Lair of Beasts [Book I in the Curse Of Blood Saga]

Chapter XVI (Part II) - Interruption

"You are cold." Lucian was staring intently at my lips that were no doubt blue and cracked from the cold.

I felt the heat well up into my wind-hewn cheeks. I nodded, but looked hesitantly to where the others had disappeared, into the hall to feed the fat little abbot no doubt. Lucian, ever observant, noticed my unwillingness to participate in entertaining the new arrival.

"Perhaps you'd like to accompany me for a little walk? I'm of a mind to go hawking of a sudden." He smirked mordantly, but I sensed instinctively the irony of it was directed at the balding pate of the monastic little wretch who had, thankfully, disappeared from view.

"Aye, I should like that very much," I smiled diffidently. Falconry was one of the few hunting sports I most enjoyed. Suddenly I was not so cold.

Actually, I was of an irenic mind just now — the mutual dislike of the abbot having somehow sparked a small affinity between us and I was feeling rather disposed toward my husband-to-be.

"Go fetch Diana. I shall meet you at the gate anon."

"You know who Diana is?" I inquired, struck by his perceptiveness. I was surprised that he knew my little merlin's name.

"Aria, I have made it my business to know as much as possible about the woman I intend to marry." I tucked a jetty lock of stray hair behind my ear, nodding my understanding. "Go," he repeated with a nod, though not unkindly.

I rushed to my room, carefully transferred Diana to my gloved wrist, and then made my way to the gate as per our arrangement. Lucian was already waiting for me when I arrived. His large, hooded gerfalcon sat perched atop his wrist patiently, her stunning white feathers speckled with dark brown spots, like freckles, down the back of her crown and back. Her breast and belly was an unblemished alabaster, her talons and nostrils as yellow as Diana's, and the ridge of her beak a strange shade of pearly blue that progressively became black toward the cutting edge of her mandible.

Both the man and his falcon were large and intimidating — a daunting pair — and I hoped my sweet little merlin could keep up with the mighty gerfalcon, for I was sure I would not measure up to Lucian's expectations; my skill as a falconer was nowhere near as impressive as I knew his to be.

We decided to head into the forest on foot. The day was mild and the wind much becalmed since the blizzard that had swept through five days ago. The snow had thinned out a little and we picked our way along a known hunting route. When Lucian was satisfied with the distance we had traveled, in companionable silence, he stopped and carefully deposited his bird on a nearby branch before walking over to me.

He passed me a bladder of watered wine as I too transferred Diana to a nearby bough. As I drank my fill, I watched him run a long finger gently down the length of Diana's back, whispering encouragement to her. Why should it be that I could feel that same finger caressing my own shoulders and his hushed words whispering into my ear? Settle down, Aria! I rolled my eyes at my own absurdity.

"Beautiful," he murmured, twisting around to look at me briefly ere he continued his attentive handling of her.

I studied the plains of his stately profile and grinned sheepishly. "Indeed," I agreed softly.

This was by no means the first time I had so openly appreciated his form, but I realized that I was becoming less vexed each time I caught myself doing so. I could enjoy the graceful curve of a falcon's breast, and the sinewy strength of a stallion's flanks. Why then did I feel like a voyeur each time I appraised the man I would shortly marry.

It seemed that the longer I stood here satiating my thirst with the wine I'd been given, my desire to watch him became proportionately whetted by the same degree. Enough! I shook my head of the silly notion and replaced the water bag into his possession. That done, he removed his falcon's leather hood. Her eyes were large, dark pools that forthwith began adjusting and scanning the surrounding trees and fields.