The King's Executioner Page 6

  He wished her brothers were standing in front of him right now, for he would thrash each one of them for failing to protect their little sister.

  “I also did not want to listen to my mother repeatedly tell me that Lammok women were warriors and they feared nothing.” Anin shook her head again. “I tried so hard to be as strong as my mum, but I fear I never will be.”

  A tremendous clap of thunder shook the small dwelling and fear had Anin jumping up and instinctively running to Paine.

  He was already hurrying to her, his arms going around her, hugging her tightly against him, keeping her safe from her fear.

  Anin tightened her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest and was ever so grateful for his strong arms wrapped so snugly around her. She never felt as safe as she did at this moment and she wanted to stay in his arms as long as possible. She did not give thought that her hands were pressed against his back until she began to feel his overwhelming need to protect her. She let the feelings soak into her, wrap around her, comfort her, and then she felt something else. It was tucked away almost as if it was kept hidden where no one could find it or perhaps was afraid to look.

  He cared for her.

  She wanted to reach deeper and feel it more clearly, but another clap of thunder startled her and she shivered in his arms.

  Paine felt a chill of fear race through her and he lifted her just enough so that her feet did not touch the ground and brought her to rest in front of the fire pit. He turned her around in his arms, bracing her back against his chest and ran his hands down along her arms to take her chilled hands in his and hold them out to the flames to warm them.

  The warmth of the flames coupled with the strength of him wrapped around her brought such comfort that she sighed aloud, and said, “I am most grateful. I have never felt this safe.”

  Paine fought the feeling that was consuming him, taking over every part of him, inside and out. It had been many years since he last felt it and he had sworn never to let himself feel again, for with such sensations always came pain. And there would be much suffering and pain if he allowed himself to care for Anin.

  How many times must he remind himself that she was the King’s intended? How many times must he warn himself not to touch her? How many times would he grow aroused when near her? How many times need he remind himself she was to be Queen and nothing could ever—never—be between them?

  Not even one kiss.

  The thought disturbed him enough that he eased back away from her and what made it worse was that he felt her reluctance to let him go. But then it was fear of the thunderstorm that had her wanting to keep hold of him. The sobering thought had him stepping completely away from her. She had come to him out of fear, nothing more.

  The loss of his warmth and strength left her feeling vulnerable, and she shivered.

  “Take my cloak and wrap it around you. It will help chase the chill,” he offered.

  Anin nodded and did as he said, though it would never replace the comfort and safety of his arms. She sat on the pallet once again, her attention on her shifting thoughts. What was it about his embrace that made her feel so vulnerable and empty when he had moved away from her? After a moment of jumbled thoughts that made no sense, she thought herself foolish. He had helped her through her fear. There was no more to it than that and she had to let it be.

  They ate in silence while the rain slammed against the dwelling as if trying to rip it apart. Anin jumped in fright now as did Bog. Paine remained calm.

  Soon after they ate, they went to their sleeping pallets.

  “Sleep well, you are safe,” Paine said and turned on his side away from her.

  Anin hugged her cloak to her chest and closed her eyes, hoping sleep would claim her immediately. It did not. She lay restless and fearful, the wind having grown in strength, whipping violently against the dwelling. Then the thunder returned, rolling over the land like a never-ending wave.

  She hugged her arms tight and told herself over and over that it was all right, she was safe just as she had done when she had hidden away from her family during a storm. She felt as alone now as she had felt then. No one was there to comfort her, help her, care for her.

  Thunder so strong rolled over the dwelling that she thought for sure they would be crushed and she jumped up, screaming for the one person who could keep her safe from her fear, “Paine!”

  Chapter Seven

  Paine sat up, his head turning to Anin and when he saw the fear that gripped her pale face, he did not hesitate. He hurried to her side and took her in his arms, tucking her close against him as he lay beside her on her sleeping pallet.

  She clung to him and once again buried her face against his chest and mumbled, “Do not let me go. I beg you, do not let me go.”

  Her shiver ran through him and he went to turn away from her for a moment.

  “No,” she pleaded and made certain to keep tight hold of him.

  “I am just reaching for my cloak to keep us warm. I will not let you go.”

  She kept herself pressed against him as he stretched his arm out to his side and his hand took hold of his cloak. He had seen fear in people far too often, he usually being the cause of it. But he never allowed it to disturb him or keep him from carrying out his task. He did what was necessary without thought and without care. Here and now, seeing the fear on Anin’s face, feeling it in her every tremble, disturbed him and he wanted desperately to protect her from it.

  After draping the cloak over her, he began to rub her back, hoping it would soothe her and it did. Her body, taut as a bowstring, began to loosen and go limp against him, though when another clap of thunder sounded, her body grew taut once again. He did not stop stroking her back even when her body turned limp, his large hand continued stroking, reassuring, comforting.

