He drops on one knee in front of me, grasping at my hand.
“Can you ever forgive me, mate, for bringing this on you?”
“Bringing what?”
“The Thegn.”
“You didn’t do any of this, Warden. From what you told me, it sought you out. It offered you what you wanted, what you needed to do. Now it is returning for more. As far as I’m concerned, this is not your doing.”
I stare out over the green fields which run down to the sandy dunes. Part of me shivers at my recall of the Shellycoat and his voice in my ear. But the rest of me is strong.
Strong because I have Warden who believes in me, is prepared to let me fight, but also wants to protect me too.
“Let’s get this done, once and for all. Onwards to the Barghest.”
WARDEN
Lady Ryle is a formidable female. Any female able to keep house and keep order at a tavern serving, in the main, Reivers, and the occasional Redcap horde, is one you do not underestimate.
It means, as we take the coastal path northwards, I can’t help but continue to gaze at her. The long dress she wears flows in the sea breeze, undulating like the waves on the water, her incredible hair in complete harmony, the sword at her side glinting in the light.
She might not need me to protect her, but I will do so. After all, I am the immortal one. My lady should never have to lift a finger in anger.
She should never have to lift a finger at all. Once I have dealt with the Thegn, she will never have to do anything she doesn’t want to, and I will given her both this world and all the worlds the Yeavering contains.
“You’re very quiet,” Hazel says, looking back at me and being consumed by her hair, which she pushes out of her face.
“I am marvelling at how beautiful you are,” I say, truthfully.
“Oh.”
I capture her in my arms, shifting into my Brag form and swinging my stunning mate onto my back.
“You are as beautiful as the sunset, as pretty as the morning dew sprinkled across the grass, as stunning as a waterfall, my Hazel,” I continue.
“No one has ever called me beautiful before.”
“Then the entire worlds are fools.” I laugh.
I feel her laughing too as I run on, taking a path away from the sea and inland towards the Barghest’s stronghold.
I will have to explain myself to the annoying creature, but he has the one weapon I need to deal with the Thegn, and I am going to have a fight getting him to give it up.
Reavely is many things: a good fighter, a somewhat terrifying comrade, and a fierce protector of his own. Asking him for the Raylees amulet is not going to amuse him at all.
As the morning turns into the afternoon, Reavely’s castle comes into sight, set up on a bluff above a winding wide river. Hazel straightens on my back.
“What is it, my mate?” I query.
“I feel…as if I’ve been here before,” she says. “But I think I’d remember.”
She is silent once more. I walk down to the ford and stride into the icy water. It comes up above my hocks, but the way has been well trodden and recently cleared of stones, so it is easy enough of a passage.
At least until we reach the other side, where we are greeted by a chorus of growls and snarls. Two Barghest, in their wolf forms, creep towards us from behind a large boulder, their lips peeled back from their sharp white teeth.
I roll my eyes at this greeting. Like these two pups are any threat to anyone. One of them is hardly away from his mother’s teat.
“I’m here to see Reavely.” I stride past, lifting each hoof so they can see my shoes. “Inform your king the Brag is here.”
