Nena by Ann Boelter (digital book reader txt) 📕

She held her breath.

Jarl could tell she was waiting with considerable anticipation for his answer. He hadn’t given it any thought and had assumed she would ride on the wagon, but he could see why she would not want to. On the other hand, he didn’t want to have to worry about her. With the camp on the move, the sentry system dismantled, and her with the mare, there would be a lot of variables to worry about.

Jarl wondered briefly if she had intentionally waited until this moment when he was sexually sated to ask him, to manipulate him, then dismissed the thought. She did not seem to possess that particular feminine guile; her straightforwardness was another thing about her he found irresistible. He looked at her now, her thick lashes hiding her dark eyes while she waited for his verdict. Things had been so perfect between them. She did not push or ask for anything. He knew he could not deny her.

“Yes, you may ride the mare,” he acquiesced.

Her eyes flew open and she snuggled closer to him. “Gratitude, Jarl.”

“You’re welcome,” he said, and kissed the top of her head. Don’t make me regret it.

Nena had the mare saddled and ready before dawn. She led her back to the tent and waited, staying out of the way while the two men dismantled it. She watched as the younger man went in and dropped the two temporary poles, then raced out as it collapsed. She had seen it many times now, but their precision still amazed her. She soothed the mare when the horse snorted and spooked at the great gust of air that blew from the tent opening.

Jarl arrived just as the tent flattened to the ground. He spoke with the two men, verified all was proceeding according to schedule, then approached Nena.

He glanced at the mare, only briefly, but his eyes took in every detail. There was only a smaller waterskin tied to the front of the saddle. No provisions, no large waterskin, no extra clothing for inclement weather that one might take if they were expecting to travel far. He turned to Nena. She wore her usual simple warrior dress. Everything seemed in order. Still he cursed himself for his weakness the night before. What had he been thinking? Why risk it?

This was one thing he did not have to be worrying about right now. One thing he had control over—unlike every other thing that had gone wrong that morning. Since he had left the tent, he’d been confronted with one disaster after another. As he looked at Nena now, he certainly hoped that streak did not bode poorly for the rest of his day.

“Jarl. There you are.” One of his men jogged up to him out of breath. “Tryggr needs you at the front. He said it’s urgent.”

“I’ll be right there.” He dismissed the messenger and turned back to Nena. He had planned to accompany her initially, when the wagon train first got moving, but knew it wasn’t really necessary. It had been more for his own peace of mind. Perhaps it was a sign. Perhaps he should put her on the wagon after all. He knew she would be disappointed, but he could make it up to her later. He looked at her standing expectantly next to the mare and couldn’t do it. “Just stay close to the wagon,” he muttered.

“I will,” she agreed, sensing his indecision and praying he would not change his mind. “Gratitude, Jarl,” she added to further reassure him.

He shook his head, then kissed her before turning to mount his horse. “I will come and visit you during the day, as I am able.”

Nena knew it was his way of letting her know he’d be checking on her. She nodded.

Altene arrived as he was leaving. She looked with raised eyebrows at Nena’s traveling arrangements, then smiled a huge smile as she followed her bundles onto the wagon. Nena wished she could speak to her, to tell her that today would not be the day, but could not see how to do so without having the two men overhear. Nena knew her plan to escape during the next battle was so much better—so much more likely to succeed. It wasn’t like she would get a second chance if she tried today and failed. Jarl would never trust her again. At least not while they were still within her lands and escape would do her any good.

She could understand Altene’s excitement, though. She felt it, too. For the first time since her capture, escape was easily possible—if it weren’t for the girl, Exanthia. All she would have to do was peel the mare off and run. No one could catch her. Nena wondered briefly if she could find the child now in the commotion. But even if she could, it wasn’t as if she could just ride in and pick her up. She dare not be impatient. She had waited this long and had to stick to her plan. Now was not the time.

As the wagon pulled out and Nena fell in beside it, she soon realized Jarl wasn’t as trusting of her in his absence as he had seemed to be. One of the men driving the wagon turned to look at her frequently, and there were two extra foot soldiers following a few paces behind who had never traveled with them before. Each carried a curved warning horn on a tether around his neck.

Nena pretended not to notice them. This could work out for the best. If she pretended to be dutiful and content, it would further reassure Jarl that he had no cause to doubt her. After days of such trust being rewarded, when it came time for him to leave for battle, he shouldn’t give it a second thought. Nena relaxed and enjoyed the comfortable stride of the horse beneath her, each step taking her closer to her escape.

True to