  It was not until the thunder rolled off into the distance that Anin finally fell into an exhausted sleep still nestled in Paine’s protective arms. He thought to let her go and return to his sleeping pallet, but her words resonated in his head.

  I beg you, do not let me go.

  Never had anyone said that to him. They usually begged him to let them go, some to let them die, the suffering too great for them to bear. Their pleas never stopped him from doing what had to be done. Nothing ever stopped him from carrying out the King’s command, but then nothing ever stopped death from stalking him.

  You lay with the future Queen.

  The thought gripped him like a mighty hand, squeezing tighter and tighter. He would be made to suffer if the King learned of it. He had no right to touch her, hold her, and lay with her, though they did nothing wrong. But it was wrong, for no one but the King touched the Queen.

  She was not Queen yet.

  He shook his head. Future Queen or not, he could not dishonor her or wrong the King even though he did nothing but protect the future Queen from her own fears. It was not easy disengaging himself from her. She kept trying to slip back into his arms and he had a difficult time pushing her away, until finally he managed to settle her on her own.

  A quick roll had him back on his own sleeping pallet, though not to sleep. He could not stop his thoughts. He told himself repeatedly that he had been tasked to bring the future Queen safely to the King. That meant doing what was necessary to protect her even from herself.

  Or from him.

  He shut his eyes against the thought. He needed no woman, nor did he want one, for it would only bring pain to them both. Why then did he grow aroused around her so often? A question he had no answer to nor did he want to dig too deep to find one.

  She would be Queen or would she?

  Paine knew King Talon before he became King. It had been easy to see that he was a man born to power. He was a fierce warrior, confident in his decisions and possessed great strength and courage and demanded the same of his warriors. He had dissolved two marriages since both failed to produce an heir and his two wives also had not cared for his insatiable need to mate. That was why
this time when he searched for a wife, he made it known he wanted a woman of great strength. A Lammok woman, if possible, he had said with a touch of humor and a hint of command. One had been found for him... Anin.

  How was it that Anin was nothing like her mother’s people? She did not have their height or their skill with weapons. And never would a Lammok woman fear thunder. How was it that she was so different? And what would the King do when he discovered his intended was not what he expected her to be?

  It was not his worry. He would see this task done and then be on to the next task. There was always another one, always someone who broke the King’s law or someone who did something so foul that even death was not a good enough punishment for him.

  Anin’s fate was in the King’s hands and with that thought on his mind Paine fell into a restless sleep.

  Bog scratching at the door woke them both. Paine sat up and, after a stretch of his arms and a twist of his neck to both sides, he got up and followed the wolf outside. He was more surprised than relieved to see that not only had the rain stopped, but that dawn had brought the sun with it and also a little warmth. Bog had taken off, which meant he sensed no present danger and Paine was quick to see to his own needs before returning to the dwelling.

  Anin looked ready to leave when Paine entered. Her hair was freshly plaited and her garments were brushed clean, her cloak already over her shoulders and clasped at her neck. She looked at him anxiously.

  “The weather is good,” he said. “We can take our leave.” Her whole body seemed to sigh with relief and he wondered if she regretted begging him to hold her in his arms last night.

  “That is good news.” She looked away from him for a moment and then back again. “Last night—”

  “Is forgotten,” he finished. “Time to be on our way.” She looked as if she wanted to say more, but he did not give her a chance. “Go see to your needs while I see to the fire pit.”

  Anin hurried past him and she was not surprised to hear him call out. “Do not go far.” She needed no reminding, he had told her often enough. Though, today instead of not going too far, she wanted to run as far from him as she could.

  She entered the woods and stood staring in the distance. She did not know why thunderstorms frightened her as they did. Over the years she had tried to conquer her fear, but to no avail. Last night, in his arms, was the first time she ever felt safe from them. She did not know if it was the strength in his powerful arms that comforted her or...

  She shook her head and hurried to see to her needs, but when she finished and went to return to the dwelling, she stopped. The comfort of his strong arms had certainly helped, but it was what she felt pressed so tightly against him that settled her fears while raising others.

  He cared for her in a way she had never known anyone to care for her and she found herself feeling the same toward him, and it frightened her. She was promised to the King, but something in her felt for the executioner and it continued to stir in her, for when he had entered the dwelling she had felt a catch to her insides. And it grew when his green eyes met hers.

  This was not good. It could never be between them. She was to be Queen.

  “Anin!”

  She gasped, her hand quickly pressing against her middle as if she could stop the fluttering inside. “I am here,” she called out hastily and rushed her steps. As soon as she entered the clearing around the dwelling, he turned and started walking off. “Bog?” she called out as she hurried to follow.

  “Will join us soon enough.”

