Knight and the Witch 02 - A Summer Bewitchment Read Online Free Page A

would need to,” Magnus replied, holding the withered wreath aloft in his great hand. “Do I escort you to our church, as an echo of the other church where she was taken?”
    Elfrida shook her head. “A good thought, Magnus, but tonight I must work sky-clad, within a hazel copse, and alone, for the length of a mass.”
    “Alone save for me. No.” As she drew breath to argue, his fist closed round the wreath. “Your work your magic by yourself, yes. I understand you must seek these sad lasses and their captor by your means and give me a lead to search by mine tomorrow, but the moon will be high and bright tonight. And I know what sky-clad means. You told me.”
    “I cannot be distracted,” she warned.
    “Never fret, wife! You shall do your rites and I will not watch. I shall be looking out for peeping toms and other knaves and then I shall squire you back to the great hall. Pray God, we shall catch some sleep there before Lady Astrid calls for her morning rose-water.”
     

     
    Elfrida laughed, as he had intended, and the tension in her face eased, but she still looked solemn. “Here we are again,” she said.
    “Seeking more missing girls,” he agreed. “Perhaps if there is a third time, it will be babies.”
    “Hush!” She made a sign against evil and rose off her clothes chest. “I must see to the supper first, or I shall be a poor host.” As well as a poor lady, she clearly thought, but did not say.
    He caught her to him before she sped off. “Let Mark and the cook deal with that, and the lady’s bath and anything else she requires. She has made it clear she wants a bath and food but no more of our company for this evening, so we should oblige her. Why not collect the things you need? We can walk to the woods now.”
    “Father Jerome—”
    He kissed the little frown between her eyebrows. “Mark and my men can entertain him, if need be, and he may speak more freely with them. As for the rest, you will fast before your magic-making, will you not? Well, so can I.” He planned to take food and drink with them for later. “Besides, do you feel like eating?”
    She shook her head.
    “Come, then. You can tell me of valerian and hare’s feet as we go.” He kissed and released her, half-smiling as she knelt instantly beside her wooden chest. She is busy, so I shall look to my book before we set out. “Meet me by the kitchen?”
    Elfrida, nimbly selecting items from the chest, muttered an agreement.

Chapter 3
    Outside in the warm, still evening they walked arm in arm, both carrying panniers, and Elfrida shared what she knew of the stranger with Magnus. He in turn told her what he had learned of Rowena from the priest. It was, she thought, strangely companionable, but she wished they were speaking of less dark, mysterious matters.
    “Valerian is a magic plant,” she explained, skirting carefully around a flowering elder bush. “It has many uses. One is as a lure. To seduce.”
    “And the hare’s foot?” Magnus nodded to the elder bush as he stalked by, a grudging acknowledgement. “The rosemary I know from you is a guardian against evil spirits, so is that good?”
    “Because he protects himself from demons and the like does not mean he is not evil himself.”
    “Well spoken! The stranger’s mention of a Holy Mother?”
    “The hare protects him from all danger. It is a creature of magic. The mother he reveres may be the Virgin, but he worships her in older ways.”
    Magnus raised his black brows in silent inquiry.
    “The wreath he leaves in thanks and sacrifice, of valerian and elder blossom, marigold, wild thyme and daisy, is made of flowers pleasing to the older gods. I have seen such posies left at ancient standing stones and statues, at rock carvings of the horned god.”
    Her striding companion crossed himself. “Rowena is very pretty, so Father Jerome tells me.”
    Elfrida nodded, unsurprised. “And docile, too?”
    “Indeed. The priest claims they had no notion she might be in any