Read Online Queen's Heart: An Arthurian Paranormal Romance (Arthurian Hearts Book 2) by Phoenix Sullivan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Phoenix Sullivan
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father conspired with a great Lady to set me a task. A quest as it were. One they described as a curse. From that moment my destiny lay here in Whitehaven, though then I knew it not. Before Whitehaven I thought the deed they asked impossible…”
“And now?” I prompted.
The heaviness of his sigh surprised me. “How can a deed seem both possible and impossible at once? No matter. I’ll see it through to its consequences because I must.”
“What penalty if you don’t?” I didn’t expect an answer. Already I could see Des reshoring his defenses.
But answer he did before the last scale of armor fell back into place. “I lose myself.”
Which told me everything and nothing at all.
~ ~ ~
By day, Yseult gave in to our pleas to see her, meeting us in a small, wisteria-draped courtyard, her handmaid beside her, desperate for a distraction.
Des and I sat at her feet, he telling great stories of legend and I singing love ballads. Brangien hovered nearby, pretending to sew but all the while making eyes at Des and trying to catch his attention with a witty word or anecdote. For the main, Des ignored her, which only made her work harder for his notice.
“Have you heard that a Gabriel Hound has taken up residence in the wood?” she asked, amid her ramblings.
“And what would you be knowing of Gabriels?” Des scoffed. It could have just been Des teasing with her, but the way he froze when she said Gabriel Hound made me think the air of nonchalance he assumed immediately after was cover for something more.
“Only that the scullery cook saw it for himself. A beautiful white dog he said it was with ears the color of the sunset. Right at dusk he saw it on the edge of the wood. Then it just melted away, like a wight would. And he would have thought it a wight too, save for the lonesome belling that followed it.”
“Sounds like an old man in his cups.”
“Mayhap.” Brangien latched onto Des’ show of interest like a leech. “But others have seen it too. And even more have heard it. At dusk and only then.”
Yseult’s interest had now been piqued as well. “What a miracle it would be to discover such a beast from legend.” Her eyes, dulled by days of mourning, brightened. “Distract me from my misfortunes. Capture it,” she pleaded.
Startled, I wondered which of us she meant for this task when I felt her hand touch my shoulder and saw her other hand on Des. For his part, Des look more frightened than startled in that first moment before visibly collecting himself. Why should a dog, even a fae one, frighten him so? Or was it Yseult’s hand that had maddened him?
I pressed the advantage, turning to capture the fair fingers away from my shoulder and press them between my own. “Whatever my Lady desires is hers,” I swore. I let the hint of mockery in my voice reveal I knew her quest was not a serious one but a simple game to pass the next few days.
Recovered from whatever demon had attacked him, Des likewise grasped Yseult’s hand in his, though his grip appeared that more of a drowning sailor than a liegeman. “I would bring my Lady a flight of dragons if she preferred.”
Yseult laughed, a sound I’d thought not to hear again. “Let’s start small, shall we? The demon dog today. Save the dragons for my wedding.” Her voice caught a bit at that last and her little joke fell flat as a pall settled quickly over us. In the silence, Yseult withdrew her hands from ours. Feeling her warmth slip away punctuated the chill that pierced my heart at reminder of her impending nuptials.
I bowed my head, only to hear Des rally. “A contest then. To see which of us can bring the hound to bay for our Lady.”
“Just so,” Yseult agreed, relieved to turn the conversation back to lighter fare.
“A contest needs a prize,” I reminded her.
“Agreed. What seems fair return for a legend?” She pretended to think on that while she studied us—Des and I who waited upon her whim like the ardent suitors we
“And now?” I prompted.
The heaviness of his sigh surprised me. “How can a deed seem both possible and impossible at once? No matter. I’ll see it through to its consequences because I must.”
“What penalty if you don’t?” I didn’t expect an answer. Already I could see Des reshoring his defenses.
But answer he did before the last scale of armor fell back into place. “I lose myself.”
Which told me everything and nothing at all.
~ ~ ~
By day, Yseult gave in to our pleas to see her, meeting us in a small, wisteria-draped courtyard, her handmaid beside her, desperate for a distraction.
Des and I sat at her feet, he telling great stories of legend and I singing love ballads. Brangien hovered nearby, pretending to sew but all the while making eyes at Des and trying to catch his attention with a witty word or anecdote. For the main, Des ignored her, which only made her work harder for his notice.
“Have you heard that a Gabriel Hound has taken up residence in the wood?” she asked, amid her ramblings.
“And what would you be knowing of Gabriels?” Des scoffed. It could have just been Des teasing with her, but the way he froze when she said Gabriel Hound made me think the air of nonchalance he assumed immediately after was cover for something more.
“Only that the scullery cook saw it for himself. A beautiful white dog he said it was with ears the color of the sunset. Right at dusk he saw it on the edge of the wood. Then it just melted away, like a wight would. And he would have thought it a wight too, save for the lonesome belling that followed it.”
“Sounds like an old man in his cups.”
“Mayhap.” Brangien latched onto Des’ show of interest like a leech. “But others have seen it too. And even more have heard it. At dusk and only then.”
Yseult’s interest had now been piqued as well. “What a miracle it would be to discover such a beast from legend.” Her eyes, dulled by days of mourning, brightened. “Distract me from my misfortunes. Capture it,” she pleaded.
Startled, I wondered which of us she meant for this task when I felt her hand touch my shoulder and saw her other hand on Des. For his part, Des look more frightened than startled in that first moment before visibly collecting himself. Why should a dog, even a fae one, frighten him so? Or was it Yseult’s hand that had maddened him?
I pressed the advantage, turning to capture the fair fingers away from my shoulder and press them between my own. “Whatever my Lady desires is hers,” I swore. I let the hint of mockery in my voice reveal I knew her quest was not a serious one but a simple game to pass the next few days.
Recovered from whatever demon had attacked him, Des likewise grasped Yseult’s hand in his, though his grip appeared that more of a drowning sailor than a liegeman. “I would bring my Lady a flight of dragons if she preferred.”
Yseult laughed, a sound I’d thought not to hear again. “Let’s start small, shall we? The demon dog today. Save the dragons for my wedding.” Her voice caught a bit at that last and her little joke fell flat as a pall settled quickly over us. In the silence, Yseult withdrew her hands from ours. Feeling her warmth slip away punctuated the chill that pierced my heart at reminder of her impending nuptials.
I bowed my head, only to hear Des rally. “A contest then. To see which of us can bring the hound to bay for our Lady.”
“Just so,” Yseult agreed, relieved to turn the conversation back to lighter fare.
“A contest needs a prize,” I reminded her.
“Agreed. What seems fair return for a legend?” She pretended to think on that while she studied us—Des and I who waited upon her whim like the ardent suitors we
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