Read Online Margaret Moore - [Warrior 14] by In The Kings Service - Free Book Online Page B

later.”
    She nodded and eyed his horse again. “That’s a very fine animal. May I?” she inquired, moving forward to pet Aderyn Du’s muzzle.
    “He cost me a small fortune, I admit, but he’s worth every ha’penny,” Blaidd said proudly.
    Aderyn Du didn’t suffer the touch of strangers gladly, but he accepted her stroking with excellent grace. Meanwhile his master was mesmerized by the sight of Lady Rebecca’s slender, strong gloved fingers moving slowly down his horse’s smooth face.
    “What’s his name?”
    Blaidd stopped staring and focused his attention on her gleaming, intelligent eyes. “Aderyn Du.”
    “That’s Welsh, isn’t it?”
    “Aye. It means black bird. Because he flies when he runs, you see.”
    She laughed, a merry sound even prettier than her eyes. “It suits him.” She nodded at her horse. “This is Claudia. I didn’t choose that mundane name,” shehastened to explain, as if he would think the less of her. “She’s fast, too.”
    “What would you have called her if you’d had the naming of her?”
    Lady Rebecca pondered a moment, her brow wrinkled with concentration, her full lips pursed. Then a smile bloomed and her eyes lit up. “Firebrand.”
    Oh, God help him, as she smiled at him, so pleased and happy, he wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until neither of them had breath to whisper.
    “Ready on time and waiting, too!”
    As startled as if he’d kissed the man’s daughter right there in the courtyard, Blaidd spun on his heel to see Lord Throckton trotting down the hall steps. The man was attired in his usual fine garments, and his cloak was lined with what looked like wolf’s fur.
    Blaidd immediately covered his discomfort with a genial grin. “Aye, my lord. I’ve been admiring your buildings, too.”
    Lord Throckton gestured for the groom holding the reins of the brown gelding to come toward him. Then he glanced up at the walls. “Not finished yet, but I haven’t got the coin to complete it all. Not with this year’s taxes being what they are, eh? I’m sure your father’s noticed the increase.”
    “Yes, he has,” Blaidd answered honestly.
    “More money for the crown, less for me, and so I have to wait until next year to finish the postern gate and some of the merlons on the eastern wall. Pity, but what can you do?”
    Blaidd shrugged. It seemed an odd thing to be gladthat the man might not be as prosperous as he appeared, but he was.
    “Laelia will be along shortly,” Lord Throckton said. He gave Blaidd a wink. “You know how women are.”
    Some women, Blaidd thought as he noticed Lady Rebecca move away toward the gate without speaking to her father.
    “Where’s your squire? Isn’t he coming, too?”
    “Here he is now, my lord,” Blaidd said, nodding at Trev as he appeared at the stable door leading his horse. “He’s as anxious for a ride as I am.”
    “His father’s quite the famous fellow.”
    “Justly so.”
    “Did Urien Fitzroy train you?”
    “Aye, my lord, and my brother, Kynan, and Trev, of course.”
    “Perhaps one of these days you’ll have a chat with Dobbin, my garrison commander. Maybe you can teach that old dog some new tricks.” Lord Throckton chortled at his joke.
    “I’d be glad to, and in truth, I should have some practice myself, or my sword arm will be getting as rusty as a blade left out all winter.”
    That got another laugh from the lord. “Oh, I doubt that!”
    More anxious than ever to be on his way, Blaidd glanced at the gate. Lady Rebecca was there, talking and laughing with the soldiers and servants, clearly in high spirits.
    And yet there was something about her that simultaneously made her seem aloof and apart, as if try as she might to be one of them, she never would be. She was a woman, of course, but there was more to it than that. It was as if she had a maturity and wisdom they didn’t share.
    “I understand your other daughter will be joining us, too,” he said, turning his attention back