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  Faris watched as Lily worked, seemingly oblivious of his scrutiny. He liked watching her move; loved the way she’d flick back her hair when it fell forward, how in that second he’d catch a glimpse of her lovely long neck. He wanted to kiss it now. In fact, he would. Getting up from his seat by the window of the inn, he walked over, put his arms around her waist from behind and kissed the exact spot on her neck he’d been watching. He snuggled into its warmth; could feel her pulse against his lips.

  She laughed and squirmed. “I’m busy, Kilt.”

  “Never too busy for me, I hope?” he asked.

  Lily turned in his arms. “No, never.” She kissed him tenderly and it turned into a long, passionate embrace. When they parted, she looked breathless. “What was that about?”

  “Am I not allowed to show my love?”

  “Your love?” She looked surprised by his use of the word, but quickly collected herself. She kissed him once again, softly and swiftly. “Don’t ever hesitate. It’s just not like you to be so demonstrative.”

  He sighed and let her go. He sat himself down on the bed. “I’m very aware that you’re one woman among a group of men. I don’t want to rub it in that you’re all mine.”

  It was her turn to sigh. “Well, I want you to rub it in. I’d quite enjoy the attention.”

  “Oh?” It was Kilt’s turn to look surprised. “Do you feel ignored?”

  She stared at him with a scornful expression. “Kilt, how could I? You spend so much time with me, and you share your innermost thoughts with me to the point where I want to cover my ears and yell, ‘no more!’.”

  His gaze narrowed. “Less of the sarcasm, please. We were enjoying a nice moment.”

  “We could enjoy so many more if you’d only let me in.” Lily turned away and continued carefully packing goods into sacks and saddlebags. She inhaled a bunch of fleshy leaves. “Ah, I love the smell of fresh borrega. We’ll have some deliciously flavored stews through Leaf-fall as this dries.”

  Kilt wasn’t ready to let their discussion go. “Let you in? Where?”

  Now she looked at him with exasperation, before moving across to where he sat. Tapping his head, she said, “In here, you fool. That is the place I want to be permitted to glimpse.”

  Ignoring her plea, he pulled her small, voluptuous body closer. “Well, I know where I want to be in,” he said, his tone lascivious now.

  She pushed away gently, slightly wearily. “I’m busy and you’re not taking me seriously.”

  “I am,” he replied, his own exasperation matching hers. “Now come here, one of your bodice’s strings has loosened. I’ll tighten it,” he offered, the tone in his voice and glint in his eye suggesting otherwise.

  Lily deliberately moved further from him. “Besides, it’s not worth trying to be serious when you’re in this mood.”

  “What mood?”

  “The one that is hoping for a tumble in the bed without talking.”

  “Oh, Lily, isn’t that what every man is hoping for?” he asked, frustration spilling over. “You’re ruining what could have been some precious time alone together.”

  She didn’t answer him; she gave him an arch glance instead as she packed away some threads and new needles, ticking them off her list.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked, feeling injured.

  “Is that a genuine question?” she commented, looking up from her list.

  “Of course it is.”

  “Because I’m not sure you want the honest answer.” Lily’s hands were on her hips now, the list momentarily forgotten.

  “Don’t I?”

  “No. Because honesty would require you to confront who you are, Kilt Faris. I’ve been with you for a decade now. I’ve healed your aches and stitched your wounds, I’ve washed your clothes and cooked for you. I’ve been your loyal companion and I’ve made love to you throughout that time and never tired of you. I’ve—”

  “You’re a perfect woman, Lily.” He cut across her words with a triumphant grin.

  She looked sadly back at him. “Everything’s a jest to you, Kilt.” She turned away. “Even us.”

  “That’s not true,” he said, scrambling forward across the bed. “Don’t be like this, Lily. I really don’t know how to make you happy. Frankly, I didn’t know you were unhappy.”

  “I’m not,” she said, returning to her packing.

