Chapter Nineteen

"T ell me you found a place with a roof and real beds," Red said to Ox as they exited the castle gate.

Ox was leaning against the railing of the moat bridge, and Red was hopeful the relaxed look on his face meant they had found accommodations for the night that didn't require sleeping under the stars—or more accurately, sleeping under the clouds on the cold, wet ground. As soldiers, they were used to sleeping in harsh conditions, but he did not want to subject Galiena to the misery. Or worse, risk her catching the ague.

"Aye, we did," he said, pushing away from the rail. "Follow me."

Red knew that most people were intimidated by him and usually gave way when they saw him coming, but for Ox people scurried out of the way, leaving a wide path. He was a mountain of a man—the largest Red had ever seen—who had survived more battles than most, and he had the scars to prove it. He kept his gray hair cropped short, putting every scar, lump, and disfigurement on clear display. His nose had been broken so many times that the bridge of it was nearly flat. Most people found him ugly and frightening, which made him a very useful comrade in difficult situations.

As intimidating as he could be in battle, or when making his way through a crowd, he was often reserved around the fairer sex, shy and self-conscious, avoiding them whenever possible. Most women did not bother to even look his way, and those who did were often repulsed and fearful. But Galiena had not shrunk away from him when introduced. She'd greeted him warmly and smiled up at him as she did everyone. She'd shown no sign of thinking his looks distasteful or his size daunting, despite the fact that she looked like a child standing next to him. Red had wanted to hug her when he saw Ox standing a little taller after they were introduced and Galiena had not looked upon him with disdain or fear.

The streets were still teeming with people even with the late hour. Ox led them down the main street and then through several turns to a tall narrow house with a shop front on the bottom level.

"It cost a fair amount of coin," Ox said as Red inspected the outside of the building, "but the weaver was willing to move his family to a relative's home outside of the village for the right price."

"Where are the horses stabled?" Bard asked.

"Just outside the city walls. There is a stable with a master of good repute. I gave him a few extra pieces of silver as an incentive not to skimp on the feed."

"This will do," Red said and reached for the door handle.

"You should thank Ox," Galiena interjected, pulling on his hand. Turning to the big man, she said, "Please do excuse Red's rudeness. We really are grateful for all you have done."

Red looked down at her face, both amused and annoyed to see the chastising set to her pursed lips as she glared up at him. "Did you just apologize for me again ?"

"Yes," she said in a hushed tone, pushing up on her toes to get closer to him. "You are very thoughtful and considerate with me, but do you know that to your friends you are abrupt and rude? You should show your men appreciation from time to time. It's important. I learned that from my father."

Ox let out a booming laugh and Bard nodded his head, a broad grin splitting his face. "She's right. You should show us more appreciation."

Red scowled at the two men who were getting far too much enjoyment from the situation. Turning back to Galiena, he said, "They are warriors, kitten. They do not need coddling from me."

He didn't expect the sudden blush that colored her cheeks. "You should only call me that in private, Red. Not in front of your men."

She was looking up at him with such an earnest expression that he almost laughed. Just a moment before she had been baring her claws and chastising him, which was a sharp contrast to her sudden shyness and obvious embarrassment. He ignored the soft hoot of amusement from Bard, and the way Ox turned away from them, as though he, too, were embarrassed by the exchange.

Red decided against being sympathetic to her discomfort and request for modesty, focusing instead on the fact that she'd given him her approval to call her by the pet name in private. He couldn't stop the grin that tugged at his lips as he picked up a lock of loose hair that had escaped her braid and wound it around his finger. Even in her disheveled state after a day in the saddle, he thought her breathtaking. She was a soothing balm for his warrior soul. Leaning closer to her, he said in a low murmur, "I can think of far better things to do in private."

She gasped, and her lovely lips formed an O just as the door opened, stopping her from saying anything more. Wolf swung the door wide and motioned for them to enter. "You better get in here before Dane eats what's left of the supper."

