Read Online The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson - Free Book Online

kind of thing didn’t happen to Azelais or Cecilia. Naked or clothed, her confident sisters would never be so clumsy in the presence of a man. And, after her first fright, the situation had seemed so promising. Romantic, even, like a scene from a tale. Destiny bringing two young lovers together … until she bungled it.
    â€œI’m not harmed, Jaume.”
    â€œNo?” Still, his eyes searched the rocks. “Then what—”
    The sound of branches snapping brought both their heads around. Jaume stepped in front of Doucette’s hiding place, his shepherd’s crook ready to defend or attack.
    Doucette wanted to cry with mortification. If this was one of Jaume’s brothers, coming to her “rescue” …
    Brush crackled, and a large animal leaped toward Jaume. Teeth flashed in the gloom.
    Doucette screamed, only to feel woefully stupid as Jaume held up his hand.
    â€œOsco.”
    The dog woofed, then sat on his haunches in front of them.
    â€œGood boy.” Jaume scratched the guardian’s ruff. “Out with it, Lady Doucette,” the shepherd said, his back still turned to her. “Is this your sisters’ doing? Have the witches left you defenseless in the wilderness?”
    He sounded, Doucette thought, as if he had caught Vitor or Eri in an ill-advised prank and somebody was about to get a big brother’s cuff on the ear. But she was only four years younger than he, and not his little sister; she wouldn’t be treated so. “I came by myself, for your information. I flew.”
    â€œFlew?”
    Jaume’s disbelief stung. The sweeping reverses of the past few moments, from terror to elation and back again, had left Doucette feeling as though she had been put in a bag and shaken. The words spilled out of her.
    â€œYes. My parents hid my swan skin, but I found it, and I’m going to Tante Mahalt’s to study magic with my sisters. I don’t care what you think about the High Arts. You can’t stop me. I’m a swan maiden, after all.”
    â€œA swan maiden,” Jaume said, his voice completely neutral.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œA sorceress.”
    â€œYes.” Doucette sniffed. “That is, I’m going to be. I can do the one Transformation spell already.”
    â€œWell, now. That changes things, doesn’t it?” Jaume rubbed the back of his neck and sat down on a rock. “A sorceress.”
    Osco and Fidele arranged themselves on either side of him. Both dogs cocked furry heads at Doucette, as if they, too, were curious to hear her explanation.
    â€œYes.” The light had almost gone, but if Doucette couldn’t read his expression, he couldn’t see her clearly, either. “So, I thought,” she began, a little timidly.
    â€œWhy’d you follow me, Lady Doucette?” Jaume said, still in that calm voice.
    â€œI didn’t,” Doucette said. “Weren’t you listening? That is, I did follow the sheep, because that’s the way to Tante Mahalt’s, but I wasn’t looking for you.” You conceited thing, she let her tone imply.
    â€œThen it’s an accident, our meeting?”
    â€œYou told me about the hot pools, remember? It’s your fault, if it’s anyone’s.”
    Jaume bowed his head. His voice came out muffled. “My fault.”
    â€œNot that I’m unhappy to see you. I mean, since I’m a swan maiden now, and you said you admired me…” Doucette’s voice trailed away. Did she have to spell it out for him?
    When Jaume didn’t answer, Doucette poked her head out of the concealing juniper. The man’s shoulders were shaking. “What’s the matter?”
    â€œThe matter?” His head lifted. He was laughing, soundlessly, in great gulps of air.
    Doucette’s soul shriveled. She’d as good as offered herself, and Jaume thought it a great joke. It had all been a lie, what he had said before, she realized