The Mercenary Knight Read Online Free

"Come." They walked back to the clearing. She noticed Gregorii raise a questioning eyebrow at Conrad, but he said nothing, just shoved the soap into the pouch and climbed atop his grey mare. "You shall ride with Gregorii," he ordered. Tanya bit her lip, annoyed. In other circumstances he would have heard a piece of her mind, but she was a guest among these men, and after they had saved her life, it would do no good to create strife. "Lady?" Gregorii called to her. Tanya smiled and accepted his help to climb atop the animal. Gregorii adjusted himself behind her. He encircled his arms around her waist and grabbed the reins. Tanya leaned back against his solid chest, trying to forget Conrad's imprint on her waist and the hot pressure of his body against hers. The rest of the company mounted and without another word, they were off.
     
     

Chapter Three
     
    Tanya watched Conrad. He rode erect, his back muscles tense, ready to pounce should the need arise. She did not understand the man. She worried her bottom lip and tried not to fidget in Gregorii’s embrace.
     
    Tanya suddenly recalled his vivid eyes burning into her, creating a flame that left her yearning for more. The hardness of Conrad’s shaft against her had made it quite clear that the feeling was mutual, and yet, he had dismissed her like a bothersome fly. She was no lady, but a smile of acknowledgment would have been nice. Tanya sighed. As if he’d heard her, Conrad chose that moment to check back on his men. Their eyes met for a brief second and she thought she saw regret in his gaze. She blinked and the moment was gone. Coolly, Conrad turned his back to her once more. She sighed again, uncomprehending why she cared so much for the opinion of a man she just met.
    “Do not mind Conrad, he’s a man prone to moods,” Gregorii whispered in her ear.
    She twisted her head to face Gregorii. “Are my thoughts so easy to read?”
    Gregorii chuckled. “Nay, lady, but I follow your line of vision, and though Johann and Wybert ride before us your eyes bore through Conrad’s back.”
    Tanya smiled. She looked ahead once more. Johann had ridden next to Conrad and they were speaking in low voices. “Have you known him for long?”
    “Aye. I was with him the first. We met more than ten years ago at the battle of Summit Meadows.”
    “You were knights?” Tanya asked, incredulous.
    “Is there something wrong with that?” His tone lowered an octave and his fingers pressed into her waist. Tanya twisted in his arms. She laughed in relief. His brown eyes twinkled with mirth. He was clearly mocking her.
    “I’ve never been a knight, but Conrad was.” Tanya’s eyes widened. “Though, that is a tale he speaks little of and you’ll have to ask him about.”
    Tanya said nothing. Now she understood the aura of power emanating from him and why, when Conrad gave orders, the men followed blindly. She shuddered. He must have done something horrible to be stripped of his knighthood. They rode in silence for a few moments.
    “How about yourself? You are not from the kingdom.”
    “You are very observant, my lady. I was fighting against Conrad.”
    Tanya swiveled in her seat once more. Gregorii smirked.
    “You jest?”
    “Not at all, my lady. Though do you know the story of the battle of Summit Meadows?”
    Tanya shook her head.
    “Before becoming part of the Kingdom, Summit Meadows was a free land. All that area was, to the Kingdom, nothing more than empty land. But for my people it was the Uhtred, in Kingdom language, ‘the blooming land’. Our villages were neither great in size nor booming in commerce. We were simple people that cared for livestock and farming. Our greatest pleasure was to watch the seeds grow and bloom during spring. We hunted and sang of our lore around a roaring fire. We lived in peace with no desire for war or strife. Should King Caspian’s father have bargained with us, we probably would have accepted trade or even a treaty. Yet, he was a man