Arrows Of Change (Book 1) by Honor Raconteur Page B

declared independence of Iysh. That
was the first unified tactic they tried, actually. We just sent them back at
first, but that didn’t deter them. Now, we burn whatever they send and return
the ashes.” Ash rubbed his hands together in small circles and said
thoughtfully, “I’m beginning to think that we should send hexes along with the
ashes so that they’ll get the message.”
    “I would no’ rush that,” Broden advised. “Better bribes than
assassins.”
    Ash’s eyes went wide. “Zounds! Hadn’t thought of that. But
that’ll likely be the next thing they send, won’t it?”
    “Belike. Or worse, they will find some weakness of yers to
use against ye.”
    “Well, now, there’s a cheery thought.” Ash gave Broden an
uncertain look. “I know we said that we’d try out our partnerships for a while
before making any decisions, but if Zelman really does try something else, it’d
be best to have dedicated bindings with both of you.”
    Broden wagged a chiding finger at him. “No rushing things,
lad. No’ on a mayhap.”
    “You and I both know these are likely the partnerships we’ll
end up with anyway,” Ash responded, exasperated. “My sister was singing your
praises all during dinner. Just you standing there looking menacing made people
behave. Normally she’d have to break arms to get the same sort of respect. And
you aren’t easily rattled in a crisis, which is an invaluable trait to have
with her new position.”
    Well, to himself, he could admit that working with Ashlynn
that day had been more pleasurable than he would have thought. But one day was
not enough to base a decision on. “Give it a few more days at the very least, lad.”
    “Fine, fine.” Ash held up his hands in surrender. “I just
hope that we have our partnerships sorted before more trouble comes knocking on
our door.”

Chapter Nine
    Broden sat in the main dining hall enjoying a moment of
peace as he tucked away a breakfast fit for a king. (That be no exaggeration as
the table was set for Edvard.) Riana and Ash had eaten and gone, determined to
use every bit of light to build as much of the wall as they could. Ashlynn had
run upstairs to fetch something or other, leaving him at the table alone for a
few minutes.
    The peace would not last long, but he enjoyed it while it remained.
He’d be out again in the city soon enough, dealing with one fashious situation
after the next. As he ate, he mulled over Ash’s words of the night before. He
did not care to admit it, but Ash likely was right. Probably they’d end up in
the partnerships they had now.
    Part of that would be because of Ashlynn’s job. Oh, the lass
said it was temporary, but she was very good at protecting the law and dealing
with the lawbreakers. Broden had been around long enough to know that when a
man (or in this case, woman) showed skills in a job, they wound up with that
job permanently. He’d lay good money on the odds that Ashlynn would be Sheriff
of Estole forevermore. If that was the case, Riana should not partner with
Ashlynn. Oh, his little girl could handle herself fine. But she had the same
problem Ashlynn did—she looked too sweet and innocent. A man would not take her
threats seriously until she riddled him with holes.
    And the idea of sending two beautiful women out to deal with
criminals by their lonesome made a chill grip his spine.
    No, Edvard was wise to send him with Ashlynn. His simple
presence right next to her had made many a man stop and think about crossing
the blonde, and that second of hesitation was all that was needed for Ashlynn.
Besides, he liked working with the lass. She had a good head on her shoulders,
that one, and her sense of justice was strong. He could think of worse fates
than staying with her.
    After the talk he had with Ash last night, he felt a little
better about that situation too. He also knew full well how strong a man’s
instincts could be, though, when near a pretty woman. He himself had perhaps bent
a rule