Gayle Callen by The Darkest Knight

warmth, not just for what he’d done to her physically, but for all he’d sacrificed to help her. And she repaid him by refusing to answer his questions, by returning his kisses then turning him away. She was no foolish maid too naive to understand what she did to him.
    Reynold caught her stare and Katherine blushed and turned away. She just didn’t understand why he seemed drawn to her. Surely he’d been awayfrom women so long he’d take anyone. Yet last night many women had sent looks his way and he’d ignored them. Even now one of those women plopped herself down on the other side of Reynold and leaned towards him, showing most of her breasts.
    “For such a big man, ye dance right fair,” the woman said, her smile exposing a missing tooth. “’Tis too bad ye couldn’t save one for me instead of running off after yer girl there.”
    Reynold stopped smiling. “My wife.”
    Katherine’s heart contracted for a moment in guilt, but she was also grateful for his devotion. She slid her hand into the crook of his arm.
    “And I’m feelin’ sorry for ye, too,” the woman answered with a laugh. “Eh, well, no harm tryin’.”
    When the woman slid off the bench and moved away, Katherine removed her hand without looking at Reynold.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, then stood up to follow the rest of the travelers. She saw Reynold slip the loaf of bread into his magic sack before following.
    A moment later he gripped her hand. “He comes.”
    She knew who he meant. The young nobleman staggered to his place at the head table, his face ashen. He lifted his head, his gaze drifting over the crowd, and saw them. Katherine froze, waiting for a call to arms, and the sounds of running soldiers.
    Reynold leaned into her face and whispered, “Cower from me.”
    She cringed at the sudden anger he displayed for their audience. He grasped her hand and pulled her towards the wide door. Katherine felt more and more relieved as their ploy seemed to be working. She turned and looked over her shoulder at the nobleman, who gave her a lopsided grin. She waved back.
    Reynold pulled her closer. “Mayhap you should not have done that.”
    “But now he thinks he was a success last night. Won’t that aid us even further?”
    He smiled. “You think quickly, Lady Katherine.”
    At his praise she felt warm inside, and forgot all about the nobleman. She looked into Reynold’s eyes, and down to his lips, and remembered only him and the things he had done to her. But she must forget her wicked, selfish thoughts. Her mission to the king was far too important.
    Katherine heard the rumble of thunder before she reached the castle doors. As Reynold came up behind her, she stopped in dismay and watched heavy sheets of rain turn the gloomy inner ward into a sea of mud.
    “We could wait here a few hours,” he said into her ear. “Others are. And perhaps Lord Oaf will pass out.”
    Katherine watched a few travelers laugh and turn back towards the fire. The peasant woman with eyes for Reynold smirked in their direction, pulled a wimple over her head, and stepped out into the rain with her small ragged group.
    “I must hurry.” Still embarrassed by her conduct last night, she said, “I could go alone.”
    Reynold eyed her for a moment, no emotion in his face. Her breath caught in sudden panic. Would he truly leave her, now that she had disgraced herself? She had known him for but a scant few days. Perhaps intimacy was all he truly wanted of her. Katherine shivered.
    Reynold briefly bowed his head. “Your servant, my lady,” he said, without meeting her gaze.
    Biting her lip, Katherine took a step out into the courtyard and sank up to her ankles in mud. She slogged on through it, watching each step for fear she’d lose the only shoes she had. Reynold took her arm and she leaned against him, shielding her face from the stinging rain.
    Reynold felt her grip on him tighten. Was it all too much for her? Would she give up this mad notion to see the