  “You sound it.”

  “No, I’m disappointed, that’s all. I feel as though I’m always on the outside, Kilt. You only let me get so close and then you seem to draw curtains around yourself.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You have secrets. They shut me out.”

  “Me?” he asked, sounding astonished. “No! How can you accuse me of that after so long together?”

  “You’re lying. There’s something restless inside you that only you control, only you know about, only you glimpse. I can only get so far with you and it’s because of that invisible line you’ve drawn around yourself that I know you can never fully love me the way I want to be loved. You take me and my affections for granted, Kilt. And the saddest part is, I’m a little trapped by how much you all need me. I’m not being a martyr, I’m simply stating a fact.”

  He stared at her, genuinely hurt. “How can you say that?”

  She looked back at him, sad and resigned. “When did you last tell me you loved me?”

  “A moment ago, I think!”

  “Did you? Did you actually come in here with the full intention of looking into my eyes and telling me you love me? No. You came in here to enjoy some lovemaking. I don’t mean to complain, Kilt. But the fact is, you don’t show you love me, and never, not once have you ever uttered the words, I love you, Lily.” She held up her hand. “I know what you’re going to say. The thing is you probably do love me in your own curious way. You are good to me and you keep me safe and you’ve been a strong figurehead for Leo. I’ve been a part of your life over these years, and that has been wonderful. But—” She shrugged. “I don’t know what else to do for you. I share every ounce of myself physically and emotionally. You don’t or perhaps can’t reciprocate in the same manner.”

  Kilt looked pained. He sighed. “But how do you know you love me? You’ve hardly lived, Lily. You could meet any handsome fellow tomorrow and fall head over heels.”

  “Don’t turn this on me. I’m not looking for anyone else and I’d love to know how you imagine someone handsome and available is going to stumble across me when I choose to spend my life in the forest with you. I only come into town twice an anni! Besides, we’re talking about you and how you treat me. And by the way, your suggestion is ridiculous.”

  “Don’t be angry,” he said, reaching for her. “I’m so sorry, Lily. Truly, I am.”

  She allowed him to draw her into his arms, relaxing into them, and he could tell she didn’t want to prolong this conversation. “I’m not angry.” Her expression became more wistful. “I suppose I am as happy as you permit, Kilt.” Her careful words were not lost on him.

  “How can I make this better between us?”

  “Let down your guard with me. I’m hardly a stranger and I would never do anything to hurt you or be disloyal to you.” She stroked his hair, touching the first silvering at his temple. “Our relationship is a decade old, or do you forget?”

  He shook his head and kissed her softly. “No, you’ve saved me a fortune in brothel fees.”

  Lily’s eyes widened in horror and she mock-swiped at him. “That is really going to cost you, Master Faris!”

  He laughed, inwardly sighing with relief that she was keen to lighten the moment. He hugged her more tightly, knowing something profound needed to be said now to secure her faith in him. “I’ll have to marry you soon, Lily.”

  That caught her attention. She didn’t speak immediately, but stared at him silently, searching his eyes. “Do you mean that?” she said, her eyes glistening, her voice soft, unsure.

  “I’ve never meant anything more
deeply. We’re as good as husband and wife now. Let’s make it official as soon as we can.”

  Lily embraced him tightly. “You don’t have to do this.”

  He laughed, twirled her around. “This is going to make all the boys happy.”

  “Are you sure? Jewd won’t mind?”

  He made a dismissive gesture. “He told me only last moon that if I didn’t hurry up, he’d ask you and steal you from beneath my nose.”

  She smiled. “Well, it’s tempting. I’m sure Jewd shares more with me than you ever could!” She didn’t say it unkindly, though. Then she laughed. “And Leo? You think he’ll be happy?”

  “Don’t be vain. Leo got over you years ago.”

  “Says the great father figure!”

  “Well, in a way that’s been my role.”

  “You could have fooled me,” she said but her voice was light.

