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“Tell me more of your grandmum,” he said eagerly.
And she did, regaling him with stories that allowed him a peek into her past and a peek more deeply inside her.
After a time, Bliss said, “I have talked enough about myself. What of you?”
He grinned. “Your tales are entertaining, mine would not be so.”
“I would rather determine that,” she encouraged. “Besides, I did hear some stories while at the keep.”
Trey winced as if wounded. “You must not believe all you hear, especially if it comes from my brothers.”
Bliss laughed. “I often wished for siblings. You are lucky to have them.”
“You will think differently when I tell the tales,” he said, and soon had her laughing with stories of his childhood.
“So no matter how many times you hid in the trees to escape your brothers, they did not find you?”
“I climbed higher and higher each time, so they could not see me amongst the leaves and branches.” He grinned proudly. “And from my perch, I delivered deadly dirt bombs I had skillfully armed myself with, and won many battles.”
When he finished detailing various victories and her laughter subsided, she said, “I hope to have many children so that they will have the chance to tell funny and endearing tales like yours.”
“Aye, I wish the same,” Trey said. “Seeing my brothers and their growing brood, I long for a family of my own.”
Silence settled over them after that, he lost in his thoughts and she in hers, both thinking of the future and what it might bring.
With dusk not far off, they needed to find shelter. There was a glen not far ahead, and it they decided that it would be best to climb the rise and settle in the valley below for the night. Bliss was sure that a stream with cool, clear water waited there.
It was an easy climb, especially with each having the other to rely upon, and they stopped for a brief rest once they reached the top. Trey didn’t wish to rush her. They had walked a good distance and kept a good pace today, and she had not complained once. But dusk was fast fading to night, and he wanted to get a fire started to chase away the chill, which grew ever colder with the fading light.
“We should go,” he said, and she agreed with a nod.
The arrow came out of nowhere, slicing past Bliss’s arm and causing her to stumble and lose her footing, sending her tumbling down the hill so suddenly that her hand was ripped out of his. Trey knew it would be a waste of time to look back and try to spy the culprit. He was more concerned with trying to reach Bliss. He charged after her, but her tumbling body gained momentum as she continued to roll rapidly down the hill. Try as he might, he could not catch her and stop her plummet.
His heart hammered in his chest as he raced down the hillside. Fear prickled along his skin, and worry gripped him like never before. She lay in a heap when the tumble finally was over, and he fell to his knees beside her when he reached the bottom.
He wasn’t sure what to do. She was the healer, but instinct took over, and he gently eased her on her back. He pushed the strands of blond hair out of her face, which looked to have suffered no more than some dirt and scratches. A quick glance over her found no signs of blood, but there were broken bones to consider.
There was also the worry about those on their trail. He grew angry with himself. He had been so engrossed in conversation with her that he hadn’t paid heed to his surroundings. He knew better than that. He had allowed his interest in her to interfere with common sense. And now she had suffered the consequences.
He had to get her somewhere she would be safe. Night being near upon them would help. Those who followed would not be able to track in the dark and would likely wait until dawn. It would be wise to put as much distance between them before that if possible.
Traveling in the thick of night was not new to him. He and his brothers had been trained well, and night travel had been part of that. However, carrying Bliss would slow him some, but it couldn’t be helped. At least he could gain some distance before morning.
Bliss moaned, her eyes fluttering open. She moved to sit up.
“Slowly,” he said, slipping his arm around her to help her. He felt the sticky wetness through her cloak and fear twisted his gut. He moved his hand as soon as he was certain she could sit up on her own. He was surprised and upset to see that blood covered his hand. “You’re bleeding.”
“A minor wound,” she said, trying to stand.
“That much blood is not a minor wound,” he said, his arm going around her waist and lifting her to her feet though he didn’t release her.
“Trust me when I tell you it is minor. Right now we need to leave. They follow.”
She saw and knew, so he asked, “How many?”
“Two,” she said. “They were sent—”
“To find and return you and kill me,” he finished. “That young soldier realized his mistake fast enough and, no doubt, is one of the two who follow. He wants to impress the king by capturing you.”
