The Betrayal - By Ruth Langan Page 0,27

Unwrapping them, she let out a laugh of delight.

“You’ve no need to hunt our food, my lord. It seems the villagers are still showing their gratitude, even though we’ve left them far behind.” She held up the first bundle. “Dried mutton. Enough for many nights. And in this…” She unrolled a second to reveal sugared scones. “They wanted to make certain we didn’t starve before arriving at your fortress.”

“Such good people. They didn’t need to do this.”

“They wanted to show how much they love you for saving one of their own.”

He stepped back from the fire, brushing his hands along his tunic. “They love you as well, my lady.” The look he gave her was so hot, so fierce, it had her heart faltering. He touched a finger to her cheek. “How could they not?”

That simple touch had her paralyzed. She forgot to breathe. Her heart forgot to beat as he stared down into her eyes.

She wanted him to kiss her. Wanted it desperately.

He seemed to consider it, before he abruptly turned away and removed the flask at his waist. Over his shoulder, he called, “I’ll fetch water from the stream while you uncover the rest of our meal.”

She watched him walk away and waited for her heart to settle. As she began unwrapping the food, she pondered how she could possibly deal with these strange, new emotions that battered her. For so long she had lived a simple life in a calm environment. Now she’d been thrust into a world of violent, explosive emotions that had her feeling confused, troubled, throwing her completely off balance.

She sat back on her heels and closed her eyes, picturing in her mind her family gathered around the table. The image had her smiling.

“Oh, Gram. Mum. You both lived in this world before you returned to the Mystical Kingdom. You’ve experienced all these things. I need your wisdom now.” She lifted her head to the night sky and had to laugh at the clouds that looked exactly like Jeremy astride her winged horse Moonlight. There was his round little face, looking so serious. His little waistcoat flapping in the breeze. Another cloud rolled past, and she gasped as she recognized old Bessie, stooped over a kettle, stirring something. She could see clearly the apron tied around her thick middle, and the big wooden paddle she always used while cooking.

These cloud formations were no accident. Kylia knew at once they’d been sent by her family to comfort her. She watched Jeremy drift higher and higher, until he seemed to touch the stars, followed by Bessie, who lifted her wooden paddle to wave.

Kylia sighed. Both troll and hunchback had been mistreated in this world. But both had forgiven their tormentors, and spoke fondly of the many good people they had known. People who had given them aid and comfort and shelter in their time of need.

By the time Grant returned from the stream, Kylia was kneeling on the fur, a dreamy smile playing on her lips.

“You look happy, my lady.”

“Aye.” She watched as he reclined on the opposite side of the fur and began to eat. “I realize that, despite the violence in your land, there is much to like, as well. There is such kindness in your people.”

He broke open a scone and popped it into his mouth. “Not to mention some excellent cooks.”

Kylia laughed. “Aye. There is that. Tell me about the cook at your fortress.”

“Her name is Mester. She cooked for my father and his father before him. And she has cooked for my brother and me since we were born.”

“Such a long time.”

“Aye. And in all that time I’ve never known her to cook something I didn’t like.”

“You must be easy to please.”

“Or perhaps she is as gifted as you, my lady, and can see in my heart what I like before I tell her.”

Kylia laughed. “If only it were that simple.”

“Isn’t it?” Grant lowered his hand and set aside his scone, suddenly serious. “Are you telling me that you can’t see into my heart?”

She shook her head.

He seemed almost relieved. “But you said you had seen me long before I came to your shores.”

“Aye. For I have glimpses of the past and the future. But only glimpses, my lord. And not always when it is convenient.”

That had him smiling. “I suppose it would be disconcerting to have a man’s face suddenly appearing in your line of vision.”

“Aye. Especially when I might be swimming, or riding amid the clouds on Moonlight’s back,