Read Online The Duke and the Dryad (Elemental Series) by Elizabeth Rose - Free Book Online Page A

table as well as a flagon of red wine. They were finishing off what looked like the meal to break the fast.
    “Nay, I like sleeping on the floor having my face washed by the tongue of an animal that probably just licked its own ass, you fool. Now tell me, why didn’t someone awaken me when the meal was served? Instead you all sat here watching your superior sleeping atop the rushes like a dog and didn’t even bother to stir me? I should have you all flayed and quartered for letting me be so humiliated in front of the entire castle.”
    “We were go ing to wake you,” said Sir Theodore, one of his loyal knights of many years. The man was nearly old enough to be Wolfe’s father, but you’d never know it for the shape he was in and the speed by which he could wield a sword. “The girl told us you’ve been tired lately and to let you sleep.”
    “The girl? What girl?” he growled. “And since when is any female giving orders in my place?”
    “The elfin girl with the pointed ears,” said the smaller and quieter of the two knights, Sir Norman.
    “Rae-Nyst?” he asked.
    “I believe that is her name,” he answered.
    “You are not to take orders from her, ever. Do you understand? And she is not an elf, dammit. She is a – oh never mind. He put a hand to his aching head. “Someone get me an ale and some food quickly, I am famished.”
    “Aye, my lord,” answered Sir Braden, calling over a servant boy with cheese and bread upon his tray. The knight retrieved it, laying it on the table. Then he grabbed the flagon of wine and poured some into his own cup, offering it to Wolfe.
    Wolf e settled his aching body on the bench next to them and proceeded to quaff down the wine and then rip off a hunk of bread with his teeth.
    “Tha t is brown bread, my lord,” reminded Sir Braden, “and meant for the lower class. I would call at once for the white bread that is served at the dais.”
    “Never mind,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I am too hungry to wait.”
    “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable sitting upon your padded chair at the dais rather than this hard bench, my lord?”
    “Sir Braden, I’ve already slept on the floor , been bathed by a mutt, and also been embarrassed in front of the whole castle by a girl who decides to give orders in my place, so what does is matter?”
    “My, you certainly are cha nging,” surveyed the knight. “Just last week you sent the stuffed pheasant back to the kitchen because it wasn’t cooked exactly to your liking. You also punished the kitchen servants for not filling the salt cellar to the top. And you –”
    “That’s quite enough, Sir Braden. Now all of you get out to the practice yard, anon. I am leading the training personally today as the earl is paying us a visit at the beginning of next week and he’ll expect a strong army awaiting him.”
    “Last time Lord Clive paid us a visit, we were forced into a needless battle,” complained Sir Braden. “Is he planning on doing that again when he arrives? It does seem the man likes bloodshed.”
    “He is my superior, though I outrank him in title . But by marriage he has authority to give orders for battle as seen necessary if he thinks ’twill benefit the king.”
    “Aye, my lord, I will ready the men and weapons at once. And I apologize if I came across as disrespectful.”
    His knights left the table, leaving him to himself. He couldn’t be sore with Sir Braden, as the man had only voiced his own thoughts completely. For years he’d been like a puppet on a string, all but bending backwards to please his uncle. If he hadn’t felt guilty for being granted the title his uncle coveted for himself, mayhap he would have challenged the man’s orders by now. But Wolfe noticed the same thing Sir Braden just pointed out. Every time the earl graced them with a visit, blood was shed and many lives were lost. He quickly finished eating and made his way out to the bailey. There he saw Waylon, as well as Baxter, his