Read Once Upon a Romance 03 - With True Love's Kiss for Free Online Page B

head lolled against Bianca’s shoulder, and Robin could see the
fever’s flush climbing her cheeks, even in the semi-darkness. Robin turned his
attention to Bianca. The girl had dropped the reins, trusting her horse to
follow his own, and was using both arms to cradle Isabelle gently. It couldn’t
have been easy, maintaining her own balance with the added burden of the
blanket-wrapped queen, but she seemed unconcerned. Her eyes took in the forest
around her, lingering on the silver-lined branches that hung in the night like
wrought metal sculptures. He didn’t realize she’d noticed his regard, until she
spoke.
    “It’s
beautiful.”
    “I agree.”
    “I could
enjoy this, if it weren’t for Isabelle being so sick.” She caught his wry
smile, and cocked her head. “Why is that funny?”
    “I was
merely thinking something similar, only moments ago. Of how I would enjoy this
night, were I not tasked with taking you to safety.”
    “I’m sorry.”
She said it with true remorse, and Robin rolled his eyes.
    “Why do you
do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “Offer your
apologies. You did not give me this task, nor did I accept it for your sake.
You are in no way responsible; why should you be sorry?”
    “I suppose I
feel guilty that I’m such an unwanted burden.”
    He ground
his teeth in frustration at her answer. “Again, why do you say such things?
Perhaps you are an unwanted burden, but do you not value yourself?” He thought
a minute. “What would your cousin, Vivienne, say, if I said such a thing to
her?”
    Bianca
smiled. “I imagine she would say that you were lucky to have the chance to bask
in her presence, however it came about, and that you should stop sniveling.”
    “Precisely.
Your cousin is sure of her own worth.” He hesitated, and clarified. “Perhaps a
bit too sure. Nevertheless, you could take lessons from her.”
    “Maybe I’ll
ask her to teach me, when we get to Albion.”
    Robin tossed
a glance over his shoulder. He couldn’t tell if she was teasing.
    She blinked
at him innocently.
    He still
couldn’t tell.
    Perhaps it
was time to change the subject.
    “The sun
will be rising soon. Once it is up we will need to pick up the pace.”
    “I’ll be
ready.”
    He turned
around, facing forward in his saddle. Behind him, Bianca returned to her
contemplation of the silent, pre-dawn forest.
    And Robin
wondered just when the trackers would be on their heels.

Chapter 8
    The air was
still chilly by mid-morning, but Bianca could hardly feel it. Isabelle was a
warm, limp bundle in her arms, and in the morning light a sheen of sweat coated
her pale face. She had barely stirred since first falling asleep, despite the
jostling that came with their increased pace, and Bianca was seriously
concerned. The queen must be sicker than she thought, to sleep through the ride
like this, but for the moment all Bianca could do was worry and hang on.
    Her arms
were locked tightly around Isabelle, and they ached from the strain of holding
onto her friend. Her thighs, too, were fatigued and cramping from the effort of
keeping them both in the saddle. She tried to ignore the burn in her limbs, and
for a while she succeeded. The forest was beautiful, with the spring growth
peeking out from beneath last autumn’s fallen leaf blanket, and the sounds of
the birds, newly returned from their winter homes, twittering among the
branches. She forgot the complaints from her muscles as she took in the world
around her. Eventually, though, even such distractions ceased to help her. Her
arms were trembling with exhaustion, and pain ran down her legs with every
slight shift in her palfrey’s gait.
    She knew she
couldn’t ask Robin to stop. He had made it plain that they had to keep moving.
And Isabelle could hardly ride alone, not in the state she was in. There was
nothing for Bianca to do but bite her tongue and hope that they would stop
soon. She began to play a waiting game with herself. If they made it to the
next copse of