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‘Come with me for the afternoon.’ Ash gestured about the room where several other women worked. ‘Leave this to the others. Say you will go. You and I, like the old days.’
A tide of warmth enveloped her. Ash wanted to spend time with her. Alone. ‘So I can know what you intend with Rurik.’
‘Precisely.’ His smile spread across his face. ‘I promise no harm will come to you. Nothing will happen that you don’t want to. I won’t make you fire an arrow to kill a bird.’ He named several other incidents from long ago when she had been allowed to tag along, only if she did what he said.
‘I never complained,’ she answered stoutly.
‘It would have been better if you had. It is impossible for me to know what you are thinking if you keep it to yourself.’
‘You mustn’t regret those excursions. I did enjoy them...after a fashion.’
He gave a crooked smile. ‘Even though I treated you like a nuisance. My only excuse is the ignorance of young age.’
‘A young girl trailing at your heels is hard. You were very good, Ash. I never came to any harm.’
‘Saxi will look after Rurik and teach him how to fashion the feathers on an arrow.’
‘Thora can take charge,’ Kara said, coming to a decision. She wanted to go. Not just because of Rurik, but to spend time alone with Ash. It had been far too long since they had spent an afternoon together. And she didn’t have any fears. She was in charge of the situation.
* * *
‘See if you can tell what these tracks are,’ Ash said, kneeling on a grassy knoll beside a small pond. ‘Use the things I taught you today, rather than any long-ago knowledge. Pretend you are Rurik.’
Kara breathed deeply, savouring the feeling of being outside, rather than inside weaving. It was one of the last unexpectedly warm days of autumn. In the mornings, faint ice appeared on the edges of ponds like this, but when the afternoon sun hit, the air was pleasant. She had trouble remembering when she last felt this free. No responsibilities other than enjoying herself.
‘I’m pleased you recognised at last that I do know animal tracks,’ she said.
He laughed softly. ‘I always knew, but I want you to experience how I teach now.’
She peered at the number of tracks in the mud. A wide variety of animals had obviously used this pond. ‘Which ones do you want to know about?’
‘The ones closet to the pond. They are the most difficult. It is the sort of thing I want to do with Rurik. Do you think you can do it?’
‘Of course I can and I am sure, with a little help, Rurik will be able to, as well.’ Kara knelt down and examined the various different tracks. It had been years since she had done this and she had forgotten how much fun it could be to be out in the woods with only Ash for company. ‘Those are obviously rabbit, being followed by a fox. A deer has muddied the trail, but they were there first.’
She waited with bated breath, fairly confident that she had it right. Somehow Ash’s opinion mattered. He had been a patient teacher, unlike when she was growing up and pestering him. He had taken the time and the trouble to explain everything, even when she reminded him that he had reluctantly taught her before.
‘Very good. Better than good.’ He knelt down beside her, his face wreathed in a genuine smile. Her heart turned over and she wondered how she thought she could do without his smile. ‘I’d anticipated it would take several afternoons of intensive work before you’d be able to tell them apart. The fox is particularly unclear.’
‘I’m a quick learner. I always was. I simply had forgotten the finer details until you reminded me.’ She passed a hand over her eyes. ‘How I could have mistaken a moose hoof for a deer is beyond me. You have been very patient, Ash. I can see why Rurik enjoys his lessons with you.’
‘You forgetting? I thought you remembered everything.’
Kara looped a strand of hair behind her ear. If she leant forward, it would be easy to brush Ash’s lips. One little taste. But one taste could destroy their growing friendship. ‘Obviously not.’
‘I won’t tell anyone.’
Kara rocked back on her heels and pressed her hands into her thighs. It was far harder than she thought to fight against this growing heat inside.
‘Ash,’ she whispered.
He reached out and smoothed a strand of hair from her forehead, straightening her head kerchief as he did so. ‘It is easier to see if the hair isn’t in your eyes. Concentrate and see if you can identify any more.’
