The King's Executioner (17 page)

Anin did not know what to make of how she felt. The thought of being separated from Paine hurt so deeply that she wanted to cry. What was it about this man that stirred these feelings in her? Why had she found more comfort in his arms than she had ever felt before? Why did she have this overwhelming need to remain with him, never leave him? How was it that she had whispered,
tuahna
, expressing how deeply she felt for him? And how was she ever going to wed the King when she felt as she did for Paine?

She fought the tears that threatened at her eyes. She had to stay strong. She would not cry. She could not cry. She swiped roughly at the first tear that spilled from her eye.

“Anin,” Paine said softly and she turned. His chest tightened when he saw a tear slip down her pale cheek. He took a step toward her.

Anin raised her hand, stopping him. “I must fight my tears. Lammok woman do not cry. My mum would be terribly angry with me if she knew I showed any weakness. She tried so hard to make me strong, scolding me every time I shed a tear, every time thunder rumbled. And here I am failing her twice.”

“You cried often?” he asked, taking a step toward her.

She nodded. “Over foolish things as my mum would remind me, but for some reason I could not stop my tears. They were always the victor.”

“There is no shame in shedding tears.”

“Do you shed tears?” she asked, wiping another one away.

“Not for many years.”

“At least you have cried. I believe the last time my mum cried was when she was born.” She could not stop the next words that came to her lips. They rushed out of her as if worried she would stop them. “I will miss you.”

Her words struck him hard in the chest, though he responded harshly. “No one misses the executioner.”

“You are not the executioner to me. You are a man who made me feel safer than I ever felt before, and I will miss you terribly.” The tears came then. She could not stop them.

Paine could not stop himself from taking her in his arms. He wanted to wipe her tears away and let her know that she could cry in front of him anytime she wished and he would not think any less of her. Most of all, he wanted desperately to kiss her and claim her for himself. He restrained himself from doing any of that and simply held her close and let her shed her tears.

How would she ever walk away from him, never to feel his arms around her again? She purposely pressed her hand against his chest, wanting to feel what he felt, know what was deep inside him, and know if it hurt him to part from her as much as it did her?

She stopped herself from gasping, feeling something unexpected. She felt an ache similar to hers. He would miss her as much as she would miss him.

The words rushed out as before. “You will miss me.”

Paine pushed her away. “Do not speak such nonsense or you will suffer for it.”

“I am to be Queen,” she said with heavy sadness.

“And you forget that too often,” he said harshly. “Now go and sleep.” He pointed to the sleeping pallet.

Anin did not bother to argue. He was right. It did not matter how either of them felt. Fate had decided for them. She lay down, turning her back to him and let silent tears fall. At least the thunder had rumbled off and hopefully it would not return.

Paine sat with his back braced against the wall, keeping his eyes on the fire pit. Her words had disturbed him. How did she know that he would miss her? He never let anyone see how he felt, but then he had not allowed himself to feel anything for a very long time, not until he met Anin.

He closed his eyes and rested his head back against the wall, trying to chase all thought away when his remark to Anin’s mother suddenly struck him.
I will learn your secret and may mercy be with you if I must return here.

He opened his eyes and looked over at Anin, her back to him. There had been more to her mum’s refusal to have her daughter wed the King, but his task had nothing to do with that and so at the time he had paid it no heed. But now after spending time with Anin he began to wonder.

She was nothing like a Lammok woman warrior, not in features, height, skills, or strength, and a Lammok woman would never fear thunder. Her long dark hair was the only likeness to the Lammok Tribe. Then there was the way she was so aware of how the older couple felt toward him that she could not finish eating. And how often had she seemed to know what he felt? Esplin’s words suddenly returned to him.

The Wyse women and men listened and became sensitive to the land, sensitive to touch. The land and all on it speaks to them and one touch allows them to feel what others feel. There are some that are born more sensitive than others. They usually become our leaders.

Could Anin be one of the Wyse? But how? Her mum was Lammok.

His thoughts scrambled around in his head until he reached a conclusion.

Anin was her mother’s secret.

