Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,45

trickle of blood.

“I order you to cease at once!”

The knife wavered.

Jorg was almost upon him, and I prayed Chester would listen to Rory before Jorg hurt him.

Chester glanced sideways to where Rory stood, arms stiffly at her side. Though her face was deathly pale, she lifted her chin and pinned Chester with an icy glare.

“Now.”

Chester let the knife fall away and took a small step back, enough that Jorg was upon him in an instant. I didn’t think Chester would be a match for Jorg’s skill and stealth and was surprised when Chester spun and met Jorg’s thrust.

“Jorg, wait,” I said.

But Jorg was already swinging at Chester again, his knife in one hand and sword in the other. His jaw flexed with determination, and his eyes filled with deadly calm.

Chester deflected both blows and parried with a knife in each hand. From the agility and swiftness of his movements, I could tell he’d been well trained, perhaps as much or better than Jorg.

“Leave him be,” I said, this time louder and with more authority.

Jorg broke away but kept his weapons outstretched and his attention fixed upon Chester.

Rory was in the process of slicing her tunic with a small knife she’d produced from her boot. With a final rend of cloth, she crossed to me and touched the linen to my cut, but not before I witnessed the trembling in her fingers.

I flinched at the pain.

“I’m sorry.” She flattened the linen and pressed it harder. “But I need to staunch the flow of blood.”

“’Tis but a surface wound.”

“Thankfully.” She shot a glare toward Chester, who, like Jorg, was still poised and ready to fight. From the dangerous glint in both men’s eyes, I had to do something before they killed each other.

I gently took the linen from Rory. “I should leave now before anything more happens.”

She gave a reluctant nod.

I stooped and picked up my bag and cane. The extra baked goods from Aunt Elspeth were crushed, flattened into the earth and inedible. As I straightened, I caught a glimpse of the worry in Rory’s eyes before she could hide it.

I reached out to stroke her cheek, but then at Chester’s growl, I let my hand fall away.

Rory backed away as if that would shield me from another one of Chester’s attacks.

I dug into my bag, located the item I wanted, and held it out to her. “A token of my pledge to you.”

She hesitated, grazing the fine, colorful scarf.

“It belonged to my mother, and I want you to have it.” I thrust it into her hands, then hefted my bag over my shoulder. “I’ll see you in a month.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Yes, don’t worry about me. I’ve fared much worse and lived to tell about it.” Though I meant the words as a jest, she didn’t smile.

As I started off, Jorg remained behind in the standoff with Chester. I didn’t wait for him. He’d soon follow once he deemed the situation safe enough. I could feel Rory watching me, and I didn’t want to glance back for fear that one glimpse of her would be my undoing, that I’d return to her and never leave.

But when I could no longer stand another moment, I paused and looked over my shoulder. She stood where I’d left her, her attention unswerving upon me. She was as beautiful, with her flushed cheeks and bright eyes, as the day I’d first met her in the clearing—maybe even more so.

Something in my chest ripped. Had Chester cracked one of my ribs? But the pain was up higher, and it was different and deep. It was the pain of a man leaving part of his heart behind with the woman he loved.

My steps faltered, and I suddenly didn’t know if I could go through with this. But Jorg ushered a sharp command and bolted away from Chester and Rory. He bounded toward me, waving at me to hasten onward.

I had to leave. It was time. With a final long look at Rory, I spun and forced my feet to move as fast as they would take me with my cane.

Once again, my Testing took on new meaning. Deny thyself. This denying myself of Rory was harder than anything I’d done heretofore.

One month. I could surely withstand one month away from her. One month, and then I vowed I’d never leave her again.

Chapter

14

Aurora

I followed Chester into the clearing, waiting for him to turn and chastise me. Every heavy step he took was filled with rage—his shoulders were