Ewan’s scowl deepened. How had he missed something as important as four people following them? It wasn’t like him not to have a sixth sense for such things.
No one had ever caught him off guard before.
Of course, he had been drunk and then hung over the entire way to Lenalor. Mayhap Nora was right, he needed to stay sober a little more often.
Ewan rubbed the back of his neck as he considered what he should do about the gypsies and the man who had ordered him taken.
Who would dare such a thing and why?
“What did this man look like?” he asked.
“About this tall.” Lysander held his hand up to indicate the man would be around five six or so. Far too short to be one of his brothers.
Who then?
Who other than one of them would say such let alone pay for it? It didn’t make a bit of sense.
“Is he planning on meeting you in Drixel?”
“That was the plan.”
Ewan turned to Nora. “Would you mind if we traveled with them for a bit longer?”
By her face, he could see she was torn. But when she spoke, her words surprised him. “I’m always up to a bit of adventure.”
“Then you’re not mad at us?” Bavel asked hopefully.
“I’m not particularly amused by the throbbing in my skull, but if the four of you can refrain from drugging me, I think I can manage to forgive you.”
Viktor clapped him on the back. “You’re a good man, Ewan MacAllister. Bavel, get the ale.”
Ewan shook his head as the three men went to the wagon to search out the ale. “I can’t believe I’m traveling with gypsies.”
Nora smiled. “I can’t believe you’re not angry at them.”
He turned to find Nora standing beside him, looking up at him with an appreciative glint in her eyes. The light on her face made her skin look even softer, more touchable. More delectable.
He fought the urge to smile at her. “Had they been more accomplished at the task, I might have been. But all things considered, they seem rather harmless. I’ll just make sure to drink no ale until they’ve sampled it first.”
He arched a brow at her as he remembered her earlier urgency to leave the wagon. “I thought you had to attend business?”
“I do.” She handed him the sword, then ambled off toward the trees.
Ewan watched her. She walked like some regal queen with the most delicate sway to her hips that made him ache to sample her. She was a fetching wench and it was hard to believe a lady so refined was able to handle a sword as well as a man.
Nora was ever full of surprises and to his deepest chagrin, ever appealing.
Why was he so amused by her?
For that matter, why was he amused by the gypsies?
Such a thing was not really in his nature. He’d always been the surly one. Always found the dark side in everything and had happily wallowed in his moroseness.
He should be angry and vengeful. Instead, he was actually looking forward to the two-day trip to the north.
“Are you sure the two of you aren’t married?” Bavel asked as he returned with the ale.
Ewan was taken aback by the question. “Why do you ask?”
