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Unarmed (Unarmed Trilogy)

Page 16

by Nina Monroe

“It was my Uncle. I know it,” Will said as he looked in the carriage window. Tamzin still continued to sleep, with her fingers curled around the fur lining of her cloak. “You’re right; someone in Thurston Territory is helping him. Do you have suspects?”

  Garrett raised his eyebrow as Will followed his gaze to Lucy. “She didn’t cry when her mistress is poisoned. That is not remotely suspicious,” Garrett said sarcastically as he turned to look at the twenty-five bannermen following them. “You should have brought more for the Johansson Territory.”

  “I’m not looking to start a war,” Will said as he stared ahead at the snow-covered path. “An alliance with Douglas Johansson could strip my Uncle of his forces, as pitiful as they may be. I’m trying to avoid murdering children.”

  “An honorable, but unavoidable quest, Will,” Garrett said calmly as he wrapped his cloak tighter around his shoulders. “This marriage alliance is useless. Johansson is a snake and everyone knows it.”

  “A lion fears no snake,” Will growled as he looked to the sky. The sun was finally in the sky.

  “But even a lion can die from one bite.”

  “Has Kendall made you wiser?” Will asked with a grin as he eyed the brunette. “Has she tamed you as well?”

  “I have been enjoying her company exclusively, if that’s what you mean,” Garrett said with a roll of his eyes. “I do like her. I can’t deny that.”

  “But love isn’t in your heart yet?” Will asked as Garrett let out a loud laugh.

  “You’ve been spending too much time with your dreamy wife. No, love is not quite in my heart yet. You didn’t love her when you married her,” Garrett as he nodded to the still sleeping Tamzin. “You haven’t told me how the bedding was. The court couldn’t stop talking about the bloody sheets, like they’ve never seen some before.”

  “There’s nothing to discuss,” Will’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I love her; it was a nice time.”

  “A nice time? The servant girls said the moans coming out of that room makes it sound like you ruined her for all other men, not a nice time. Nice time, my ass.”

  Will refused to answer his friend’s never ending questions and kept his eyes locked forward. Midday, the men stopped for a meal and a quick rest for the horses. Will dismounted Angus and tapped lightly on the carriage’s window. He felt Kendall rush behind him to peer into the glass.

  Tamzin stirred and sat up to wipe the sleep from her eyes. She smiled blearily when she saw Will and nearly fell off her seat as she opened the door.

  “Are you hungry?” Will asked as he pulled her from the carriage and kept her in his arms. “The men are eating before we resume.” Will continued to carry Tamzin from the carriage and placed her on a log in front of the men who were creating a fire. When the fire was created, Will watched as the men began to heat various salted meats over the fire as he sat next to Tamzin, with his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders.

  “How long have we been traveling?” Tamzin asked as a soldier plopped a few pieces of meat onto Tamzin’s wooden plate.

  “About half the day. We only have a few more hours of daylight and hopefully we will be halfway to my aunt’s by the time the sun sets,” Will said as he brought the plate to rest on her knees. “You should eat, sweetheart. It will help you regain your strength.”

  “I am fine,” Tamzin groaned as she ran her fingers through her messy hair. She didn’t say anything as she plopped the meat medallions in her mouth, and Will smiled. Kendall took her seat next to Tamzin and the girls giggled as Kendall stole a piece of meat. “So, tell me, Kendall, how are things with Garrett?”

  “I will happily tell you, Your Grace, when Garrett’s spy isn’t in our presence,” Kendall grinned as she nodded to Will, who feigned ignorance.

  “I am merely a worried husband, Lady Kendall,” Will said as he kissed Tamzin’s temple. “But if my lady wishes to gossip, I will bid you farewell.” Will kissed her lips chastely before he stood and walked towards where his men had congregated.

  “He loves you,” Kendall whispered as she watched Will walk towards his men. “So now that you’ve been properly bedded, is it fantastic?”

  “I don’t detect a hint of blush, Kendall. Are you no longer a maiden?” Tamzin smiled as she caught Lucy’s eye. Lucy was flirting shamelessly with a soldier, who seemed quite taken with her. “Why doesn’t Lucy spend time with us?”

  “You know Lucy. She’s in a new place with all brand new men. She’s been making her special tea by the gallons lately. Has she given you your fertility drink today?” Kendall asked as she scowled at Lucy. Tamzin didn’t comment on it, but it had become obvious that Lucy and Kendall’s friendship had become strained.

  “I usually drink it before bed. I’m not sure why I need to drink it now, as it’s obvious Will and I won’t be intimate for a few more days. It tastes awful,” Tamzin said, as she tasted the familiar bitter taste on her tongue.

  “If it tastes anything like her special tea, you have my sympathy, Tam,” Kendall commiserated as Tamzin raised her eyebrow.

  “And how do you know what that tea tastes like?” Tamzin giggled as she pushed a curl out of her face. “I sense that my lady is no longer a maiden.”

