Hearts Across Time (The Knights of Berwyck: A Quest Through Time Novel ~ Books 1 & 2) Read Online Free

to play with a bit of wool, which was left near Lynet’s feet. He seemed content to sit there, but for how long was anyone’s guess. He was a most curious boy and not one to sit for any length of time in one place.
    Dristan came and leaned against the edge of his desk, leisurely perusing Riorden. As Dristan’s captain, he waited patiently for his orders and tucked his gloves into the belt at his waist. Although Riorden thought of Dristan as his liege lord, they were, in truth, more than that. They were even more than just friends and comrades-in-arms.
    They had grown up together since Riorden had come to Dristan’s father’s estate to serve as a page, and they had gotten into more mischief than two lads should at such a young age. At least, that was the tale Dristan’s mother had proclaimed on numerous occasions in their youth. So alike, they could have been brothers. Same black hair down to their shoulders; same broad shoulders with chiseled features on their visage; same physical form of rippling, lean muscle from years of training or fighting to stay alive; same ability to train, no matter the weather conditions, and preferring a challenge rather than an easy win in the lists; same ability to kill when the need arose; and same sense of honor and chivalry, despite their perceived reputations of severing heads of any left in their wake.
    The only difference between the two men was the color of their eyes. Whereas Dristan’s eyes were the hue of cold grey steel, Riorden’s were an unusual shade of the deepest blue. Amiria had often mentioned that perchance the angels rejoiced when they saw the extent of color God had graced in his eyes. Surely, many a maid could easily fall under his spell and never want to leave if he were to but gaze upon them, she had teased. Though he had never met one to go so far as to ask her to be his lady wife.
    Their apparent silence at an end, Dristan reached back onto his desk, retrieved a piece of parchment, and handed the document to his lifelong friend. Riorden read the missive, but he had to read it a second time in order for the words to take meaning inside his head. Even a third reading did not, unfortunately, change its wording.
    Dristan raked his hands through his hair, although regret remained on his features. “You are to leave us, it appears. You have been summoned to Bamburgh Castle where the king will soon be in residence.”
    “Why would King Henry wish to have me at hand at Bamburgh?” Riorden asked as he too ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
    “You would refuse his command?” Dristan queried, raising a brow at his friend.
    “I may question his motives and reasoning, but I would never be so foolish as to decline such a request,” Riorden declared as he began to pace to and fro within the chamber. He bumped into Fletcher, who grumbled about the state of his toes, afore he once more stood in one place.
    “You will be missed, Riorden,” Amiria and Aiden said together, exchanging a silent look, which only twins could possibly share or interpret.
    Riorden stared silently at those souls within the chamber who, for the most part, were the closest thing he could call his family. They all began to stand, although they, too, were seemingly at a loss of words.
    Dristan came to him and clasped his hand on his shoulder. “It appears there is not much else for me to say after the two of us have traveled and fought beside one another for as long as I can remember. So...since you do not care to have ownership to the title and lands that are rightfully yours from your sire, which I will never understand, you leave me no choice than to see to matters myself. I will have no knight of mine and from my household going to the king lacking,” Dristan announced, breaking the silence of the room. “Patrick,” he called and watched as the boy turned his gaze as if seeing the room for the first time.
    “Aye, my Lord Dristan,” Patrick answered when he came to stand before his