Page 33 of The King's Sword
“Not many women can do what you did today.”
“Then you’re lucky I spent my younger days roaming wild,” she said, trying to make a joke of her upbringing.
He looked her right in the eyes and said, “You showed bravery today. Something I did not expect.”
His compliment made her face warm, and she broke eye contact.
Up ahead, the canal split into two, each waterway going a different direction. Evander reached back, turning the lever and steering the boat toward the leftward one. “We’re going to stop soon,” he said. “We’ll go into town, sleep for a bit, and then I want to travel at night.”
They hadn’t been on the waterway for long, and she didn’t understand why they wouldn’t travel longer, at least until dusk. If it were up to her, she’d put as much distance between them and the assassin as possible. “Won’t it be easy for someone to track us at night if we’re the only ones out on the water?” And navigating at night would be difficult since the clouds were so thick they covered the moon and stars.
He smiled. “No. It’ll be harder. You’ll see.”
After a couple of miles, Evander steered the boat to a dock. Sabine didn’t know how he could tell where one town ended and the next began since the entire canal was lined with structures on both sides. To her, it was one big town that didn’t end. Perhaps it was.
Evander tied the boat up and got out, stretching. Sabine joined him.
“I’m starving. Let’s eat then find an inn.” He took her hand, leading her from the dock into town.
Since it was midday, the walkways were crowded with people. Here, all of the structures were built next to each other leaving no room between them. Waterways crisscrossed through the area and dozens of bridges connected the narrow pathways together. All of the signs above the stores and shops were in another language, making it impossible for Sabine to read any of them.
Evander pulled her to the right and opened a door, revealing a small tavern. There was a bar with a counter in the middle and about a dozen tables around the perimeter. He chose a table in the back corner.
“I’m surprised everything is made from wood,” Sabine commented as she removed her cloak and sat down. “Especially since it rains so much.”
“It’s what’s available,” Evander said as he hung his cape over the back of a free chair. “We don’t have a lot of stone around here to use for building.”
A man wearing an apron approached. He looked between the two of them before speaking to Evander in another language, his voice a near whisper.
Evander nodded and flashed the man his tattoo, replying in another language. The man bowed then went into the kitchen.
“I’m assuming you ordered us food?” she said, feeling like there had been more to the conversation than that.
“I did.” Evander pulled Sabine’s chair—with her sitting on it—closer to him.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
He smiled and said, “It seems everyone is looking for a man and woman traveling together whoaren’tmarried.” He put his arm around her shoulder. “Therefore, I informed that man that wearemarried. You’re even carrying my child.”
“You’ve got to be joking,” she mumbled. Her situation kept getting more and more complicated. She had no idea how she would explain any of this to Rainer. Hopefully, she would never have to.
“Are you feeling unwell?” Evander asked.
“Yes. It must be because I’m pregnant.” If she was forced to play this ridiculous role, she would go all out.
Her brother, Rolf, and his wife must have had their baby by now, and Sabine didn’t know if they had a boy or a girl. She hadn’t even asked Otto when she saw him. Leaning her elbows on the table, she covered her face with her hands.
“I didn’t think you’d play the role so seriously,” Evander said. His free hand came up and cupped her cheek, turning her head to face his. He was only inches from her. “What’s the matter?” he whispered. “I can tell something is bothering you, and I don’t think it’s the ruse.”
Her mind was a jumbled mess right now. She not only missed her family, but her relationship with Rainer was non-existent.
“Sabine,” Evander said, his brows pulling together. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, not wanting to confide in him. Not wanting him to know her marriage to Rainer wasn’t consummated which meant it could be annulled. If that happened, any protection she might have would cease to exist.
“You have a lot going on in that pretty little head of yours,” Evander muttered. “Your eyes…”
The man returned, setting two plates of food on the table before leaving.
