Page 45

Chapter

Forty

Grahame

I t took two days to gather weapons and decide who would travel to Clayton House and who would remain.

Another two to collect supplies, instruct wives and sons on tending farms or jobs, and to pray for victory.

Most of Hyrstow’s men opted to go, though a couple could not bring themselves to fight for the lands of a woman who had harmed Hyrstow.

Muretta wrung her hands and refused at first but finally agreed to stay behind where she would be safe.

After a tearful goodbye with Thor and an especially long hug with Hagan, she turned back to the hall.

Branton refused to leave. There was no way Grahame’s brother-in-law was going to desert his pregnant wife and children.

Emma had spent the entirety of those two days baking with Isolde Tanner to make rations.

Travelling with the band from Guston had its challenges.

When Hyrstow men broke across the hilltop and saw the breadth of those that raided their village not long ago, Grahame thought there would be slaughter.

Adara and Ridley united together was the only thing keeping the seething mass away from one another.

Each group fell in with their respective leaders.

Grahame was proud to ride beside his wife; he was glad to show both groups of their allegiance.

The glaring sun beat down on Grahame’s skull as they made their way into Guston. The plan was to rest there for the evening, to gather whatever extra food stores the village could offer.

“You look about to fall asleep astride that horse,” Adara said.

“I am tired,” he admitted.

She only stared at him, her rose-petal lips in a neutral line. He simply shrugged, hoping it was enough for her to let it go. His shoulder and ribs ached less, though how they would fare in a fight was a different concern.

“Uhtread!” he called to the man riding behind him. “Is your village able to spare a pig? I know an army such as this will appreciate the strength good meat would offer.”

He and Uhtread began a boisterous conversation about meat and some games—a lighthearted night before setting off to the unknown the next morning. All the while, Grahame stole glances at Adara.

She wore one of Yrsa’s fine green cloaks, her midnight hair wild and cascading down her back.

Lambskin gloves from his mother covered her hands, despite the heat.

The slope of her nose, the dewiness of her sweat-slicked skin, the way her legs looked in borrowed leathers—all of her made his mouth water.

His cock twitched at the thought of taking her to bed that evening, and when she caught him staring, the coy smile she offered let him know he wasn’t the only one with bedding in mind.

Despite their intentions, accommodations were sparse.

He and Adara were given a room in the tavern, though others weren’t so lucky.

Little in the way of privacy was to be had with the main area of the tavern being stuffed with those from Hyrstow.

The Guston men were able to return to their homes.

Ridley and Yrsa were hosted in Guston’s hall, along with Thor and Hagan.

“You need to rest, “ Adara said, moving behind him to drape her arms around his throat.

Grahame sat shirtless with his legs over the sides of the small cot that was to be their bed for the evening.

“Aye, we both should,” he acquiesced.

Unease laid low in his belly. Adara noticed his hesitation, coming ‘round to sit beside him. The tiny bed caved under their combined weight.

“How well can you move your arm?”

“It will be fine.”

“It won’t, Grahame. Not if you don’t…”

“Tell you?” He kept a tether on the prickliness in his tone.

Adara sensed it nonetheless. Her eyes became narrowed slits of silver. He released a heavy sigh.

“I am injured, Adara. There is nothing for it other than time. Complaining won’t make it better.”

“Yes, but as your partner, it will help me strategize.”

Grahame made a fist with the hand of his injured arm, released it and shook it out. Holding onto reins all day hadn’t helped. His hope was that siege would mean waiting, and waiting meant more time to heal.

“Grahame,” Adara said, her fingers brushing back the hair that had fallen across his forehead.

She lightly dragged her nails along his scalp in a way that made him shiver.

“I need you to be with me. I am moving against my father in an act that will have us killed if we are caught. I need to know you will be able to stand beside me, to be a united front for the men who doubt me, to show my father that he shouldn’t have tried to harm you.

You need to tell me if you can’t be there.

I would rather know now and have you protected than risk you.

My concern cannot be split between you and what I know has to happen. ”

Grahame cupped a hand over her knee. It felt warm and lithe beneath his grip.

“How do you feel about this? Truly?”

Adara blinked, her hand stilling on his hair. Grahame waited. He was learning that his wife was impulsive, yet her actions in the moment sometimes led to her deep regret.

“I deserve to get my house back,” she replied.

“’Dara,” he chided, “tell me your feelings about our plan. Trapping your father in your house and demanding he surrender the earldom to us must be cause for concern.”

Grahame drifted his knuckles across her cheekbone. Adara’s eyes fluttered shut. She drew a breath then exhaled before pressing a kiss to Grahame’s surprised lips. When she pulled away, a line of worry lived between her brows. When she did not respond, he pushed.

“I wish to know your thoughts,” he said gently.

True to form, she met his inquiry with anger. “You are worried I will falter when I see him again? The way I panicked and fainted after our return from Guston?”

Grahame leaned into her, quiet. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, wrapping his arm around her waist so she was tucked into his side. He waited.

“What good does it do for me to voice my doubt that this is folly? That you will be hurt more or that my father will do something heinous to all these people I’ve gathered? Worry does not begin to cover the churning I feel in my middle or the pounding of my heart when I think of what is to come.”

She bit her bottom lip against the rest of her words. Grahame took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tugged it loose.

“Keep on,” he urged.

She jerked her face away, but after a moment, leaned into him. There was a wobble to her next words. It tested Grahame’s ability to just sit there. He wished to fix it all for her, yet an innate part of him knew to be still and listen.

“I am afraid, Grahame. Different from the stab of fear I felt when you were harmed. This is a wave threatening to drown me. A sense of misery that will take me down if I allow it. You’ve seen the loss of control I have when up against my father.

Somehow, after everything he has done to me, I am terrified to betray him.

I do not believe he will surrender, and yet all I can do is lead my people the best way I can. ”

Grahame sowed kisses into her hair, holding her tight.

“I will be by your side. I promise. Focus on your father. I will be there for you in any way you need.”

The words were not the salve he wished them to be. He was scared as well, his entire being stricken over the people they were risking. One thing was utterly true, however.

He would be there for Adara. Always.

The next morn, they dressed in silence. When they left the room, Adara pulled him into a kiss that made him see stars.

“I love you. Thank you for listening. For being my anchor,” she said before pressing another kiss to his lips.

The men were in good spirits after stopping for the night.

Supplies seemed plentiful enough, and they knew they could draw more resources from the surrounding lands if needed.

Eadric would be stuck in the house, regretting his choice to have Grahame killed and his daughter married off.

He would either leave with his head and the promise to relinquish land or he would not.

Grahame had no qualms about his wife’s father dying.

Not after he’d harmed her in so many ways.

At mid-day Clayton House came into view.

A blanket of black conquered the wheat field that had once stood behind Clayton House.

Despite the refusal of his mind to reconcile what he was seeing, Grahame noticed the hush that fell over their troop as the property came into full view of the men.

The swarm moved, looking more like ants scurrying as their party neared.

Grahame cast a look at Adara, then Ridley, only to see their jaws clenched, their eyes locked on the scene ahead.

“Halt,” Ridley shouted, yanking on his reins.

Adara’s eyes found his, wide with fear.

The fires had been misdirection. Eadric had brought the full breadth of his legions to Clayton House.