Free The Pearls by Deborah Chester

her hand she patted Ysandre’s pale shoulder and whispered to him before looking over her shoulder at Thirbe. “Do you have reason to fear bandits on this road? Are you worried about some specific danger?”
    Thirbe looked from her to the groom—standing there agog with his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide with alarm. Lea knew that whatever her protector said would be spread through the company at once by Wim’s gossiping tongue. Obviously Thirbe realized it, too, for he frowned at the boy with such quelling ferocity that Wim turned pale.
    When Thirbe turned his gaze back to her, she refused to wilt beneath its scorching blast and simply smiled at him. “Well?”
    â€œAin’t likely they’re going to lurk here. Slim pickings for any cutthroat lying in wait on this donkey trail. It’s just—”
    He broke off, pursing his mouth.
    Realizing he was honestly troubled and not just grumbling, Lea allowed her amusement to fade.
    â€œWhat is it, Thirbe?” she asked quietly, taking note of his restlessness, the alert flick of his gaze here and there, the way he stood so that his back was never to the woods. “There’s something here you do not like.”
    â€œThere’s nothing here I like,” he said fiercely, dismissing her groom with a curt gesture.
    As soon as Wim hurried away, Thirbe stepped closer to Lea and lowered his voice. “Nothing I can put my finger on, but there’s an itch between my shoulders. I got the feeling we’re being watched.”
    Lea was all seriousness now. In the three years that Thirbe had served her, she’d never doubted his instincts or his professionalism. She trusted him completely. “Should we turn back?” she asked.
    He nodded, to her disappointment, but said, “I’d prefer it. But we’ve gone nearly a day this way. If the road hasn’t been cut ahead of us, and so far the scouts don’t report such, then I suppose it’s better to keep going than lose another day retracing our steps.”
    Lea watched him. “I’m not so eager to reach Trau that I’m willing to abandon common sense. If you have reason beyond what you’ve said so far, we’ll take the time. If it’s only that you do not like the captain’s changing our plans, then…” Letting her voice trail off, she shrugged.
    Thirbe said nothing, and after a moment Lea nodded her head decisively. “Then we continue,” she said.
    She sent him a look, and he boosted her into the saddle before fetching his mount and joining her farther down the road. Someone called after them, but Lea did not glance back.
    â€œShall we race away and see how far we can get before they catch up?”
    Thirbe didn’t bother to answer her nonsense. Sighing, Lea abandoned her impulse to play games and kept Ysandre at a steady walk instead of letting him gallop. He tossed his head and pranced a little, but she didn’t relent.
    Moments later, the sound of galloping hooves made Ysandre pretend to shy, and they were joined by Captain Hervan and perhaps ten or so cavalrymen.
    â€œWell, Lady Lea!” he called out in his aristocratic baritone. “It seems you have taken command of our party. Are you abandoning us, or leading us onward?”
    Lea swallowed a sigh and bestowed a fleeting smile on him. “I am abandoning the litter and continuing our journey on horseback, as is only sensible.”
    Concern knotted his brow. From the flowing plume of his helmet to the tips of his silver spurs, he was a dazzling creation of all that good looks, fine breeding, wealth, and uniform could provide. No mud splattered the shining perfection of his boots, for he’d been riding at the head of their column all day.
    â€œIt’s one thing to ride for exercise, Lady Lea, but to travel so for the rest of the day will only fatigue and chill you unnecessarily.”
    â€œWhy have you created this myth that I am