Page 82 of Tarnished Crown
You have no idea.
He handed me my thigh sheathe, which he had confiscated at some point on the road, and I disappeared to the lavatory to buckle it into place.
Soon, we were making our way through the dark halls and out into the stables. The air was frosty, and large snowflakes fell softly around us, covering the world in a blanket of sparkling white.
“Shall we expect this to continue?” he asked, glancing around us.
It still surprised me that he never prodded me more about where I got my knowledge of the weather, but he never seemed to doubt it, either.
I surveyed the clouds in the distance for show before shaking my head. “The snow should stop falling soon enough.”
He studied me curiously. “All right, then.’
Instead of taking me to the stall with the horse I had ridden before, Evander walked me to where his destrier was equipped with a two-person saddle.
“With your back,” he began, and I nodded my consent.
It would be difficult to support myself for the lengthy journey to the cabin. Even sharing a saddle, the jostling would likely be hell, but it would be worth it to be somewhere that wasn’t Ava’s estate.
Without another word, Evander helped me onto the horse and climbed up behind me, then we were off.
Twelve of us were headed to the cabin, the same group as before, plus Yuriy. It was bittersweet that Theo and Davin wouldn’t be waiting for me on the other side of this trip, but I couldn’t deny that I was looking forward to it all the same.
CHAPTER53
Evander’s hands kept me steady while I held the reins for most of the ride, but it was still more jostling than my back had seen since the flogging. I was grateful when we stopped early for the night, and I suspected it was for my benefit.
By the time we made it to our first inn, I assumed that Evander would rush us up to the rooms as quickly as he had each time before. But instead, he sent Taras ahead to make our arrangements with an order to meet us at the tavern across the street.
Just before we walked into the building, Evander stopped me.
“A moment,Lemmikki.” He cocked his head to the side, pursing his lips while studying me.
Then he took two steps forward until we were only inches apart. There was a question lingering in his tempestuous gaze, as if he were waiting for my permission.
A sharp intake of breath broke through the silence, and I wasn’t sure if it was from me, or him.
It couldn’t have been me. That would have meant I was breathing to begin with.
Whatever Evander saw reflected in my eyes was answer enough for him, and the next thing I knew, his hands were on either side of my head, and he slowly lowered my hood.
“Aren’t you concerned with terrifying the locals?” I asked, trying to fill the silence.
“They’ll get used to it eventually if you’re stuck here.” Evander took a step back, his voice entirely neutral. “What do you think, Dmitriy?”
The soldier stepped closer, and I rolled my eyes when he tapped a finger to his mouth as he, too, studied me. His brows furrowed in mock thoughtfulness while he looked at me from different angles.
“I think you’re right, Van. Sort of like one of those monsters under your bed that you get used to after years and years and years of it tormenting you.”
I laughed and pushed him away. There was that nickname again.Van.Briefly, I debated testing the name out, if only to taunt him, but it was too reminiscent of things I didn’t want to think about right now.
“What?” Dmitriy protested, pulling me from my thoughts. “It’s true.”
Evander chuckled darkly, shaking his head at his friend, and we continued toward the tavern.
Two of the small children running by stopped in their tracks, terror coating their features. A few others came over, talking to the boys in front of us, before they, too, froze at the sight of Evander.
“Look,” I pointed toward the children. “I’m terrifying them already.”