Read Online Blood Ties (Noble of Blood Series Book 2) by A L Wright - Free Book Online
Authors: A L Wright
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saddles and bags over to the backside of the large tent and dumped it there.
“You two set up the tents and crawl in. Get some sleep, I will stay awake a bit and talk with them. Be gracious with our hosts.” Friesa winked at them and walked away, feeling Tynen's glare at her back until she rounded the large tent.
She approached the campfire slowly, assessing the group of people around her. There were several boys, around fifteen or sixteen. Several more men in their twenties and thirties, and one older fella. He was probably in his early fifties if she could judge right.
The woman looked to be in her mid-thirties. Muscular and lean, narrow hipped. It didn't seem as though she had born any children. Friesa immediately decided she liked this woman.
“My thanks again,” She called out as she neared the fire. “I'm afraid my two companions were just too tired ta join me. My name is Friesa.” She sat down on a stump near the fire, across from the woman.
“Esther is my name. Tad and Cole are the boys who are taking care of your horses. The old man is my father, William. We run this rowdy rag tag group of hunters. We bring in the meat, and my brother, who is no good with a bow or trap, sells the meat back home in the village.” Esther forked a slab of sizzling venison onto a tin plate and passed it to her.
Friesa's mouth was practically watering as she eyed the plate coming near her. She accepted the plate from Esther and sat down with it. She drew her smaller dagger from her belt to cut it up into bite size pieces.
“That be a fine blade for such a young girl ta have,” said one of the unnamed men by the fire.
Swallowing the chunk of meat she had been chewing on, and savoring, she looked down at her blade. She hadn't meant to show off her dagger, but she had been so darned hungry.
“Aye, well, I am glad ya think so. I forged it maself. T'was one of the first blades I made, so there be a lot of hours spent pounding on this blasted thing.”
“You know how to forge blades?” Esther asked her.
“Short blades yes. Long blades I am still practicing on. But I'm quite a good farrier. Shoes, buckles, bits. I'm darned good at those. If you want, I could check yer gear and yer horses shoes while I am here. Ta repay ya fer yer hospitality and all.”
Esther smiled. “You are a good lass. And truly some of our gear is old and in need of repair. I know a couple of the horses need new shoes as well.”
Setting her empty plate on the ground in front of her, she stood up. “Well I can see ta the horse shoes now, but then I must catch a few hours of sleep. Will ya be out hunting today?”
Esther nodded. “Yes, the men will be out today. And we thought we might try our luck catching a few wild hare tonight. We never catch many of those, but the lords of the village pay good money for rabbit and fowl.”
“Well then, when we wake t'night, I will repair some of yer gear while my friends help ya with yer hunt.” Friesa nodded at Esther and turned to grab her farrier tools from her packs.
- - -
When she awoke that night, she opened her eyes to Tynen staring at her. He had such beautiful eyes. Ever since the first time she met him, she couldn't get enough of his eyes.
Shaking herself mentally, she rose up on her elbows. The short tent didn't lend room for more than that. “Tynen. Why are ya staring at me?”
“You slept longer than we did. You ate their food. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Oh, Tynen. They ain't gunna poison me. And speakin' of food, I told Esther you and Nikka would go huntin' with 'em tonight.”
“Who is Esther, and why?”
“Why? Really?” She yawned and rubbed her eyes with one hand. “Esther is the woman who was cookin’ yesterday and because humans trade services, that's why. We took of their hospitality, and we help them with their huntin’. They hunt ta sell the meat in their village, ‘tis how they make a living.”
Tynen just continued to stare at her.
Friesa
“You two set up the tents and crawl in. Get some sleep, I will stay awake a bit and talk with them. Be gracious with our hosts.” Friesa winked at them and walked away, feeling Tynen's glare at her back until she rounded the large tent.
She approached the campfire slowly, assessing the group of people around her. There were several boys, around fifteen or sixteen. Several more men in their twenties and thirties, and one older fella. He was probably in his early fifties if she could judge right.
The woman looked to be in her mid-thirties. Muscular and lean, narrow hipped. It didn't seem as though she had born any children. Friesa immediately decided she liked this woman.
“My thanks again,” She called out as she neared the fire. “I'm afraid my two companions were just too tired ta join me. My name is Friesa.” She sat down on a stump near the fire, across from the woman.
“Esther is my name. Tad and Cole are the boys who are taking care of your horses. The old man is my father, William. We run this rowdy rag tag group of hunters. We bring in the meat, and my brother, who is no good with a bow or trap, sells the meat back home in the village.” Esther forked a slab of sizzling venison onto a tin plate and passed it to her.
Friesa's mouth was practically watering as she eyed the plate coming near her. She accepted the plate from Esther and sat down with it. She drew her smaller dagger from her belt to cut it up into bite size pieces.
“That be a fine blade for such a young girl ta have,” said one of the unnamed men by the fire.
Swallowing the chunk of meat she had been chewing on, and savoring, she looked down at her blade. She hadn't meant to show off her dagger, but she had been so darned hungry.
“Aye, well, I am glad ya think so. I forged it maself. T'was one of the first blades I made, so there be a lot of hours spent pounding on this blasted thing.”
“You know how to forge blades?” Esther asked her.
“Short blades yes. Long blades I am still practicing on. But I'm quite a good farrier. Shoes, buckles, bits. I'm darned good at those. If you want, I could check yer gear and yer horses shoes while I am here. Ta repay ya fer yer hospitality and all.”
Esther smiled. “You are a good lass. And truly some of our gear is old and in need of repair. I know a couple of the horses need new shoes as well.”
Setting her empty plate on the ground in front of her, she stood up. “Well I can see ta the horse shoes now, but then I must catch a few hours of sleep. Will ya be out hunting today?”
Esther nodded. “Yes, the men will be out today. And we thought we might try our luck catching a few wild hare tonight. We never catch many of those, but the lords of the village pay good money for rabbit and fowl.”
“Well then, when we wake t'night, I will repair some of yer gear while my friends help ya with yer hunt.” Friesa nodded at Esther and turned to grab her farrier tools from her packs.
- - -
When she awoke that night, she opened her eyes to Tynen staring at her. He had such beautiful eyes. Ever since the first time she met him, she couldn't get enough of his eyes.
Shaking herself mentally, she rose up on her elbows. The short tent didn't lend room for more than that. “Tynen. Why are ya staring at me?”
“You slept longer than we did. You ate their food. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Oh, Tynen. They ain't gunna poison me. And speakin' of food, I told Esther you and Nikka would go huntin' with 'em tonight.”
“Who is Esther, and why?”
“Why? Really?” She yawned and rubbed her eyes with one hand. “Esther is the woman who was cookin’ yesterday and because humans trade services, that's why. We took of their hospitality, and we help them with their huntin’. They hunt ta sell the meat in their village, ‘tis how they make a living.”
Tynen just continued to stare at her.
Friesa
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