When he was done, he drew back and used the snow to give his hands a rough cleaning until he could get to running water. "There, should be all set. Let me know if the pain or anything worsens. Climb on the horse with milady, and you can travel with us the rest of the day at least, and we'll eat together. Are you bound for Tesser at present?"
"Aye," said Cole, finally speaking, no less wary now than he'd been at the start. "It's a good place to stop, and it will take a couple of days for the clumsy knave here to heal up. We thank you, sir knight, for your assistance. What brings a noble knight of the court all way out here?" His eyes flicked to Odilia and Everard, who very clearly were not nobility, meaning it was unlikely Leonine was serving as formal escort.
"Queen's business," Leonine replied with a smile. "Nothing interesting, but I'm not at liberty to discuss it anyway. I met these two on the journey being attacked by bandits. Much like you, I tended milady's wound and offered to accompany them the rest of the way to Tesser. Perhaps now we're a merry band, we'll encounter no more ill tidings."
"Let's hope," Edger replied. "We are grateful. We'll do what we can to help secure dinner for tonight."
Cole helped him up into the saddle, settled behind Odilia, who looked like she'd rather walk, even though her skirts would make slogging through the snow especially miserable and difficult. He spared her a brief, sympathetic look, but didn't dare do more than that for fear their new companions might glean more than they should.
At least things were no longer miserably quiet. Cole seemed disinclined to talk, but Edger was more than happy to do so, flirting and chatting as easily as Leonine. Once upon a time, Leonine would have enjoyed himself immensely, been more than happy to see what flirting might lead to.
Right now, however, he really just wanted the whole mess over with, so he could go back to licking his wounds. Worse, Odilia and Everard watched and listened the whole time, probably more certain than ever in their decision to get rid of him.
"What about you, my fine mistress?" Edger asked. "What brings you out into such miserable weather?"
"My mother died. I'm headed to attend her affairs."
Edger winced. "My apologies and condolences. It's hard, losing a parent. Losing anyone, but some bonds cut deeper than others."
"We weren't close, but thank you, good sir. I'm fortunate to have my fine husband with me. If not for him, I would have fared quite poorly on this journey."
"Should get you some proper leggings," Edger said. "My sister always wears them in the winter months when she has to walk through the snow. Boots, leggings, dresses 'like a right man' everyone complains, but it's sure easier than all those heavy layers."
Leonine had never heard of a worse idea in his life. Odilia in leggings was terrible. He'd never get anything else done ever again if she walked around like that.
From the strangled noise he made, Everard agreed completely. "No, I forbid it. Not happening. Ever."
Leonine didn't have to look to see the look on Odilia's face as she replied, "I'll wear whatever I like, and you've no say in the matter. Wish I'd thought of it on my own."
It took every bit of self-control Leonine possessed not to whimper and moan at the images now in his head. At how delightful it would be to push her up against a wall, slip his hands into her leggings, push his fingers…
With an effort, he returned to his nonsensical chatting and flirting. "Forget women in leggings. I once spent a whole night with a man who looked a perfect dream in skirts. Just the skirts, mind. Nothing else."
Edger laughed. "Marvelous! Cole, we should put you in skirts sometime. Your hips could manage it, surely."
"My fist is going to manage your face if you don't stop acting the fool," Cole snapped.
"All right, all right." Edger rolled his eyes.
Cole made a frustrated noise, like a low growl at the back of his throat, and abruptly peeled off from the group. "I'm going hunting. I assume we'll be stopping at the pond?"
"Aye," Leonine replied. "Seems a good place to break for the night, especially with those clouds coming up fast."
"I'll meet you there with dinner then," Cole replied, and slipped away into the woods before anyone could reply.
Edger rolled his eyes again and cast Leonine an apologetic smile. "Sorry for him. He don't mean nothing by it. He's always on edge after a job, before we have the money, and he never learned how to interact with people properly. Thinks I run my mouth too much, which is probably true, but he doesn't run his at all." He winked, and Leonine smiled despite himself.
"I know a bit about that. People always think I'm too loud, too talkative, too slutty—too much of everything, really."
Edger laughed, the sound wry and bitter and worn. "Yet somehow never enough."
Leonine felt like he'd been slapped. He looked up, caught Edger's understanding gaze. "Yes, exactly."
"Lucky me, I found Cole. He grumbles, but he puts up with me."
"I'm glad," Leonine replied. "Maybe someday I'll be so lucky."
"A handsome knight who helps complete strangers and claims the Darting lands? You'll be drowning in invitations!"
Leonine laughed. "I doubt it but thank you." He didn't look at Odilia and Everard, because if he did, he'd fall apart completely. Their ringing silence seemed answer enough. He didn't want to see in their faces that they were glad to be rid of him and his too much. They were probably desperate for this discussion to be over.
To be well away from him and this nightmare of a journey.
One more day's travel, and they could all part ways again. He'd once more be focused solely on hunting assassins, which was infinitely easier than spending hours with his ex-lovers. Especially given he was certain Edger and Cole were at least two of the assassins he sought. What a shame they seemed like such good people otherwise.
Around them, the snow that had been teasing all day began to fall, spurred on by a wind cold enough to slice to the bone.
Chapter Four
The weather continued to be miserable the remainder of the journey and seemed to grow even worse as they stood waiting to be let into Tesser city. Thankfully, when the guards finally spied Leonine, they immediately waved him and his party through, more than happy to accommodate a royal knight and make their own lives easier in the process.
"Thanks," Edger said cheerfully as they paused in the pavilion. "Usually we have to answer five hundred questions about our business here. Traveling with one of you fancy types is handy."
"I'm honored to be of service," Leonine said with a laugh. "Where are the two of you off to, then?"
"Find a cheap place to sleep for the night, and then we're off again in the morning."
"Surely you're not in such a rush. What about your leg? Didn't you say you'd spend a couple of days here resting?"
Edger shrugged. "I've been doing all right so far, and healers ain't cheap. Not around here, anyway. Thanks to you, I'll be right as rain soon enough. If you're ever in Kormer and feeling lonely, look us up." He rested a hand on Leonine's shoulder and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "It's been a pleasure, knight." He kissed Leonine's other cheek. "That's a thank you from Cole." He waved to Everard and Odilia, who looked like they'd just drunk soured wine, and then the two were off, quickly lost to the milling crowd, as gone as abruptly as they'd appeared.