  Kilt frowned. “What makes you say that?”

  She smiled, and again it was gentle. “Kilt,” she began, her voice affectionate, “you have left all the rearing to myself and Jewd. I’ve played the maternal role and Jewd has been at his side in everything. I’m sure I’m not being unkind when I say that if you do see yourself as a father figure, then you’ve been the most remote father I can imagine. Surely you can’t deny that you keep him at arm’s length?” She frowned. “I don’t mean that unkindly either, my love. I understand that being a kingmaker is hard enough without playing father to him. In fact, I’ve told Leo time and again that it’s not that you don’t like him, but that you have to keep a distance in order to keep what we’re trying to achieve in perspective. He knows that you will likely have to make hard decisions and they can’t be clouded by your affection for him.”

  “He thinks I don’t like him?”

  “He used to. But he’s older now.” She shrugged. “He accepts that this is how you are with him.”

  “And how am I with him?”

  She regarded him quizzically now. “Distant is how I’d describe it. I’ve watched you. You never sit near him. You certainly never touch him. You always cast off duties that might involve Leo to Jewd. You disappear for long periods when all of us are together. And it’s got worse, rather than better. You spent more time with him as a youngster but you seem to have pulled back as he’s grown and matured. Leo is perceptive, Kilt. Surely you can see how he might interpret this as a lack of love?”

  Kilt felt sick, and angry with himself. “I’ve just spent the last couple of hours with Leo,” he bleated. “I can’t believe—”

  “Yes, I know you have. But this is how you behave. You go for weeks avoiding any sort of close contact and then, whoosh!” she said, making a sweep of her hand. “You do something like this morning, as though you’ve come out of some stupor or you can bear to be near him for a short burst. Then you’re gone again.”

  “I wanted to see you,” he explained, sounding injured, but his mind was racing across all of Lily’s observations. He hadn’t realized it was so obvious.

  “I know you did, and I’m glad you came to see me,” she said, kissing him gently. “But once again you’ve left Leo with Jewd.”

  “Not exactly. As we stand here I suspect he is getting a taste of all that he’s been missing.”

  She caught on immediately. “Oh, Kilt, not The Velvet Curtain?”

  “It’s part of his education. We’ve been raising a sovereign, my love. He has to experience all that we can give him and The Velvet Curtain is integral to growing up. It’s a rite of passage for all the young men in my band.”

  “Led loudly by yourself and Jewd, no doubt.”

  “Not anymore. I am a one-woman man. So let me prove it. I’ll buy a ring next time we’re in town, I promise, and I will talk to the preacher about a wedding in the next few moons.”

  Lily gave a soft squeal of delight before adding: “I can’t believe the lengths I’ll go to in order to get a new dress!”

  Faris grinned, taking plea sure in Lily’s obvious joy. Lily asked so little of him and yet had brought so much to the outlaws. It was true that he’d taken her support and constant presence for granted. “You may have what ever you want, my love. But there is a favor I need.”

  “Oh?”

  He nodded. “A man called Freath will be making contact soon. He’s from the palace.”

  “Freath? Why do I know that name?”

  “He’s the one Leo has declared his favorite enemy alongside you-know-who.”

  Comprehension spread across Lily’s face. “Of course, the treacherous manservant.”

  Faris nodded. “The very one.”

  “And he’s contacted you?” she asked, incredulous.

  Faris hesitated. “Not directly. But in a roundabout way he has. It’s certainly me he’s after but he’s being deliberately coy, as if protecting me. It doesn’t add up. I want to know what he knows.”

  “Isn’t that dangerous?”

  “Not if I take the right precautions—and you know me.”

  “This isn’t just a chance for you to wear one of my skirts, is it?”

  “Lily, how unkind,” he said, feigning indignation. “No,” he began again, turning more serious. “There’s more to this than meets the eye. Freath is coming to me and he’s coming with stealth and care, it seems. He’s found me in the same way that if I wanted to find me I would. Does that make sense?”

