Page 12 of Ensnaring the Dove

Colombia’s jaw tightened.

She’d take her father and Linus’s word over this man’s.

He was arrogant and clearly full of resentment. That rabble he’d been running with would be punished for attacking the convoy. As soon as word reached the Wall, soldiers would be sent out to hunt them down like dogs.

Drawing in a deep breath, Colombia swallowed the urge to argue with him. This man was the only lifeline she had; it was wise to speak carefully.

Aedan rose swiftly to his feet then, bringing the large rectangular raft with him. “It’s done,” he announced.

Nodding, Colombia stepped close. “I’m ready.”

“How much longer?”

“Not much … we’ve almost reached the bottom of the hill.”

Clutching onto the branches of the rickety raft, Colombia whispered yet another prayer to Fortuna. The Goddess hadshone upon her so far today, sparing her a terrible fate at the hands of those outlaws.

However, she didn’t want to escape rape and a blade to the throat, only to drown in this wild river.

The raft bobbed and twirled in the swift current, thrown around like a child’s toy.

Her lower legs and feet, which hung off the raft, had turned numb from the icy water, yet she didn’t care about that—she was too focused on holding on. Colombia couldn’t swim, and the current was so fast that if she lost her grip on the raft, she’d be dragged under within moments.

Panic clawed up her throat. Trying not to think about the possibility of a watery death, she chanced a look around.

It was difficult to get any sense of where they were, for a canopy of trees stretched overhead, and the light was so dim now the world appeared leached of color. For a spell, they’d hurtled downriver on a slope, and now the river had flattened out and widened.

“When I tell you, start kicking,” Aedan ordered then. “We need to get toward the bank.”

“Yes,” Colombia replied through clenched teeth. It was just as well this wild ride was nearly over, for her fingers were gradually weakening from cold and gripping on so tightly. She’d soon lose her hold.

“Right … kick!”

She did as bid, flailing around like a landed fish.

Aedan had been holding on to the opposite side of the raft, yet he lowered himself into the water now and moved around so they were shoulder-to-shoulder.

Together, they kicked the raft out of the swirling current, angling it toward the far bank—and when they finally reached it, a sob of relief rose in Colombia’s breast.

Aedan made it to the bank first before hauling her up after him.

They then crawled over wet stones, the gasps of their ragged breathing mingling with the rush of the river.

Colombia flopped onto her back, her chest heaving as she dragged in gulps of air. Her feet throbbed from the cold, yet by some miracle, she hadn’t lost either of her slippers. Above, the sky, framed by dark trees, had turned grey-purple, and the first of the stars twinkled down at her.

“So …” she finally wheezed. “We’re safenow?”

“I think so … yes,” he panted. “They should be far behind us now. This river has taken us southeast … far from Dere Street.”

Relief barreled into Colombia, flattening her against the stony riverbank.

Now that the immediate danger had passed, she could think to the future, to reaching Onnum—and Linus.

Moments passed, and then she glanced over at her savior. He was still lying on his back, his profile shadowed in the half-light.

Nerves clenched at her belly as she studied him. He appeared deep in thought, as if considering something.

This was the moment of truth. Would he keep his word or reveal his true motives? Swallowing, Colombia wrapped her fingers around a large, smooth river stone at her side. If he attacked her, she’d be ready. She wouldn’t let him rape her.