He and Ulla had slid to the ground and situated themselves against the boulder, using it as a windbreak.At some point, Ulla had sunken against him until her face pressed to his chest, a fistful of his shirt in her hand.Bastion rested his chin over the curve of her horns, one arm wrapped around her shoulders to hold the cloak closed.They nestled in a cocoon of warmth, his heart a little unsteady.
He’d been so conscious of her during the night that he slept poorly.
But he didn’t care.
In his waking moments, he’d stared up at the stars, anxiety warring with a wish for dawn to never come.To waive his duty in favor of staying right here.To truly take leave instead of just telling Endre so.Perhaps this is what he’d been looking for.
Ulla stirred, and Bastion realized he’d tightened his arm around her.She nuzzled her face against him.His blood heated.Then, she stretched, and cool air crept under the cloak before she stilled.
The sky grew brighter, a peachy blush coloring the clouds.A breath of wind whipped over the boulder, tugging at him, as if to remind him there were still miles to travel.
He looked down, reluctant to wake Ulla, and found her watching him.
Bastion let himself drown in her sea-green gaze, forgetting everything.For once, there was nothing guarded in her expression.Had he done that?Or had she yet to cross the threshold between sleep and true wakefulness?
He reached up slowly, expecting her to pull away.She didn’t.
His fingers traced the line of her face, trailing down to the corner of her mouth.She sighed, closed her eyes, and tipped her head back.A sudden wave of heat consumed him.Bastion brushed his thumb over her bottom lip and leaned in.
An alarmed whinny, high and shrill, stopped him.
Bastion scowled up at Finn, who stood a few yards away, grass hanging out of his mouth.Ulla’s eyes popped open.A flicker of disappointment rippled over her face.
A bird called in the distance.
Awooo, awooo, awooo.
The Thatian whinnied again, nostrils flaring and ribs heaving.He inched forwards, looking at Bastion like he had two heads.
Bastion turned back to Ulla.A tense knot of the cloak covered half her face, and though her glare looked fierce, Bastion detected some returning fear.Finn tossed his head and shifted side to side.The Thatian had ruined the moment, and Bastion remembered the urgency of their errand.Cypress Shoals was counting on them.
Reluctantly, Bastion released Ulla, and cool air flooded into the pockets of sleep-scented space between them.She stood and strode away.Bastion stomped over to their gear, cutting Finn an accusatory glare.
The Thatian reached around and lifted his upper lip as Bastion settled the blanket and saddle onto his back.
“You’re an ass,” Bastion grumbled.He cinched the girth, pulled the stray grass out of Finn’s mouth, and bridled him.
Ulla returned, haloed in morning light.She gathered their things and stuffed them into the saddlebags.Bastion dragged his eyes away, resisting the urge to do something embarrassing.He threw the reins over Finn’s head, then ducked behind the tree to relieve himself.
Awooo, awooo, awooo.
As he finished, a warm breeze caressed his neck, scraping a finger of worry down his back.Uneasiness, tight and sharp like a broken blade lodged between his ribs, washed over him.
He tapped Ulla’s shoulder and said, “Something’s wrong.We should go.”
She read his lips, eyes narrowed.She made a motion with both hands like snapping back a fishing line.Bastion nodded.
There was no time for breakfast.They had to hurry.
While Ulla refilled their waterskins in the stream, Bastion buckled his sword belt around his waist and secured the saddlebags behind the cantle.He bent to undo the hobbles around Finn’s ankles, struggling to get them undone as the gelding stamped his back feet and bobbed his head impatiently.Finally, he got the hobbles off and shoved them in the saddlebags.Finn bellowed a high, shrill whinny.
It almost covered the sound of weapons being drawn.
Bastion turned and froze.
Eight men scuttled around the boulder like crabs on a body.Two rushed Ulla, pinning her with blades to her throat.
Pirates.
