Echoes of Magic (11 page)

“
It’s not my body I worry
over you seeing.”

Adrianna licked her lips
and held the blanket tighter against her, her hands shaking and her
heart in her throat. There was no mistaking the desire that flared
in Grayson’s silver depths. It had been there since she’d fallen
against him as she dismounted.

“
Good night,
Adrianna.”

She took a step toward him.
“Where will you go? It’s storming outside.”

He shrugged. “I’ll find a place.”

“
Grayson, we’re going to be
traveling together soon. This is ridiculous. Just turn around until
I can get dressed.”

She waited, her breath locked in her chest
until he gave a small nod of his head and put his back to her. She
should have let him leave, she knew that, but she didn’t want him
to go. Storm or not, she liked having him near.

Adrianna threw off the
blanket and reached for dry clothes as she turned, but not before
she saw him tug off his tunic giving her a glimpse of his muscular
back. When she finished, she turned around while unbraiding her
hair to find Grayson staring out the back of the cart, his feet
braced apart and his arms crossed over his chest.

“
What are you
thinking?”

He glanced over his shoulder before he faced
her. “I’m thinking I’m very glad you knew of the storm. I wouldn’t
want to be caught traveling in this.”

“
I see you found a sword,”
she said and nodded to the weapon strapped to his hip.

He grinned. “I’ve my ways. I owe you many
thanks for acquiring my horse and saddle.”

“
I’ve my ways as well,” she
replied with a smile. “We work well together, aye?”

“
Aye,” he agreed softly,
something in his eyes that made her stomach flutter.

* * * * *

Adrianna opened her eyes to find Grayson
gone from the cart. She jumped up and glanced outside to see the
sun shining, the trees and ground glistening from the storm.

She put on her shoes and began to comb her
hair when Grayson climbed into the cart.

“
Did you sleep
well?”

She shrugged. “As well as I could with such
a storm. Did your horse fare all right?”

“
He did fine.”

It was the way he stood staring at her, as
if waiting to impart some great news that made her pause. “What is
it?”

“
We need to leave.
Today.”

Adrianna had known it was coming, but she
hadn’t expected it to be so soon. “All right. Let me finish with my
hair, and I’ll say my farewells.”

Still he didn’t leave.

“
There’s more?”

He nodded. “We won’t be taking your cart, so
you’ll need to pack whatever you can bring.”

“
What?”

“
We’ll travel faster on
horseback, Adrianna.”

She looked around the cart that had been her
home for the last several years. It had never occurred to her that
they wouldn’t be bringing it.

“
You can still change your
mind.”

She shook her head and faced him. “Nay. I’ll
start gathering my things.”

Grayson left her and walked to the horses.
He hadn’t missed the surprise and remorse in her eyes about leaving
her cart. He needed to travel quickly, and the wagon was anything
but.

“
I gather you’re parting?”
Milosh said as he walked up.

“
It’s time.”

Milosh glanced at Adrianna’s cart. “Does she
know?”

“
I just told her. She’s
gathering her things now.”

The gypsy leader crossed
his arms over his chest. “You’ve given me your word you’ll keep her
safe.”

“
I have, and I will. But
remember she has a mind of her own and makes some foolhardy
decisions regardless of the danger.”

“
Aye,” Milosh said with a
small, knowing grin. “That she does.”

Grayson looked around the camp. “Don’t
continue on your present course.”

“
Why?”

“
I won’t tell you which way
we’re heading in case the men find you, but I think you’ll find it
safer if you find another course.”

Milosh thought over that a
moment before he nodded. “Agreed.”

“
Good.”

Milosh’s gaze moved to a spot over Grayson’s
shoulder, and he knew Adrianna was there. He faced her and watched
her closely as she looked from him to the horses that stood on
either side of him.

“
Where did the black come
from?” she asked.

“
I figured you’d be happier
on your own horse.”

She bit her lip and reached out a hand to
let the mare sniff her before Adrianna ran a hand down the horse’s
sleek neck. “When did you get her?”

“
Last night when the rain
let up. I couldn’t sleep.”

“
She’s beautiful,” Adrianna
said.

Grayson looked to Milosh to
find the Romanian watching Adrianna. The right thing to do would be
to give them a moment alone, but Grayson didn’t feel so inclined.
Maybe it was the need and sadness in the leader’s gaze that
prompted Grayson to stay by Adrianna’s side.

“
Drina,” Milosh
said.

She looked at him. “You know?”

“
Aye,” he said and moved
closer to her. “Give me your word you’ll not do anything
foolish.”

Adrianna smiled and lifted one shoulder in a
shrug. “I’ll do my best.”

“
That’s all I can ask
for.”

Grayson turned his back to them, though he
wanted to watch. He checked the grey’s saddle once more as he
continued to listen to their conversation.

“
Will you return?” Milosh
asked.

“
I don’t know what the
future holds. If I’m able, I will.” There was a pause before she
said, “Milosh, you’re a good man. Don’t spend your days pining for
me. Find you a woman who’ll love you and give you many
children.”

“
That could be you,
Drina.”

“
Nay,” she replied softly.
“It cannot.”

Out of the corner of his eye Grayson saw
Adrianna cup the leader’s face before Milosh walked away.

Grayson looked at her over his shoulder.
“Time to say your farewells.”

She gave a nod and walked toward the
gypsies.

The entire camp was lined
up waiting to say their good
‐
byes. By the time Adrianna returned
to Grayson, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

He helped her mount the black and secured
her bag to the saddle before he touched her leg. “Maybe you should
stay. This is your home.”

