Page 21 of Ladybird

“For helping me with the boy. Now, at least, mayhap he’ll stop complaining so much and give my poor head a break.”

“Hunter, I was serious about what I said. What we’re about to do is not for children. It could be truly dangerous. Remember, these are birds of prey.”

“I remember,” said Hunter, thinking of the way the bird last night acted like it wanted to take off his head when he’d tried to pet it.

“I promise, you will see me do things that you’ve never seen anyone do before.”

“Really?” Hunter liked the sound of that. “And what, my lady, might one of those things be?” Was she purposely playing with him and trying to get him aroused? He stared down at her, wanting to eat her up. He liked a woman with spirit not to mention a playful nature. This one had mischief written all over her face.

“You’ll find out in time.”

“Will I be able to join in on what you are going to do?” He grinned.

“Oh, I don’t think you’re skilled enough. But you are more than welcome to watch.” She licked her lips, about driving him mad. Then she turned and headed to the mews leaving him standing there with sultry promises floating around in his head and his mouth hanging open.

“Oh, no, my lady,” he said to himself. “Like hell if you think I’m just watching.” He followed her to the mews trying to ignore the seductive sway of her hips that she probably had no idea she was even doing. Damn, this was going to be a long day.

“Be sure to stand back when you watch because what I’m going to do is dangerous,” said Regina once they’d ridden to an open field used for training the birds that was close to the castle but not inside the castle walls.

“I understand,” answered Hunter, not really understanding but wanting to be agreeable.

Regina had Hera, her gyrfalcon on her glove today. She’d told Hunter this was the largest and oldest of her birds. Hunter hadn’t even been in the mews yet and wasn’t even sure how many birds the mews housed or how many birds Regina owned.

“I’ll help you from your horse, my lady.” By the time he slid off his horse, she had already dismounted, managing to keep the bird balanced on her hand. She reached over and gave him the reins of her horse.

“Be sure to secure the horses a good distance away. I don’t want them to frighten Hera.”

“Of course, my lady.” Hunter secured the reins of the horses to a tree and followed her to the center of the open field.

“Today, you’ll see me use this.” She used her free hand to pull something out of her pouch. At first glance it looked like feathers attached to a rope and wound up around a wooden handle. All he could think of was the whore he’d once spent the night with who enjoyed spanking and whipping, and odd things that did not interest him in the least.

“You weren’t jesting when you said this was going to be dangerous.”

“What did you say?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.

“Nothing,” he remarked, not really sure what was about to happen. “What is that thing?”

“This is the lure,” she told him.

“Yep,” he said, swallowing deeply, thinking that is what the whore called her sex toys, too.

“Oh, so you’ve heard of it then?” she asked in surprise.

“Probably not in the same manner you mean. Why don’t you explain it to me.”

“Of course.” She handed it to him. “Hold it while I remove Hera’s hood. I took feathers to make it seem like a bird she’d be hunting in the sky. And to the feathers I attached a piece of raw meat. It is all attached to a rope that I will whirl around in the air.”

When he took it, he realized it was a device used for training birds, and not a sex toy after all. It was a line wrapped around a heavy weighted handle.

“Why did you name the bird Hera?” he asked, watching her expertly remove the bird’s hood with one hand while keeping Hera balanced on the other.

“I name all my birds after things to do with the sky. Hera was the wife of Zeus, the god of the sky, lightning and thunder. You know, in Greek mythology.”

“Oh, yes,” he said, not really knowing anything about mythology at all. He knew how to read and write, fight, and also how to grow crops. He wasn’t skilled in book knowledge or literature of any kind. Instead, his skills had to do with fighting and tracking and hunting and killing.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the lure from him. She sent the bird into the air. Hera lifted off her hand and took up into the sky. It was magical to watch the bird’s wings span out as she soared through the air almost as if she were floating. This bird was a much bigger bird than the one he’d seen her with last night. The bird was also a lot more impressive. “I’ll attach a piece of raw meat to the end of the lure now.” She dug into her food bag and did so.

“Got anything cooked in there?” he mumbled, feeling his empty stomach growl, stretching his neck to see inside the bag.