Eighteen
1058 Words
ALARIC’S POV
Deni came and met him.
“I wish to speak to you.” She said.
“Go on speak.” He said as he prepared his horse for the journey
“My horse. Angel.” She sighed and then she closed her eyes.
Before she finally spoke up again. “She did not push me off.”
“You had claimed so but that was what had happened.” He answered her with a shrug.
She shook her head.
“You do not understand.” She said. “My saddle was disfigured.”
“Then I would be left to believe that you never arrange your saddle after riding.” He told her as he arranged his own saddle
She sighed and shook her head and said. “It was tampered with, someone tampered with it.”
“What are you trying to say?” He asked her as he stopped what he was doing.
“Someone I do not know how tampered with my saddle.” She said.
“And why would someone do that to you?” He asked her, his hand on his waist.
She shrugged. “I do not know.”
“So you are saying that one of my most trusted men, tampered with your saddle?”
She looked at her hands.
“God Deni you can not be serious.” He said in shock.
“I swear it. I did not do it myself.” She said. “Neither did Angel.”
“Do you have any idea what you are saying?” He asked her in disbelief. Then he said. “You must have this all wrong. Moreover when I saw you on the horse that day, you had no saddle.”
“I agree that I never ride Angel with a saddle, but I swear it was not me.” She said.
“Deni you did not know how to fix your saddle well after use. You rarely ever use one and it’s understandable that you did not fix it well.” He said.
“But that may not eve-
“This conversation is finished Deni.” He said with a stand.
She looked at him and then shut her mouth before she left.
She did not speak to him again.
As the journey began Alaric watched Deni remain silent on the journey.
She had been quiet all through.
Maybe he had been too hard on her earlier this morning.
But he had been honest. Her horse was wild and untamed, and she refused to see reason.
She was quite lucky that she did not injure her leg or worse.
He had seen people fall off their horse and break their necks.
She was so stubborn that she ultimately refused to see to reason.
He and his men rode on in silence and soon they reached the boundary separating England from Scotland.
He came to a halt and then he waved at his men to stop.
“What are we waiting for?” He Heard Deni ask.
“Lord Alaric has to wait for Bard’s arrival.” Richard answered.
“Bard?” She said in confusion. “Who is bard?”
“He is one of our men.” Richard answered. “You see whenever we are travelling we send out of the men ahead of us to steer clear the way so that we meet no confrontation.”
“When was he sent?” She asked.
“A few days ago.” Richard said.
Alaric was getting very irritated. Why was Deni becoming so close to Richard.
He had been her chatter box for a while now. They were always talking and it irked him.
“Silence.” Alaric said to the party.
Then they all became quiet.
“Something is wrong.” Alaric said breaking the silence.
He got off his horse and walked ahead.
Bard was nowhere in sight.
It was very unusual. By their time calculations, Barf was supposed to have arrived here or be arriving here waiting for them.
Alaric patted his horse to remain calm and then he went ahead.
He looked around and then he came back.
“Bard is nowhere in sight neither is his horse.” Alaric said.
He got back to his horse.
“We spread out and find him.”
“What does he mean something is wrong?” Deni asked.
Alaric had had it with Deni directing her questions to Richard.
Before Richard could answer, Alaric spoke up himself.
“It means that if you do not hold your tongue, something bad might happen to all of us.” Alaric said. “Follow me.”
“Why should I?” She asked him. “I already planned on going with Richard. Were we not?
“Richard is not your husband!” Alaric hissed in sheer irritation.
He turned and gave Richard a deadly stare. “Off with you.”
Richard quickly withdrew and went away with his own horse.
Alaric rode beside Deni and pulled her horse reigns.
“You scared poor Richard away.” Deni argued with him.
Alaric ignored her.
“That was unnecessary. He has been nothing but kind to me. You did not need to be so harsh on him.” Deni said further.”
“Who is your husband?” Alaric asked her. “I or Richard.”
“I can not say for sure. My husband wished not to listen to me when I have something to say.” Deni said.
Alaric rolled his eyes.
So that was why she had had her face all screwed up all though the ride.
Her outright unnecessary accusations.
“You do not expect me to believe that one of my very own men had planned on killing my new wife.” He hissed at her.
“Will you not believe me when I speak the truth?” She asked.
“I can barely tell when you speak the truth. I do not even know you for up to a week.” He said.
“Well how shall you know me when you chose to marry me without knowing me.” She said with a frown on her face.
“And how do you expect me to know when you are frequently in talks with one of my men.” He snapped at her.
- Writer
