Beguiled (The Fairest Maidens #2) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,47
reached the edge of her paddle, I wanted nothing more than to carry her off to Scania and make sure she was never in this kind of position again. Helplessly, I took hold of her offering and used her strength to add to mine. Within seconds I was at the edge of the boat.
Sudden screams pierced the air. Loch Ness must have knocked another victim into the water. It wasn’t Pearl, and I prayed it never would be.
“Praise be.” She grabbed my arms and helped haul me into the boat.
I was tempted to berate her, but one of the Inquisitor’s guards had fallen overboard, and his comrades were distracted by trying to save him and stave off Loch Ness.
“Let’s be on our way!” I called to Irontooth. I needn’t have said anything, for he was already rowing. The other men were doing the same. I found a paddle and joined their efforts.
The screaming behind us grew wilder and more panicked before gurgling swallowed it. The remaining guards were shouting at one another to return to shore while the Inquisitor bellowed at them to follow us.
I didn’t glance back to gauge their decision. Only one thought pounded through me—that we needed to take advantage of their distraction and put as much distance between both the Inquisitor and Loch Ness as possible.
My pulse slapped in tempo with each stroke, until at last the torchlight as well as the voices faded into blackness. Even then, we didn’t slacken on our pace. We rowed silently and swiftly, the whistle of the wind urging us onward.
Through it all, Pearl remained at her oar without resting. I appreciated her tenacity. Most women would have given up. But she was a strong woman, one I could admire. If only I didn’t want to strangle her for taking so many risks.
Hours later, without any further encounters with the Inquisitor or Loch Ness, we arrived back at camp and were forthwith surrounded by everyone clamoring to hear about our adventures.
With Felicity at his side, Irontooth was all too willing to provide the details, including the daring rescue of the women at the town center, our race through town, and my escape from Loch Ness.
He made me out to be more of a hero than I wanted. As I tried to answer questions and deflect the admiration, I caught sight of Pearl sneaking away into our cave. From the way she’d lurked at the edge of the gathering and from the tension radiating from her body, she was upset about something.
Was she angry with me? And if so, why? If anyone should be upset, I was more justified than she was.
Excusing myself from the fire pit, I stalked into the cave, my footsteps heavy, my body weary, and my heart burdened.
The light from a lone candle revealed Pearl kneeling in front of an open sack, stuffing food and clothing inside. At the crunch of my steps, she cast me a glance but continued her efforts.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I am readying to leave for Warwick.”
“I’ll go alone without you, as you are too reckless and will get yourself into trouble.” I hadn’t heretofore considered going alone, but the words spilled out, the culmination of my fear from the past twenty-four hours. I’d had to stand aside and watch her put herself into harm’s way too many times, and I didn’t know how I could bear it again.
“Reckless? Trouble?” She sat back on her heels, her eyes widening upon me. “And how many times did you just defy death? If anyone is reckless, ’tis you.”
“I had everything under control.” At least, most of the time.
“As did I,” she retorted saucily as she turned her attention back to her packing.
“I want you to stay here. And I shall go to the queen and appeal for Ruby’s release into my care.” I was putting all my faith in my power as the future king of Scania. I’d give her an opportunity to forge an alliance with Scania in exchange for Ruby. How could she turn it down?
“The queen wants me and will not be satisfied until she has me.”
“Then all the more reason to remain behind.”
Pearl stood then and spun. “This is my battle, not yours.”
“The day we spoke our vows to each other, your battles became mine.”
Pearl tilted her head, regarding me with serious eyes. “I do not know what the queen intends, but she will not rest until she has what she seeks.”