Crag by Kate Hill Page B

Though she was glad their families were reunited, she couldn’t help feeling envious. The war had hurt everyone, yet some had been left with nothing, just as Lily had been. Still, some of it was from her own doing. She and Crag might have continued their relationship. He’d once wanted to court her publicly, but she wouldn’t have him, and after their conversation at the stable, she realized she’d been right.
    “There’s a place about two miles west of here,” Coral said. “It’s called the crossroads. Years ago, people of the Ancient Religion would go there to pray for guidance. Not that I’m saying there’s any truth to the old beliefs, but maybe it’ll be a quiet place for you to think your life through.”
    As Lily continued scrubbing, she mulled over Coral’s suggestion. That night, she packed her belongings. Before she left the following morning, she searched for Crag, hoping to make peace with him after their words from the day before, but he was nowhere to be found.
    She sighed, saddened by the thought that the previous day might have been the last time she’d ever see him. After all they’d been through, she hated the idea of leaving with bad feelings between them.
    The morning was sunny, but a breeze fanned her skin as she walked to the crossroads. The vastness of the place surprised her. Set in a field, woods in the distance, the crossroad was a large cobbled circle with four pathways jutting from it, like reversed wheel spokes. A fountain stood in the grassy center of the circle, four benches surrounding it.
    Her brown leather boots were silent as she walked up the nearest pathway, crossed the circle, and sat on the grass near the fountain. She removed an apple from her bag and ate it.
    Glancing around the empty field, she listened to birds chirping in distant trees and asked herself exactly what she was doing there. She felt too alone with her thoughts. Without chores to do around the settlement, all she could think about was her loss. Tears welled in her eyes, and she allowed a few to slip down her face before wiping them away. She sat, her knees drawn up to her chest, and stared at a group of ants crawling around the base of the fountain.
    The sound of hoof beats echoed across the field. Glancing up, she saw Crag astride Pale Feet. He looked as forlorn as she felt as he rode up one of the pathways.
    He slowed Pale Feet, his eyes meeting Lily’s. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment until she swallowed hard and looked away. Pale Feet’s shadow fell upon her as he and Crag moved across the circle. She heard Crag’s deep voice urge Pale Feet on as he kicked the stallion to a gallop and disappeared over the field and into the woods.
    The relationship between her and Crag made her head spin. For two people who’d shared so much, why couldn't they talk to each other? Why would they rather remain alone with their pain? Why wouldn’t he tell her his reasons for denying the Order? Why hadn’t she agreed to be his woman?
    She remembered the time he’d held her after Vina died, and the times they’d made love. If she closed her eyes she could almost feel his chest beneath her cheek, just as she could feel Vina’s sweet weight in her arms. She shook her head, knowing she had to move on.
    For close to an hour she rested by the fountain, then slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way to the edge of the forest. In the shelter of the trees, she set up camp, gathered wood for a fire, and removed blankets and a small metal pan from her bag to heat food.
    It was close to dusk and she was about to build a fire when Crag approached. She jumped, her heart pounding, having been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t seen or heard him.
    He dropped a rabbit he’d killed by her feet.
    “I’ll skin it if you cook it,” he said.
    Lily wiped dusty hands on her skirt. “That sounds fair.”
    “You looked upset earlier. I should have stopped. I’m sorry.”
    She shook her head. “I’m sure