  “Oh, I am very much still a maiden, but not quite as pure,” Kendall laughed as she looked at Garrett, who sat with Will and the other men. “He has very many talents.”

  “I’m sure he does,” Tamzin continued to laugh. She had begun to wake up and though her body still ached, she had finally started to feel just a little bit better. “You’re lucky you can do as you please.”

  “You don’t want to be a mother so young?” Kendall asked quietly. The soldiers in front of them paid them little attention, but she still didn’t want them to listen to their private conversation.

  “It’s just because we have just married. If this were two years from now, I would happily bear him all the children he wanted. But after last night, I don’t think I could stomach the idea of losing our child,” Tamzin said bitterly as she wrapped an arm around her still flat tummy. “I wish this wasn’t happening.”

  “Tam, once Will’s cousin marries the Johansson girl, his uncle won’t have enough power to even try to poison you again. The second you are with child, there is nothing his uncle can do to hurt you or claim the throne,” Kendall tried to soothe, but to no avail.

  “I don’t care about a crown or a title; Will isn’t a Prince or future King. He’s my husband and he’s going to father my children. I just wish he and I could leave and just go into hiding. I don’t want to be a Princess all the time,” Tamzin whispered as she kept her eyes locked on Will’s form.

  Kendall frowned at her best friend and reached over to grip her hand. The girls huddled together for warmth and laid their heads next to each other. Garrett turned over his shoulder and stared at Kendall, before he looked back at Will. He was laughing at a lewd joke by one of the guardsmen.

  “Don’t mind me saying, Your Highness, but you are much more tolerable with a woman warming your bed,” the guardsman laughed as he slapped Will’s shoulder. “With a pretty princess like that, no need for trips to the whorehouse.”

  “I wouldn’t, even if I didn’t love her,” Will said. “It’s dishonorable for a man to lay with anyone other than his wife. Before the marriage, at least.”

  “Little Prince, so unused to the ways in the world. You should keep that pretty girl happy. Pretty and sweet Princesses keep kingdoms together far longer than an unwise Prince,” the guardsman nodded towards Tamzin. “Your father is certainly right about one thing; girls can be an amazing asset.”

  “She is an amazing asset,” Will asserted as he ran a hand through his dark curls. “If I am to leave for war and she is left behind, you swear your allegiance to her. If I and my father do not return, she is Queen.”

  “You really expect that we cannot kill child soldiers? You wound me, Your Highness!” Another guardsman cried out as the other laughed. Will joined them, but he knew it was wiser to expect the ab
solute worst. Arrogance and underestimating your enemy is the first step towards failure. Failure for him meant his death. “We should press on, your highness. I am in need of a real bed and a real woman beside me in it!”

  Will laughed with his men as they shook hands. When Will turned around, he found Tamzin standing next to Angus as she pet his muzzle. She seemed a bit intimidated by him, but Angus was a kind horse, if only to her. Angus also loved Tamzin for the afternoons when she would sneak him carrots and apples. Will crept up behind her silently and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “Would you like to ride with me?” Will asked as he rested his chin on her shoulder as his hands slid down her arms and rested on her hips.

  “I think I’d rather ride you,” Tamzin teased as she leaned into his embrace and she felt him push his hips into her backside. “When we arrive at your aunt’s kingdom, I think you owe me a long night of pleasure, Your Grace.” Tamzin continued as she turned in his embrace. Will smiled as he leaned in and kissed her softly. He nipped her soft and plump bottom lip lightly before his fingers traced a ticklish spot. Tamzin broke their kiss and squealed, her smile so big that it looked like it hurt.

  “If you want, I can bring you deep into the woods and I can take you against a tree,” Will murmured into her ear. He took her earlobe into his mouth lightly and Tamzin clung to him tightly. “Do you want me to take you against a tree, Tamzin?”

  Her breath was short as his fingers trailed up her arm, which left a trail of blazing heat. Will pulled away from her ear and his blue eyes locked with her brown orbs. With a quiet sigh, Tamzin raised her hand to his hair, his thick and dark curls. In the light, she saw his hair lighten with different shades of brown and red but his eyes were always a striking blue. They only lightened in the sunlight and they were eyes that could bring her to her knees or strike fear into his enemies. But his eyes now stared at her like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. His thick beard was the same color as his hair, though just a shade lighter. He looked his best with this look and Tamzin despised it when he was clean-shaven. With his beard, he looked mature and knowing; without, he was the young boy she knew he was, just on the cusp of manhood. Will may have been revered among his men and desired nothing more than his father’s approval, but late at night, when it was just them after a trying day, Tamzin could see just how unsure he was.

  “What are you staring at?” Will smiled as he kissed her cheek, his beard rubbed lightly on her cheek. “You seem to be feeling much better with a bit of food in your stomach.”

