Read Online Magic in His Kiss by Shari Anton - Free Book Online Page B

Her ire pricked, she entered the circular tower, where a rotund guard sat on a stool, his filthy, untalented fingers abusing the silver strings of Rhodri’s precious harp.
    Furious that the guard dared to toy with the harp, she snatched the heavy instrument away from the stunned guard.
    “A toad could play better!” she snapped. “By whose leave do you possess it? Most certes you have not permission from the harp’s owner!”
    The guard’s eyes widened as he stood, his mouth agape. “Uh, my lady, uh—”
    Nicole cradled the harp with one arm, holding it firmly against her hip, and pointed to the floor. “Give me the sack.”
    The guard obeyed swiftly, and not until she’d covered the harp and pulled the sack’s strings securely shut did she notice neither the guard nor Walter had said a word while she completed the task.
    She glared at Walter. “Well?”
    Mercy, milady, mercy!
    Nicole’s breath caught at the sound of a male voice intruding into her thoughts. Gor, she had no time now to converse with a spirit but couldn’t ignore the man’s wrenching plea for mercy.
    Who are you?
    Thomas Thatcher, milady. I beg your aid!
    Sir Walter waved at the stairway that hugged the tower’s wall. “Lady Nicole is allowed a short visit with the prisoner. Unlock the door.”
    The guard’s eyes narrowed. “The earl said not to let anyone in there but him or Lord de Chesney.”
    “The earl will be pleased to know you remembered your orders. He will also be very displeased if you do not allow Lady Nicole entry. Good God, man, would I give you an order you could not obey?”
    “Humph. Suppose not, Captain. This way, then.”
    Her attention divided, Nicole knew she must free Rhodri from the tower before all else.
    Hear me, Thomas Thatcher,
she ordered the spirit.
I will aid you if I am able, but you must give me a few moments to complete my errand.
    The spirit sighed mournfully.
I have waited more than a man’s natural lifetime for one with the gift of hearing to come my way. I can wait a few moments more if I have your oath not to forsake me.
    I will not forsake you
.
    With the oath given, Nicole nervously followed the guard up the stairway, Walter a few steps behind her. They stopped on the small landing of the tower’s middle floor—on the next floor up, she knew, the stairway opened out onto the wall walk where the guards patrolled the curtain wall.
    From around his neck the guard removed a necklace of thick string, from which dangled a large iron key. As he unlocked the windowless oak door, Nicole hugged the harp, fearing the condition in which she might find its master.

Chapter Five
    T he cell was half the size of Nicole’s bedchamber, furnished with only a thin pallet that would do little to cushion a body from the hard floor. Dim sunlight from the defensive arrow slit didn’t ease the dreariness of the cell, and the stench of a piss bucket nearly gagged her.
    Nicole pushed past the guard. Rhodri uncurled his legs and stiffly rose from the pallet. His distrustful glance flickered between the guard and the captain behind her. She took the two steps necessary to put her within arm’s length of Rhodri.
    Not until she held out his harp did Rhodri look at her fully, beginning with the circlet on her head and moving down the length of her snug gown. His gaze left her as unwarrantedly, improperly tingling as had his inspection of her in the abbey’s receiving chamber.
    Except this time he didn’t smile or offer compliments on her appearance. Now that she actually looked like a princess, he seemed not to appreciate the change.
    She tried not to be miffed.
    “Ah, my lady,” Rhodri said on a hearty sigh. “My undying thanks for rescuing my harp. The indignity of being held captive ’twas naught when compared to the torture of hearing those sweet strings suffer violent ill-treatment.” He held up his hands, palms outward, refusing her offering. “I prefer you hold the harp safe for the nonce.”
    Understanding his