Page 61 of Paladin's Hope

The housekeeper hung her head. “Should’ve told you right out,” she said. “With him in the room. But I didn’t know you, and didn’t know your people and I got scared.” She looked over to the couch. “Mebbe your friend wouldn’t be lying there if I had.”

“You probably knocked that bolt askew with your poker,” said Piper, “and saved either my life or his. I don’t know how good a shot Thomas was, but I’d rather take a chance with a wild shot than an aimed one.”

Missus Hardy grunted. She took a step, carefully, then a larger one. “My legs feel so light now,” she said, with bleak wonder. “Hips don’t quite want to work right just yet.”

“It’ll come back,” said Marcus. “You can put a horse in leg hobbles, but they learn to run again quick enough.” He reached out to steady her when she took another large step and wobbled.

“Before we go,” said Piper, “may I check your ankles? I don’t mean to be rude, but I want to make sure there’s nothing you can’t fix with time and salve.”

The housekeeper crooked up one corner of her mouth. “Been years since so many young men were trying to get beneath my skirts, and now I got two in one day!”

Galen cackled. Piper ducked his head. “I promise to be entirely a gentleman,” he said.

“Well, damn,” said Missus Hardy, and Galen laughed again.

* * *

“I hope Missus Hardy will be all right,” fretted Piper a little later, as they prepared to leave.

“She’ll be fine,” said Galen. “She’ll probably strip the place to the rafters before she goes, and more power to her.”

“I wish she’d let us send someone to escort her to her village.”

“I offered,” said Marcus, “but she said that if she did, they’d all be expecting me to marry her when she got there.”

“Fine figure of a woman,” offered Jorge.

“Already got someone,” said Marcus. “But feel free to stay and make the offer.”

“Then who would take the horses back while you’re all having a pleasure cruise down the river?”

Galen knew, if Jorge didn’t, that Marcus had been married before the god died. His wife thought he was dead, but so far as Galen knew, the other paladin had remained faithful in the four years since.

A few days ago, he’d thought it foolish to stay loyal to a woman who believed herself a widow. A few days ago…well. It had been a long few days. He looked over at Piper, who was carefully settling Earstripe into Shane’s arms. “Try to keep his leg elevated,” he said. “And try not to jostle him. And…”

Galen intervened to rescue his fellow paladin. “It will be fine,” he said. “And if it isn’t fine, at least it will be quick.”

“I know,” said Piper. “I’m just worrying, because if I worry enough, maybe it won’t all go bad.” He flashed Galen a wry look. “This is the other reason I got out of dealing with live subjects.”

Galen put his hands on the doctor’s shoulders, leaned in and kissed his forehead. Piper blinked at him. “What was that for?”

“For being you.”

He led the doctor to Marcus’s horse. The other paladin was looking at him thoughtfully.

“What?” said Galen.

“Nothing. Here, Doc, we’ve got to ride double and I’m the one least likely to accidentally drop you on your head in the roadway.” He offered Piper a hand, and between him pulling and Galen pushing, they got the doctor settled behind Marcus.

Galen felt a flash of envy. He’d never liked horses, but having Piper pressed up against his back, being pushed against him with every stride…the image had a lot to recommend it. And Marcus is only interested in women and celibate besides. What a waste.

Not that he was riding alone himself. Brindle was already perched at the front of the empty saddle. “Never thought a gnole would say this, but should have brought more horses.”

“I will never let you forget you said that,” said Jorge.

“Sword-human thinks he is so funny.”

Galen hauled himself onto the horse. He was a lousy rider. He knew it, the horse knew it, there was no point in denying it. Brindle shifted to try and give him more space, then settled for clinging to the saddle as they set off at a trot.

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