Red's stomach growled in response, the small bit of food they'd eaten while waiting for the king not nearly enough sustenance after the day they'd had. Giving Galiena a gentle nudge through the door, he followed her into the building with Bard and Ox directly behind him.

By the time Wolf dropped a heavy wooden bar into the brackets on either side of the door frame to secure it for the night, Red's vision had adjusted to the dim light emitted from a doorway into a back room. A large loom took up one side and on the other side was a table covered in rolled swaths of fabric and cluttered shelves lining the wall. Entering the back room, he was pleased to see a hearth, a table, and a few shelves with dishes, cups, and other essentials.

Dane grabbed a scrap of leather left on the floor by the hearth for the specific purpose of wrapping it around the handle of a metal pot hanging high over the flames in the hearth and lifted it to the table. "I've been keeping yours warm. We have meat pies with turnips and currants. Lucky for us, I think the best baker in town has a shop on the corner of this street. We won't go hungry while we're here."

"But the ale is watered down and tastes like piss," Ox added as he set several tankards on the table, filling them from a large, clay jug. "Unless we are leaving soon, on the morrow I'll be on the hunt for better."

"We aren't leaving for at least another day, but probably will be here longer," Red said, pulling out a bench at the table for Galiena to sit. He took two meat pies from the pot, setting one in front of her as he took a huge bite of the other. It was hot and good. He swallowed it and took a swig of ale which tasted watered down as Ox had mentioned.

He gestured to Galiena to start eating as he said, "Edward ordered us to stay here and keep our eyes open for anything or anyone suspicious."

"Did you give him the missive?" Ox asked in his gravelly voice.

"Aye," Red said, taking another bite and chewing slowly while he tried to figure out why he felt uneasy. "He has a scribe who he thinks can break the code."

"But something is bothering you." Galiena's voice was quiet with exhaustion, and she chewed her food as though it was a daunting chore. She looked up at him through drooping eyelids, the heavy toll of the day catching up with her.

Slipping an arm around her back to help support her, he said, "I have a heavy feeling in my gut, but I can't say why. I thought someone was watching us, but I didn't see anyone unusual in the shadows of the hall, or in the castle yard."

"Do you think The Executioner is here?" Dane asked.

"Probably," Red admitted. He'd yet to tell the men of his connection with The Executioner. It had been a secret he kept from so many for so long because he wanted to face the man alone when he exacted his revenge, and he didn't want the pleasure of killing the despicable man taken from him. He justified his silence by telling himself that once he set eyes on The Executioner and could confirm he was the same man who killed his family, then he would tell them. Until then, knowing the man was a threat to Galiena and to the king would be enough for them.

Changing the topic, he announced, "Galiena has been working on decoding the missive, but if any of you think you have a skill for code-breaking, we'll take any assistance we can get." He reached down into his boot and pulled the copied message out to spread on the table. Red wasn't surprised when Bard was the only man to take the parchment in hand and study it under the candlelight. He knew Ox wasn't literate, despite his attempts to learn to read. And he suspected Wolf and Dane were limited in their ability considering they only recently started their reading and writing lessons at Hawkspur.

Bard blew out a low whistle. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"That leaves you to break the code, Galiena. I don't know that I will be much help," Red said as he took the missive Bard held out to him, "but I will assist in any way I can. Just tell me what you need."

"Parchment, quills, and ink." She tipped her head and furrowed her brow in a way that was becoming familiar to Red. Then she dropped her gaze to the floor as though looking for something, examined the room, then finally focused her eyes on the table as she ran her hand over the smooth, wide expanse of wood. "Sand. I need sand and a sharp stick."

Red rubbed his own hand over the tabletop, understanding that she intended to use the sand as a reusable scroll while she tested theories. "This surface will do? Or do you need something with raised edges to keep the sand in?"

"This will do," she said, then let out a long breath as her shoulders slumped. "I might not be able to break the code, Red…but I suppose that won't matter if the king's scribe is able to decipher it."

