“Rowena would have gone further south,” Ian said, leading the way. He wanted to whistle out to his horse, but that felt risky when they did not know if any of Gareth’s soldiers had returned.
They walked silently down the dirt road, hugging the side of it so they could easily slip into the trees should they need to.
After a few minutes, Ian thought he could see a large white shape up ahead. Risking it, he let out a low whistle.
A nervous whinny replied, and the shape trotted toward him.
“Good girl,” Ian said, dropping his voice to a lower register. He slid his hands up the side of Rowena’s face, scratching the hard bone between her eyes.
She leaned into him, nudging him happily.
“There is no sign of the other horses,” Robin said, stepping forward to place a hand on Rowena’s shoulder.
“They are probably further north,” Ian replied.
“I am anxious to get to Meena,” Robin said. “Can she take us both?”
“With ease,” Ian replied. “She will not be able to travel as quickly, but I cannot find Meena without you.”
“Nor would you let me go on without you,” Robin said. Ian could hear the smile in her voice.
She was right, of course, but he did not feel the need to say so.
“I’ll go north for the other horses,” Ulli said. “Then, follow on foot as fast as I can if need be.”
As Ulli disappeared in the darkness, Ian stepped around Rowena and offered his clasped hands to help Robin mount the tall horse.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Robin put her foot into his hands and effortlessly swung up over the large animal, her trousers offering her ease of movement.
Keeping his hand under Rowena’s chin, Ian led her down the road for several steps until he found a fallen tree to use as a mounting block.
Swinging up behind Robin felt awkward. It had been years since he’d ridden two to a mount.
Wrapping his arms around Robin, he reached down to take the reins from her hands. “She knows my lead,” he said.
Robin wordlessly surrendered the reins to him, and he quietly urged his horse down the road.
While Ian was used to Rowena’s large gait, he was not used to having another weighted body affected by that gait. Ian’s feet were in the stirrups, but Robin was relying on his back and the grip of her knees to remain mounted.
She swayed effortlessly with the horse, keeping her balance in the safe circle of his arms.
She always had been an excellent rider.
“How is Humphrey?” Ian asked, able to keep his voice low since his mouth was so close to her ear.
She leaned her head to the side, tilting her face back up toward him. “Living the delight of his old age in the fields behind Lockwood Manor.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Ian said, a smile on his lips. He truly meant it. The old donkey had been Robin’s treasured companion when she had lived at the castle all those years ago.
In the silence that followed, Ian found the smile fading from his face as long-buried memories surfaced.
Robin was the first—and only—woman he had ever kissed. They had both been young then, inseparable companions after she’d lost her parents and come to live at the castle as the ward of his father.
She had been his equal in every way, able to best him in fencing and challenge his thinking, and always ready to lead him on a fun adventure away from his responsibilities.
That was, until his father had decided that she should return to her home of Lockwood. And suddenly, she had been gone.
Ian had written to her, sending her letters almost daily throughout that goldenreign. She had never responded.
