Page 31 of Ironling
“I don’t needsix guardsto visit a friend. What will that say to the people? One and Hakon will be plenty.”
“Four.”
“Two, and I drive myself.”
Captain Aodhan opened his mouth, but after a moment’s thought, closed it with aclick. Finally, he nodded. “Very well, mylady.”
Lady Aislinn sighed in relief as the captain barked over his shoulder, “Tieran, Greenbriar, mount up. Bring the heiress’s carriage.”
Hakon stepped forward to follow Lady Aislinn further into the stables, still a bit dazed by the turn of events. Before he could get far, Captain Aodhan intercepted him. A big, leather-gloved hand landed on the center of his chest, and although the human captain was a head shorter than Hakon, he stared up at him with enough gravity to stop him in his tracks.
“I’m entrusting you with the safety of our heiress,” Aodhan said in a low, threatening voice.
“I’ll protect her with my life.” The beast rumbled with displeasure that anyone would think otherwise.
“See that you do. I’ll send someone to the armory to—”
“No need.” Pulling back his jerkin, Hakon revealed the hidden dagger and hatchet.
Aodhan squinted at them before asking, “You any good with them?”
“I’m a halfling with all my limbs still.”
The captain assessed him, his light-brown gaze uncompromising as he took Hakon’s measure.
Hakon stared back, unwavering.
Nowhere is safer for her than with me.
Whatever Captain Aodhan saw, it apparently satisfied him.
“Don’t fail me, halfling.”
“I’d never fail her, captain.” And, because he figured his measure was taken anyway, he added, “Tomorrow, come by the forge and I’ll work that dent out of your cuirass.”
Captain Aodhan’s gaze fell to the miniscule dent on the side of his breastplate, hardly anything, denoted only by a small shadow.
With a chuckle, the captain stepped aside as two horsespulled alongside them. A set of those sleek white horses had been hitched to a small—Hakon didn’t even know. It wasn’t quite the chariots he knew were raced in the human kingdom of Pyrros to the south. It wasn’t quite the cart or wagon used by the farmers and craftsmen, nor the stately carriage he’d seen Lord Merrick climb into.
Essentially a bench on two large wheels, it had a long, cushioned seat protected by a bucket of wood painted shiny black with a storage compartment mounted behind it. Lady Aislinn sat on one side, long leather reins in her hands.
“Shall we?” she said.
Hakon gulped. She wanted him toridein that?
Captain Aodhan slapped him on the shoulder. “Bring our blacksmith back in one piece, my lady.”
They left Dundúran behind and were quickly subsumed into the countryside. The breeze invigorated Aislinn’s senses, the bright sky and bird chirps lending a cheerful air to their journey.
Although, she’d enjoy it more if her companion wasn’t gripping the chaise frame so firmly his knuckles had gone pale. Aislinn was a skilled driver; she hadn’t crashed since she was a girl.
Still, it was proving a little challenging to compensate for the unbalanced weight distribution. They’d repacked her basket of gifts for the Brádaighs—rose petal sachets for Aoife, science books for Calum, poetry books for Blaire, butterscotch for Keeley, and a little of everything for Sorcha—directly behind herin a fruitless attempt to rebalance the chaise.
Finally, a few bricks had been added beneath her feet.
It mostly worked, but the chaise still listed slightly on Hakon’s side. Aislinn leaned to her left to keep from completely sliding into his lap.
Although, if she was honest, she did delight in letting herself press up against him. There was little choice, really—he took up most of the bucket seat with those shoulders and arms of his. If it meant she had to sidle close to keep them balanced and feel all that warm muscle, well, that only brightened her already good day.
