Page 44 of Pippa of Lauramore
“Do you think we will find the fifth item tomorrow?”
He takes a deep breath, and for a moment, his chest meets my back. I clench my teeth. It’s just as I feared—he’s so warm. And I can’t help myself…I settle against him, relishing the feel of his heat.
His muscles tighten, and his arms go rigid at my sides. After a moment, he relaxes. “I don’t think it’s the pearl, Pippa. I don’t know what the answer is.”
His head is over my shoulder now, and the stubble on his jaw brushes against my cheek.
“The pearl is the obvious answer,” I muse, wondering if Archer’s right. “I don’t know what else it could be.”
“Don’t worry,” he says, his words tickling my ear. “I will figure it out.”
I turn my head to meet his eyes.
“I promise, Pippa,” he says quietly.
I’m feeling strangely tingly and a little weightless. Archer’s arms tighten around me, and without thinking, my eyes drop to his mouth. I feel, rather than hear, the hitch in his breath.
“Archer?”
I’m not sure if it’s Archer who moves first, or if I do,but our faces are closer now, and I can feel his breath on my lips. At this moment, I’ve never wanted anything as badly as I want to kiss him.
He pauses, his lips a breath away from mine, as if he has just remembered why we shouldn’t be this close. I wrench my head away, biting my lip hard.
What am I thinking? I can’t do this to Galinor. I can’t do this toArcher. “I?—”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s my fault?—”
I cut him off again, my stomach tensing with apprehension when I see lights growing in the distance. “Archer, there are torches ahead.”
Father has sent a search party.
CHAPTER 10
Iscramble from Archer’s horse. He’s on the ground seconds after my feet touch, and he loosens the knot that ties Willowisp to his horse. My frozen fingers work at my bow and quiver, freeing them from my pack. I pull them on my back and then mount Willowisp. The cool air embraces me, and I shiver. I already miss Archer’s warmth.
“Look grateful to see them,” Archer commands, and he kicks his horse forward.
I’m right after him, and we make haste to the torches. My skirts are drying, and now they are only damp instead of drenched. Still, I feel as if I’m so cold I’ll never be warm again.
It only takes about a quarter of an hour to meet them.
“Father,” I call when they are within shouting distance, trying to look relieved.
His eyes are cold, as are my brothers’, who are seated on their own horses next to him. They, and the rest of the knights with them, are in full mail. I’m not sure whatFather was expecting to find. Did they think I’d been stolen by an ogre?
I remember the sharp cry of the mountain cat the other evening, and images of stealthy glasselns come to my mind. I push them away.
“Archer,” my father says, and Archer cringes.
“You misunderstand, Father.” I come forward before Archer can say something to make it worse. I hold up the herbs we harvested. “I was on an errand for Yuven. He needed these. I asked Archer to come with me for protection. I heard there have been an unusual number of grim boars in the forest.”
Father’s eyes flicker to the herbs, unconvinced. “Why would that errand take you out this far after dark? And do you forget you were not to leave the palace grounds?”
My brain whirls madly. I can’t let Archer fall into trouble for this. “I’m sorry, Father. I was trying to be helpful. It took longer than expected, and I fell in a creek,” I explain, holding out my wet skirts. “I didn’t mean to worry anyone.”
I try very hard to look remorseful. It’s not too hard since I do feel sorry—sorry they noticed my absence. I’m eighteen years old. These rules are ridiculous.
“I will speak with Yuven, and then I will decide what must be done with you.”