  “You mean, he’s not screaming your name from the rooftops.”

  “Yes. Word has got through he is bringing only a small party. He plans to slip his soldier escort.”

  “All right, so how does this involve me?”

  “He has a companion. Just keep an eye on him for me, that’s all.”

  “One of the men can’t?”

  “You’re far less obvious. I don’t want you to do anything dangerous; I just want Freath alone and feeling vulnerable. I have no intention of talking to him in front of his companion.”

  “How far do I take my spying duties?”

  Faris shrugged. “Well, don’t sleep with him, my love,” he laughed, avoiding her determined slap, “but stick close enough.”

  “Don’t let him out of my sight, you mean.”

  “Exactly. We are going to separate them somehow and I want someone inconspicuous watching the friend to know if there is anything sinister about Freath’s intentions.”

  She sighed. “Fine. When?”

  “In the next couple of days. Now, forget that packing. Let me show you how much I care about you.” He arched an eyebrow.

  Lily fell back into his arms and they toppled together onto the bed. Faris tried desperately to lose himself in their affections but at the back of his mind his demon, his ever-present companion, began to gnaw more urgently. He was shocked by Lily’s observation; the fact that Leo had noticed as well meant that Jewd had long been aware of the deliberate distance Kilt had created between himself and the king. Jewd was too shrewd to make his queries as pointed as Lily; no, his friend would watch and make up his own mind. Kilt would have to be very, very careful from here on. He’d given his word to Brennus and would not break it, but in order to keep it he was going to have to exercise still more control while making a greater effort to close that gap between himself and Leo.

  Three

  On the other side of the realm, in a sparsely populated hamlet not far from Minton Woodlet, a dark-eyed youth with hair the color of damp soil broke his fast with a bowl of creamed oats. He sat quietly at a plain scrubbed table and stared out of a small window into the overcast, drizzly day that the south was experiencing. From time to time he’d trickle a small amount of thick milk into his bowl to cool and liquefy the steaming, delicious glug.

  There were only three small rooms to the tiny cottage and a man bustled in from one of the others now. “Nearly done?” he asked brightly. “Did I get it right?”

  The youngster turned and nodded. “Delicious,” he said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

  “Good. Hurry up and finish. I’d like us to get going early,�
�� the man continued conversationally, leaning to look out of a window as he poured himself some dinch from the pot simmering at the fire. “It’s not too cold but the wet weather means you should be able to find us some saramac. I have to go out for a short while. Just to Minton Woodlet.”

  The youth kept ladling the oats into his mouth, eating precisely, swallowing carefully.

  “Oh, and excellent news, my boy. I don’t know what you did but the hens are laying again and Bonny’s leg is healed fully. She’s going to be just fine. I’d like to think it was my herbals,” the man said, turning to stare affectionately as the boy scraped the last of the oats from his bowl, “but I know it was you.”

  The youth put his spoon into the bowl with a soft clang and looked up. “Not all me.” He shrugged, self-consciously. “I like to use it for good.”

  “I know. Just remember, we must keep those skills between us. Never show them off. Never.”

  The boy nodded. “I know that. I’m finished,” he said, standing. He lifted the bowl and jug to take them outside to rinse.

  “All right, then. You leave that. I can clear things up. Let’s get you on your way. You know what to look for. I need as many of the fungi as you can find.”

  “You won’t be long, will you?”

  “No, Piven.”

  Piven nodded. “Be safe, Greven,” he said, slinging a small sack around his body and reaching for his hat from the hook behind the door.

  “You too, my boy.” Greven smoothed away the flopping dark waves of hair and kissed Piven’s forehead, as he always did when they said goodbye.

  Piven regarded him gravely. “The sores have almost gone.”

  Greven nodded. “I can hardly believe it. All that’s left to remind me I’ve had leprosy is this tremor,” he said, holding out a hand.