Read Online Kara Griffin - The Pith Trilogy by Warrior's Pledge - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Warrior's Pledge
Ads: Link
without her.”
“What do we do with the others?”
“We’ll take them back and let the lord decide.”
“He only told us to bring the lady back.”
“We better find her. We cannot return without her.”
The men rode away and she released Chestnut’s nose. Her mare’s nostrils fluttered and Julianna backed up. The men, well beyond her now, couldn’t hear her when she lunged through the thick brush, hell-bent to get as far away as she could.
Disheartened that Doris and Bleeth hadn’t gotten away, she had to think of her own safety. She hadn’t recognized the men as her father’s knights, but they could have been new to his service. Her father couldn’t have known she’d left unless he’d had her watched. Why then would he let her get so far?
As the night wore on, Julianna became lulled by the horse’s movement. She had to be alert, but sleep came upon her and she stopped to rest. Chestnut was secured to a tree branch and she found a nice spot of soft grass where she fell asleep as soon as she lay.
A lapwing’s shrill from the trees above startled her awake. She’d jumped up and hit her head on the tree above. Things kept getting worse. A stream of blood trickled down her forehead. She pulled a cloth from her sleeve and wiped it away. Though Julianna was a lady of all modesty, she couldn’t help cursing at her rotten luck.
When she walked to the opposite side of Chestnut, someone touched her arm. She screamed.
“Sorry, my lady. Are ye hurt?”
“Nay, you scared me, Bleeth. How did ye get away?” She hugged him, so happy that he was safe, that she almost knocked him backward.
“My skills have improved. I had nothing to do when ye were away at the convent. I practiced.” He helped her up onto Chestnut’s back.
“Doris?” He shook his head. “I hope she is unharmed. Mayhap we should go back for her?”
Bleeth adamantly shook his head. “’Tis too risky. We have to trust your father wouldn’t harm a mere maid. Let us get to your aunt’s.”
The sky lightened enough for them to continue, though it appeared it would rain. Fortunately the rain held off and the ride was uneventful. Julianna was exhausted and in need of medicinal aid. Aunty would take care of her. The closer they came to her aunt’s the more her spirits rose.
She was hesitant to ride through the gate, because she wasn’t sure if her father had sent someone to fetch her. They rode to the back wall and entered through the back gate. The guard acknowledged her, giving her a welcome.
As they rode between the cottages, she searched for anyone she didn’t recognize. “Do ye see the men who tried to abduct me?”
Bleeth led the way to the stable. “I’m certain they went directly to Lord Bentley. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” He helped her off Chestnut and took her reins.
Julianna walked as swiftly as she could to the keep. Inside, there stood Aunty, wiping her hands on her apron, looking as cheery as ever.
“Dearest, what brings ye? Have ye come for a visit?” Aunty huffed when she noticed her face. “What happened?” She clucked and immediately helped her stand.
She wrapped her arms around her aunt’s slim frame. “I’ll tell ye, but first I need to hide.”
Mathilda wore her dark hair wrapped in a knot, her warm brown eyes smiled and her face always reflecting love.
“Ye should give your uncle a kiss hello. He’s missed ye and asks daily when you’ll come.”
“I cannot let Uncle Walden see me. Can we go to a chamber, I need to lie down?”
“Let us get ye hidden.”
Walking through the small keep that was more home than any place, Julianna looked admiringly at the banners hanging on the walls. The rushes were replaced once a week, on the sixth day. Aunty had certain ways concerning the care of her home and made it comforting. As they walked along, her aunt directed servants to ready a bath and bring food.
Julianna walked through the doorway of the chamber and turned to face her aunt. “He
“What do we do with the others?”
“We’ll take them back and let the lord decide.”
“He only told us to bring the lady back.”
“We better find her. We cannot return without her.”
The men rode away and she released Chestnut’s nose. Her mare’s nostrils fluttered and Julianna backed up. The men, well beyond her now, couldn’t hear her when she lunged through the thick brush, hell-bent to get as far away as she could.
Disheartened that Doris and Bleeth hadn’t gotten away, she had to think of her own safety. She hadn’t recognized the men as her father’s knights, but they could have been new to his service. Her father couldn’t have known she’d left unless he’d had her watched. Why then would he let her get so far?
As the night wore on, Julianna became lulled by the horse’s movement. She had to be alert, but sleep came upon her and she stopped to rest. Chestnut was secured to a tree branch and she found a nice spot of soft grass where she fell asleep as soon as she lay.
A lapwing’s shrill from the trees above startled her awake. She’d jumped up and hit her head on the tree above. Things kept getting worse. A stream of blood trickled down her forehead. She pulled a cloth from her sleeve and wiped it away. Though Julianna was a lady of all modesty, she couldn’t help cursing at her rotten luck.
When she walked to the opposite side of Chestnut, someone touched her arm. She screamed.
“Sorry, my lady. Are ye hurt?”
“Nay, you scared me, Bleeth. How did ye get away?” She hugged him, so happy that he was safe, that she almost knocked him backward.
“My skills have improved. I had nothing to do when ye were away at the convent. I practiced.” He helped her up onto Chestnut’s back.
“Doris?” He shook his head. “I hope she is unharmed. Mayhap we should go back for her?”
Bleeth adamantly shook his head. “’Tis too risky. We have to trust your father wouldn’t harm a mere maid. Let us get to your aunt’s.”
The sky lightened enough for them to continue, though it appeared it would rain. Fortunately the rain held off and the ride was uneventful. Julianna was exhausted and in need of medicinal aid. Aunty would take care of her. The closer they came to her aunt’s the more her spirits rose.
She was hesitant to ride through the gate, because she wasn’t sure if her father had sent someone to fetch her. They rode to the back wall and entered through the back gate. The guard acknowledged her, giving her a welcome.
As they rode between the cottages, she searched for anyone she didn’t recognize. “Do ye see the men who tried to abduct me?”
Bleeth led the way to the stable. “I’m certain they went directly to Lord Bentley. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.” He helped her off Chestnut and took her reins.
Julianna walked as swiftly as she could to the keep. Inside, there stood Aunty, wiping her hands on her apron, looking as cheery as ever.
“Dearest, what brings ye? Have ye come for a visit?” Aunty huffed when she noticed her face. “What happened?” She clucked and immediately helped her stand.
She wrapped her arms around her aunt’s slim frame. “I’ll tell ye, but first I need to hide.”
Mathilda wore her dark hair wrapped in a knot, her warm brown eyes smiled and her face always reflecting love.
“Ye should give your uncle a kiss hello. He’s missed ye and asks daily when you’ll come.”
“I cannot let Uncle Walden see me. Can we go to a chamber, I need to lie down?”
“Let us get ye hidden.”
Walking through the small keep that was more home than any place, Julianna looked admiringly at the banners hanging on the walls. The rushes were replaced once a week, on the sixth day. Aunty had certain ways concerning the care of her home and made it comforting. As they walked along, her aunt directed servants to ready a bath and bring food.
Julianna walked through the doorway of the chamber and turned to face her aunt. “He
Similar Books