Thunder suddenly split through the silence. Paine was on his feet as Anin called out to him and was at her side and had her in his arms before she finished his name. He stretched out beside her, keeping her close and stroking her back. The thunder continued, though not as loud and by the time it rolled away Paine and Anin were asleep—in one another’s arms.

Bog’s growl woke Paine and Anin the next morning, but not quickly enough.

The door burst open, the latch breaking, and in walked a warrior. He stared at them naked together on the sleeping pallet, and angrily demanded, “What goes on here?”

“Are you a fool?” the warrior yelled at Paine.

Bog stood, his teeth bared at the man and a deep growl rumbling in his chest.

The warrior ignored him, continuing to yell. “Poking the future Queen? The King will have your head for this.” The warrior turned dark eyes on Anin, “But first he will have you take her head.”

Anin spoke before giving her words thought. “Paine would never hurt me.”

The man’s dark eyes bore into her for a moment, and then he looked to Paine. “Outside and shut that wolf up or I will.” He turned and walked out the door, closing it forcefully.

Bog stopped as soon as the warrior was out the door.

Paine stood and Anin stared at him, but it was not his naked body that had her thoughts churning, but what could possibly happen to him because of her foolish fear.

As he hastily donned his garments, she hurried to say, “We did nothing wrong.”

Paine grabbed his battle axe and looked at her. “We may not have joined, but it was wrong of us to sleep together—naked.” He went to the door. “Have no fear, Anin, I will keep you safe.”

He would keep her safe, that she knew, but at what cost to him?

She hurried to slip into her garments, some still damp, though she paid no heed to the discomfort, her thoughts on the man who had angry words for Paine and had completely ignored her.

He was one of King Talon’s personal guards, one of the finest, fiercest, and most skillful of warriors. They were as equally admired and feared and many preferred to keep their distance from them.

The one who had burst into the dwelling had fine features and dark eyes that matched his long, dark hair plaited at the sides then drawn back to knot at the back of his head. He was tall, though not as tall as Paine and his body lean, though muscled. He wore the dark garments of the King’s personal guard, which meant his body markings were specific to his back, chest, arms, and neck. And there was a forceful presence about him which led Anin to believe he was in command, meaning?

He was Wrath, the powerful leader of the King’s Personal Guard, the warrior who rode at the King’s side and was like a brother to the King. He was named such, for once he let loose his anger few remained standing.

~~~

Once outside Bog ran off, though he knew the animal would remain close in case he was needed. Not that any of the King’s guard would dare touch Bog. They knew Paine would kill them if they did.

Wrath stood beneath a pine tree, his arms folded across his chest and anger still simmering in his dark eyes. Wrath and Paine were more friends than foes, having fought in endless battles together with the King before he was King.

“Tell me that that beautiful woman bewitched you so that we may save you from losing your head,” Wrath said when Paine came to stand in front of him.

“Nothing happened between us.”

Wrath threw his hands in the air. “Oh, so all is well because you did not poke the future Queen, you only slept beside her naked.” He glared at Paine. “King Talon will not be happy to learn what went on here and he will learn of it.”

“I will tell him myself, though I believe he will be more interested to learn that we were attacked by Drust warriors and that I saw someone garbed in the hooded-cloak of the King’s warriors speaking with the Drust and if that isn’t enough, a small troop of dal Gabran has been slaughtered on our land by the Drust.”

Wrath took a quick step toward him and lowered his voice. “Tell me all.”

Paine explained all to him and Wrath was pacing in front of him by the time he finished.

“There have been rumblings about dissent among a few who believe that King Talon will never produce a son to continue Pict rule and so he should be removed from the seat of power and replaced with a man capable of continuing the Pict reign.”

“Then I would suggest there may be some who wish to hasten his departure by showing that he cannot control the Drust.”

“The King needs to know of this.” Wrath placed his hand on Paine’s shoulder. “And hear why you found it necessary to sleep with his future wife.”

Paine kept his voice low. “There is more to Anin than the King knows.”

“Do not tell me she is not fit to wed the King,” Wrath said annoyed. “The search will have to begin again and will only give those who oppose the King more reason to incite others.”

“That will be for the King to decide.”

“Which means you do not intend to share with me what you know?”

“I do not know enough yet.”

Wrath gave a nod toward the door. “She is beautiful, though I thought she would favor the woman of her mother’s tribe. I see no Lammok in her except for the dark hair. And she appeared fearful when I entered the cottage. A Lammok woman warrior would have attacked me as soon as I entered. Do her mother and father need to be called before the King?”

“Possibly, but not at the moment.”

“Tell me why you slept with this woman who will, or was, to be Queen,” Wrath demanded more than asked.

“That is for the King to know,” Paine said firmly.

Wrath’s brow pinched and his eyes narrowed. “What are you not telling me?”

“What I choose not to tell you,” Paine said and turned away.

“I will find out.”

Paine gave an abrupt laugh. “I have no worries about that.”

“And what does that mean,” Wrath asked, walking up beside him.

“Your quick anger blinds you to what is easily seen.”

“My anger saved your arse more than once,” Wrath reminded.

“And my calm attention saved your arse far more.”

Wrath grabbed his arm and brought them to a halt.

Bog was suddenly at Paine’s side, snarling and snapping at Wrath.

“Why does he not like me?” Wrath asked, letting his hand fall slowly off Paine.

“Go guard,” Paine ordered and Bog ran to the dwelling door and sat in front of it, snarling in warning. “You can be so blind to the obvious.”

Wrath’s tone took on an edge of anger. “I am not blind to the fact that I fear this may be one time I cannot save your arse.”

As he walked off, Paine wondered the same thing.

