Free Warrior's Deception by Diana Hall Page A

Galliard again.
    She kept her eyes on the leader of the group of men. The hard line of his jaw, the bulging neck veins and the scowl announced his emotions. His eyes narrowed as he moved his mount next to hers. The brush of his leg against her own sentcurrents of excitement speeding up her thigh, settling in the pit of her stomach.
    “Drop your reins!” Roen commanded. “Return to my horse.”
    “I’ll do no such thing. I’ll ride into Woodshadow on my own mount.” She squeezed Jupiter with her knees, but the horse did not move. Glancing from Roen, she saw Hamlin firmly holding on to her horse’s bridle. He gave her a dimpled smile of apology.
    “The horse needs to be cooled down or he’ll colic. Give the reins to Landrick. He also needs to cool his mount.” At the mention of his name, the boyishly lean squire held on to his saddle and slid his feet to the ground. He grasped the girth until his feet would support him. Sweat streaked his red face.
    “My grooms will see to my horse. You have no need to be concerned, Galliard.” She tried to wrench control from Hamlin but the knight’s hold persisted. Roen lifted her from her saddle and plopped her down onto his lap.
    “But it is my concern, Lady Lenora. ‘Twas my man that ran the horse. ‘Tis his responsibility to care for it now. He will return to your home when the horses have been walked and cooled down. I will be glad to offer you a ride back to your home.”
    She opened her mouth to utter several of Tom’s more colorful curses but she was slammed back against Roen when his charger cantered toward the castle. Her back kept colliding with Roen’s powerful chest from the horse’s rocking movement. Each time she banged into the knight’s massive torso, she winced. He made no move to prevent her discomfort.
    Exasperated, Lenora finally grabbed Roen’s arm, pulled it tight around her and leaned against him. “’Tis this or bruises,” she muttered under her breath, and shot him a murderous glance when she felt the deep rumble of laughter reverberate in his chest.
    The rumble stopped, as did the horse. Only her tight hold on Roen’s arm kept her from being thrown forward. The contingent of men drew close to form a barricade between her and the road ahead.
    “Release Lady Lenora!” a voice ordered.
    “Sir Hywel.” She craned her neck to see a group of her father’s men blocking the road. Roen’s men waited, their hands resting on the hilts of their undrawn swords.
    “Release her now!” In unison the knights of Woodshadow drew their swords, their upheld blades casting a blinding reflection of the sun.
    Roen moved forward, his men parting for him. He stopped his horse a few paces from her father’s seneschal. “Greetings, Sir Hywel. I and my men aided her when she lost control of her mount. See, yonder is my squire bringing the horse back.”
    Sir Hywel glanced over Roen’s shoulder at Landrick, who was walking the two horses back. “Lady Lenora?”
    She gritted her teeth and seethed with inner frustration. Galliard gave her a benign smile that only served to stoke her anger. If she contradicted Roen’s story, the two groups would come to blows. To admit, in front of her men and his, that she needed his help galled her.
    “Tis as Galliard says,” she managed to get out through clenched teeth, “I was riding Jupiter and—”
    “Jupiter! Girl, are you daft? That horse is more than most men can handle.” The steward raised his hand and signalled her protectors to resheath their swords. The knights surrounding her relaxed.
    “I thank you for your aid to our lady. She is at times a trifle foolhardy.” Sir Hywel approached Roen and Lenora. “I will take her back to Woodshadow. I am sure her father would like to extend his thanks, also.”
    Roen did not remove his arm from around her waist. “Lady Lenora has graciously extended the hospitality of her home to my men and me. Since we travel the same way, I will be glad to take the lady home.”