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Authors: Madeline Hunter
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her feel.
The confining walls seemed to make it worse, so she slipped from her chamber, took a torch from its ring, and mounted the winding stairway up to the roof of the keep. A wind blew off the sea, raising her hair around her head.
She climbed up to the battlements and positioned herself to look out over the sea. It was a dark night, butthe clear sky shimmered with starlight that etched silvery highlights on the incoming waves. Setting the torch in an iron ring, she huddled in her cloak.
This was where her brother had found her that morning, all those years ago. She had hidden here to avoid the silence in the hall. Even her father had acted cold to her. She realized later that no one had known what to do about what had happened, and so, by silent agreement, they had decided to do nothing. But at the time she saw the reaction as blame aimed at her.
Only Drago had understood. When he had found her here, still in shock from the night's events, he had taken her in his arms and soothed her. He was only three years older than she, but she had let herself be a child with him.
He had held her and promised to speak with their father, and swore always to protect her. Then his voice had become hard and old. “Next time, Anna, if you have to stop a man, go for his neck.”
She shook off the memory, for it threatened to drown her in that childhood terror. Her mind surged up out of it like a body gasping for air.
If Gurwant was coming here, there would be no negotiation. Nor would they be able to repel his army forever. He was counting on that, on the plague and the absence of a lord finally making the impregnable fortress of La Roche de Roald vulnerable.
A sound pulled her out of her reverie. She turned and saw a shadow emerge from the stair opening in the roof. Tall and erect, the form paused there in the darkness.
She knew who it was. She sensed the confidence and strength that he exuded even in the dark. This afternoon she had found that dominating aura infuriating, but shedid not feel strong right now and her spirit lifted with something like relief.
She said his name.
“My lady.”
“Join me. The sea is beautiful tonight.”
He climbed to the battlements and circled toward her. A body's breadth away he stopped and turned to the sea, raising his gaze to the sparkling sky.
“Do you believe that one can read the future in the stars?” she asked.
“I had a tutor who did, and he taught me some of it, but the stars always neglected to warn me of the important things, so I lost interest in such matters.”
“I wish you had been a better student. It would be nice to know what the future holds.”
“Would you be less fearful then? You are still badly troubled. You hide it well, but all who know you closely can tell.”
“What woman wouldn't be troubled to learn that an army marches on her home?”
The torch gave enough light for her to see the planes of his handsome face above the red cloak. She stayed silently by his side, relishing a soothing sense of sanctuary.
“Anna, there is more to this than you revealed, I think. Tell me the rest.”
She realized that she was going to obey. Even Ascanio had been spared this story. She didn't doubt Ascanio's love and friendship. When the time came he would fight to save her and die by her side. But this other knight had a power about him that suggested that no one who stood by his shoulder needed to die at all.
“My mother passed away when I was ten. A year later,my father decided to marry me off. Gurwant's father approached him. It was a profitable match for both families. Gurwant's branch of the family is rich in nobility but poor in property. My father would forge an important alliance, and Gurwant would receive some lands we own inland near Rennes.”
She collected her scattered memories. “I was twelve when they came for the betrothal. Gurwant was sixteen. I was to return with them to their home to be educated by his mother. We would marry in three
The confining walls seemed to make it worse, so she slipped from her chamber, took a torch from its ring, and mounted the winding stairway up to the roof of the keep. A wind blew off the sea, raising her hair around her head.
She climbed up to the battlements and positioned herself to look out over the sea. It was a dark night, butthe clear sky shimmered with starlight that etched silvery highlights on the incoming waves. Setting the torch in an iron ring, she huddled in her cloak.
This was where her brother had found her that morning, all those years ago. She had hidden here to avoid the silence in the hall. Even her father had acted cold to her. She realized later that no one had known what to do about what had happened, and so, by silent agreement, they had decided to do nothing. But at the time she saw the reaction as blame aimed at her.
Only Drago had understood. When he had found her here, still in shock from the night's events, he had taken her in his arms and soothed her. He was only three years older than she, but she had let herself be a child with him.
He had held her and promised to speak with their father, and swore always to protect her. Then his voice had become hard and old. “Next time, Anna, if you have to stop a man, go for his neck.”
She shook off the memory, for it threatened to drown her in that childhood terror. Her mind surged up out of it like a body gasping for air.
If Gurwant was coming here, there would be no negotiation. Nor would they be able to repel his army forever. He was counting on that, on the plague and the absence of a lord finally making the impregnable fortress of La Roche de Roald vulnerable.
A sound pulled her out of her reverie. She turned and saw a shadow emerge from the stair opening in the roof. Tall and erect, the form paused there in the darkness.
She knew who it was. She sensed the confidence and strength that he exuded even in the dark. This afternoon she had found that dominating aura infuriating, but shedid not feel strong right now and her spirit lifted with something like relief.
She said his name.
“My lady.”
“Join me. The sea is beautiful tonight.”
He climbed to the battlements and circled toward her. A body's breadth away he stopped and turned to the sea, raising his gaze to the sparkling sky.
“Do you believe that one can read the future in the stars?” she asked.
“I had a tutor who did, and he taught me some of it, but the stars always neglected to warn me of the important things, so I lost interest in such matters.”
“I wish you had been a better student. It would be nice to know what the future holds.”
“Would you be less fearful then? You are still badly troubled. You hide it well, but all who know you closely can tell.”
“What woman wouldn't be troubled to learn that an army marches on her home?”
The torch gave enough light for her to see the planes of his handsome face above the red cloak. She stayed silently by his side, relishing a soothing sense of sanctuary.
“Anna, there is more to this than you revealed, I think. Tell me the rest.”
She realized that she was going to obey. Even Ascanio had been spared this story. She didn't doubt Ascanio's love and friendship. When the time came he would fight to save her and die by her side. But this other knight had a power about him that suggested that no one who stood by his shoulder needed to die at all.
“My mother passed away when I was ten. A year later,my father decided to marry me off. Gurwant's father approached him. It was a profitable match for both families. Gurwant's branch of the family is rich in nobility but poor in property. My father would forge an important alliance, and Gurwant would receive some lands we own inland near Rennes.”
She collected her scattered memories. “I was twelve when they came for the betrothal. Gurwant was sixteen. I was to return with them to their home to be educated by his mother. We would marry in three
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