~~~

As soon as Paine entered the dwelling, Anin asked softly, “Will you take your leave of me now?”

“No, as I told you, I will deliver you to the King and then take my leave. Are you ready? It is time to go.”

Anin could not explain the deep ache in her chest and how it spread and seemed to consume her at the thought that once Paine presented her to the King, he would be gone out of her life.

“Anin.”

She looked to see that he held the door open. She did not want to leave this small dwelling. She would have preferred to remain here with Paine and what? He had repeatedly reminded her that his task was to present her to the King and he would see it done. He had also told her that he would keep her safe and he had done that. Now it was time for her to do what she must—become the King’s queen.

Anin pressed her hand to her middle that fluttered with worry. This was not what she wanted, though fate had thought differently. It was difficult for her to believe fate would be so cruel. She had felt how Paine felt when she had laid her hand on him. He cared as much for her as she did for him.

“There is no time to waste, Anin. The King waits.”

Anin reluctantly stepped outside and stopped abruptly when she saw the enclosed cart that waited for her. The two narrow slits on either side of the cart would provide only a modicum of light and air. It would be like being locked in a cell and that she could not bear.

“I will not ride in that,” Anin said and took a step back, bumping against Paine.

“You will, the King has ordered it,” Wrath commanded and nodded to one of the warriors to open the door.

Anin shook her head. “I will not be closed away in there.”

“You fear riding in the cart?” Wrath asked as if the thought was ridiculous.

“I am not comfortable in closed, tight places,” Anin said, keeping her back pinned against Paine.

Wrath’s brow knitted as he asked, “You are part Lammok, are you not?”

“I am,” Anin said.

“Then how can you fear anything?” Wrath snapped and not waiting for an answer ordered, “You will ride in the cart as the King ordered.”

“I will not!” Anin shouted her body beginning to tremble.

Wrath and his warriors stared at her, shocked by her adamant refusal.

“Let her ride a horse,” Paine said from behind her.

Wrath glared at him. “Few have the skill to ride a horse. Besides, the King’s orders will be obeyed.” He walked straight at Anin, his hand reaching out to grab her as he got near.

Paine’s hand snapped out and clamped like a metal shackle around Wrath’s wrist. “Do not touch her.”

Anin was squeezed between the two men and she braced herself back against Paine to keep Wrath’s body from touching hers. The short distance between her and the fierce warrior did not however stop her from sensing his anger. It raged around him like a thunderstorm ready to unleash fury. No wonder he was called Wrath.

“I was ordered by the King to keep the future Queen from harm and deliver her safely to him. If riding in the enclosed cart causes Anin harm, then she will not ride in it. I—like you—keep my word to the King.” Paine released Wrath’s wrist.

“You tread on dangerous ground, my friend, watch your step,” Wrath warned and turned away.

Anin had to stop herself from turning around and throwing her arms around Paine in gratitude. But he would not wrap his arms around her in front of Wrath and his warriors. It would not be proper.

He stepped around her and, without saying a word to her, went to look over two horses a warrior brought forth.

Once again, she felt empty when he left her side. She and Paine were part of each other. And how did one live missing a part of oneself?

She looked down at Bog, standing beside her and whispered, “I will miss you, Bog.”

The wolf moved closer so that his body pressed against her leg. She smiled, pleased he seemed to feel the same way.

Paine lifted her onto a horse. “Just follow the animal’s lead.”

Anin did not bother to tell him she was familiar with riding a horse. She rode her da’s horse often, though he had scolded her whenever he discovered her doing so.

He mounted his horse and rode in front of her beside Wrath. The cart traveled behind her and warriors behind it. Bog kept pace with Paine, though kept his distance from the horse and he glanced back now and again at Anin as if keeping close watch on her.

As the day wore on so did Anin’s loneliness. No one spoke to her. It was as if she traveled unaccompanied. She had felt less lonely when she had left her home and traveled by herself to her mum’s people. She had felt the companionship of the forest and the creatures that inhabited it. At least they had welcomed her. Wrath and his warriors were there out of duty to the King and had bid her no welcome.

It was not until well after the sun was high in the sky that they stopped for a brief rest. Anin hoped Paine would come and sit with her, but she sat in solitude under a tree with no one paying her heed. She watched as the warriors talked among themselves and Paine and Wrath huddled not far from the narrow stream in conversation. Bog had gone off to do as he pleased and it gave Anin the notion to do the same.

Since Paine had found her, she had not done as she pleased and her freedom would certainly be curtailed once she was Queen. This would be her only chance to do as she wished and she wished to take a brief walk in the woods and relish the comfort it always brought her. Seeing that no one looked her way, Anin stood ready to slip quietly behind the tree and into the woods and welcome the peacefulness of the forest that was sure to surround her.

She froze mid-step as Bog’s lone howl echoed through the forest, sending gooseflesh rushing over her. She waited, fearful another would follow. And it did.

Anin was about to turn and run to Paine when a Drust warrior burst out of the woods, his spear raised and aimed straight at her. She was suddenly shoved aside. Falling to the ground, she watched as Paine’s battle axe deflected the spear, then quickly brought it down on the screaming warrior, silencing him with one blow.

Paine reached down, yanked Anin up by her arm, and shoved her against a tree where she was quickly surrounded by some of the King’s guard. Knowing they would give their lives to keep her safe, he rushed off to fight along with Wrath and the other guards.

The attack ended quickly and deadly for the few Drust warriors. Paine and Wrath easily dispensed of them, Bog arriving to help with the last one.

Wrath turned to Paine when all was done. “The Drust was not in favor of the tribes uniting, but to openly attack the King’s guard and on Pict land makes no sense. They know the King will have no choice but to retaliate and they cannot hope to defeat him and the united tribes.”

“They attacked with one purpose... to kill Anin,” Paine said with a glance at her, the King’s guard still surrounding her.

“Why?” Wrath asked the question puzzling. “No attempts were ever made on the King’s two previous wives. What is different about Anin?”

“That is the question I have been asking myself.”

“And one that needs a quick answer before war settles upon the land again. If we keep a strong pace, we can make it to the King’s stronghold before the sun sets on this day.” Wrath did not wait for Paine to agree. He turned and ordered his warriors to mount, then turned to Paine. “She rides in the cart where she will be safe.”

“She will not get in the cart.”

“Then put her in it,” Wrath ordered.

“No,” Paine said.

“She must be kept safe.”

“Her safety is for me to see to. Your task is to aid me in that,” Paine reminded.

“And how do you intend to do that?”

Paine walked away from Wrath without responding, though his actions answered for him. Paine hoisted Anin onto his horse and mounted behind her.

Wrath rode up beside him. “I wonder what the King will think when he sees you mounted on the horse behind his future Queen.”

Paine wrapped his arm firmly around Anin’s waist. “He will know I do what is necessary to keep her safe.”