Read Online Knight's End (The Knight Trilogy) by Jami Montgomery - Free Book Online Page A

get away and then ran away to avoid your sentence, what would you do?” Another moment of silence followed, and the prince sighed. “Aston will be going after the Rogue, Father. He’ll think that bringing the Rogue here will help clear his name of all wrongdoings.”
    This time, the king answered quickly . “You’re absolutely right, Talbot! Go, s on. Take as many men with you as you think you might need. Bring Aston back here, alive. I want to speak with him.”
    Talbot didn’t answer, and soon Richie heard the sound of his quickly retreating footsteps. He waited until King Donn fell asleep again, his gentle snores filling the room, before he emerged from his hiding place. Donn had set the envelope on a small table beside his throne and the boy snatched it, tucking it into the waistband of his breeches and pulling his shirt down to conceal it.
    As h e made his way back to his room, his smile grew larger and larger. Not only could he tell Aston where the Rogue would be next, but he could warn him about Talbot’s army too. It was more than he could ask for! Richie would be the greatest spy Aston had ever seen. In five days time he would be with the knight again, telling him all the wonderful news. His mentor would find the Rogue, bring him back, and live happily as a knight again!
    Richie bumped into Madam Louise as his thoughts got away from him. He oomphed, falling on his behind on the stone floors. Madam Louise placed her hands on her hips and sent him a stern look.
    “What are you doing out of your room, young man?” she scolded. The boy smiled up at her and shrugged, ever the picture of innocence. With a sigh, Madam Louise helped him to his feet . “While you’re here, you may as well help me. Come along. We are going to the gardens to find vegetables for tonight’s stew.”
    Richie tagged along happily, for once not bothered by his work. He picked the largest, ripest vegetables he could find before heading back inside, helping Madam Louise clean countless rooms and then falling into bed for the night. As he slept, he dreamt of Aston on wild adventures with a beautiful maiden by his side. He knew, somehow, that what he saw was real, and that Aston would he truly free someday soon.

“There is a woman at the beginning
of all great things.”
- Alphonse de Lamartine –
     

Nine
     
    Jade ran Bella as hard and fast as she could through the mild, fall night. The horse’s frantic breathing did nothing to calm her own pounding heart. Two days had passed since she ’d left home , and she regretted the decision more with each passing moment. Night had fallen; the forest’s creatures came alive as moonlight filtered through the treetops. Risking a glance behind her, Jade barely held in her scream.
    Racing after her black mare was a pack of wolves, the alpha so close Jade could see the yellow of his eyes. He nipped at Bella’s hind leg and the horse let out a squeal, running faster, pounding her hooves into the hard ground. Jade gripped the reins tighter, wishing she were home in bed instead of in the middle of the forest, running for her life. Bella stumbled and Jade barely caught herself, leaning low over her steed’s back and ushering the horse forward with whispered words.
    What am I doing? I don’t belong here! Jade thought, her eyes wide as she looked back again. T he wolves were falling behind, some branching off to the sides. They were going to try and surround her. A fierce howl ripped through the night, mixing with the sound of Bella’s frantic panting and the thundering of her hooves against the packed ground. Jade looked around herself, hoping to see something familiar, but it was a wasted effort.
    She had no idea where she was. As a lady who’d lived her entire life inside castle walls, the forest was completely foreign to her. Everything looked the same; green trees, their trunks grey in the twilight, worn out paths leading in every direction. She wouldn’t be able to find her way home, even