The King’s Arrow (18 page)

Authors: Michael Cadnum

BOOK: The King’s Arrow

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Walter gave his sister a wave, and then urged his mount to an easy trot along the hissing margin of the waves. He continued to ride, his horse indenting a long line of hoofprints to be half erased by the sea.

Alena rode down now to meet Simon, while her brother rode on, far out of earshot. Simon realized that, with her brother's permission, Alena was approaching Simon accompanied by neither herald nor bodyguard. This was no ordinary meeting, framed as it was with formality, and yet providing such an opportunity for shared solitude.

Alena made a soft sound with her tongue and her horse stopped, right beside Simon's. The two horses enjoyed each other's company, nuzzling each other quietly.

“Someday,” said Alena, “you will return to England, no doubt.”

“I need not go back soon,” said Simon.

Alena had been wearing a hood, but she reached up with a gloved hand and pulled the peaked cloth back, so that Simon could see her eyes. For a quiet woman, Simon thought, she had a most direct gaze. Her hair was dark, her eyes green, and when she smiled right at Simon just then, she accidentally lifted the reins, causing her horse to take one pace back.

“Not until you sing me some of your English ballads,” she said. “Of the drake and the bread knife, and the hart and the horn,” she said, naming two particularly bawdy songs.

“My lady Alena,” said Simon, “I know many versesâincluding those.”

“I will let you recite these ballads, Simon, on one condition.”

Simon could not speak, he was so tangled in happiness.

“We'll race,” she said, with a smile. “If you reach my brother before I do, I am yours to please.”

She was off, her cloak swirling behind her, and she was swift in closing the distance between her horse and her brother's distant, cantering mount.

She was already too far ahead.

“Fly, Rasor,” urged Simon, and the sand was a blur beneath the hooves. Grit flung up by Alena's mount dashed his lips.

Was it true Alena was turning in her saddle, causing her mare to slow?

Or was Rasor so fleet?

About the Author

Michael Cadnum is the author of thirty-five books for adults and young adults. His workâwhich includes thrillers, suspense novels, historical fiction, and books about myths and legendsâhas been nominated for the National Book Award (
The Book of the Lion
), the Edgar Award (
Calling Home
and
Breaking the Fall
), and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize (
In a Dark Wood
). A former National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellow, he is also the author of award-winning poetry.
Seize the Storm
(2012) is his most recent novel.

Michael Cadnum lives in Albany, California, with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Drew Padrutt

ISBN: 978-1-5040-1973-6

This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com