When they had ridden into London, the forests were still lush and green but now shades of gold and scarlet covered them, the colors so brilliant they fair pierced the eyes against the crisp blue of the autumn sky. Alyna sucked in a lungful of clean air, thankful to be gone from the odors of the city. Was it her imagination or were the colors a little more intense today? Or was it just that her senses were so keenly tuned after the physical awakening of the previous night? Whatever the reason, a happy little smile played on her lips and a contented glow emanated from every pore. For that, she had to thank Warin. Every now and again she glanced at him, in awe and total disbelief that he was now her husband, both in word and in deed. Aye, she was sore between her legs but it made her feel as if he had marked her as his own. She rode at Warin’s side. Close behind them jingled the bridle of Bennet’s horse, and behind him some distance, the muffled hoof beats of the company of men provided by King Henry for the recapture of Caperun Keep.