  “I was always fine, Your Grace. Honestly, you expect me to carry and bear you a son, but I can’t handle a bit of nightshade berries?” Tamzin teased lightly, but Will’s face turned solemn.

  “Don’t joke about that. You may have been half delirious, but I wasn’t. I won’t forget what you looked like for many years, and only after I’ve flayed the man, who did that to you, alive.” Will became protective quickly as he wrapped his arms around her waist and hoisted her onto Angus. Very unladylike, Tamzin did not sit sidesaddle, but like a man. She looked regal and strong on his horse, though her face conveyed fear and uncertainty. Will pulled himself up and sat behind Tamzin, with a firm arm wrapped around her waist. “Are you comfortable?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever had my legs open this far,” Tamzin said cheekily and earned a light kiss on her neck. “I think this will leave me sorer than our bedding.”

  Before Will could respond, he heard his guardsman call out to him. Will nickered and lightly kicked Angus’ side to force the horse to begin to trot.

  “Oh!” Tamzin called out as she felt her body bounce up and down on Angus. Will kept a strong arm around her, but had her hold the leather reins with him. Her bare hands were cool on the reins as Will placed his leather glove clad hand over hers.

  Angus’ trot increased in speed gradually and by nightfall, the party had covered a considerable distance. Tamzin kept herself wrap in Will’s cloak the entire journey as Will huddled his body as close to hers as possible. Despite his happiness to see his aunt, Will felt a strong weight on his shoulders, as they grew closer.

  The men had already begun setting up camp as Will hopped off Angus and helped Tamzin. She shivered lightly from the cool breeze as she wrapped her arms under his and locked them together behind his back. Will embraced her and placed a warm kiss on her hair.

  “When we return home, there will be a war council. We are still treating the Johanssons as a threat, even if the marriage goes as planned,” Will whispered in her ear as he brushed some tendrils from Tamzin’s face. “When we are in Johansson Territory, I need you to be on your best behavior. Johansson has no respect for women, and no doubt he will have some disgusting comment about your figure.”

  “My figure?” Tamzin questioned as she looked down at her loose dress. At Will’s request, she had packed her less form fitting dresses and it wasn’t until then that Tamzin understood why. “He said nothing when I first met him, but I take it I’m his type?”

  “Woman is his type, but yes, he likes the young ones,” Will explained tersely as he kissed her forehead. “He wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you, but he will run his mouth. In Johansson Territory, women are communal property among royalty.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, if you and I were married and I was a Johansson man, I could pass you off to Garrett because I felt like it. If I wanted you to pleasure my entire army, you have no right to refuse,” Will spat like venom. “The paternity of Johansson’s children is nearly always up for debate. Very few of them look alike or look like him at all.”

  “And if we had a boy that favored my looks? Would you question me?” Tamzin questioned with a raised eyebrow. “It is possible for children to favor the mothers. Even the boys.”

  “Our children will be blessed if they look like you, but even they will be cursed by inheriting something from me. When you see the Johansson children, you will understand. I had no intention of insulting you, wife,” Will said as he kissed her lightly. “When you have taken your meal, come to our tent. It will be a bitter night.”

  “Not for me, though I think my husband will have to work hard to keep me warm tonight,” Tamzin smiled as she placed a cool hand on his cheek. “I know what you’re feeling. This will work out; everything will work out.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Will asked as he leaned his head into her sweet touch. “I could singlehandedly ruin relations with the Johansson Territory. What will happen then?”

  “You won’t ruin the relations because I will not let you. We are partners in this, my Prince. I will never let you fail,” Tamzin soothed as she felt Will kiss her thumb. “Go talk to your men. You need to have a plan if I’m not as amazing as I claim to be.”

  Will laughed at her jape before he kissed her palm. He wasn’t as calm as he needed to be, but Tamzin’s words soothed him to an extent. He was grateful to have her with him.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Will was right when he said that night would be cold. In their modest tent, Will unlaced his breeches but didn’t remove them as he watched Tamzin attempt to get comfortable on the hard ground. For such a short journey, the men didn’t pack cots or a larger bed for Tamzin and himself. She shivered and buried herself deeper into the furs as Will tied the tent closed.

  “Get into the furs. It’s freezing,” Tamzin’s teeth chattered as she lifted the fur to let him in. She only had a chemise and a pair of Will’s breeches on her, with her cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Will smiled, as he was indifferent to the cold, and slid into the furs next to her. Will had slept plenty of nights on the ground, but his lovely wife had not. When Will wrapped an arm around her, she nearly climbed on top of him, for his rigid form was far more comfortable than the cold and hard ground.

  “This weather is unforgiving if you are not prepared,” Will murmured into her hair as he wrapped her tightly in his embrace, like he were another fur to keep her warm. “I would have had us travel further,
but the horses need rest. Don’t you wish you had listened to me when I requested you spend more time in bed?” Will laughed as he earned a hard stare from Tamzin.

 

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