The King's Sword (15 page)

Ula shook her head. “But it made her stronger. That child took up the sword and carried it all the way to Merisgale alone.” The woman shrugged. “She has hated me these many years and I kept away from her.”

“Because you are afraid of her?”

“No. I kept away because it would cause her pain and because of the River Blanch. When I returned home, Theora’s death is what the river haunted me with. It was the same when I crossed again with you.” Ula’s hands shook. “It is the only time in my life that I ever considered allowing the dark forces to have the sword. Theora was my friend and I know what I did had to be done but it has never allowed me peace.”

Ronan regarded her expression closely, suddenly feeling sorry for her. She was like him. She lived with a death that rode guilt into her with every breath she took. He knew how that felt.

“You may continue with me, Ula,” Ronan finally said. “This is the second time you’ve made me doubt you. Do not do it again.”

“I will not. I have laid it all before you,” Ula vowed.

“All except why I saw you as a beautiful young woman yesterday,” he amended and she smiled. “But I shall allow you that one secret. As you say, we all have ours to keep.”

“You have no secrets.” Ula tilted her head. “Your eyes give away everything about you.”

“Do they?” Ronan allowed himself to smile.

“It is why the centaur shows you respect even though you stand in the way of the sword.” Ula nodded in the direction of the camp. “And why they follow you and do as you say.”

“The boy follows me because he sees me as a father figure. I accept that. Keegan comes with us out of fear that I will keep his horses. And Fiona is here because she was sent by the wizard Thestian,” Ronan corrected.

“You are not a very bright blacksmith are you?” Ula’s lips curled. “You make excuses rather than accept that people care for you, or respect you. Even a sniveling thief looked at you with admiration.”

Ronan shifted. “Because he thought I would kill him if he did not.”

Ula waved a finger in the air. “He was afraid of Keegan Yore. He was not afraid of you.” She smirked then. “And Fiona may be here to make certain that sword goes to Merisgale but when she did not know who you were, she was still drawn to you.”

“You knew about that?” Ronan felt slightly embarrassed.

“Keegan runs his mouth more than usual when he’s been drinking,” Ula told him as she stepped forward. “Let me look at your arm. The broth I gave you should have it healing quickly.”

“What exactly was that foul tasting mess you made me drink?” Ronan asked as she unwrapped his arm to peek at his wound. Strangely it did not hurt.

“Cow urine,” She answered.

“What?” Ronan’s stomach turned but Ula’s laughter settled it again. “Witch.”

“It was just water, herbs, and a bit of healing magic.” She cut her eyes up at him. “I wouldn’t have fed you urine unless you were dying.”

“Remind me not to die when you are close by.” Ronan wrinkled his nose. She rewrapped his arm.

“It is healing quickly.”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Ronan told her.

“A little spell to ease your suffering.” She shrugged. “I thought you would need it after that exchange between you and Fiona last night. You may not remember but if you hadn’t have been ill you would have needed both of your arms.”

Ronan frowned. “You should have healed me earlier then.”

“I tried. You would not drink the broth remember?” Ula looked at him and he grinned.

“And I wouldn’t have this morning if you hadn’t forced me.” He turned, waving her to walk with him back to the camp. “I want to trust you, Ula. Do not make me regret it.” She merely nodded.

“It does.” Ronan reached for Sorcha and swung atop her back. He held his hand down to Fiona. She stared at his fingers. Surely he didn’t mean for her to ride with him.

“I’ll take no chances. You were sent to protect the sword.” Ronan could see her thoughts flickering in her golden-flecked eyes. “The sword stays with me.” Fiona still hesitated a moment longer, then hesitantly took his hand and allowed him to swing her up behind him.

“You’ve ruined my horses.” Keegan growled. “Two weeks ago if you’d done that, she would have bucked both of you to the ground.”

“She likes me.” Ronan patted Sorcha’s neck. “And she’s not ruined. She’s just right.” Keegan grunted before turning his horse toward the road. One by one the others followed.

Arien soon took the lead, scouting for dangers ahead. Ronan watched him, noting the smile on the boy’s face. He felt important with a task that would benefit the group. And he was as brave as any soldier.

Keegan allowed his horse to fall back and rode along side Ronan. “I mean where do you call home? What do you do there? Are you married? Do you have children?”

“No husband,” Ronan said without thinking.

“That’s right. No husband. No children,” Fiona answered. “I live in a place called Hovinda. And when I’m not doing work for Merisgale, I’m training.”

“Serpentines are excellent gardeners,” Ula offered suddenly, joining the conversation without being invited. “Hovinda has the best soil for herb growing I’ve ever seen.”

Ronan felt Fiona stiffen behind him. “Yes, we are and it does.”

“What do you grow in your garden?” Ronan asked, attempting to ease the tension between Fiona and Ula. He didnt like it, especially since Ula had offered him the truth of what was between them.

“I grow vegetables. Some grow herbs. Others harvest larger crops.”

“Profitable.” Keegan nodded.

“I bought some gullberries from a Serpentine in Fullerk once that were the best I’d ever used. They were picked at exactly the right time. Too soon and they would have been sour. Too late and they would have rotted before I could use them.” Ula continued, “As it happened, they were perfect and I was able to save someone’s life with them.”

“That should have been quite a change for you,” Fiona said then her words snapped off when Ronan reined the horse. He could not let this continue or it would grow worse. If it weren’t stopped now, eventually there would be another episode to deal with like the one before. And there might not be Sledgers about to put an end to their fighting again.

