Read Online Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) by Elizabeth Cole - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Cole
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defense, just for the insult to her virtue.
Instead, he contained his rage and asked Haldan about his combat experience. Luc listened with half an ear to Haldan’s list of accomplishments, annoyed at himself for needing to ferret out information instead of following his instincts and challenging Haldan to a duel.
Eventually, he calmed enough to listen to the end of the speech. The man, it seemed, knew a bit too well how bandits in the area liked to operate. “They’ll not trouble us here, though,” Haldan said in conclusion.
Luc then asked for a short demonstration of the garrison’s readiness for battle.
“Now, sir knight?” Haldan asked, nonplussed.
“You rarely get much warning when a battle is about to begin,” Luc noted. “So yes, now.”
Haldan looked about to argue, but then, remembering Luc was acting as the arm of the king himself, gave a short nod. “Indeed, sir. If you’ll stand at the side of the courtyard…”
Luc moved to the suggested spot, and watched impassively as Haldan sounded a mock-alarm and directed the men who appeared in the courtyard, popping up like rabbits from all corners of the castle.
Haldan kept glancing at Luc as he directed the garrison through several drills. Luc gave no hint to his thoughts, though he was forming a rapid impression of what he saw.
Soon after, Luc raised a hand, indicating that he’d seen enough. “Thank you for indulging me with a demonstration,” he told the group at large. “Return to your normal tasks now. I’ve no wish to disturb the order of the day more than I already have. God keep you all.”
Without speaking to Haldan further, Luc asked for his horse to be saddled. He rode out of the gates, taking his horse around the perimeter of the castle, surveying the stone walls, the ditches, and the few redoubts set further out.
He then faced outward, just as he would need to if he expected the enemy to ride up. His gaze went to the lake not far from the castle itself. Spying a figure standing at the shore, he nudged his horse and rode down the slope to the water.
Domina heard him, and turned. She’d been tossing bread crusts to a flock of white swans who’d gathered near the shore.
“I should have guessed that the de Warewics would have swans,” Luc said in greeting.
Domina nodded. “There have always been swans here, ever since my family first took charge of this castle.”
“You feed them through the winter?”
“Always. I would hate for them to have to leave,” Domina said. “They belong here. This is their home.”
She tossed the last of the crumbs onto the water, then brushed her hands on her cloak. At least she wore a cloak today, Luc thought. She was human after all.
Domina took a few steps back from the water’s edge, just as Luc dismounted from his horse. He found himself unexpectedly close to her. The idea of slipping one hand beneath the cloak to skim the curve of her lower back came to him, and he actually put his hand halfway out before he recalled himself. Domina would slap him for such a familiarity, and she’d be right to do so.
“You rode out of the castle to find me. Did you have need of me?” she asked.
He could think of a few things he wanted of her, but none he could say out loud. He merely said, “I wanted to see the castle in daylight. The walls themselves.”
“And?” she prompted, curiosity replacing the coolness in her tone.
“An impressive structure,” he said. “Though even I could see a few weaknesses.”
“The north wall,” she said.
He looked at her more closely. “So you are aware?”
“I can see the cracks myself,” she replied. “It does not take a military genius to know that a cracked wall is a weak wall.”
“Does your father intend to repair it?”
“Of course…just as soon as the weather turns fair again. Early spring, perhaps.”
“Winter is not a bad time to do repairs. There’s far less risk of a surprise attack—armies don’t march in winter, as a
Instead, he contained his rage and asked Haldan about his combat experience. Luc listened with half an ear to Haldan’s list of accomplishments, annoyed at himself for needing to ferret out information instead of following his instincts and challenging Haldan to a duel.
Eventually, he calmed enough to listen to the end of the speech. The man, it seemed, knew a bit too well how bandits in the area liked to operate. “They’ll not trouble us here, though,” Haldan said in conclusion.
Luc then asked for a short demonstration of the garrison’s readiness for battle.
“Now, sir knight?” Haldan asked, nonplussed.
“You rarely get much warning when a battle is about to begin,” Luc noted. “So yes, now.”
Haldan looked about to argue, but then, remembering Luc was acting as the arm of the king himself, gave a short nod. “Indeed, sir. If you’ll stand at the side of the courtyard…”
Luc moved to the suggested spot, and watched impassively as Haldan sounded a mock-alarm and directed the men who appeared in the courtyard, popping up like rabbits from all corners of the castle.
Haldan kept glancing at Luc as he directed the garrison through several drills. Luc gave no hint to his thoughts, though he was forming a rapid impression of what he saw.
Soon after, Luc raised a hand, indicating that he’d seen enough. “Thank you for indulging me with a demonstration,” he told the group at large. “Return to your normal tasks now. I’ve no wish to disturb the order of the day more than I already have. God keep you all.”
Without speaking to Haldan further, Luc asked for his horse to be saddled. He rode out of the gates, taking his horse around the perimeter of the castle, surveying the stone walls, the ditches, and the few redoubts set further out.
He then faced outward, just as he would need to if he expected the enemy to ride up. His gaze went to the lake not far from the castle itself. Spying a figure standing at the shore, he nudged his horse and rode down the slope to the water.
Domina heard him, and turned. She’d been tossing bread crusts to a flock of white swans who’d gathered near the shore.
“I should have guessed that the de Warewics would have swans,” Luc said in greeting.
Domina nodded. “There have always been swans here, ever since my family first took charge of this castle.”
“You feed them through the winter?”
“Always. I would hate for them to have to leave,” Domina said. “They belong here. This is their home.”
She tossed the last of the crumbs onto the water, then brushed her hands on her cloak. At least she wore a cloak today, Luc thought. She was human after all.
Domina took a few steps back from the water’s edge, just as Luc dismounted from his horse. He found himself unexpectedly close to her. The idea of slipping one hand beneath the cloak to skim the curve of her lower back came to him, and he actually put his hand halfway out before he recalled himself. Domina would slap him for such a familiarity, and she’d be right to do so.
“You rode out of the castle to find me. Did you have need of me?” she asked.
He could think of a few things he wanted of her, but none he could say out loud. He merely said, “I wanted to see the castle in daylight. The walls themselves.”
“And?” she prompted, curiosity replacing the coolness in her tone.
“An impressive structure,” he said. “Though even I could see a few weaknesses.”
“The north wall,” she said.
He looked at her more closely. “So you are aware?”
“I can see the cracks myself,” she replied. “It does not take a military genius to know that a cracked wall is a weak wall.”
“Does your father intend to repair it?”
“Of course…just as soon as the weather turns fair again. Early spring, perhaps.”
“Winter is not a bad time to do repairs. There’s far less risk of a surprise attack—armies don’t march in winter, as a
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