"Ye're right tae think it." Magnus's voice was tight. "There are plenty who'd like tae see me fail.”
They rode in silence after that. The path grew smoother as they approached the keep, the terrain less treacherous. The sky had darkened to a deep purple, stars beginning to appear overhead.
Ada felt her eyelids growing heavy. The exhaustion from the day was catching up with her—the early morning, the ride, the hours spent tending the sick. Her body ached in places she'd forgotten could ache.
She tried to fight it. Tried to stay upright and alert. But Magnus's chest was warm behind her, his arm steady around her waist, and the rocking motion of the horse was strangely soothing.
Her eyes drifted closed.
Just for a moment, she told herself. Just to rest them.
Ada woke to the sensation of falling.
She jerked upright with a startled gasp, her hands flailing for purchase, and realized too late that she'd been leaning heavily against Magnus's chest.
The sudden movement threw her off balance. She tipped sideways, sliding toward the edge of the saddle?—
Magnus caught her with both arms, hauling her back against him. "Easy! What’s going on?"
"I'm sorry!" Ada's heart hammered. "I fell asleep, I didnae mean tae startle ye."
"Ye almost fell off the horse!" Magnus's voice was somewhere between anger and disbelief. "What were ye thinkin'?"
"I wasnae thinkin', I was sleepin'!" Ada clutched at his arms, her face burning with embarrassment.
"Are ye hurt?"
"Nay, I'm—" Ada looked around and realized they were already in the keep's courtyard. Torches burned along the walls, castingflickering light over the stones. Several guards were staring at them. "Oh nay."
Magnus dismounted smoothly, then reached up to lift her down. Ada stumbled when her feet hit the ground, her legs still half-asleep and uncooperative.
"Careful." Magnus steadied her with his hands on her shoulders. "Can ye walk?"
"Aye, I’m just tired. " Ada took a step and nearly fell. Her legs were cramping from sitting so long in the saddle, and the torn skirt wasn't helping. "Maybe if I just folded the skirts."
Magnus muttered something under his breath that sounded like a curse. Then, before Ada could protest, he bent and scooped her into his arms.
"What are ye daeing?"
"Ye can barely stand. I'm nae lettin' ye walk up three flights of stairs like this." Magnus carried her toward the keep's entrance, his expression daring anyone to comment.
The guards wisely said nothing.
Ada should have protested. Should have insisted she was fine, that she could walk on her own. But her legs really were shaking, Magnus's arms were solid and warm, and she was too tired to fight anymore.
She let her head rest against his shoulder and tried not to think about how right it felt.
Magnus carried her through the corridors without speaking, taking the stairs to the east tower two at a time. When they reached her chamber, he kicked the door open and set her down carefully on the edge of the bed.
"Thank ye," Ada said quietly.
"Ye did good work today." Magnus stepped back, putting distance between them. "Me people will remember what ye did fer them."
"I just did what any healer would dae."
"Nay. Ye did more than that." He moved toward the door, paused with his hand on the latch. "Why did ye want tae come? Really?"
Ada looked down at her torn skirt, at her dirty hands and travel-stained gown. "I told ye. Because they're me people now. Or they will be."