  After last night, Anin decided it was best to keep to herself and ask no questions. The faster they reached Pictland, the faster this ordeal would be over. Or would it just be beginning for her?

  They walked for half the day without exchanging a word and came upon a croft soon after.

  Anin was thrilled to see it and hoped those who dwelled there would offer drink and food, the berries she had eaten while walking had not been enough to quench her hunger.

  Bog drifted off well before they reached the dwelling. And as she and Paine drew nearer, Anin noticed an older man with sparse gray hair and a slim, older woman, his arm snug around her, standing near the open door. When she saw how they glared with fright at Paine, she understood why.

  They feared the executioner had come for them.

  “We have done nothing wrong,” the woman cried out as she and Paine got closer to them.

  “Hush,” her husband warned lovingly. “King Talon knows that and he is a fair man.”

  “That he is,” Paine said, stopping in front of them, “and he has not sent me for either of you.”

  The woman could not hide her relief, her stiff shoulders drooping and her wide eyes softening as she stepped out of her husband’s arms and said, “May we offer you drink and food?”

  The husband nodded, smiling. “Aye, you are welcome to share in what we have.”

  “That is generous of you,” Paine said.

  The older man took a step forward toward Paine and lowered his voice. “Should we serve your prisoner as well?”

  “The woman is not my prisoner.” He did not want it known that she was the future Queen, though he offered no explanation to her identity and none was asked.

  The man nodded. “Then you must be tired from walking. Please sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun while my wife and I get you food and drink.” He turned quickly and followed his wife into the house.

  Paine pointed to a small table with one bench beside it and Anin hurried over to it, tired of being on her feet. The table was meant for two people and certainly not for one the size of Paine. When he sat beside her, there was no way of keeping the sides of their arms from not touching. His warmth seeped into her and though she did not want to acknowledge it, it felt good.

  “Your feet?” Paine asked without looking at her.

  “They are much better.” They were better, though still pained her some, but she would not dare tell him otherwise. She did not want anything delaying their journey.

  Paine had the urge to tear her shoes off and see for himself, but he let it be. This unexpected reprieve would at least give her a chance to rest them.

  The man and woman fed them well and shared more than generously of their food; sour milk, cheese, bread, and goose eggs. The couple stood to the side like two servants waiting to be beckoned.

  Anin wondered why they did not join her and Paine or at least engage them in conversation. After watching them for a few moments, she realized that it was Paine. His mere presence frightened them and they did not want to be near him or engage him in anyway. They had not even shared their names with him. They wanted him done and gone.

  Anin grew uncomfortable sitting there, seeing the fright in their eyes as the couple watched as they ate. Anin looked away from them, her glance settling on the food on the table. Had they been so fearful that the couple had given them all the food they had? She found her hunger waning at the thought. Paine had no problem from what she could see, but then he paid the couple no heed. He focused on filling himself.

  He turned his head and kept his voice low. “Eat. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

  Anin kept her voice to a whisper. “What if this is all the food they have?”

  “Then they are fools for giving it all to us.” He stopped her before she could argue with him. “Not another word—eat.”

  “Take what is left with you,” the woman called out. Her eyes widened, as if suddenly realizing she said something wrong and quickly added, “When you are finished.”

  Her remark robbed that last bit of hunger from Anin. They were not truly welcomed there and she did not want to stay. She pushed away the near empty bowl of milk and looked at the woman. “My gratitude for generosity.” She slipped off the bench and walked away from the couple, looking off into the distance, wanting to be anyplace but here.

  “We will take the bread and cheese,” Paine said.

  “I will wrap them in a cloth for you,” the woman said and hurrie
d to do so.

  Anin did not glance back when she heard the couple call out, “Good journey.” She followed behind Paine after he handed her the bundle to carry. They walked in silence, Bog joining them after they were a good distance from the croft.

  The silence grew too heavy for Anin as did her thoughts and she could not help but say, “They feared you.”

  “Everyone fears me.”

  She did not think on her response, it slipped from her lips. “I do not fear you.”

  Paine stopped abruptly and turned, taking quick steps toward her.

  Anin stood firm against his intimidating approach. With his battle axe gripped tightly in his hand, the muscles taut along his arms, and his face set in a scowl, she probably would have been wiser to back away from him. But something held her firm.

  He stopped so close, their bodies almost touched. “You should fear me.”

  “Why?”

  “I bring great suffering, though more often death and that couple were well aware of it and kept their distance, for they had no wont of either.”

  “They had done nothing wrong, so why fear you?”

  “It is death they fear and to them I am the harbinger of death. They give to me, I go away, and death does not touch them.”

  Anin stared at him as a sudden thought struck her. “That is why King Talon sent you to get me. No one would dare tempt death.” She shook her head. “The Drust—”

  “Tempted death and lost, and it is also the reason we must get you to the King without delay.”

  She tilted her head in question.