Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) Read Online Free Page B

remained unemotional, not even a blink to
show his interest.
    “Well,
I shall give you a trinket. ‘Tis the least I can do, since Hawk didn’t send ye
anything. I’ll return for ye in the morning.” He smiled and turned to leave.
    “Farewell,
Lord Richard.”
    After
Richard strode from the hall, Kate ran up the stairs to her chamber. She swung
the door open and ran to the bed, sobbing uncontrollably for several minutes.
Her gentle, loving father was dead, killed in a war that had no bearing on
their lives. The news made Kate despise her country for its subterfuge.
    She
erected her rope circle and sat inside it. Contentment came with prayers spoken
softly to the Goddess. Once again, the vision of the warrior came. If only that
vision was her betrothed, she would certainly be protected. His powerful aura
relieved her, though she didn’t understand why. The vision didn’t matter now.
She’d be sent to her unknown betrothed eventually, if Aldwyn couldn’t get the
king to change his mind. During the restless night, thoughts of her betrothed,
her father’s death, having to reside with Richard, and Madam’s forsooth, all
replayed inside her head. She had to have courage and face what was to come.
After a restless night, she readied for her journey.
    The
next morning, Kate rode to her new home at Lord Richard’s keep. Deep sorrow
embedded itself inside her, making her feel detached. The zealous late-summer
day did little to warm her insides or her spirit. Richard had thirty soldiers
escorting her, who kept to themselves during the journey. She wasn’t thrilled
with the prospect of going to his home. Her father’s last words prevented her
from feeling safe surrounded by them, she did have to beware the friend with
the black heart—Richard. She tensed not knowing what to expect.
    Richard’s
land lay just south of Londontown in the wooded forests of Surrey. They arrived
shortly after the noon hour. Smoke billowed from the manor’s chimney,
blackening the air above. No landscaping adorned the front of the manor. Large
plain bricks in four steps, led to the manor’s entrance. Richard stood on the
steps, receiving a report from his steward. He looked at her and smiled. She
knew a spurious smile when she saw one. She was a good judge of character—Lord
Richard didn’t possess such.
    “Welcome
to my home, Lady Kaitlin. Come inside and take rest from your journey.”
    His
sweet words made her stomach heave. She looked at Richard, a thin man with dark
hair, graying on the sides, which made him look as though he had wings. He
walked as if he was in pain, and she couldn’t venture a guess as to how old he
was. He was slight, though tall. She stepped past him, holding her satchel in a
death grip and entered the hall.
    Her
father’s fief was much smaller, but cozy and cleaner. Kate wasn’t impressed by
the look of his home. Tables were covered in layers of grime, almost blackened
by soot. The tapestries on the walls were tattered, and so faded that the
designs could not be made out. She chanced a glance at the floors, and the
rushes cracked when she walked on them. Stale ale smelled rancid and she
suppressed a gag. Must she live here?
    She
would have to write King Henry as soon as possible and beg him to intercede on
her behalf. Hopefully, he’d be able to sway the Regent into letting her stay
elsewhere. Even staying with her betrothed had to be better than this. Could
she get them to overturn Lord de Guylet’s command and choose another guardian?
She was completely appalled by the hall’s lack of cleanliness.
    “Lady
Kaitlin, welcome,” a lady called from her seat at one of the tables. “I’m Lady
Hilda, Lord Richard’s wife. I understand my husband was a good friend of your
father’s. I’m sorry for your loss.”
    “Lady
de Morris, ‘tis a pleasure to meet ye.” Kate swallowed hard while she assessed
her.
    “I’ll
have ye shown to a chamber. I’m happy to have another lady here. It’s been a
long time