Pale blue eyes met his. “My
path has veered from them. I knew it would one day, and I’ve
accepted this.”

Grayson mounted the grey. With a wave to the
gypsies, he and Adrianna set out.

They hadn’t gotten far when she said, “I’ve
never ridden a horse before yesterday.”

He looked at her and smiled. “I thought as
much, which is why I chose that mare. She’s quick in case we need
to make a run for it, but she’s docile and not easily spooked. You
should be all right.”

“
I hope so,” she
mumbled.

“
I won’t let anything
happen to you, Adrianna. I give you my word.”

As her gaze met his, he prayed he could keep
his vow to her.

Chapter Thirteen

Adrianna had always loved horses. They were
such beautiful, graceful creatures. Many times as a child she had
wished to ride one of the magnificent animals. Now, all she wanted
to do was get off and never see a horse again. Her body ached in
places she hadn’t even known could hurt.

And they had only been
riding for a few hours. It hadn’t escaped her notice that Grayson
changed directions many times. She tried to hide her irritability,
but it was becoming increasingly harder to do.

“
Do you know where we’re
going?” She was rather proud of herself that she hadn’t snapped at
him.

He glanced at her over his shoulder and
grinned. “Of course I do. Don’t you trust me?”

“
Trust isn’t the
issue.”

With a small pull on the
reins, he stopped his mount until her horse was even with him. His
gaze narrowed on her. “What’s amiss?”

Adrianna hated to complain. It was no one’s
fault she hurt, and it would do no good to say something now when
they had days of riding ahead of them.

“
Drina.”

Her gaze jerked to his at the use of her pet
name.

He sighed. “I cannot help
if I don’t know what’s wrong.”

“
I’m hurting,” she finally
confessed.

His brows rose as he chuckled. “Why didn’t
you say something sooner?”

“
What good would it have
done?”

“
We could have stopped to
rest.”

The thought of getting off
the horse sounded heavenly, but it would be even more painful to
climb back on the beast. Nay, it was better if she stayed right
where she was.

“
Thank you, but no. Once I
get off the mare for the day, I don’t plan getting back
on.”

“
Let me know if you change
your mind,” he said and nudged his horse into a walk.

By the time Grayson stopped for lunch,
Adrianna knew her legs were useless.

“
Aren’t you hungry?” he
asked as he opened the cloth of food the gypsies had
provided.

“
Famished.”

“
Then dismount and come
eat.”

“
I don’t think I
can.”

The food forgotten, Grayson walked to her.
“Come. I’ll help you.”

Adrianna gratefully reached for Grayson’s
shoulders as his large hands wrapped around her waist and gently
lifted her from the mare. He didn’t release her once her feet were
on the ground. She wasn’t too proud to cling to him as he helped
her to a tree so she could sit against it.

Once she was settled, he brought her some
bread and cheese. “Eat while I see to the horses.”

When she had begged him to come along, she
had never imagined she would be riding across England on a horse.
As if the mare knew Adrianna’s thoughts, the horse nickered at her
before taking a drink from the stream.

“
Do we need to camp here
for the night?” Grayson asked as he let the horses
graze.

She knew she could say yes, and he would
readily stay, but Adrianna also knew how important it was for them
to travel quickly.

“
Nay,” she said and bit
into the bread. “If you’ll give me some time to rest and boil some
herbs, I’ll be ready to ride again.”

He lowered himself to the ground and leaned
his weight on one arm. “More magic?”

“
More magic,” she answered
with a smile.

“
I do know where I’m going,
by the way,” he said after a brief pause. “I’m heading in different
directions to try and throw anyone off who might follow our
trail.”

She chewed and swallowed her food. “How long
do you think before someone finds us?”

“
Depends. If the men who
attacked me happen upon the village where we retrieved my horse, it
could be a matter of days.”

“
Can you fight
them?”

One side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “I
can certainly fight them. Winning is another matter. Those men
didn’t act like simple knights.”

“
What’s your
plan?”

He blew out a breath,
shifted to lean on his elbow, and stretched out his legs. He looked
right sitting in the sun, as carefree as the wind that blew around
them. “We need to reach Hawksbridge. I want to be there when the
men attack.”

“
That could very well be
their stronghold.”

“
True.”

Adrianna tucked her legs to the side.
“You’re one man against how many?”

“
There were
six.”

“
Against six? Even if you
were the best knight in England you’d have a difficult time winning
that battle. And if these men are a part of the evil, you won’t
stand a chance.”

He winked at her. “You’ve
no faith in me.”

“
Not true. I have complete
faith in you. All I’m asking is not to do something foolish as rush
into Hawksbridge looking for a fight.”

“
What do you propose
then?”

She grinned. “Strategy.
They have no idea we’re headed to Hawksbridge, so let’s use that to
our advantage. We’ll arrive as a lord and lady for a visit. No one
would dare stop nobility, especially if we just want to rest there
for a bit.”

He sat up and scratched his chin. “That’s a
fairly good idea. It could work.”

“
Of course it’ll
work.”

“
Usually, I stay off the
main roads, but it might be to our advantage to make sure we’re
seen. And often.”

She smiled. “Perfect.”

“
There’s a road about an
hour’s ride from here. We’ll take that into Dirkshire.”

“
What’s
Dirkshire?”

“
It’s a village I’ve
visited once before. There’s an inn we can stay at and gather more
food. It’ll also allow us to be seen. While there I intend to find
out what I can about Hawksbridge.”

She finished her cheese and dusted her
hands. “We might want to purchase some new clothes as well.”

“
Why?” he asked, his brow
furrowed.