Besides, she was exhausted from the strain of all the people sitting in judgment. People who knew nothing of her or Valteri.
She wanted this day ended and a better one to begin.
Those thoughts lulled her to sleep.
“Save him!”
Ariel sat up with a startled gasp. This time, there was no mistaking the voice she’d heard.
It’d been sharp and male. A fierce, commanding sound that urged her to action.
For the first time since she’d awakened and seen Valteri standing over her, Ariel knew what she had to do.
No more. He’d been cast out to the storm for far too long. No one deserved the life that had been forced on him.
She must save him from the destructive path he walked. Show him that he belonged in the world of the living. The two of them had been joined, and so long as breath filled her lungs, she must not give up on him.
On them.
Her heart hammering in uncertain fear of his reaction, she left the bed and dressed, her hands trembling and fumbling with the material. Would Valteri ever welcome her, or would he forever pull away, out of her reach?
Either way, she had no choice other than to try.
As she searched the hall, she ran through her mind all the possible places he could be, and settled on the stable. With the ferocity of the storm, she doubted he’d seek his pallet in the garden.
Nay, he’d be sheltered this night.
If not in her arms, then he’d be with the only creature alive that he fully trusted.
His horse.
Valteri came awake with a start. He glanced about the stable, looking for the cause of his dream, but only his horse, Ganille, met his eager gaze.
Snorting, Ganille pawed at him as if urging him to move over.
“Stop, or I’ll feed you bitter vetch.”
This time, the snort sounded more like a rude dismissal. Sadly, his horse paid him as much heed as his squire.
I should beat them both.
But he’d never lay an angry hand on anyone or anything unless they struck first. Having been so abused, he’d never carry that forward.
He rolled over, his thoughts turning to Ariel. No doubt she was in his bed.
Alone.
Like him.
Meanwhile, rain pelted against the sides of the stable and a few of the horses nickered and bucked nervously, fighting the ropes that held them inside.
The stench of damp hay and horse shit offended him, causing his nose to twitch in disgust. How he hated stables and the memories they brought.
All the times he’d been mocked.
You’re shite, boy. It’s all you’ll ever be.
No matter how many battles he won or men he defeated, he could never silence those mocking voices. Any more than he could erase the sight of people sneering and jeering at him over a birth defect he loathed as much as they did.
