The Blacksmith Queen (The Scarred Earth Saga, #1) - G.A Aiken Page 0,41
a pony.”
“Of course you’re not! You’re a mighty stallion.”
“That’s not going to work with me either.” Arms crossed over his chest, he leaned in and said, “And tell your father to stop asking Cadell for the same thing. He’s getting cranky. And when Cadell gets cranky . . .”
“I’m very hurt,” she complained.
Caid turned her around by her shoulders and gave her a little push so that she’d keep moving. “No, you’re not. But if you keep asking, you might be more hurt than you or your father would like.”
Instead of being frightened by his stern tone, Keeley simply laughed and continued on.
* * *
Laila stood on the second-floor landing, her arms resting on the banister, and her gaze focused on the floor. She was thinking of their upcoming travels, debating strategies and all the different ways they could get to their destination. There were at least three routes they could use to reach the Witches of Amhuinn, but none of them seemed safe enough.
Since all of them were less than safe, she focused on deciding which would be the fastest.
“There you are,” Laila heard from behind her.
Young Beatrix held out a scroll. Unrolling it, Laila looked it over.
“A map?”
“Yes.” Beatrix pointed. “After some research, I think this way is the safest and fastest.”
“What about—”
“It’s true,” she cut in. “Duke Sangor’s territory is along this route, but he moves his entire household to the outer reaches of his lands from the autumn to winter seasons, which means, at most, we’ll only have to worry about a few guards getting in our way. My sisters can handle them while we keep moving.”
“Uh-huh.”
Beatrix finally looked Laila in the eyes. “I see,” she said. “My eldest sister has convinced you that I’m just a young girl with no sense.”
“Your sister never said—”
“I am young. That is true. But I’m very logical and I’m not about to put myself at risk, now am I?”
But she was willing to put both her eldest sisters in danger if it meant she could get through Sangor’s territories safely.
“Look over the map,” she insisted. “I’m sure you’ll agree with me. But if not, that’s fine too. I just ask you to keep an open mind.” She did something that she probably thought was a smile, but actually looked more like a grimace.
As soon as Beatrix went back to her room and the door closed behind her, Gemma came out of her own room and quickly made her way to Laila’s side.
“What did my sister want?”
“She gave me this map. She suggests we travel this way.”
Gemma snatched the map from Laila’s hand and studied it closely.
“Sangor’s territory,” Gemma muttered. She looked off, eyes narrowing. “He moves his household to his eastern territories in the fall and winter months. That will mean only a few of the guards will be around to protect the main house.”
“That’s what your sister said.”
Shaking her head, Gemma asked, “Why does she know that?”
“I don’t know. She’s your sister.”
“I am well aware that she’s my . . .” Gemma frowned, her focus no longer on Laila. “Now what’s that about?”
Laila looked over the railing to see her brother and Keeley enter from a back hallway. Keeley seemed to have returned to her chatty, comfortable self. Something Laila thought her brother found annoying. And yet, he didn’t appear annoyed. He didn’t exactly seem happy either, but not annoyed.
And he always looked annoyed. She couldn’t think of a time when her brother didn’t look annoyed. Just like their father.
“You know, I can’t . . . I can’t think about this right now.” Laila stepped back from the railing. “It’s just too much.”
“More than too much.” Gemma handed the map back to Laila. “I’m going to bed.”
“You seem more worried than I’d expect a War Monk to be,” Laila said before Gemma could disappear into her room. “Is that because you’re worried about the Devourer catching up with us? The Devourer finding his way here? Or are you worried about your sister being queen?”
Gemma had her hand on the door handle but glanced back at Laila. “Do I have to pick just one?”
CHAPTER 8
“You have to do it,” Keeley told Caid once more.
“I won’t. I refuse.”
The stubborn centaur had his arms crossed over that massive chest of his and his head turned away from her, but he was in his human form, so she wasn’t worried about getting kicked in the head.