Read Online Nightfall till Daybreak (The Kingdom of the East Angles Book 2) by Jayne Castel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Castel
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rotten fruit. Aidan was at a loss to understand why. He could
only think that his argument with his mother had soured his return to
Rendlaesham, for they had not parted well.
Instead of taking the road that led to Rendlaesham’s main
gates, the hunting party followed the path that skirted the western walls of
the town and cut through apple orchards to the back gates. This route was
easier than making their way through the town’s crowded thoroughfares. They
rode through the orchard; the apple trees were in blossom, a sea of fluttering
white that spread out down the hillside.
“It’s a glorious spot this,” Lothar said, gazing upon the
view. “I would be a happy man if I grew old here.”
Aidan gave him a wicked smile.
“Thinking of asking Aedilhild if she’ll have you, eh?”
Lothar grinned back. “Just you wait, come Beltaine she’ll be
mine.”
The hunting party rode into Rendlaesham and down the wide
street that led up to the king’s hall. They clattered into the stable-yard and
dismounted. A few of Aidan’s men carried their kill up to the Great Hall while
the rest of the men saw to the horses. Aidan unsaddled his stallion, rubbed him
down and led the horse over to the water trough for a drink.
Hot and sweaty as he was, the sight of the cool water was too
tempting. Aidan stripped off his sleeveless tunic and bent over the deep
trough. He dunked his head under and came up with a gasp – the water was
freezing. Still, the feel of it running down his neck, back and chest was a
relief. He felt like diving into the water, although he doubted the horses
would have appreciated it.
Aidan wiped water out of his eyes and straightened up,
stilling when he saw a young woman standing nearby watching him.
Freya carried a huge basket of loaves, and she was staring at
him brazenly.
Bold wench! As the initial surprise
faded, Aidan watched her gaze slide up his torso till their eyes met. Her
cheeks were flushed and her green eyes were dark pools. Looking upon her, Aidan
felt a blade of lust stab him.
She was a fiery beauty.
Usually, Sigeberht’s fair slave treated him as if he was a
piece of dung; yet now he realized her disdain was merely a mask. That look
said it all.
She wanted him.
“ Wes hāl , sweet Freya,” he grinned. “Can I help
you?”
“I’d wager you can!” one of the warriors, who was watering his
horse next to Aidan, chortled. “The wench looks like she wants to feast on
you!”
“Swine!” Freya jumped as if someone had just slapped her. Her
face flamed. “Never!”
With that, the girl stormed past them and rushed up the steps
to the Great Hall, nearly dropping her basket in her haste.
Once inside the hall, Freya struggled not to burst into tears.
Clasping the basket to her breast, she hurried across to the tables where Hilda
and the other theow were preparing food for the evening meal.
She cursed herself for suggesting that it was she, rather than
Hilda, who collected the loaves from the baker this afternoon. Usually, it was
Hilda’s chore, but the day had been so bright. Freya was tired of being cooped
up inside the gloomy hall and had welcomed the chance to get some fresh air. She
had enjoyed the stroll through Rendlaesham’s streets, and the chat with the
baker’s wife as she filled her basket.
Even now, she did not know what had possessed her, upon
returning to the hall, to stop and watch Aidan of Connacht bathe.
She had merely glanced his way as she passed, but the sight of
his lithe, strong body had rooted her to the spot. She had stood, mesmerized,
watching as water glittered off his skin and ran down his naked chest.
Fool ! Tears flooded her vision. Behaving
like that will make him start pestering you again !
Her coldness had made Aidan keep his distance over the past
moon’s cycle. Although she had welcomed being left alone, Freya had still been
acutely aware of this man’s presence. It was irritating, but whenever he was in
the Great Hall, she had to force
only think that his argument with his mother had soured his return to
Rendlaesham, for they had not parted well.
Instead of taking the road that led to Rendlaesham’s main
gates, the hunting party followed the path that skirted the western walls of
the town and cut through apple orchards to the back gates. This route was
easier than making their way through the town’s crowded thoroughfares. They
rode through the orchard; the apple trees were in blossom, a sea of fluttering
white that spread out down the hillside.
“It’s a glorious spot this,” Lothar said, gazing upon the
view. “I would be a happy man if I grew old here.”
Aidan gave him a wicked smile.
“Thinking of asking Aedilhild if she’ll have you, eh?”
Lothar grinned back. “Just you wait, come Beltaine she’ll be
mine.”
The hunting party rode into Rendlaesham and down the wide
street that led up to the king’s hall. They clattered into the stable-yard and
dismounted. A few of Aidan’s men carried their kill up to the Great Hall while
the rest of the men saw to the horses. Aidan unsaddled his stallion, rubbed him
down and led the horse over to the water trough for a drink.
Hot and sweaty as he was, the sight of the cool water was too
tempting. Aidan stripped off his sleeveless tunic and bent over the deep
trough. He dunked his head under and came up with a gasp – the water was
freezing. Still, the feel of it running down his neck, back and chest was a
relief. He felt like diving into the water, although he doubted the horses
would have appreciated it.
Aidan wiped water out of his eyes and straightened up,
stilling when he saw a young woman standing nearby watching him.
Freya carried a huge basket of loaves, and she was staring at
him brazenly.
Bold wench! As the initial surprise
faded, Aidan watched her gaze slide up his torso till their eyes met. Her
cheeks were flushed and her green eyes were dark pools. Looking upon her, Aidan
felt a blade of lust stab him.
She was a fiery beauty.
Usually, Sigeberht’s fair slave treated him as if he was a
piece of dung; yet now he realized her disdain was merely a mask. That look
said it all.
She wanted him.
“ Wes hāl , sweet Freya,” he grinned. “Can I help
you?”
“I’d wager you can!” one of the warriors, who was watering his
horse next to Aidan, chortled. “The wench looks like she wants to feast on
you!”
“Swine!” Freya jumped as if someone had just slapped her. Her
face flamed. “Never!”
With that, the girl stormed past them and rushed up the steps
to the Great Hall, nearly dropping her basket in her haste.
Once inside the hall, Freya struggled not to burst into tears.
Clasping the basket to her breast, she hurried across to the tables where Hilda
and the other theow were preparing food for the evening meal.
She cursed herself for suggesting that it was she, rather than
Hilda, who collected the loaves from the baker this afternoon. Usually, it was
Hilda’s chore, but the day had been so bright. Freya was tired of being cooped
up inside the gloomy hall and had welcomed the chance to get some fresh air. She
had enjoyed the stroll through Rendlaesham’s streets, and the chat with the
baker’s wife as she filled her basket.
Even now, she did not know what had possessed her, upon
returning to the hall, to stop and watch Aidan of Connacht bathe.
She had merely glanced his way as she passed, but the sight of
his lithe, strong body had rooted her to the spot. She had stood, mesmerized,
watching as water glittered off his skin and ran down his naked chest.
Fool ! Tears flooded her vision. Behaving
like that will make him start pestering you again !
Her coldness had made Aidan keep his distance over the past
moon’s cycle. Although she had welcomed being left alone, Freya had still been
acutely aware of this man’s presence. It was irritating, but whenever he was in
the Great Hall, she had to force
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