Read Online Hers to Choose by Patricia A. Knight - Free Book Online Page A

Rhea tracked. Fell wolves.” She started to sob quietly, rocking from side to side.
    “Shh, Petrina. Shh, dear friend.” Sophi’s hands fluttered down to still her friend’s agitated movements. It was obvious to Eric that Sophi didn’t know where to put her hands that would not add to the woman’s pain.
    “Adonia, dose her with the sleeping draught and more opiate for pain. Examine her carefully. We need to know if they hurt her internally. When she is out, let’s get her to the lakeshore. I want to put her in the water and try to bring down this fever. She is burning up.”
    Sophi sat back on her heels, head bowed. “Commander, did you hear her?” She rose and turned to face him. “Krakoll. The Haarb leader plans to attack Sh’r Un Kree. Evidently, I am the prize. We must warn them.”
    “ Yes.”
    Sophi nodded and strode to the entrance of the cave. “Eudora! Maeve! Attend me.”
    He watched as the grim-faced archers took her directions, quickly caught their horses and left.
    A grave Sophi walked back to him. “I sent Eudora to Sylvan Mintoth to seek aid from my brother and Maeve returns to Sh’r Un Kree to warn the Primus .”
    “ Flight Leader , I think Krakoll allowed Rhea to escape to track her back to us. We might have eluded their trackers by leaving so quickly to rescue Petrina but they could still have found L’ago Mistero .”
    “Yes. And it is an easy guess we would return here with Petrina.” Her teeth worried her bottom lip.
    He spat out e very vulgar oath he knew. “We cannot stay here.”
    “I cannot move Petrina, Commander. We would finish what the Haarb started.”
    “And you cannot stay. Krakoll is not interested in anyone but you. His plans for you threaten all of Verdantia. He will use you as a hostage, a very effective hostage. Your brother would do anything for you and the Queen and her consort will do anything for him. I say again. You. Cannot. Stay.”
    Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “ Do you have a plan, Commander?”
    Eric shook his head . “I need a little time to think this through. Do as much for Petrina as you can and let me chew on our situation for a few minutes.” He winced as pain shot through his gut. I need to remember not to turn so quickly. He walked toward the opening of the cavern.
    “Commander. ” Sophi’s voice halted him. “Come back. You reopened your wound. I can see the blood seep from where I stand. You can ‘chew’ on our situation while I re-bandage you. Sit here.”
    He reluctantly sat where she pointed.
    She winced as she attempted to peel back his clothing to get to the bandages wrapping his groin. The blood had dried black and crusty, gluing all the material to his abused flesh. She threw her hands up in disgust. “This didn’t just happen. Go get in the lake. Soak your trousers and bandages off. Then come back.”
    He didn’t argue.
     
    * * *
     
    “Ahem. Commander?” Captain Biron’s voice interrupted Eric’s thoughts.
    Shit . He always finds me in these awkward situations. First the dress, now I am just standing here, waist deep in a lake, freezing my balls off, for no discernible reason. He opened his eyes to look at his second-in-command.
    “The b andages were stuck.”
    “What?”
    “Never mind. What is it?” Eric watched the captain struggle to maintain a serious mien.
    “The men would like to organize a hunting party to supplement our rations with some fresh meat. They spotted a herd of scythe-horned klipspringer not too far from here.” Biron dropped his head and stood with hands on hips, the toes of his boots rearranging smoothly rounded stones on the shore into a straight line.
    “It’s all right, Jon. You can laugh.”
    The captain lifted his head. A grin stretched from jaw bone to jaw bone. “ Did she tell you to go jump in the lake?”
    “Actually, yes. I am soaking off my bandages.” He couldn’t stop the convulsive shiver running in a wave up his spine. He wrapped his arms around his bare chest a little