Page 10 of Romancing the Throne
His gaze darted to my own dark hair that was tightly braided and hanging over one shoulder. “It does seem very practical,” he said wistfully.
“We’d make sure it’s loose and brushed when we get to the market,” I assured him, “but while we’re on the road, it would make life easier, especially if you’re planning to keep running off into the woods.”
He reached out and stroked the length of my braid, his touch lingering for a long moment. Then he turned back around, bending his head forward. “If you think it’s for the best.”
I hid my smile and got to work brushing his hair in long, even strokes until it was fanned out in front of me. The sunlight caught faint flashes of red and golden highlights hidden among the brown like jewels, and when I was done, his hair gleamed in a glorious display. I gave one more stroke of the brush, then paused. “Your hair’s very long. It might be better if you stood for the next bit.”
Sparrow hopped nimbly to his feet—which left melooking directly at his arse. It was a very nice arse, pert and peach-like, and I stared at it for longer than was strictly decent before I eased myself to my feet. If Aldiandidchoose to marry Sparrow, he’d be making a wise choice.
I tilted Sparrow’s head forward slightly and divided his hair into three sections, then started weaving the strands carefully into a braid, making sure to keep it even. Sparrow’s breath caught when my fingers brushed the nape of his neck, and I wasn’t sure the rising heat of his skin I felt in my fingertips was entirely down to his magic. But I didn’t say anything; I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.
I’d learned to braid when I was a child by braiding my sister Rowan’s hair. She’d learned to braid mine at the same time. I couldn’t do anything too intricate, but then Sparrow’s hair didn’t require any adornment. He might have thought the color plain, but I thought it was lovely.
I took a step back from him as I worked, and then another. His hair was so long that it was impossible to braid up close. I felt more like a boatman unspooling a length of rope than Sparrow’s impromptu hairdresser. A jay fluttered down from the oak, the blue feathers of its wings a bright flash of color against its pinkish gray body, and twittered.
“Watch it,” I told it as it alighted on Sparrow’s braid. “That’s not for making your nest.”
Sparrow twisted to see and laughed as the jay flew away again. “Oh! Did it want my hair?”
“The little thief,” I said and laughed as well. Sparrow might have begged me not to cut a single strand of his hair, but I bet he’d pluck himself bald for a bird’s sake. I finally reached the end of his hair and tied it with one of my spare ribbons. “There.”
Sparrow’s hands came up behind his head as he turned to face me. “It feels strange. Heavier than usual.”
“But at least it won’t get caught up again.”
He nodded and pulled the braid forward so it hung down one side of his chest. Even with a generous loop of it still on his back, it reached his waist. “Yes, it’s very useful to have it out of the way. I can see that.” He showed me a bright smile. “Thank you, Elowin. I’m afraid I just cost us hours. Will we make the next tavern by nightfall, do you think?”
“It was going to be a farmhouse this time,” I told him. “And no, probably not.”
Sparrow worried his bottom lip with his teeth. “What shall we do?”
I shrugged. “There will be other farmhouses, or we can always sleep in the woods.”
“In thewoods?” His eyes grew wide for a moment.
“If it’s good enough for your birds, Sparrow, then it’s good enough for us,” I said, and he flushed and laughed. “Come on, let’s get moving again.”
We headed back for the road, leaving Sparrow’s little patch of warm magic to dissipate in the shade of the woods.
CHAPTER 5
SPARROW
As the shadows lengthened and dusk grew, there was no farmhouse or tavern in sight, and I felt guilty for having got caught in a bush and delaying us for several hours. I was worried that we might have to sleep by the side of the road like Elowin had said—and yes, while it was good enough for the birds,Ihad never done it before, and I wasn’t at all certain I would cope as well as a bird—but then we caught sight of something up ahead. It appeared to be a campsite made up of two carts, two horses, a canvas canopy with bright pennants streaming from the top, and six or seven elves in colorful clothing arguing good-naturedly around a fire about the best way to cook the fish they’d caught.
“Oh, well,theseelves look like they know what they’re about!” someone yelled cheerfully, pointing at Elowin and me as we approached, and the rest of them turned to look. “Do you know how to cook fish, friends?”
“I’ve cooked a fish or two before,” Elowin said, and his answer was met with cheers.
We were greeted with cheerful salutations as weapproached, and I stepped closer to Elowin, suddenly thinking about bandits again. I was also conscious that my hair was tied back, and while it was practical, it wasn’t proper.
And then Elowin held his hand out, and his knuckles brushed the backs of mine, and I realized it didn’t matter if these elves knew I was a genteel elf with a noble name. I turned my hand and laced my fingers with Elowin’s, and he smiled at me as we drew closer to the elves around the fire.
“Are you joining us?” one of the elves asked.
“If you don’t mind,” Elowin said.
“You’re welcome,” the elf said. “We have plenty of fish to share.”
