Read Online Devil's Dominion by Kathryn Le Veque - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathryn Le Veque
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If de Velt could do it those years ago, then I certainly can. It should not be an issue although the general siege on the castle will be more difficult than some of the others because of its location. Still, I do not anticipate failure. Just the opposite, in fact. We will prevail.”
Olivier and Dallan appeared confident, passing assured glances between them, but Teague kept his focus on Bretton.
“Mayhap we should do a reconnaissance of Four Crosses as well,” Teague said. “Things could have changed in twenty-five years.”
Bretton nodded thoughtfully. “It would mayhap be wise to see it again,” he said. “We still have Comen and Erwood Castle as well. You had better send scouts out to survey them and report back. Now that we are here, and established, it is time to educate ourselves on the future of our undertakings.”
Teague agreed. Pouring himself and Bretton more wine, they eventually turned the focus of the conversation to other things, things that were well away from the horrors of battle. It was rare when they spoke of anything other than business, but in this case, after three major sieges, they took the liberty to relax, just a little, although each man did not relax completely. They were due to move to Rhayder Castle in a few days and the conversation inevitably turned in that direction.
For Teague, Dallan, and Olivier, war was never far from their thoughts and the riches it would bring them. For Bretton, war was his only thought and the vengeance it would provide him.
It was all he lived for.
℘
CHAPTER FOUR
Someone was nudging her foot.
At least, she thought so. She could have very well been dreaming because the fever she had been sporting for the past few hours had given her very odd dreams. She dreamt that she had bird wings at one point, and yet still another dream had her being able to breathe underwater. And then there was the foot-nudging, which she thought was all part of her bizarre dreams until she opened her eyes and realized she was no longer dreaming. She was awake and someone was still nudging her foot.
Coughing, she turned her head slightly, bringing it off the stale straw to see a big warrior standing at her feet. He was tall, with wavy auburn hair that flowed to his shoulders. When the warrior realized she was lucid and looking at him, he cleared his throat softly.
“Demoiselle,” he said quietly. “You will come with me.”
Allaston wasn’t clear on his words. In fact, she didn’t particularly understand him. “Where will I go?” she asked, her voice scratchy.
The big knight didn’t say anything, he simply held out a hand. Allaston stared at it before eventually realizing that he wanted her to stand up. Feeling as poorly as she did, that was no simple feat, and it was a laborious process before she was able to get to her knees. Coughing had overcome her and she had to pause in order to let a coughing spell run its course. On her knees as the sputtering died down, she was in the process of trying to get to her feet when the knight reached out and grasped her arm.
It wasn’t a rough grasp, nor was it gentle. He was simply taking hold of her. The next thing Allaston realized, the knight was putting a hand on her forehead to feel for her temperature. As she shivered in his grip, she heard him hiss.
“God’s Bones, woman,” he exclaimed. “You are on fire.”
Allaston didn’t respond. She was too sick to care much about anything at the moment. Therefore, she followed like a dumb animal as the knight led her from the cell and up the slippery stone steps that led to the gatehouse. The knight could have been leading her to her doom for all she knew but, with a feverish mind, it never occurred to her to be fearful or suspicious. She was simply doing as she was told.
It was sunset as he took her out of the gatehouse and into the bailey beyond, but even the weak light from the setting sun hurt her eyes after three weeks in the vault and she
Olivier and Dallan appeared confident, passing assured glances between them, but Teague kept his focus on Bretton.
“Mayhap we should do a reconnaissance of Four Crosses as well,” Teague said. “Things could have changed in twenty-five years.”
Bretton nodded thoughtfully. “It would mayhap be wise to see it again,” he said. “We still have Comen and Erwood Castle as well. You had better send scouts out to survey them and report back. Now that we are here, and established, it is time to educate ourselves on the future of our undertakings.”
Teague agreed. Pouring himself and Bretton more wine, they eventually turned the focus of the conversation to other things, things that were well away from the horrors of battle. It was rare when they spoke of anything other than business, but in this case, after three major sieges, they took the liberty to relax, just a little, although each man did not relax completely. They were due to move to Rhayder Castle in a few days and the conversation inevitably turned in that direction.
For Teague, Dallan, and Olivier, war was never far from their thoughts and the riches it would bring them. For Bretton, war was his only thought and the vengeance it would provide him.
It was all he lived for.
℘
CHAPTER FOUR
Someone was nudging her foot.
At least, she thought so. She could have very well been dreaming because the fever she had been sporting for the past few hours had given her very odd dreams. She dreamt that she had bird wings at one point, and yet still another dream had her being able to breathe underwater. And then there was the foot-nudging, which she thought was all part of her bizarre dreams until she opened her eyes and realized she was no longer dreaming. She was awake and someone was still nudging her foot.
Coughing, she turned her head slightly, bringing it off the stale straw to see a big warrior standing at her feet. He was tall, with wavy auburn hair that flowed to his shoulders. When the warrior realized she was lucid and looking at him, he cleared his throat softly.
“Demoiselle,” he said quietly. “You will come with me.”
Allaston wasn’t clear on his words. In fact, she didn’t particularly understand him. “Where will I go?” she asked, her voice scratchy.
The big knight didn’t say anything, he simply held out a hand. Allaston stared at it before eventually realizing that he wanted her to stand up. Feeling as poorly as she did, that was no simple feat, and it was a laborious process before she was able to get to her knees. Coughing had overcome her and she had to pause in order to let a coughing spell run its course. On her knees as the sputtering died down, she was in the process of trying to get to her feet when the knight reached out and grasped her arm.
It wasn’t a rough grasp, nor was it gentle. He was simply taking hold of her. The next thing Allaston realized, the knight was putting a hand on her forehead to feel for her temperature. As she shivered in his grip, she heard him hiss.
“God’s Bones, woman,” he exclaimed. “You are on fire.”
Allaston didn’t respond. She was too sick to care much about anything at the moment. Therefore, she followed like a dumb animal as the knight led her from the cell and up the slippery stone steps that led to the gatehouse. The knight could have been leading her to her doom for all she knew but, with a feverish mind, it never occurred to her to be fearful or suspicious. She was simply doing as she was told.
It was sunset as he took her out of the gatehouse and into the bailey beyond, but even the weak light from the setting sun hurt her eyes after three weeks in the vault and she
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