The Blacksmith Queen (The Scarred Earth Saga, #1) - G.A Aiken Page 0,44

ran back into the castle. Gemma’s father and uncle lowered their heads so they could laugh in peace and her mother just shook her head in disgust, her lip angrily curled.

“I’m all right,” Keran announced as she stumbled back to her horse. “I’m all right.” She mounted and got comfortable in the saddle. “Let’s go,” she said, weaving a bit in her seat before she settled in again.

“Really?” Gemma had to ask her sister.

“At least we know she can fight,” Keeley said before motioning to the centaurs. “Let’s go.”

They set off again, and as soon as they crossed the drawbridge, Archibald pulled it up and closed the gates behind them.

* * *

They rode hard for four days, stopping only when the suns went down, and moving again before the suns rose the next morning.

They skirted towns and cities as best they could, taking the route that Beatrix had suggested from the beginning. They even went through Duke Sangor’s lands without meeting one guard or soldier.

On the fifth day, Caid woke up before anyone else. Samuel was on watch but he’d fallen asleep in the tree he’d been perched in. Caid knew he should yell at the boy, but he seemed to be having enough trouble managing his role as a future War Monk. It wasn’t for everyone.

Gemma, however, seemed to have chosen her life perfectly.

Thankfully, they were moving so much during the day and so exhausted when they finally camped for the night that fighting among the three sisters was kept to a minimum. Although Caid did notice how closely Gemma watched her younger sister.

Caid wasn’t sure how he felt about that until one morning when he was standing behind a large tree to take his morning piss and saw Beatrix making her way back to camp. She moved silently and picked up her step when she saw that the sky was lightening, announcing that the suns were beginning to rise.

She passed right by the tree he was standing behind and he was tempted to jump out and startle her, but he really just wanted to know what she was up to. Because he could sense she was up to something.

Just as Caid finished his business and came around the tree, the rest of the party began to awaken and Beatrix was standing among them.

“What are you doing up?” Keeley asked as she got to her feet.

Beatrix gave that small smile and replied, “Just taking my morning walk.”

“Well, don’t go far when you do that.” Keeley passed her sister and tugged on a strand of her long hair. “All right?”

“Of course.”

Caid watched Keeley head toward a nearby stream and he followed, crouching beside her as she used handfuls of the clear rushing water to wet her hair and face and a rag to scrub her neck.

“I saw your sister coming back to camp before everyone woke.”

Keeley took several gulps of the water before asking, “What is going on with you and Gemma?”

“Pardon?”

“Both of you keep watching where Beatrix goes. I’m not sure what you two are worried about.”

“Gemma’s seen her go off on her own too?”

“Just once. Our second day on the road. But she always takes a morning walk. When we were home, she’d take her walk and then spend the rest of the day reading or going into town to shop at the dressmaker.”

“Keeley—”

“She’s a creature of habit. Stop worrying.”

It might have sounded as though Keeley was arguing with Caid, but he knew she was actually arguing with herself.

“I just want to make sure she’s safe,” he lied.

Keeley let out a breath, placed her hand on his forearm. “Sorry. I’m being snappy. I don’t mean to be.”

“It’s fine. We’re all tired. Good news is we should arrive in the valley by tomorrow.”

“Thank the gods. I’ve never traveled so far or so long before. My back is getting a tad cranky.”

Caid stood and held his hand out for Keeley. She looked at it and he explained, “I thought I’d help since your back is bothering you.”

“Oh. That’s nice.”

He rolled his eyes, but she only giggled and slipped her hand into his. He pulled her up and tried to take his hand back, but Keeley didn’t seem in the mood to release him.

“Let’s hold hands for a little while,” she teased.

“Woman, give me my hand.”

She laughed harder. “You are so easy to irritate.” She tossed his hand away. “Has anyone told you that?”

“Everyone has told me that. You’re not so special.”

“Awwwww,” she said, stepping away, “we both know you’re lying