Page 51 of The Fury She Holds
It was refreshing sharing stories with someone who didn’t immediately worry over her or remove her independence, and curious even, that she’d found this trait in a noble. She wondered what stars had aligned that caused her to cross paths with someone like Faron, because no one—not protective Carrick, or calculating Rainier, nor even quiet Egan—whole-heartedly believed her capable of handling things on her own. No matter the circumstance, there would always be some shred of doubt or worry that caused them to question her actions.
But with Faron, he had shown at every turn that he trusted her judgement, no matter how reckless it was. It made her want to know him more; to take him on adventures so he could encourage her forward instead of trying to hold her back. Tal wondered what the noble had in store for them. She wasn’t ready to part just yet.
She lay on the pier once more, and the gentle timbre of his voice lulled her into an easy slumber where she dreamed of stolen gold, wine, and a pair of horses fleeing into the night.
“The sun’s almost up.” His voice soothed like waves washing gently on the shore at first sunlight.
Her eyes shot open. When had she fallen asleep? Why hadn’t he woken her up? Her hands sought out her daggers as a comfort. When Faron’s eyes came into focus, she forgot why she reached for them in the first place.
“Ready to go find some trouble?”
Tal pulled the healing elixir out of her pocket, a mischievous grin reaching her lips. “Tell me what these mysterious plans of yours are.”
“Drink the elixir, and I’ll show you.”
15
Once the elixir healed her cheek and ribs, they left the pier, and Tal immediately recognized the two waiting mares. “These are palace horses.”
“You know them?” Faron took the reins from a frowning guard.
Tal’s eyes narrowed. “Another friend?”
“Oh, you haven’t met Jens? He justhadto come meet the bounty hunter who fought off three attackers on her own, isn’t that right, Jens?”
Jens grunted and his gaze roamed over Tal, appraising. She returned his scrutiny with some of her own. She turned from the guard and greeted each horse by name, letting them nuzzle her with their snout. “How did you get two palace horses?”
“I didn’t steal them if that’s what you were thinking. I’m a friend of the king’s,” he reminded her. “I’m free to take his horses for a run if I wish.” He mounted the brown mare named Hazel and waited for Tal to mount the gray, speckled mare named Pepper. Jens made a noise beside her, but both Tal and Faron ignored him.
“That’s exactly what a thief would say.” Tal smirked from Pepper’s saddle.
“And yet you still got on the horse,” he quipped back.
Tal shrugged. “I’ve done worse things than ride a stolen horse. But don’t you have horses of your own?”
“My horse needs a rest today, and the others are at my estate.”
Jens reached his hand out. “M—My lord—” Faron must not have heard, because he kicked the horse into a canter, and Tal jumped to follow him. They reached the edge of town and slowed to a trot through the woods.
“Did Jens have his own horse? I didn’t see one,” Tal asked.
The glint in Faron’s gaze left Tal chuckling. “He’ll find one somewhere. He’s such a spoilsport. Didn’t want us going too far with the palace horses. I promised I’d bring them back before lunch.”
“So, youdidsteal them!”
“It’s only stealing if we don’t bring them back. Let’s not waste what little time we have. Hyah!” Hazel jolted into a gallop through the narrow path while Faron yelled back for Tal to keep up.
She snickered to herself and kicked Pepper into motion.
The thumping of the horse’s hooves played a rhythm to match Tal’s heartbeat as the trees flew past. She relished the wind in her hair. Pockets of sunshine warmed her face, and she turned her head to greet it. There was nothing quite like letting a well-bred horse open up its gait, and she leaned into the saddle without pain in her newly healed ribcage.
Tal thought of the fact that Faron had delayed their plans until sunrise so she could take the elixir.He knew I wouldn’t be able to ride without it, she thought, heat spreading across her no-longer-bruised cheeks.
The two riders weaved in and out of the trees. They alternated between a trot and a gallop, trying to catch the other. WhenFaron pretended to hide behind a thin trunk, Tal laughed freely for the first time in ages.
The sun sat fully in the sky when they came upon a well-maintained one-room structure near a clearing. They unsaddled the horses by the attached shed and set them up with food and water. Faron told her to wait while he went into the house. He emerged with bows and quivers filled with arrows.
“Hungry? There’s quail usually just past the tree line.”
