Page 30 of Ironling
The smell of horses and hay was heavy inside the stables, although he found it to be a brighter space than he’d expected. Dozens of humans and horses moved about, and somewhere a farrier hammered shoes onto a hoof.
Lady Aislinn was easy to find, standing not far from the entrance, her golden hair gathered up into braids and pinned to her head. His beast rumbled with desire at the curve of her long neck, wisps of hair falling along her nape.
By the gods, stop it,he told the beast and himself.
He’d no business here in the stables or with the lady of the castle if she wasn’t at his forge. If he’d been back in Kaldebrak panting after one of Chieftain Kennum’s three daughters, the chief wouldn’t hesitate to lop off Hakon’s head with a dull battleaxe.
A halfling had no place thinking of an orc chief’s daughter, nor a human nobleman’s daughter.
He had to stop thinking of her when she wasn’t with him and longing for the moment she returned. He had to stop enjoying the sound of her voice when she spoke in that animated way of hers, hands fluttering and swooping as she explained this project or that idea. He had to stop admiring the sharp cut of her mindand bright sparkle of her eyes. And he most assuredly had to stop dreaming about how the nip of her waist curved out into wide hips that swayed mesmerizingly as she walked in those draping blue skirts and would perfectly fill his hands.
He meant to find a mate—something he couldn’t do if he kept mooning over Lady Aislinn. It didn’t warrant even entertaining the thought of claimingheras his mate, nor that she would ever accept such an affront.
Much as he begrudged the old head blacksmith, one thing Fearghas said at least was true. Hakon had to remember his place—and it wasn’t with Lady Aislinn.
That rational part of him wasn’t the one that snapped to attention, though, when Lady Aislinn made a noise of frustration at the man standing before her. It was the beast that growled inside him in warning as the man, Aodhan, captain of the guard, stood firm, frowning down at her.
He knew Aodhan to be a good, noble sort. Stoic and strict, his brown hair and beard were shorn close to his skin. A scar bisected the left side of his tanned face, perpetually pulling it down into something of a scowl. Still, from what Hakon had seen and heard of him, he was a fair captain, highly respected by the knights and castle staff.
But right then, with him frowning down atherlike that, Hakonhatedhim.
“I insist, my lady. You cannot be without guards.”
“I’m only going to Granach! An hour!”
“That’s an hour any vagabond would have on us, my lady.”
Lady Aislinn grumbled, arms crossing over her chest. “It’s just unnecessary. I’ve gone to the Brádaigh estate hundreds of times—withouta chaperone.”
“Guards, not chaperones,” said Captain Aodhan in a voice that spoke of having said so many times before. “And that wasbefore.”
Hakon couldn’t see Lady Aislinn’s face, but her displeasure permeated the air, and most everyone else in the stables had made themselves scarce as the heiress and captain locked horns.
The beast gnashed its teeth—who was this male to deny her?And, on his next breath,How dare she ever be left unprotected?
If anyone would protect her, it washim.
“I will go with Lady Aislinn.”
Silence met his offer.
Lady Aislinn turned to behold him with surprise. Captain Aodhan just raised a brow.
Clearing his throat, Hakon dared another few steps inside.Damn it all.
“I’m headed to Granach myself. I can accompany Lady Aislinn.”
Another beat of silence, Lady Aislinn blinking at him before—
“That suits me just fine. Hakon will go with me.”
“My lady,” Captain Aodhan sighed, “you still must have guards. No offense to Master Hakon, but you needarmedprotection.”
Hakon had just enough sense, and control of his beast, to clench his tusks to his gums to stop himself from telling the captain he’d happily rip any threat to Lady Aislinn apart with his bare hands—or showing him the dagger and hatchet he always carried. It paid to be prepared.
“Who would dare attack with an orc beside me?”
“Criminals will always dare. The scum that attacked Sorcha Brádaigh is still at large. So you’ll have a full complement.”
