Dragonblade Trilogy - 02 - Island of Glass Read Online Free Page A

Your father permitted you to read and write,
and the liberal monks at St. Wenburgh filled your head with such nonsense as I
cannot comprehend. Do you not understand how odd you are, child? Do you not
understand our frustration?”
    Aubrielle looked at him, hurt on
her face. “I am sorry if my learned mind is considered an oddity. I am not
ashamed of my upbringing.”
    “I know you are not. But the time
has come for a more conventional education.”
    “What do you mean?”
    The earl rose wearily from his
chair. “I mean that your mother has asked me to domesticate you. She would like
you to learn to behave more as a proper woman should.”
    “You mean she wants me to become
another stupid sheep in fine silks and lace.”
    “I mean that you are to put
foolish ideas like searching for the Holy Grail out of your mind,” Garson
wagged a finger at her. “It means that you learn to act like a lady so that a
potential husband will approve of you.”
    Aubrielle cast a long glance at
Lucius, then Kenneth. “And you have brought my trainers, is that it?”
    “They will help,” he admitted.
“Between the three of us, I think we can handle you. Perhaps we can teach you
something from a male perspective.”
    Aubrielle focused on Lucius. “How
noble, being reduced to a nursemaid.”
    Lucius merely smiled. “I can
think of a worse task, my lady.”
    It was meant as flattery, but she
mocked him. “Really? Perhaps you’ll be assigned to cleaning the stables next.”
    Lucius did not let the comment
bother him. He maintained his smile and his composure. The earl, knowing
nothing would be settled in one night, decided to end the conversation at this
juncture. Aubrielle was still too brittle to rationally handle.  He indicated
Kenneth as he moved for the door.
    “I am told you have already met,
but allow me to formally introduce Sir Kenneth St. Héver, second in command of
Wrexham’s army,” he pronounced the last name ‘ Saint Hay-ver’ . “Get used
to him. He seems to be the only one strong enough to deal with you.”
    “What about dear Lucius?” she
asked, contemptuously sweet.
    Lucius and the earl were heading
out the door. “You shall see enough of him,” the earl said. “Try not to eat Sir
Kenneth alive, Aubrielle. I need him.”
    The door slammed with grim
finality. Aubrielle stood there a moment, thinking on the entire conversation,
aware that the massive blond knight was still standing there. She looked at
him, more closely this time. He really was a big brute, though not unhandsome.
In fact, if she thought on it, he was really quite pleasant to behold if one
liked that type. She couldn’t have cared one way or the other.
    “So,” she turned away, moving
back to the food that was cooling on the tray. “You lost the wager, I take it.”
    Kenneth hadn’t moved since he had
first entered the room. He watched her inspect a piece of white bread. “What
wager would that be, my lady?”
    She picked at the crust. “You drew
straws to see who would have to tend me this first night. I assume you lost.”
    “I won.”
    She looked at him, a piece of
crust halfway to her lips. Much to his surprise, she laughed softly. “Of course
you did. You won a sleepless night, wondering if I am going to kill you as you
sleep.”
    Kenneth wondered why he suddenly
felt so strange. The very instant she laughed, he felt as if all of the wind
had been knocked out of him. She had a delicious smile that curved delicately
over her straight white teeth, changing the entire countenance of her face.
He’d never seen anything so lovely.
    He shifted on his thick legs,
unwinding his arms. “I believe I can defend myself.”
    “You barely held your own this
afternoon.”
    “Fortunately for you I did not
fight back.”
    She put the bread in her mouth,
cocking her head as she chewed. “I have never seen you before. You are new to
Kirk.”
    “I came into the earl’s service
two years ago, my lady.”
    “I see. Whom did you