Fury (Emblazoned novel)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

                I followed a talkative Jonathan back to the village, ignoring him as I ran my fingers through Arronaght’s mane and tried to keep the memories of the murder at bay. They always seemed to overpower me on this day, more than any other days, and I had a hard time keeping them from taking over my conscious.

                Arronaght bumped my shoulder with his long snout and I smiled gratefully at him, he had always known when I was troubled or needed comfort. Many times, I wondered what it would be like to speak with him. What I would even speak to him about.

                “Thank you, Arro,” I murmured softly to him and kissed his soft coat just beneath his ear. Arronaght was a magnificent stallion, his black coat was always gleaming as if it had been freshly washed each day, and his chocolate brown eyes seemed to permanently shine with warmth. He did not have a violent bone in his body, unless it came to protecting me.

                “Anna, are you even listening to me?” Jonathan whined, tugging at my sleeve to gain my attention.

                “You were just telling me about how you stole another one of Jameson’s cows,” I absentmindedly responded as I stroked Arronaght.

                Jonathan groaned and grabbed my hand, turning me to look at him. “No! I was telling you about the man who has been asking around for you at the village! He is probably already waiting at your house.”

                I frowned; a man, at my house? None of the villagers even spoke to me unless I was purchasing something from them. “Who is he?”

                He shrugged. “He would not tell anyone his name. Just said he needed you, and he looked deperate.”

                I saw that he was eyeing me with a curious expression, and I raised my brow expectantly at him. “He’s not someone that you,” he cleared his throat, and a deep crimson color filled his cheeks, “you know?”

                “No! Jonathan, even if I had, it is none of your business!” How dare he ask me something like that? I fumed the rest of the way back to my house.

                When we finally reached the end of the long road, and my house was in sight, I took a deep breath and told Jonathan to go home.

                After untacking Arronaght, I held the hilt of the dagger tightly in my hand as I approached the door. Wincing as it creaked open, I slipped into my house and discarded my jacket on one of the two wooden chairs I still had left and stepped further into my house.

                A noise to my left had me spinning in that direction, dagger swinging through the air. My hand was blocked and with a painful twist it dropped to the ground. The hand on my arm tugged me forwards and my back smacked into a well-defined chest as a sword was pressed against my jugular.

                “Now, now. Is that any way to greet a guest?” A masculine voice whispered beside my slightly pointed ear, and a shiver traveled down my spine at the sound.

                Gritting my teeth in fury, I gripped the man’s wrist and maneuvered myself out of his hold. Now, standing before him, I got a good view of the man who had broken into my home. He was handsome, that much was obvious, and not too tall. His bright green eyes shone with amusement as he too looked me over. Dark brown hair was trimmed short, and the shadow of a beard covered most of his jaw.

                “No, that is how I treat an intruder,” I spat.

                He flinched, but his smile never faded. “I was let in by a kind woman named Rosy. I did not break into your home, I swear.” Of course, Rosy- Jonathan’s mother- would do anything for a handsome face.