Page 44 of Heart of the Hunter (Band of Bastards #3)

A nora had become very attached to her little namesake.

She had her arm wrapped around Ani’s pudgy belly as she sat perched on her forearm while they took a turn about the castle yard.

Ani was facing forward with her back pressed to Anora, kicking her legs and flapping her arms as she squealed and cooed at all the sights and sounds.

Galiena walked at her side with little Erik perched in her arms as he looked, wide-eyed, at everything and everyone.

The castle yard was filled with the merriment of people celebrating a successful second harvest in preparation for the winter ahead.

An abundant banquet was on display for the lord, lady, villagers, and farmers to celebrate the successful bounty.

And bonfires blazed to ward away evil spirits and misfortune for the winter ahead.

Trestle tables were heaped with breads, sizzling meats from the spit, roasted vegetables, savory and sweet pies, fresh apples, blackberries, and honey.

Tankards and cups were filled again and again from jugs of wine or kegs of ale.

Children ran and played games while the villagers and farmers talked, laughed, ate, and drank.

Musicians and entertainers performed in the center of the castle yard and revelers gathered around the fires to sing and dance.

The crisp tang of autumn hung in the air, which was cooling noticeably as the sun went down.

Anora hugged Ani closer, but the little girl did not feel the cold with all of her excited squirming.

“Lady Alyce is waving us over,” Galiena said, tipping her head in the direction of a long table set along the castle wall.

Anora had met the lady of the castle once before, the day after arriving at Hawkspur.

Alyce had insisted that Galiena bring her up to the castle to share a meal and get acquainted.

They had supped in a private solar while two of Lady Alyce’s older children played with Galiena’s twin babes on a blanket spread before the hearth.

Lord Hawk stopped by for an introduction to Anora but then left the women to dine alone.

Anora had been curious to meet both Lady Alyce and Lord Hawk.

Hawk was a large, gruff man with piercing black eyes and black hair giving way to streaks of silver at the temples.

He reminded her of Hunter with his serious expressions and abrupt way of speaking.

He was not an unpleasant man, and she imagined he could be just as intimidating as Hunter when he wanted to be, but when he turned his attention to his wife everything about him softened, from his eyes to the set of his shoulders to the tone of his voice.

Lady Alyce was no less impressive. Her genuine smile was warm and welcoming as she listened intently to everything Anora or Galiena had to say.

She did not miss any detail, asking questions when she wanted to know more, and laughing easily at anything amusing.

Anora felt they had become fast friends by the time the evening was over.

She liked Lord Hawk and Lady Alyce immensely and was fascinated by the sparkle in his eyes and the blush in her cheeks when they were near each other.

Their love story was known throughout the realm, including how Hawk had endured punishing lashes ordered by the king rather than betray Lady Alyce’s trust. It was an enviable love, their devotion to each other as romantic as any ballad sung by the bards.

As Galiena and Anora approached the lord and lady in the castle yard, Lady Alyce’s face lit up. She immediately tickled the bellies of each baby before extending greetings to Galiena or Anora.

“Are you the prettiest girl here tonight?” Lady Alyce asked Ani in a singsong voice as she pinched at her wriggling toes. She squeezed Erik’s pudgy cheek, and said, “And you are going to be as burly as your papa.”

“That he is,” Galiena agreed. “He’ll have to start walking soon because I don’t think my back can withstand him getting any bigger if I have to keep carrying him.”

“Here,” Lady Alyce said, indicating a row of armed chairs with sturdy backs that had been set up along the table for the use of the lord and lady and their chosen guests. “You must join me and sit. And let me hold Erik while you eat something.”

“Thank you, Lady Alyce,” Galiena gushed and reached for a small meat pie stacked on a platter in the middle of the table. Even with Anora’s help, Galiena still couldn’t seem to get enough to eat or time to sleep.

The women sat and Alyce bounced Erik on her lap as she made faces at him to get him to giggle.

Anora was seated between the Lady of Hawkspur and Galiena.

