He guided his steed down the shallow incline. “Here.” He held out a piece of bread.
“My thanks.” Alesone ate, noting the snow on the ground reflected enough light to travel.
“Once you finish, try to sleep. I will wake you upon our arrival.”
She wanted to argue ’twas unfair that she rested while he remained awake, more so when but moments before she’d silently called him cold and hard. With fatigue weighing heavy on her mind and the comfort of his presence, along with the steady sway of the horse’s easy gait, she drifted into blackness.
* * *
A horse’s snort broke through her sleep. With a frown, Alesone opened her eyes and stared into the darkness, the slow, steady steps of the horse assuring her they continued to travel, except somewhere along the way Thomas had slowed their pace to almost a crawl.
Thankful for the warmth of his body against hers, with a yawn she glanced up. Shimmers of purple light warmed the eastern sky, and explained why her muscles ached. They’d traveled throughout the night.
Odd, he’d said that they would’ve arrived at their destination by now. “’Tis almost dawn.”
Silence.
“Thomas?”
“A-aye,” he stammered, “we will be halting soon.”
At his rough voice, guilt swept her. After the long hours they’d ridden, he was tired.
He guided his mount into a thick swath of fir and drew to a halt. His entire body trembled. “We w-will rest here.”
Confused, she turned. The first rays of light exposed the paleness of his face. “Sir Thomas?”
With the reins fisted in his hand, he dismounted then stumbled forward.
“Sir Thomas, wh—”
“Dismount!”
Panic twisting in her gut, Alesone slipped to the ground.
Face ashen, the knight wavered on his feet, stumbled, and then caught himself on a nearby tree.
Her gaze riveted on the blood smeared across his left shoulder. “You are injured!” Furious that he’d hid the fact, that she’d missed signs of his weakening condition, she stormed over. “Let me look at the wound.”
The knight’s pain-filled gaze cut to her. “It can…” He gasped. “It can wait until we arrive at our destination.”
“Is that why you are bracing yourself against the tree and struggling for each breath?”
Silence.
Disgusted, Alesone jerked the reins from his hand, then secured the horse to a branch.
Agony streaked his face as Thomas stepped toward his mount.
She blocked him.
Teeth clenched, he glared at her. “W-What are you doing?”
Alesone pointed at the log behind him. “Sit down.”
Green eyes narrowed.
“Now.”
