Crusader: The Sanctuary Series, Volume Four Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Try not to pretend you didn’t know.”
    She shrugged expressively, exaggeratedly, and as though every bit of chill in his words had melted somewhere between the two of them. “I was just being polite. Of course I’ve heard the rumors about you being married. I’ve heard a great many rumors about you. But then, I’ve heard a few about myself as well and not always true, so I prefer to glean the fact of them directly from the source before I go believing something I hear in passing, no matter how good it sounds.”
    Cyrus felt the breeze off the sea stir the hair under his helm and reached up to take the metal contraption off, securing it to a hook on his saddle. With that done, he ran his hand through his hair, felt the slight sweat that had developed on his forehead, and wiped it onto the sleeve that stuck out of his gauntlet. Once done, he looked back to Aisling, who still rode next to him, watching him, almost expectantly. “And what rumors would you have me dispel?”
    “Just one,” she said, but the slyness and her smile were gone, replaced by something else: an almost primal hunger, as though she were thirsty and waiting for a single drop of water to fall upon her tongue.
    “Just one?” He looked back at her. “Then what? You’ll ride back into the line and trouble me no more?”
    “For today, yes.” The hunger on her face grew, an insatiable curiosity. “I make no promises about tomorrow.”
    “Ask your question, then.” He felt his hands on the reins, on the leather, felt them squeeze tightly against the dry material that lined the inside of his gauntlets, felt the hint of perspiration on his palms. “Ask and then be gone.”
    “Is it true …” She started and then stopped, but the desire had grown in her eyes. “Is it true that you and Vara …?” She didn’t finish, as though she couldn’t bring herself to ask the question. “I mean, in Termina you were together, but I heard … it was rumored …”
    “It’s true,” he said, bowing his head, feeling the despair overwhelm his desire to snap back at her, to growl, to tell her to ride off the edge of the bridge. “It’s all true.” He twisted his neck to look at her. “Now say it and be done.” He spoke with no acrimony, his voice was dry and hollow.
    “Say what?” She looked at him, and all the emotion he had seen writ upon her face was gone, replaced by a slight furrowing of the lines of her brow, a puckering of her full, purple lips.
    “Whatever racy suggestion you’re going to throw my way,” Cyrus said, still wary. “Just say it. Get it over with.”
    There was a subtle flicker in her eyes, and the curiosity washed from her face, replaced by something else— genuine regret , Cyrus thought. “I’m sorry,” Aisling said. “I can’t think of anything like that right now. All I have to say is …” Her lips curved with just a hint of wistfulness, “… I’m sorry for you that it didn’t work out.” She nodded at him and slowed her horse, falling back into the line with the others that followed behind him.
    Cyrus rode on. The bridge stretched before him as far as he could see—and so did his pain.

Chapter 4
     
    The days ran together, one upon another, until all Cyrus could remember was the bridge, the endless grey stone that went on infinitely into the distance. On either side the waters were blue, and a cool breeze ran through the cracks in his armor, keeping the heat of the sun at bay. By the end of the third day, Cyrus imagined throwing himself over the side into the water below, letting his armor drag him down, down to the bottom of the sea, letting his boots sink into the sand, the water rush into his lungs, drowning all his despair along with him …
    The conjured bread grew old by the fourth day, and Cyrus was sick of chewing it, the light airy flavor turning to nothing but mush in his mouth. The conjured water was even worse, less satisfying somehow. Without wood to burn, they slept without fires at