its load she had no idea.
