Page 122 of Unrivaled
She frowned at them.“I’ll write up what I need, if you can send someone for Chay and to ready the horses.Best make it look like a picnic,” she added, with a quick glance outside.
“Who’re we going to have a visit from?”I asked, tiredly.Then I saw the white of her knuckles and the ghost of hope in her eyes.“Luca.This close to the tourney?The man must have a death wish.”
Brightening at this idea, I let myself out of the room.Why not tip off the guard to his whereabouts when we got back?Really, it would be easier to put an arrow in him myself, but Audrey probably wouldn’t love that solution.Now Kaelson knew what my shafts looked like, I’d be lectured from multiple fronts.
So I ran about arranging a picnic.Chay was waiting by the horses for some time, I suspected—we got caught up by someone who needed someurgentclarification of someurgentproblem.By the time we got out, the sun was high and there was a cool wind blowing in, but I hadn’t cut anyone’s throat.Yet.
We made our way through the city.Every second person we passed had to call out a greeting.Someone updated her on some carpentry project; another had to show her the stains they were experimenting with.
Once we were clear of the city she increased the pace, though the road was busy and it wasn’t safe to get too much speed.I recognized the way she rode, with purpose and a goal.She knew exactly where he was.
She’d never need to search again if I cut his throat.We could bury him in a nice, convenient spot or put him on the waiting pyre to fuel the old magic in the stone.
We followed close behind as she led us off the road and through the orchard.It probably said a lot about our outings that neither Chay nor Thomas questioned her.
We didn’t ride too far, though, before she started to slow.I recognized the spot—we’d picnicked here with the damned lordling before, though not for years.A lightning strike had started a fire a few summers ago.Some of the trees had been lost, and none replanted.It wasn’t quite a clearing, but it was clear enough.
When we arrived it was instantly obvious this wasn’t one of Luca’s usual, under-the-cover-of-darkness visits.Men in Raa’shi livery were making themselves busy around a makeshift camp—a dozen of them.
He’d brought retainers.
“Oh, no,” Thomas said, grimly, under his breath.“No, he doesn’t.Not on my watch.”
Silently, I agreed, but that was moot.Luca was already walking towards us, clearly having heard us coming.Audrey unfolded herself from the saddle and leapt lightly to the ground.She didn’t run into his open arms.
“Walk with me,” she said, as Chay took her reins.
Luca smiled as if it was the funniest thing he’d heard all day.“I’m glad to see you, too,” he told her, falling in step.
She didn’t respond to this reminder of courtesy, leading them straight out of the camp.Her eyes were everywhere.
“I’ll go,” I told Thomas and Chay, not trying to hide my disgust.
“Oh, no,” Thomas said again, his jaw tight, tossing his reins at Chay too.“Youstay.No point all of us chundering, is there?”
Chay’s lips brows rose in surprised agreement.He turned to the horses, appearing quite happy with the arrangement.I had to stretch my legs to catch up with Thomas, who, in turn, was hurrying to close the distance between himself and Audrey.
I found myself paying more attention to the way Luca walked along on his toes, lifting his feet a little too far off the ground, his gait—musical?He looked far too happy.The thought of the Butcher’s return was a stone in my boot.With Luca’s arrival, it was impossible to ignore.
We didn’t need the complication Luca posed.Not even as another friendly faire-goer and money-spender.He was clearly hoping for more than that, from those open arms and that big, shit-eating grin.
I shook my head a little, getting close enough to hear him saying “Wasn’t sure if you’d come” and “So glad to see you” and other such meaningless drivel that didn’t explain what he was doing here.
At some point Audrey decided they’d gone far enough and turned around, facing him.“What’s going on, Luca?”she asked.Demanded.
“I knew you’d be anxious for me,” he said, his face earnest as he lent forward, clasped her hands.“I’m done running from your father, Audrey, and ’tis no crime for me to attend the tourney.You’ve worked so hard to get it all running.I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished.”I watched as she squeezed his hands, the slight flex of muscles as she attempted to withdraw, the flicker of hurt on his face.She stilled, and he brought her hands just a little closer.
I drew in a deep breath.His feelings are not your responsibility.I’d say it out loud, too, if he did that again.
“Iknowhow hard you’ve worked, Audrey.The thought of sitting by and missing out on seeing it first-hand, because yourfatheris unhappy with me?”He laughed.It didn’t quite ring true.“I feel like we’rebothdone dancing to his tune, my dear.”
Her face was totally expressionless, her eyes on their clasped hands.
For the second time since I’d met Luca, I realized he wasn’t entirely stupid.The first thing he’d done that was smart had been to swear her a Blood Oath.And now this.
Heknewshe was pushing back.He hadn’t said a word about the dress she wore that clearly flew in the face of the modesty demanded by the locways and the One.He didn’t question thatshewas running the faire and tourney, rather than waiting for her father’s return.Instead, he looked at her with respect and hope and pride.
We were out of there five minutes later.At least sheknewshe’d been backed into a corner.She told him it was to reduce suspicion—if they went through the gates together, the whole city would talk.That wasn’t the real reason.She wasn’t afraid of talk.
