Ada's eyes widened slightly. "Are ye sure?"
"Dae ye have a better suggestion?"
"Nay."
"Then get yer things and let's go. We're losin' daylight."
Ada gathered her small pack, then approached Magnus's horse with visible reluctance.
The stallion was tall, nearly seventeen hands, and broad enough to carry two riders comfortably. But "comfortably" didn't account for the fact that Ada would be sitting directly in front of Magnus, pressed against his chest for the rest of the ride.
Magnus tried very hard not to think about that.
He mounted first, then extended his hand down to her. "Come on."
Ada took his hand. Her fingers were cold, he noticed, and smaller than he'd expected. He pulled her up easily, settling her sideways in front of him. She fit against him awkwardly at first, too stiff, trying to keep space between them that didn't exist.
"Ye'll have tae lean back," Magnus said, his voice rougher than he'd intended. "Or ye'll fall off when we start movin'."
"Of course." Ada shifted, her back pressing against his chest. She was small enough that the top of her head barely reached his chin. He could smell her hair, some herb he didn't recognize, clean and faintly sweet.
Magnus tried very hard not to think about that either.
He nudged the horse forward. Ada tensed immediately, her hands gripping the front of the saddle.
"Relax," Magnus said. "I willnae let ye fall."
"I ken that, I just—" She stopped. Took a breath. "I'm fine."
She wasn't fine. He could feel the rigidity in her shoulders, the way she held herself carefully away from him despite having nowhere to go. It would be easier if she'd just give in to it, lean into him properly instead of fighting the inevitable.
"This was yer idea," Magnus reminded her. "Ye wanted tae come."
"I ken that."
"Then stop actin' like I'm goin' tae throw ye off the horse."
Ada made a small sound that might have been a laugh or a scoff, he couldn't tell. But slowly, incrementally, she relaxed. Her weight settled more fully against him, her back conforming to his chest. The tension in her shoulders eased.
Better. That was better.
Magnus told himself it was only practical. That having her fight him the entire way would be exhausting for them both. That this meant nothing beyond necessity.
But he was aware, painfully aware, of every point where their bodies touched. The curve of her spine against his chest. The way her hip pressed into his thigh. The softness of her even through layers of wool and leather.
He tried very hard not to think about that most of all.
They rode in silence for a while. The path grew rougher as they descended toward the coast, forcing Magnus to slow the pace. Ada swayed with the horse's movements, her head occasionally brushing against his shoulder when they hit a particularly rough patch.
"How far?" she asked eventually.
"Not much longer."
"And ye said it's mostly fever?"
"Aye. Some vomiting. It started suddenly three days ago."
Ada was quiet for a moment. "That's fast fer a natural sickness tae spread. Usually takes longer."