"I have more faith in you than any scribe of the king's." He sincerely meant it. She had been resourceful enough to stay hidden and alert when the men entered the alley to discuss treason, and then to steal the missive when the opportunity arose. It took quick wits to run into a street, assess her options, and choose the right man in the blink of an eye to go along with her ploy of playing the drunken husband in order to hide in plain sight from danger. And because of her determination and refusal to be left behind, she'd succeeded in delivering the message to the king and queen of England that might save the life of the prince. He had no doubt that if she set her mind to it, she could decipher the code as well as the best scribes.

"I can find the parchment, quills, and ink on the morrow," Bard offered.

"I'll get the sand," Wolf said.

Red grunted his approval, then got up to inspect the doors and windows, pleased to see that any windows large enough for a man to get through were shuttered and barred. "How many rooms above stairs?"

"Four," Ox replied. "We will take it in turns to have one man sleep man here each night."

"Wolf lost the strength of arms test, so he has the first night," Bard said with a grin.

"Only because you helped Dane pin my hand to the table," he grumbled while glaring at Bard.

"One finger, that's all I put on this hand, the rest was him," Bard said in defense, circling his forefinger in the air.

"I'd rather get it over with anyway," Wolf said, pounding Bard heartily on the back as he reached for the pitcher of ale. "After tonight, I know I have a soft bed awaiting me for—I hope—at least three nights straight. How long will we be here?"

Red shrugged. "Until the king decides otherwise. I'd prefer to stay until The Executioner is caught and Galiena is no longer in danger." Having completed his inspection of the lower level, Red stopped behind Galiena, putting a hand on her shoulder before he even realized what he had done. It was becoming a habit to touch her. "Is there water for washing?"

"Aye," Dane replied eagerly, pointing to several buckets on the floor to the side of the hearth. "I will warm some over the fire and bring it up to you." He'd been part of Hawk's force for nigh on a twelvemonth, but he was still like a pup, always trying to prove himself and seeking approval.

"Thank you, Dane," Galiena said sweetly before Red had a chance to respond.

"Aye," Red grumbled, though inwardly he was amused by the woman's need to constantly make up for what she saw as his rudeness. "It's appreciated." He sighed when Dane stood a little taller after hearing his words of approval. Perhaps his kitten was right.

He looked down when he felt Galiena's shoulders and head rest back against him, pleased by the trusting gesture, especially since they were not "in private," as she had insisted earlier. It only took a moment to realize her reason for seeking his support was because she had actually dozed off. He glanced at the stairwell along the back of the room and determined it was too narrow for him to carry her up the stairs without bobbing her head against the wall.

"Best get you upstairs," Red said to Galiena, "before you fall asleep on the table."

"I'll take the first night," Galiena mumbled as she slumped forward on the table to rest her head on her arms.

"No, kitten," Red said with a chuckle. "That means I'd have to sleep down here, too, and I'd rather not."

"You can have the bed, Red. I'll be fine right here," she said through a wide yawn.

"I'm sure as hell not sharing a bed with Dane," Red drawled. "You can stand up of your own accord, Wife , or I will be forced to put you over my shoulder and carry you up." He knew calling her "wife" would rile her nerves, and he suspected the threat of being thrown over his shoulder would prick her temper long enough to give her the energy to get up the stairs.

He was wrong.

"You wouldn't," she said drowsily. "And just because I called you ‘Husband' once doesn't mean we are married."

Without hesitation, Red hauled her up from the bench, then crouched to wrap his arms around her legs and lift her off the ground. Ignoring her weak protests and the hoots of the men, he started toward the stairs. It wasn't as chivalrous as cradling her in his arms to carry her, but it was the best he could do in the narrow passageway.

The fact that he didn't slide his hand up her leg to grab the tantalizing curve of her backside as she was draped over his shoulder was all the chivalry he could muster at the moment.