Erased by My Family at Seventeen, I Heard Every Lie at Eighteen novel · Chapter 9 of 24
Chapter 9: The Hush
Theron Draycott had been counting for a year.
One for the river, two for the oar, three for the heron on the shore.
It was an old rhyme from the Blomqvist nursery, and he said it inside his head without moving his lips.
Four for the lantern, five for the door.
He had said it in the hall at Highcastle with Linnea ten steps away.
He said it now, in the taproom of a crossing inn, while she sat across the fire with her blistered hand wrapped in a strip of linen.
Six for the one who comes no more.
The rhyme had a seventh line, and he had never let himself reach it near her.
"They took them an hour before the riders came," he said aloud.
"I know," said Linnea. "You told me twice."
She was staring at the fire.
He had ridden two days beside her and counted every mile, and she had not once looked at him as if he were a stranger.
She looked at him and saw nothing she could use.
That was what he had meant her to see.
"The captains' men are on the north road," he said. "They have the two women in a covered cart. A rider says it's three hours ahead, and we can take it at the old mill before they reach the border."
"Then ride."
"At first light. The horses are blown."
Linnea nodded.
Edda Beauvoir had been left at the keep. The innkeeper slept above the taproom with a Watch guard outside her door. The fire cracked.
One for the river, two for the oar.
"You're very quiet," Linnea said.
Keep reading free with an account. Start Erased by My Family at Seventeen, I Heard Every Lie at Eighteen from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 8 · All chapters · Chapter 10 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend