The King of Anavrea (Book Two of the Theodoric Saga) Read Free

now.”
    Except from you?
    The thought rose unbidden and she shivered. He
waited for a response. Finally, she managed a nod.
    Outside, from the base of the tower came muffled
shouts. Ireic’s voice called her attention back to him.
    “I need you to act like you are in the safest
place in the world. Pretend I am the love of your life.”
    Lirth could feel her mouth widening in a
sarcastic smile. How I wish. Love the man she met a moment
ago, this stranger to whom she was betrothed?
    “Don't overdo it, though.” His voice whispered
low and gentle with mild amusement at her cool reception. “Just
look enamored enough so I can tell my men it was love at first
sight.”
    He started forward again and Lirth ducked her
head to hide her face against his shoulder. If the confusion she
felt shone in her eyes, she did not want anyone to see. Not him.
Not yet.
    His men preceded them down the rickety stairs.
From the sounds of their collective feet she would guess at least
five men waited on the small landing outside her door.
    The moment Ireic's foot touched the solid earth,
a small disturbance erupted ahead of them. He strode forward.
Beyond the protection of the tower walls the air whipped around
them, biting through her worn layers to nip at her back.
    “Going down,” he warned softly in her ear. He
lowered her feet to the ground. The cold stone beneath her thin
slippers sent shivers up her spine. She clenched her teeth and
struggled not to shake. He did not withdraw. Lirth welcomed the
warmth of the solid arm he placed across her shoulders.
    As she steadied herself and gathered her wayward
cloak about her, one voice rose above the rest clamoring for
attention.
    “My king!”
    After some scuffling, Lirth guessed the one of
the men was shoved to the front.
    Surprisingly Ireic addressed the man directly.
“What news do you bring?”
    “An armed party is headed this way, your
majesty.”
    “How many?”
    “At least one hundred on horseback. They will
reach us in an hour.”
    The arm holding her tightened, a reflection of
the tension in the man.
    “Trahern,” Ireic called. Someone moved nearer on
their right. “Take half the men and head northwest until you reach
the northern trade road. Follow it to the border. We will meet you
in the capital.” He turned; Lirth almost lost her balance.
“Captain?”
    The king steadied her as a new man responded a
few feet to their left. “Aye.” Weariness filled the man’s
voice.
    Ireic continued his instructions. “Head due west
on the most direct route to Ana City. Both of you move as quickly
as possible. Any questions?”
    After a brief and heavy silence, Ireic dismissed
them. The rush of men moving assaulted her ears. Over the noise,
Ireic asked, “Have you ever ridden a horse?”
    “Yes. My brothers would take me out with them
when we were young. I would ride behind them.”
    With his arm guiding her, the king started
walking. “I am going to have you ride in front of me on this
trip.”
    They approached a horse. She could hear the
sound of air being blown in and out of the beast's nose.
    “I am going to mount first,” he warned.
    The king withdrew. She pulled her cloak tighter
around her shoulders, bending her head into the wind. Metal struck
stone and the saddle creaked as horse and gear adjusted to their
new load.
    “Here, your highness.” A new voice spoke. She
jumped as a large gloved hand caught hers and laid it on the warm
shoulder of the horse. “If you would just raise your right foot...”
Out of habit, she obeyed. With expert care, he guided her foot to
the king's boot in the stirrup. And before she could be sure what
happened, she was sitting securely in the saddle with the king's
arm anchoring her in place.
    Ireic's breath brushed her cheek. “Hold onto the
pommel.” He guided her hand to the smooth surface of the
leather-covered raised front of the saddle. “Got it?” His question
was almost drowned in the noise of a bugle sounding a march.
    She