Free A Hero's Bargain by Rayne Forrest Page A

His voice reached her just as she eased the
door closed.
    “Be
careful, angel.”
    Oh, she
would be careful—of him. The first thing she would gather was green ynoteb .
She’d brew a tea from the boiled leaves to drink and then squeeze the moisture
from the leaves and slip them inside her woman’s sheath in the morning,
afterwards. The tea was likely enough to do what she needed on its own but she
wasn’t willing to take undue risks. Ryder may be a handsome man but she did not
want to find herself carrying his child.
    She
called to Jennica to join her in her gathering. Her aunt came willingly with
her own basket, followed by a few more of the women. Tyree was with a small
hunting party just outside the gate. He nodded when she informed him the women
were going north, and told her the men would hunt to the south and west. It was
almost like old times, before the errol came. They could pretend it so,
at least for the rest of this day.
    The women
reached the shelter of the woods and disbursed. Each had something in
particular they wanted. Saba wanted mainly medicinal plants and Jennica would
gather with her. At the end of the day, some of what was gathered would be
shared.
    Saba knew
one of the others, Feya, searched for a tuber that was boiled, mashed and
allowed to ferment. When the liquid was strained from the mash it became akdov ,
a wonderfully potent liquor then flavored with whatever fruit the drinker preferred.
Saba hoped Feya had success so she could trade some of her wine for the more
powerful akdov .
    Jennica
stilled and looked at her queerly as she harvested the ynoteb . Saba was
not surprised. Her aunt often knew things without being told. Jennica had seen
the errol in a dream and told Saba of an approaching danger months before
the fireball ripped through their skies. And yet, she’d sensed nothing about
this stranger who fell from the sky.
    “What are
you planning, Saba? Is this wise?”
    “Do we
need to discuss this, Aunt? You know as well as any what this plant is used
for.”
    “Have you
and Tyree discussed this?”
    Saba
dropped to her knees and kept cutting the tough stalks off near the ground.
They would regrow in a matter of days.
    “This has
nothing to do with Tyree. He has no voice in whom I take to my bed.”
    “Saba,
this man could be dangerous. He likely is dangerous. Do not put yourself
at risk.”
    Saba
glanced around. She and Jennica were far enough away from the others that she
could talk freely.
    “Ryder
has weapons that may be powerful enough to kill the errol . The only coin
I have is my body. I will use it. No!” She held up her hand to stop her aunt’s
protests. “I do this for me as well. He…he intrigues me.”
    Jennica
shook her head sadly. “Saba, this will lead to heartache. Surely there is another
way. What will Tyree think when he learns of your actions?”
    “I don’t
care what Tyree will think. We’re not for each other, Aunt. We never will be.
And yet none of the men of the village will approach me for fear of angering
him. Ryder doesn’t fear Tyree’s anger.”
    Jennica’s
fingers closed around her wrist. “Perhaps he should. Saba, you cannot do this.”
    Saba
pulled away. “I’ve already agreed and made the pact. I must honor it.”
    “Then be
sure and use at least six leaves for the tea. And you will need to drink it
every morning until you have the cleansing bleeding.”
    Saba
squeezed her aunt’s hand. “I know, Jennica, but thank you for reminding me.”
    “You know
what else you should do with the boiled leaves?”
    “Yes,”
Saba replied dryly. “I know.”
    “He can
always do it for you.”
    Saba’s
eyebrows drifted up under her bangs. Surely she’d heard that wrong. Jennica
ducked her head, smiling.
    “Just ask
him to put them in. He’ll do it without hesitation. Trust me on this.”
    “I
suppose I’ll have to.” Saba quickly cut a few more stalks. “This should be
enough for several weeks.” She glanced sideways at Jennica. “For