She tried to stay focused on the conversation, but she was too distracted by Hunter’s absence to truly enjoy the festivities.

She smiled and answered Lady Alyce’s questions, even asked a few of her own, but then she was contented to listen as Galiena regaled Lady Alyce with stories of the twins’ accomplishments and antics.

“I must do my duty as Lady of Hawkspur,” Alyce said after Galiena had finished eating. “As much as I’d like nothing better than to spend the evening with this handsome little man, I must greet everyone.” She handed little Erik back to his mother and took her leave.

Anora and Galiena strolled among the festivities, watching the dancing and games and stopping often to exchange pleasantries with the many villagers who knew Galiena and wanted to coo over the babies.

It warmed Anora’s heart to see her dear friend happy and surrounded by so many loving people.

Only two years prior, she had been alone, lonely, mourning the loss of her husband and daughter, and convinced that she was doomed never to be happy again.

And now she had an adoring husband, a family, and an abundance of friends and people who cared for her.

Despite all the activity and new people to meet, Anora had spent the evening watching and waiting for Hunter to appear.

Four days had passed since the morning they’d arrived at Hawkspur.

She’d expected to see him before the sun set the first day, but he didn’t show.

When he still did not come to see her the next day, Anora had asked Red where she might find him.

If he wouldn’t come to her, then she would seek him out—and give him a good tongue lashing for abandoning her.

But Red informed her Hawk had dispatched him for a mission and that he would be gone for a few days.

That was four days previous, and still he had not returned.

The more she thought about him leaving without even telling her, the more frustrated she became.

She was anxious to continue the search for the stolen jewels and still felt the best option was to hire Hunter as her guide and protector whether he wanted her to or not.

Madam Ruby’s idea to hire men as protection was brilliant, and she decided there was nothing stopping her from doing the same.

She knew Hunter reported to Hawk, but perhaps his commander could be persuaded to allow him some time to accompany her for the right price.

Anora had been paid handsomely for the brooch she made for the merchant in Shrewsbury, and was certain she could afford the cost.

Her plan would require journeying to goldsmith shops and likely some brothels throughout the region to inquire after anyone trying to sell the stolen pendants and altar pieces.

As much as she would like to believe she could do it on her own, she realized she’d have a much harder time avoiding danger alone.

With Hunter, together they were quite capable of handling dangerous situations.

She scoffed quietly and ridiculed herself for trying to deny that the true reason she looked for Hunter was because she’d not felt like she could take a deep breath since he’d left.

When she closed her eyes in her bed at night, she could feel his hands on her skin and remember the taste of his kisses.

She missed the way his eyes smoldered when he looked at her, and the sounds of his deep, grumbly voice, even when he growled at her in frustration.

“He’ll be back for you,” Galiena said in a low voice at her side.

Anora looked at her friend and tried to smile. “Is it that obvious?”

“Aye, it is.”

“It is an infatuation. Once I am back at the goldsmith shop and focused on my work, I will move beyond it.” At least, that was what Anora hoped.

But what would happen when Hunter came to share a meal and stories with her father and Sumayl?

Was she to pretend nothing had ever happened between them?

Or would they come together for a night of passion and then go back to their separate lives again?

As much as she wished to have him as her lover, the risks were too great for a woman.

If she were to become with child, or if they were discovered, it would put an abrupt end to her career as a goldsmith and many in the village would shun her.

The shame upon her family would ruin her father’s business.

“It’s an infatuation that is reciprocated, if Red is to be believed,” Galiena said, the twinkle in her eye matching her smile.

“Even if it is, there is naught to be done about it. He may be more tolerant of my desire to be a goldsmith, but he would never be contented living in Oswestry over the shop. And my entire life is there; I cannot imagine ever leaving it.”

“How do you know what Hunter wants? Other than you,” Galiena asked, stopping to watch a juggler entertaining a gaggle of mesmerized children. Even little Ari and Erik kicked their feet and bounced their arms in excitement as the colorful balls arced through the air in a continuous rhythm.

“I don’t know,” Anora admitted.