Read Online The Silver Cup by Constance Leeds - Free Book Online Page A

quick.”
    â€œFather? He never fights.”
    â€œNo one would dare draw against him. Not with all the stories.”
    â€œWhat stories?” asked Anna.
    â€œThat Gunther is faster and more skilled with a sword than his brother. Or anyone else.”
    â€œPeople speak of Father that way?”
    Martin nodded, “In Speyer I heard a story—”
    â€œI’d rather hear how Father might scare Magnus. But tell me what you heard about Father.”
    â€œDon’t tell him. He would be angry that I spoke of it.”
    Anna nodded.
    â€œThey say your father was once cornered by four armed men who meant to rob him.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œLong ago. But listen.” Martin looked over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. He lowered his voice. “All four robbers were killed by Gunther’s sword. He was untouched. Not a cut. Not even a bruise.”
    Anna shook her head. There was so much she did not know about her father.

SPRING

12
    SMUDGE
    March 17, 1096
    Â 
At last, burbling, bubbling water replaced winter’s silence, as ice and snow melted. In the silky early spring wind, Anna felt brighter, like the glowing morning sky. She opened the shutters and doors and shoveled the fouled, stinking reeds into a steaming pile behind the house. Manure from the animals, carefully saved through the winter, would be added to this straw and turned into the garden soil. She spread all that remained of the clean fall rushes over the swept floor and added the last of the rye grass to the bedding. Afterwards, Anna took all the blankets and fur skins outside to beat and air in the sun.
    The promise and warmth of the morning lifted her spirits, and the day only improved when her father appeared.
    â€œWe’ve brought something for you,” said Gunther. “Bring him in, Martin.”
    â€œWell, we didn’t find you a husband, but look at this,” Martin said, his cheek dimpled by his crooked smile. He pulled a rope lead, and in came a large brindled dog. He had a soft wooly coat of nut brown, prick ears, and a creamy plume tail which wagged merrily over his back. His muzzle and paws were as black as his nose.
    â€œMake this dog your own,” said Gunther. “Don’t let anyone else feed him until he learns you’re his mistress.”
    â€œCarry a lump of bread in the pit of your arm from morning until dinner. Then feed that bread to your dog, and he’ll protect you forever,” added Martin.
    â€œFather, he’s beautiful,” said Anna, ignoring Martin’s advice. She kneeled on the ground in front of the wagging dog, staring into the blue-brown pools of his eyes and rubbing his head.
    â€œHardly,” said Martin. “He’s a fat, stumpy cur next to Gray.”
    â€œI’m glad he looks nothing like Gray,” said Anna defensively.
    â€œHe’s a muddy mutt with his face and paws all blackened. It looks like he has been digging in a charcoal pit,” said Martin, scratching the dog’s ear.
    â€œHe’s wonderful. Thank you, Father.”
    â€œFrom now on, he can bite any intruders,” added Martin.
    Gunther scowled at his nephew and said to Anna, “Pick a name.”
    She thought for a moment. “What about Smudge?”
    â€œSmudge?” Martin groaned. “Smudge? I hate it. Call him Beast. Better, call him Ax, because that’s what he cost your father.”
    â€œNo. He’s mine, and I shall call him Smudge,” she said stubbornly.
    â€œA silly girl name,” Martin said. He looked disgusted.
    Anna did not reply. Although her father had never mentioned the incident with Magnus and Wilhelm, Anna understood that the dog was a mark of his concern. She was surprised and touched.
    Lent had begun, and she prepared a dreary meal of fish broth and barley, but she was so pleased with having her own dog that she noticed neither the flavorless food nor Martin, who criticized everything. When