Page 27 of Falling for the Knight

7

Tristan set up their camp as he’d done many times before. The most direct route north was as barren as the field of battle had been after Sutherland’s defeat. He’d not thought of that day for some time, and telling the story to Hannah had reminded him of why his men prepared to fight back at Saxford. The truce would expire soon, and the vow he’d made to protect Saxford would be tested.

Luckily, Cook had given them provisions since he was not prepared to leave Hannah alone to hunt. He looked up to where she stood at the mouth of the cave. Hands on her hips, head held high, Hannah caught him staring. He didn’t look away. And unlike most women, she held his gaze. Tristan walked up the incline toward her.

“You could be the namesake of this cave.” He added a log to the fire he’d built, which already cast a glow that reached deep within the entrance of the mountain where they would make their bed this eve.

“Namesake?”

He stopped, not wanting to move too close. Holding her hand earlier had affected him much more than he would have liked, not to mention the sweet torment of feeling her ride behind him.

“It’s called Hera’s Cave.”

“The wife of Zeus.”

“And a vengeful woman. Though I’m not sure why ’tis named as such.”

Although too many trees stood in the way of the setting sun, a blanket of darkness fell around them, leaving no doubt that the day had, indeed, come to an end. They could have pressed on a bit farther, but judging from the number of times Hannah shifted in the saddle, Tristan could tell she was uncomfortable. For never having ridden a horse before, she’d actually done quite well. A testament to the strength of her long legs.

Legs that had burned a permanent place in his memory.

“So kind of you to compare me to her then,” she said, though not kindly.

“I don’t compare your temperament to hers,” he corrected, not daring to move toward her. “I compare your beauty.” Without breaking eye contact, he said, “Some claim Hera to be the most beautiful of all the goddesses. Vengeful, aye, but even more pleasing to the eye than Aphrodite.”

She looked at him, unwavering, until the spell was broken by the sound of approaching horses in the distance. His sword was up and at his side before he took a step.

“Wait here.”

Tristan made his way through the thicket of trees toward the road.

Reivers. Riding hobbies and carrying long spears, these men were here for one purpose.

“Put down your sword,” one of the men called, seeing him. “We’ve no quarrel with you.”

“You are only passing through then?”

Reivers often traveled at night, under the cloak of darkness.

“Aye, lord,” the companion said, a nod to Tristan’s position more than his clothing. It was the first lesson Kenton had taught him, well before he’d been knighted. Your bearing reveals more than your background, he’d often said.

“Aye. Passing through, my lord,” the other agreed.

With that, they moved on.

Tristan knew many reivers, and none of those in his acquaintance shied away from a fight. Either these men carried hot goods or they planned on returning later, once Tristan’s guard was down, to finish the conversation. Luckily, they had not seen Hannah. He made his way back to find her sitting in front of the fire. He’d set the woolen blanket out earlier, and now he moved to the saddlebags to fetch Cook’s meal.

“Is everything okay?”

“All is well,” he lied. “Here.”

He handed her a pear and then took one for himself. Grabbing a few bits of dried meat to accompany it, he settled on the blanket, choosing the farthest seat from her. If he sat any closer, he’d be tempted to touch her, and he’d already removed all but his hose and undertunic.

“I’ve no wine to offer you,” he said, taking out another skin. “Only ale.”

Hannah took it from him and drank deeply. From the look on her face, he guessed they did not have ale in her time.

Though he’d begun to think of her as coming from another time, Tristan was still baffled by the whole thing. Ultimately, he’d had no choice but to believe her story. There was simply no other alternative that made sense given the depth and complexity of her story, her strange appearance on the beach, and her odd belongings.