“You didn’task?”
Lara shook her head.“I didn’t thinkit my business after all.”
“Good,” he said moregruffly than he’d intended.It wasn’t like Talon hadn’t consideredtelling her that she was his wildcat about a hundred times a day,but what purpose would that serve now?He was leaving in three daysto march across Basque territory into Moorish Spain.He could bekilled or maimed.The last thing he wanted to do was make Laragrieve him, or worse, tend to a cripple the rest of hislife.
“It’s not.”
He took her queen and then her king,and then he bade her good night and sought his bed, if notsleep.
CHAPTER 12
TheMarch
Talon
Talon sat on Lara’s cot as she sleptand brushed an auburn curl from her cheek.“Lara.”
“Hmmm?”
“I don’t want to wake you,but I wanted to say good-bye.”
“You’releaving?”
“I am.”She wouldn’tremember this conversation when she woke.She never remembered theconversations they had when she talked in her sleep.Talonremembered them all.Some were short, strange, and cryptic, makinglittle to no sense, while others were full and coherent, like theone they were having now.
“Where yougoing?”
“To meet Charles and thereturning army.You’ll be free of me for the month I’m gone.”Heran his fingers through her unruly mane, wishing he could gaze intoher changeling eyes one more time before he left.To see if theywould be a soft, mossy green or bright with burning embers.Wondering for about the thousandth time if she would leave beforehe returned.“Will you be here when I get back?”
“Be a goodlidi.Stay under captainprotection,” she mumbled, then buried her face into herpillow.
Talon knew from experience shewouldn’t talk again, at least not for a while, and he’d run out oftime.He gave his knee a pat, and Wolf laid his head on it, tailwagging in anticipation of their morning outing.“Not this time,old man.You must be a faithful hound to your mistress and be herprotector once more.”Wolf gave Talon’s hand a slurp and he ruffledhis ears.“I’ll be keeping an eye on Ranulf, whilst you, my friend,will have the biggest rat of all to watch in the count and his madlittle vixen of a daughter, who’s very jealous of our wildcat.”Talon gazed down at Lara, at the curve of her back, the swell ofher hips, and the long, lean, well-muscled length of her legs.“Mycoin’s on our wildcat.Though knowing a wolf and a wizened oldwitch are on watch makes me feel better about leaving myauburn-haired, hazel-eyed beauty.”
Lara coughed and buried her facedeeper into her pillow, and Talon stood, then picked up his pack ashe gave the chamber one last look.He had everything he needed, butnot what he wanted.
He shrugged and slung the pack overhis shoulder.A soldier’s life never took into account what hewanted.
“Fare well, Lara.”Herested his hand on the door.“See you in a month.”
“Godspeed,Talon.”
***
Lara
Talon’s step faltered and then thedoor shut behind him.He’d thought she’d been talking in her sleepagain, something she’d done her whole life according to Sophie.ButLara had been awake since Talon had first stirred from his bed.She’d heard everything he’d said to her and Wolf.
She was his wildcat.It was she who’dcursed him on sight and damned him with his oath to protect her.She who he wanted but wouldn’t let himself have.He was protectingher not only from Ranulf and Nithard but also from himself.Thatwas why he’d left so abruptly the night she’d leaned in to him,naked…why looking at her hurt more.
All things she would have plenty oftime to think about and brood over for the next month.Right now,she needed to get moving.
After getting dressed, she snuck downthe stairs and out the hall’s front entrance while the troop werebreaking their fasts with a feast Lara should’ve been awakened tohelp cook and serve.Since she hadn’t been, either as a kindness ofthe captain’s or a way to avoid saying good-bye to her awake, shetook advantage of the extra time and ran out the main gate, wavingher farewell to the watchtower as she headed for home.A home shecould stay at, free to live her own life and sleep in her own bedagain for a month at least if she gave up her plan.Yet if her plansucceeded, in a month’s time, she’d be home free for the rest ofher life.
Sophie waited for her, clothes andscissors at the ready.“Are you sure you want to do this?”She’dbeen against Lara’s plan at first but had agreed to it on secondthought.Which gave Lara hope and courage that it wouldwork.
“I’m sure.”
Sophie grabbed the hank of Lara’sbraid almost before her backside hit the chair.Lara concentratedon petting Wolf and telling him how he would need to stay and be agood dog for Sophie while she was gone and trying to ignore theshearing sound of the scissors and the gentle tugging at her hair.Then it stopped and Sophie held Lara’s braid in herhand.
