Talon inclined his head to her.Welcome was a good start.He dismounted and tied the roan off to apost when Wolf came lumbering out of the barn.Talon slapped histhigh, and the wolf-dog went to him, his tongue lolling as Talonpatted his head and rubbed his ears.
“You’ve tamed the wolf, Isee,” Sophie said, “if not the wildcat.”
Talon snapped his head up and grimacedas he swayed back on his heels.His head stopped spinning, if notaching, as Sophie waved him toward the house and then disappearedthrough the open door.Wolf loped back toward the barn, where Talonassumed Lara was, as the dog was never far from herside.
“Come in.”She beckonedfrom inside the house as he stood in the doorway, then took in hisbandaged head and swollen eye and lifted her chin at a table andfour chairs.“Sit.”She pushed sprigs of cut lavender and rosemaryto one side of the table.Talon took the seat facing the open door.“I’ll get us both a cup of cool cider.”
Talon looked around the tidy house,every corner of which was put to use for one thing or another.Arocking chair sat by the hearth, a pot hanging on the frame overthe firepit, unlit in the heat of the day.A spinning wheel andseveral baskets full of spun wool took up the corner between thehearth and the west-facing window for light, and shelves stackedwith tubs of liniments, vials of tinctures, and baskets full ofdried herbs and bandages lined the east-facing wall.The rafterswere hung with bunches of drying herbs and flowers, and the southwall had a worktable pushed up against it, a bowl of knives andladles on top, and pots and pans hanging from hooks over it.Aladder led to an upstairs loft, which he assumed was the women’sbedchamber.
“I can give you somethingfor your head.”Sophie set a cup of cider down in front of him.“Your neck and eye as well.”
“Thank you.I’d appreciatethat.”Talon took a long drink of the cider, letting it slake hisparched throat as Sophie took a seat opposite.The fact that shehadn’t asked him how he injured his head meant Lara had alreadytold her.Lara, whom he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of since he’dridden up, and who he’d wager coin was hiding from him in the barn.Which was perfect for his purposes.“It was one of your potions Icame to inquire about,” he told Sophie.“Your love potion.My menhave been offered these potions from the women in the valley almostfrom the day we arrived.I want to know what it is.What it’s madeof.”
“The women in this valleyhave been giving men this same sweet libation for a score of years,Captain.Your men will suffer no ill effects.”
“While that’s good toknow, it’s not what I asked.”He sat back and crossed his arms,waiting for her answer.He was a captain of battle-hardenedsoldiers, a courier who had traveled much of the known world andconversed with kings.He was used to asking a direct question andgetting a straight answer.He wasn’t going to let Sophie get awaywith her vague seer’s riddles, as Lara had called them.
Sophie held his gaze with her own fora long moment, and then crinkled her eyes as she chuckled.“It’srose hips for vigor, lavender for verve, honey for sweetness andenergy, a dash of wild mustard seed for fire, and a drop ofpeppermint oil for soothing calm.”
“That’s all?”
“As I said, your menshould suffer no ill effects from it.”Her gaze narrowed on his.“Ido expect you to keep this knowledge to yourself.You are one ofonly a few who know.”
“Why is that?”
“Few ask.And I answereven fewer.”
“What about awildcat?”
Sophie tilted her head at him with apuzzled expression.“Of course, she knows.”
“No, what I meant waswould she drink this potion?”
Sophie tilted her head in the oppositedirection.“It would take a neat trick to get it past her nose.She’s been lapping it up since she was a kitten.”
Talon nodded and glanced down at hisscarred palm.“The trick for me would be to get it anywhere nearher nose without being shredded.”
Sophie chuckled.“Patience,” sheadvised.“Patience and perseverance, they will get you closest tothe wildcat without further bloodshed.”
Talon was listening, but he wasn’tconvinced, which must have shown.
“I’ve known her since herfirst mewling hiss,” Sophie said.“If she’s got her fur up, backaway, give her space, let her come to you.”
Sophie’s advice made sense.It was howTalon would approach an unbroken horse he was trying to tame.Though truth be told, he wasn’t sure he wanted to tame Lara.Hersharp points were part of what made her so intriguing, although hecould do without her thorns constantly pricking him.
“Taming a wildcat hasrepercussions for both the man brave enough to try as well as forthe wildcat,” Sophie said as if reading his thoughts.“In truth, ifyou weren’t a king’s soldier, always away at war or court, I mightencourage it.”She paused and looked deep into his eyes, into hissoul.“However, you are what you are, and she is what and where sheis, and I would not have her left alone with a belly full ofbastard kittens.”
Talon sat back, chastened by her cold,hard honesty.“Nor would I.”
Sophie pressed her lips together andnodded.“I believe you.Which is why it’s better to leave heruntamed.”
Talon chuffed.“And so I remain cursedon sight and damned by oath.”
“The curse I know of.I’veseen it on you since day one.But the oath?”
Talon held Sophie’s piercing gaze thattold him she expected him to be as honest with her as she’d beenwith him.“It’s the oath I pledged outside my tent the night ofMallus while listening to you two talking inside.My oath to giveher the protection you made her swear to stay under.”
“Ah, I see.”
