I look at Eogan. His expression is stone. “Apparently not.”
“Breck’s actin’ scared as a ghost about it,” Colin continues. “Afraid the lady’ll put a spell on ’er or some such nonsense.” He turns to Eogan. “What do you know about her? Is she really Draewulf’s daughter? Is she a true Mortisfaire?”
Eogan keeps his gaze on the horizon in front of us. “I know that she’s arrogant, powerful, and deadly when she feels like it. And yes, she’s his daughter.”
“But isn’t that dangerous?” I interrupt. “Having her here in Faelen? Having her near our king?”
“Yes. Although, what level of dangerous will depend on what she wants.”
“You ever met ’er?” Colin asks.
“I have.”
Colin cranes his neck to look Eogan full in the face. “Really? Did you get up close? Can she really change a man’s heart to stone just by her looks?”
“Not by her looks. But it doesn’t matter, mate, because you’re not to go near her. At all. Same goes for you, Nym.”
“What?” Colin narrows his gaze. “Why? She as gorgeous as they say?”
“Not in the least.”
His tone’s firm, but I look over. Because he’s just fibbed clearer than I’ve ever heard him. I stare until he glances up at me. Liar, I mouth.
He purses his lips and kicks his horse to move ahead.
And suddenly I’m sick of it. Sick of his secrecy while he has such reckless consideration for the rest of the world going to hulls.
“So how do you know her, Eogan?” I call after him.
“I met her as a child.”
“Was she a Mortisfaire then?” Colin asks, but Eogan’s only answer is to holler back that it’d be nice to get home before dark. He spurs his horse forward, leaving dust to settle over us.
CHAPTER 21
WHEN WE FINALLY MAKE OUR WAY ONTO Adora’s estate, it’s twilight and our horses and bodies are ready to give out from the day’s pace. Eogan sends Colin off to wash and rest. As soon as he’s gone, Eogan and I brush down the mounts and work to avoid each other’s eyes in the barn’s buttery lantern light.
Haven flicks her head, grunting for more as soon as I’ve finished. When I don’t give in, she catches her halter chain around her leg and winds herself up in protest. And glares at me.
“You’re such a baby,” I murmur, and bend to unwrap it, struggling when I realize my crooked fingers are stiff from riding.
Eogan is instantly behind me. “I’ll do it.”
“I’m fine. I’ve got it.”
“You’re not fine. You’re putting your face next to an exhausted, half-starved horse like a lunatic. Let me do it.”
I don’t move. Mainly because I’m so tired that if I stand, I’ll either dissolve in his closeness or lash out at his face. Either way, I’ll make a fool of myself, and I’m not in the mood to be mocked tonight. “Look, just go take care of whatever it is you have to take care of, okay?” I whisper.
He doesn’t argue, but he also doesn’t budge. Just stands there, leaning over me, being attractive and holding out his hand. Finally, he sighs and reaches around to grab her harness and hold her head while I struggle with the metal rope.
“Thank you,” I mutter when I’m done.
He unhooks her halter and pulls it over her head, then coos her into the stall. I walk away without looking back at him.
Adora’s voice carries across the yard and makes me jump. She’s yelling my name.
“Tomorrow we’ll be training up at a lake while Colin stays behind to rest,” Eogan says coolly just as I reach the barn door. “Bring a water satchel and cloak.”
I nod and rush off to the house.
When I reach my bedroom, the door is ajar and Adora’s shrill voice is emanating out along with the pungent smell of soap. I push it open to find Breck on hands and knees scrubbing the wood floor and Adora standing at the window.
She turns, and I swear the entire drapery moves with her, as if her pantsuit was made from it. She’s wearing the highest pointed heels I’ve ever seen. No wonder she yelled across the grass instead of stomping over to get me. “Ah, there’s the deaf girl. I was beginning to think you were being defiant.”
“I was brushing down the horses.”
She arches a brow. “I hear Colin is hurt.”
I nod and glance at Breck. She doesn’t turn. Just tucks her auburn hair behind her ear and keeps scrubbing. She looks weak hunched over like that, and the skin above her collar is yellowish. I peek closer. It’s sporting what looks to be a half-hidden gash. There are smaller ones on her arms.
What the—?
“Breck!” Adora snips in a loud whisper.
The servant girl looks up and something’s clearly wrong with her. Her face is puffy and there’s bruising around her eyes. She’s either been beat up or in a fight. She stands. Bows to Adora and mumbles that she’ll be back later to finish.
As soon as she’s gone, Adora’s gaze is back on me. “And Eogan? How was your time with him?”
“Fine. What happened to Breck?”
“Fine how?”