“Ride ahead,” He told Keegan and Ula.

“Let it go,” Ula murmured but Ronan just looked at her, waiting for her to do as he wished. She sighed and continued on. Ronan did not dismount.

“We were ambushed by centaurs. One of them was going to kill Arien. She saved him. She held my hand when we crossed the River Blanch. And I believe she was fighting the Sledgers right alongside the both of us.” Ronan kept his voice low and non-threatening. “I understand your pain, Fiona, but she does not deserve to suffer because of it. She suffers enough with the memory of what she had to do.”

“You were not there,” Fiona argued. “My grandmother was a good woman. She never hurt anyone. She would not.”

“No I wasn’t there. And you were just a child. Your memory is of a child’s point of view. Have you done nothing yourself at one time or another that would frighten someone so young? Would they understand your motives?” Ronan shook his head. “And no one is without flaw or weaknesses.”

Fiona said nothing so he continued. “I have doubted Ula many times. She is hard to understand. But her actions have told me that she means to only do what is right.”

“I shouldn’t have been made to see it.”

Ronan turned then so he could see her. “No, you shouldn’t have. She told me that it was your grandmother that made the choice of having you witness what happened.” Fiona’s eyes lowered and he saw a tear roll down her cheek. “So she has hurt you by making that choice.”

“It is easier to hate someone you don’t know than it is someone you love,” she whispered.

“You are not a child anymore, Fiona,” Ronan said softly. “And she is older and haunted daily by what she has done. Let her live with the punishments she sentences herself. She does not need yours atop that.”

He touched her knee, gave it a squeeze. “You do not have to like her. You can hate her if you wish. All I ask is that you be civil and as a favor to me, do not be cruel to her.”

“Why do you think I would do you any favors?” She blinked back any other tears she might have had, forced her pain away.

“Because you are still here and have not slapped me yet.” He smiled. “And because you took care of me when I was ill.” Fiona met his gaze, and then slowly inclined her head.

“That was easy enough. Perhaps I should ask for that kiss as well.” He was joking with her and he was relieved when she rolled her eyes and smiled. “No? I suppose it would be pressing my luck.” He faced forward and urged Sorcha forward.

* * *

“We are stopping?” Keegan called back.

“I need to stretch my legs.” Ronan answered. He ran a hand over his face, letting his fingers slide over the stubble that had begun to stick out roughly from his jaw.

“Is anything wrong?” Keegan circled his horse around as Ronan walked away from the horse and Fiona. Ronan didn’t like the way Keegan scrutinized his face.

Ronan shook his head. “No. Just sore and need a moment to think.” The others took advantage of the break, each dismounting to either relieve themselves or to stretch their own limbs. When he looked back at the horseman, he found Keegan’s eyes still narrowed on his face.

“
Something
is wrong. You look as if you are ready to bite off the head of a small rodent.” Keegan swung to the ground and fell into step beside Ronan. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing.” The last thing Ronan wanted was more embarrassment. “Weariness has made me grumpy.” He made a production of stretching his arms and legs, hoping Keegan would just leave him alone. No such luck.

“It’s that woman, isn’t it?” Keegan pinpointed the problem immediately and it ground on Ronan’s nerves.

“What?”

Keegan shrugged his large shoulders. “A beautiful woman riding with you. No telling how long since you’ve had one in your bed.” He grunted, glancing back at the others as he lowered his voice, “The boy is right. By taking on the responsibility of delivering the sword, it makes you one of the king’s guards. And there are some privileges that come with the title. She could not reject you if you sought companionship with her.”

“Did you just suggest I rape the woman?” Ronan stopped and faced Keegan.

“I suggest no such thing. But a woman thinks up reasons to deny herself. She’d have no room for that.” Keegan appeared insulted and Ronan frowned “Of course. I know what you meant. I’m not in the best of moods.” Ronan tried to make up for his words.

“So you look to pick a fight with me?” Keegan’s feathers were not smoothed by Ronan’s attempt.

“I suppose I was. You seem the most promising for the job.” Ronan suddenly chuckled. “And you are right. It is the woman that has me this way. Perhaps she should ride with you.”

Keegan shook his head and held up his hands. “No thank you. You are more patient than I. I filled myself in Fullerk and I would become ill tempered.

We’ll reach the Jobi Mountains tomorrow. The horses will need to stop for rest. Lots of caves in the foothills we will be traveling through,” Keegan suggested and Ronan laughed.

“You mean for me to drag her off into a hole like a beast?” He laughed again and Keegan grinned, eyes slanting in Fiona’s direction.

“She doesn’t strike me as someone completely opposed to beastly activities.” The horseman turned and headed away from him. Ronan didn’t stand there too long contemplating exactly what she might be opposed to. Instead he walked back to his horse and checked the pack.

“I didn’t think that you might not be comfortable sitting behind me. If you would rather lead the horse, I don’t mind swapping places with you,” He said when Fiona stretched her legs.

“I don’t usually ride. I walk.” She admitted, rubbing the inside of thighs with her palms. He wanted to do that for her. That realization made him look away.

“I didn’t ride myself until I started this trek.” Ronan gave Sorcha’s flank a pat. “I’m getting better and this old girl is pretty patient. She doesn’t require much from me and usually goes the way she is supposed to without being told.”