A Crown Of Blades(ARTK, Book 3)

Chapter 23-24

Anor 21st,3330 A.G

Jana squeezed her husband's hand, taking a rare comfort from their physical contact. This plan weren't entirely a lie. Sure, she didn't care for her cousin in the same way she did her uncle- but she did love the girl. And she often felt bad for her; it couldn't be easy to live with a husband that much older. To bear his child and then be told you were simply a piece in a very large puzzle....

  Jana quickly yanked her hand away. She stared out at their camp, thinking on how impressed she were by her soldier's speeds. They'd travel as long as possible each day, with scouts sorrounding the party at strategic points to shoot any witnesses- and the terrain made it exhausting. By the time the sun started to set they were having to force their eyes open, so the soldiers were greatful to be released early.

  That- and they knew it was the last true rest they'd get for a while.

"What is with you?" Wymac mumbled. "You don't normally fidget this much."

  "And you're normally smart enough not to speak to me but here we are." Jana sighed. "After all these years, one would think I could stand to be alone with you."

  "Jana-" Wymac started then stopped. His mind were absent of any thought for a few moments, then his eyes fell over a nearby group of soldiers smiling and whispering. They'd never followed his commands. Not once- only his wife's. They laughed at him when he tried to give commands, and then his wife would laugh too when told what they did say or do.

  For any man, this meant they didn't see him as a lord. There were always those unlucky members of a very large family, those who could do everything expected of them and still be mocked. Those who'd be left alive during war or a siege because they simply weren't seen as a threat, and that were almost worse than dying-

  "Forgive me for taking so long-" Wymac had been so deep in thought he didn't notice his brother (Is Myles his brother I can't remember????) approaching. "I had to take a shit. Are you ready?"

  Jana chuckled, reached down towards her ankle and lifted her breeches leg. There was a dagger strapped to each leg, a sword sheathed at her waist she weren't trying to hide- and her hair were up in tight braids so grabbing it in a fight would be pointless.

  "Is the sky blue, Cousin?" She allowed him to help her up onto his horse, ignoring whatever words were coming out of her husband's mouth as she got comfortable. Myles wrapped his arms around her waist, partially to keep her secured- and partially to fuck with his brother.

  Then they were off, traveling over one of the very large hills to the north side of house Ourri. The ride was slightly longer than most, as the ancient Ourri's(a much stronger people than what little remained of their line today) decided to flatten a very large area of land to make room for their home, farmlands, walls and commoners. According to those ancient texts this feat was seen as ridiculous- when there were already plenty of buildable land, but they hadn't listened. They saw this place, and believed the gods were telling them it had to be here.

  Oh how that were biting them in the-

  "Perhaps it would be better if I did most of the talking." Myles suggested. "The Ourri's aren't exactly known for listening to women."

  "And neither are you, cousin." She said as they got within earshot of the north wall and gate. Even Jana had to admit it was an impressive structure, standing with just a few repairs in all the years it'd been here.