Free Prince of Swords by Linda Winstead Jones Page A

understand. In Phelan’s mind he likened this secrecy to a thick black smoke which concealed many of those secrets the demon did not wish to be known.
    For now, all was favorable. The party traveled in the right direction, and while they remained on constant guard, there had been no skirmishes along the way. Ciro’s Own was keeping their distance until called.
    Ciro’s Own. One day Phelan would have his own army, and they would answer only to him. That would be his reward for delivering the woman, pure and untouched, to the emperor of Columbyana. Phelan’s Own, Phelan’s Legion, Phelan’s Army. There was time still to decide what they might be called.
    No one among them knew him as Phelan. He’d hidden his true name, as well as his true nature, for many years. Soon he would reveal himself and take his reward.
    Ciro’s bride was a fool if she thought a few clumsily uttered curse words would touch the brightness of her soul.
    Â 
    W HEN SHE SAW THE FARMHOUSE IN THE DISTANCE, Rayne’s heart dropped. It had been several days since they’d headed down the mountain, and she’d known this time would come, but still…she wasn’t ready. Her mouth went dry and her heart began to pound. Thinking of taking on a job for strangers where she might work for her keep had seemed like a fine idea from a distance, but looking at the small dirty farmhouse a touch of reality intruded. It would be hard work, and even if the people there appeared to be kind on meeting the travelers, who knew what they would be like after Lyr and his men rode away?
    She thought of her mother’s jewels, keepsakes which would do her no good in a place like this. She needed to be deposited in a town, preferably a large town where she could sell her valuables and rent or buy a small house or a decent room and think about how she might hide until the fight with Ciro was over.
    Lyr saw the farmhouse and stopped on the narrow roadway to study it more intently. He finally turned to Swaine. “See if they are willing to sell us food. I’m mightily tired of dried meat.”
    Swaine nodded and headed in that direction. At Lyr’s order, Tiller followed.
    Segyn sidled up beside his commander. “M’lord, will we be leaving the girl here?”
    Rayne held her breath, but not for very long, thanks to Lyr’s curt and immediate response. “No. I don’t like the look of this place. It’s too remote. Why would decent folks settle here? We’ll find a more proper situation further down the road.”
    Segyn nodded, seemingly agreeing with Lyr, and Rayne’s heart soon resumed a normal rhythm.
    While waiting for the others to return, Lyr dismounted. He walked directly to her and offered his arms. “You might want to stretch your legs while we wait for the others to return.”
    â€œThank you.” She accepted his help, and was glad to feel her boots hit the hard ground. Too many long days of riding were not agreeing with her, but she didn’t dare to complain. She lowered her voice. “I thank you also for not leaving me here.”
    Lyr didn’t look directly at her, which was odd since he usually had no qualms about staring her down. “I can’t be certain it’s a safe place. I did give you my word.”
    â€œYes, you did.”
    â€œWe should probably move more toward civilization before settling you with a proper keeper. Don’t you agree?”
    â€œYes. Yes, I do.”
    While she knew Lyr Hern to be a capable fighter, she hadn’t always felt that he had her best interests at heart. Not at all. For the first time since she’d met him, she sensed a real change in his attitude. He did care for her well-being. He would not abandon her.
    The man who had rescued her truly was a champion.
    Rayne pushed down the little rush of…something…that made her feel almost giddy. It would be foolish to become attached to a man whose only wish