Read Online The Mercenary Knight by Elyzabeth M. VaLey - Free Book Online Page A

Kingdom’s capital, the larger the surrounding villages became. Hadford was no exception. It was a buoyant town of commerce. Vendors approached them as they rode past the city gates, selling items that ranged from hairbrushes to amulets to crockery or clothes.
    Conrad ignored them all and wound his way around the city. Finally, they reached the inn he wanted, The Pilgrim’s Rest. The building, not particularly large, rested at the city’s postern’s gate. It wasn’t the best inn in Hadford, but it did have exceptional food.
    As they approached, a young boy appeared to take their mounts. Everyone handed him the horses except for Conrad.
    “Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you in a bit, I’m not sure the boy knows what he is doing, and I’d like to oversee Splendida’s care.”
    Before any of the men could question him, Conrad turned on his heel and followed the boy into the stables. He didn’t hear any steps behind him so he assumed they had obeyed. Conrad threw the boy a coin and the lad showed him to a stall where he could keep his animal. Conrad sighed. He knew the youngster was capable of caring for the animals but he needed the time to be alone. He unbuckled his sword and set it to the side. Then he removed the baggage his animal was carrying. Finally, he took off his tunic. The night air cooled his skin and cleared his mind. What he really wanted, he admitted to himself, was to relax for a bit before confronting Tanya at the dinner table. Conrad removed Splendida’s bridle and saddle. The animal nudged him, clearly expecting him to give her a treat. Conrad searched in one of the pouches he had just removed and brought out some oats.
    “Well, Splendida,” he said in soft tones, “it looks like Reynard’s men have ridden past Hadford. So that means we’re free of Tanya.” The horse nickered. Conrad lifted an eyebrow. “What? You disagree?” The animal bumped his hands in search of some more food. Conrad steadied her head and scratched her behind the ears. “Yeah, I know. The men could be back but I mean, she’s old enough to care for herself and—“
    The horse seemed to give him a baleful look. Conrad couldn’t help laughing. “All right, I know you’re right, but—“ He left the thought unfinished, afraid to say it aloud. Conrad began to brush the animal vigorously. He couldn’t just give up on the girl. He had to talk to her first, make her understand.
    Conrad ceased brushing the animal. A rustle of cloth, barely audible, made him pull out the dagger hidden in his boot. He stood to one side, ready to attack first and question later. He blinked in shock as Tanya came into view.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “Do you always pull your sword out at the slightest sound?” She laughed nervously. Her eyes darted from the knife in his hand to his naked chest and back to the knife. The tip of her tongue grazed her lower lip as her gaze landed once more on his chest.
    “Forgive me. I did not hear you coming.”
    He lowered his weapon and noticed her hands. They were clenching her long skirt so hard her knuckles were almost white. As Conrad took a step forward, he noticed her eyes rise to his face. Abruptly, he changed his mind and turned his back on her.
    “Conrad—“
    “What do you want?”
    “I did not mean to disturb you, Conrad.”
    He flinched at the pain in her voice, but refused to look at her again. Not after what he had just seen in her eyes: that intensity, that burning lust, that aching care which he did not dare label as love. He continued brushing down Splendida, hoping that she would leave him.
    Conrad heard her hesitant step, her skirts rustling against the scattered hay. He thought Tanya had moved away, but instead a jolt of electricity slammed against him as her small hand wrapped around his arm. He jumped back at the contact, almost dropping the brush at the shock.
    Tanya released him as if burned. She lowered her hand to her skirt, pretending to brush off some invisible