Read Online A Sterkarm Kiss by Susan Price - Free Book Online

Elvish clothes he wore. “He’s been into Elf-Land, him—and come back to tell tale.”
    Every horse was decked with ribbons and flowers, while the guests were dressed in their brightest colors. Gold and amber jewelry flashed. Per’s two big gazehounds, Swart and Cuddy, loped beside his horse, with wreaths of leaves and flowers twisted around their collars.
    The pipers shifted into another tune:
    â€œOh, canst tha find cuckoo’s nest
    That’s hidden in prickly bush, prickly bush?
    Oh, canst tha find cuckoo’s nest
    That be hidden there?”
    With cheers and laughter the ride took up the song and bellowed it out, though the sound was quickly lost in the vast moorland.
    â€œCanst find cuckoo’s nest, Per?”
    â€œScared to put thy hand in that prickly bush?”
    Per put back his head and laughed aloud, not because the ancient jokes were good, but because he was in a high mood. He turned his horse out of the procession and rode back along it. No sooner had he done so than Ingram, his youngest cousin, maneuvered his own horse out of the crowd and rode after him. His brothers, Wat and Little Toorkild, looked at each other and smiled. Whatever Per did, Ingram had to do.
    Per called out to the procession, “I’ve put a few cuckoos in a few nests! Shall I name my cuckoos?”
    Clods were thrown at him. He kicked up Fowl, his thickset black hob, and rode all the way around the procession, with Ingram, laughing, close behind him, and back to his place at the ride’s head. People cheered him as they went by, waving and—if they were women—blowing kisses. Everyone was in a good mood. Because of Per and his wedding day, they were all to enjoy a whole day of eating and drinking, and dancing and music, without work. Much of the food would be Grannam food, too. It would add extra relish to know they were emptying the Grannam larders.
    Per could hardly keep a grin from his face. Marriage was not something he’d hankered for, but every man had to marry sooner or later—and this marriage brought with it such wealth and land that it would be worth it. The favor of the Elves, too, was part of the bargain—he would be famous as the Sterkarm who went into Elf-Land and married a Grannam! And, at the day’s end, he’d be put to bed with the Grannam girl. Then he could truly show the Grannams who came on top.
    Better still, Elf-Windsor might keep his promise and bring along the beautiful Elf-Maid. There was bound to be some time—either before or after he was bedded with his bride—when he could try for the Elf-Maid. She’d liked him when he’d met her in Elf-Land. Courting her on his wedding day would be difficult, but then, that would make it more fun. The Grannams wouldn’t see the joke—but that was Grannams for you.
    The ride wound its way down a hillside, and the Elf-Palace came into view. The ride slowed as people stared, and those on foot came crowding forward, to stand and jostle as they pointed and exclaimed. Two days before, there had been nothing there except empty hillside. Now, great, domed, bulbous, silvery buildings glittered against the soft greens and tawnies of the moor. Eerie, shimmering, they were like nothing anyone had ever seen before: so strange and beautiful, they even drew attention away from the Elf-Gate that stood near them behind its steel fence.
    â€œPer! Per!” his mother called from her seat behind his father. “Be all buildings like that in Elf-Land?”
    Per shook his head. The buildings in Elf-Land had been massive, of expensive stone and brick, the work of giants. Their windows had been huge, with sheets of glass so large and pure and clear, they were like nothing, like air. They hadn’t been anything like these. But the works of the Elves were beyond anything. He was struck with wonder that he should be lucky enough to live in the time when the Elves came.
    Toorkild filled his big lungs