“You’re right. It doesn’t matter. My time is yours. I’ll wait if that’s how you want me to spend it.”
I should have tried to hide the sarcasm in my voice. Bevin glares as he watches me. His nostrils flare, and an angry grunt erupts. “Don’t ever forget it.”
We sit in silence a few more minutes, Bevin’s eyes narrowing with his frustration.
And then he’s back. I think he really is following me around.The bastard. That odd sensation that repeatedly has warned of his approach stalks toward us. I can’t fully grasp his emotions, but somehow he feels even more ill-tempered than Bevin. When the door swings open, I don’t need to look up to know who’s there.
At least now I know his name. Fhord.
“Why have you summoned me?” he demands as he strides in the door. He must know I’m here. I’m sure he can sense me. Still, he doesn’t even glance my way. No hint that he knows me.
Fhord also keeps secrets from Bevin. But I knew that already.
“Good of you to join us. At last. You were told to be here an hour after dawn.”
“Thirty minutes ago,” he bellows. “Your man dragged me out of bed just as I was about to…” And then he finally looks my way, a bit of red flowing into his cheeks.
I can’t restrain my laugh. It bursts out of my belly, loud and sudden.
The red in Fhord’s cheeks grows, but this time it’s anger, not embarrassment.
“Tell us, Fhord,” I ask sweetly. “What were you about to do? Do you need to go back to finish? Could you finish if you tried?” I have no idea why I need to irritate the man. I just do.
His eyes taper to two little lines, dark as the forest around the training grounds. Spinning his head, he peers at Bevin.
“Who is this female?” he demands.
“Sifa. She’s one of my best spies. She’ll go with you, help you retrieve it.”
“You expect me to work with her?” His tone is bitter. “My Ætt will support me. I don’t want or need her aid.”
“She’s good at what she does. She’ll go with you.”
“And what if I say no?”
Maybe Fhord isn’t so bad after all. I might like a man who has the balls to put Bevin in his place.
“Then you’ll no longer work with me. I need people who do what I ask. Without arguing.” He glares at both of us as he adds the last two words.
Fhord stares at him for a surprising length of time. He seems to be carefully weighing his options. With a scale. That needs to be recalibrated. Twice.
Finally, he spins his head to look at me. “She’ll do all I demand of her?”
“I will not…”
“She will.”
Bevin and I speak over each other, but it doesn’t matter. His word is law. He’s promised I’ll obey this bastard. Much as I hate it, losing whatever is left of Bevin’s trust would be worse.
I may need to do what Fhord asks, but I don’t have to make it pleasant for him.
He nods once. “We’re leaving. Now.”
I smile and stand. Not too quickly. Just fast enough to avoid angering Bevin any more.
“Can’t wait,” I say as I stroll toward the door.
When we’re far enough away to be sure Bevin won’t hear us, I spin to face him. He doesn’t stop, so I reach out and grab his arm. His gaze drops to my hand and then lifts to hold mine.
