Read Online Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court by Chuck Black - Free Book Online Page A

joints, and blistered hands. After three weeks, however, the blisters on his hands receded and his muscles became accustomed to their new use. He came to find joy in the labor, much as he had when training with the sword, discovering small ways to improve efficiency and watching the labor of his hand bear fruit.
    His thoughts often turned to the young woman named Eirwyn and her missions of mercy. He was amazed at how wonderful it felt to have been even a small part of her efforts. He kept an eye on the road in case she happened by again.
    Creighton, Anwen, Meg, and Nia quickly came to seem like family to Bentley. Meg and Nia adopted him as a big brother, and he spent many hours playing with them. He discovered he had a gift for telling stories, and the girls implored him nightly to do so. Most often his taleswere of grand knights and fair ladies, and he relied heavily on his past experiences in Chessington to help fill their imaginations with wonder. Their favorite story of all was the true chronicle of Sir Leinad and Lady Tess. Their eyes gleamed as he told of that couple of old, of their unwavering commitment to the King, of their love for each other, and of their mission to bring the promise of a Deliverer to the people.
    Creighton slowly recovered, and by the fourth week he was able to work a few hours each day. Walsch came to visit them regularly, and friendship quickly developed among them all. One morning, to everyone's delight, Walsch stopped in with fresh corn cakes. They sat at the table and shared a breakfast together.
    “At midday let's take some of our greens to Holbrook, shall we?” Creighton said to Bentley and the rest of his family.
    Everyone stop chewing their food and looked at him as if remembering their last trip to the village.
    “I'll be fine,” Creighton assured them. “You all have nothing to worry about.”
    Walsch laughed. “At least you picked a day full o’ sunshine an’ blue sky.”
    Bentley laughed too, which helped Anwen and the girls relax.
    “Perhaps we shall see Lord Kingsley and his family on the estate tour,” Creighton added with a smile.
    “Why should we want to see that?” Anwen asked. “They are cruel and—”
    “Anwen!” Creighton said. “We don't want to give the girls an attitude of ungratefulness.”
    “I don't like them anyway, Papa,” Meg said. “Especially the Painted Ice Princess. She's evil!”
    “Meg! That's enough!” Creighton declared.
    “Ice Princess evil!” little Nia mimicked.
    Creighton looked disgusted. “Look what you've done now, Anwen! You're going to get us in trouble one day.”
    Walsch laughed loudly and slapped Creighton on the shoulder. “I think you're outnumbered, Creighton, for I'm with them!”
    Anwen shook her head. “Sometimes you're too kind, husband. Lord Kingsley and his children don't deserve your devotion, especially that pompous son of his.”
    “Perhaps not. But I have to watch out for you and the girls, so I will do whatever that takes, even give my devotion to a ruler such as he.”
    “Excuse me,” Bentley asked, “but who is this Ice Princess? And Lord Kingsley has a son?”
    “Lord Braith and Lady Gwylin are Lord Kingsley's son and daughter,” Walsch explained. “Braith is the older.”
    “Lady Gwylin only leaves the castle once a month for the estate tour,” Anwen added, “or when Lord Kingsley takes them on a trip to another region.”
    Meg added, “She's called the Painted Ice Princess because she always paints her face white and is cold as ice.”
    Anwen leaned forward as if to tell some juicy story. “Lord Kingsley's wife, Lady Rhiannon, died in childbirth. There is a rumor that she had two baby girls and that Gwylin's twin sister died with the mother, but some say she is still alive and so hideous that Lord Kingsley never lets her be seen by anyone.”
    Creighton put his hand on his wife's hand. “Anwen, you're going to fill the girls’ heads with all sorts of silly notions.”
    “What of