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important,” Gwen said, her emerald eyes glittering with mischief.
    “Gwen, you gave me your oath.”
    “No foolishness,” she said quickly and put her foot in the stirrup.  “Don’t worry Talon.”
    Automatically he moved and gently gripped her sides, easily lifting her into the saddle before she had the chance to do so under her own power.  His breath caught at the feel of her narrow waist between his hands.  He lifted her as easily as he would have placed Rose atop her pony.
    “Thank you, my lord,” she said startled.
    Talon gazed at his hands for an instant, wondering why it felt as if he still held her.  “You are welcome,” he said absently, then mounted his own horse.
    Giving the order to his men, they trotted out the gates, he and Gwen in the lead.
    His mount settled into an easy pace, arching his neck and lifting his hooves high.  Talon scowled at the unusual behavior.  The black demon rarely did this unless he sensed a battle ahead.  Suddenly Talon realized the horse flaunted himself blatantly.
    Talon rolled his eyes.  “Ebon, leave us some pride,” he growled.  The horse twitched his ears but otherwise ignored him.
    “What was that?” Gwen asked.
    “Nothing,” Talon snapped, disgusted at the fool creature.
    “So, where do you like to go riding around here?”
    Talon’s scowl deepened.  Did he see admiration in her eyes when she looked at him?  Nay, ‘twas foolish to think something like that.  He turned his attention to her question.  How long had it been since he had been out for something as simple as a pleasure ride?  Months?  A year?  The last time he could remember he had taken Rose for a ride on her pony and only because she had pleaded with him in much the same fashion as Gwen had, and when he finally relented, reacted the same way.
    He inwardly groaned.  Gwen couldn’t have manipulated him better.  It was as if she had known his weakness.  Talon wondered if she somehow saw into his soul.
    “Talon?” Gwen prompted.
    “Below the motte there is a large meadow and a nice road.
    “It sounds wonderful.”
    Talon nodded curtly.  They reached the crossroads and he turned to the right, heading for the meadow.
    The moment Gwen saw it, she released a breathy sigh.  “It’s perfect.”
    He couldn’t help it as his lips tugged upward.
    Gwen’s mare pricked her ears and lifted her head, her pace quickening.
    Gwen laughed.  “All right, Cinnamon.”
    Talon frowned.  “What is it?”
    “Race you to the tree-line.”
    “Gwen--”
    But before he could say anything more, she thumped her heels into the mare’s sides.  The horse squealed and launched herself forward.
    “Damnation, Gwen!” Talon roared, driving his spurs into his stallion.  “Stop at once!”
    But Gwen’s mare flattened herself and ran with all her heart.  Gwen stood in her stirrups, riding easily, her black hair streaming out behind her.  Talon heard her joyous laugh as his stallion closed the distance.
    “Gwen, stop!  It is not safe.”
    To his horror she dropped the reins and held her arms out as if she was flying.  Dear God, she would get herself killed like that.  He asked for more speed from his stallion.
    The war horse drew alongside and just as Talon reached for the reins; they arrived at the tree-line.  Gwen sat back and settled in her saddle.  Without her touching the reins, the mare sat on her haunches and slid to a stop.  Talon flew past her.
    He cursed as his stallion also shifted his weight to stop, almost sending him over his head.  Thank God he had kept his weight in his heels.  The stallion’s hooves plowed furrows into the ground as they came to a halt.
    Talon spun the animal and glared at Gwen as she laughed.
    “Oh that was wonderful, Talon,” she cried joyously.
    He tried to be angry with her, he really did, but seeing her so happy melted the ice around his heart.  He found himself chuckling.  He folded his arms over the saddle bow and leaned forward.  “Where, in