Page 74 of Bride of Mist
When Feiyan had had too much to drink, she could be overly talkative. She would have to make sure not to divulge too much that could be used against her. Meanwhile, she needed to collect useful information about him.
“You were trained for battle as well,” she said, dragging the wet rag up her arm, over her shoulder, under her breasts.
He began to focus intently on a spot between his feet. “I was.”
“Alongside your brother?”
“Aye.”
“But you’re the better fighter, aye?”
He hesitated. “Aye.”
She laughed softly. His candor was refreshing. She despised false modesty.
As she drenched the cloth and wrung it out, she suddenly wondered, “Were either of you fostered to the Giric clan?”
“Nay. We were brought up by our father.”
“You really have no history at all with the Girics?”
He shook his head.
“Might your brother have quarreled recently?”
“With the Girics? Nay.”
She frowned as she scrubbed at a spot on her knee. “Perhaps there was a mac Giric lass who scorned him?”
He shook his head.
“And you’re sure he didn’t want their land?”
“Land a hundred miles away?”
She furrowed her brows. Maybe he was right. Maybe his brother knew nothing about the Girics. Which only proved her point. The mac Girics couldn’t have committed the crime.
She’d have to dig deeper once they arrived at Darragh. And if she was to infiltrate the castle singlehandedly, it was best to be prepared.
“Tell me about your home,” she said, wringing the water out of the rag and dragging it along her collar bone. “Is there a loch nearby? Mountains? A forest? Does the castle have a moat? Or a palisade?”
“Ye want to know about my keep’s defenses?”
She shrugged. “Aye.”
He smirked. “Would ye like me to hang a banner to welcome Rivenloch as well?”
“You don’t trust me,” she said.
“Not completely,” he said.
She gasped and replied by peppering him with a splash from the tub.
“Ungrateful knave,” she scolded. “I defended you against outlaws.”
“Hey,” he protested, “don’t be wastin’ the water. I’d like a bath as well.” The corners of his lip curled up in a grin as he added, “Besides, ’twasmewho defendedyeagainst outlaws.”
She shook her head. He was a scoundrel. But she was enjoying the bath too much to argue with him. Even if he was completely wrong.
