Unending Love Read Online Free Page A

her eyes. “Idiots, both of them,”
she said, standing up and brushing the dirt off her bum. “Who knew that men
could be so foolish?”
    Willow stood up as well, brushing off her
surcoat and then picking a few dead leaves off of Adalind’s hip. “I did not,”
she said. “But I was not so fortunate that men were fighting over me.”
    Adalind cast her an expression of displeasure as
she turned for the keep. “I wish they would not. I have no use for them.”
    Willow followed. “You will someday. You will
need a husband.”
    Adalind gathered up the hem of her surcoat so it
would not drag through the moist ground.  Being that they were in the kitchen
yard, the ground was covered with the leavings of chicken, geese, goats and
other animals, and she didn’t want to soil her coat.
    “Perhaps,” she replied vaguely. “But I do not
wish to speak of it.  Let us speak of something else.”
    “Why?” Willow pressed. “Addie, what happened at Court? I heard Mother tell Grandmother awful things. What did those jealous women
do to you?”
    Adalind simply shook her head.  They crossed the
yard and she reached out to unlatch the postern gate that lead into the main
ward, but Willow reached out and stopped her.
    “Please tell me,” she begged softly.
    Adalind’s green eyes were soft was sadness.
“Why?” she asked. “Willow, I do not wish to speak of it.”
    “You are my sister. I can see how you’ve
changed, Addie. You seem so… protected.  You are not the girl I remember.”
    “I am most definitely not the girl you
remember.”
    “Will you not let me come to know the girl you have
become, then? Please tell me what has changed you so I may understand.”
    Adalind gazed at her sister as the soft morning
breeze blew strands of blond hair across her eyes.  It was a cool breeze,
chilling her, and she pushed the hair from her face and looked away.
    “People are cruel,” she finally said, softly.
“Suffice it to say that people can be vicious and cruel and hateful. They took
my trust and faith and threw it beneath their shoe, crushing it. If I have
changed, it is because I have learned something of the true world.  It is not a
kind place.”
    With that, she moved through the postern gate
and out into the ward, coming alive in the early morning. It was clear that
Adalind was in no frame of mind to speak of her experiences at Court, so Willow
followed Adalind through the gap and took her hand as they passed by the
stables. There would be time later to discover what had sent Adalind home and
Willow knew enough to stop pestering the woman until she was ready.  The time
would come at some point.
     Around them, dogs barked, horses nickered, and
men were bustling about.  Guards upon the walls were changing and young
soldiers gave the [J3]   women a wide berth as they headed for the keep
entry.  Somewhere in the midst of it, a chorus of shouting began to take up
upon the parapets.  From man to man, the cry traveled and eventually, the heavy
iron portcullis of Canterbury began to lift.   
    Adalind and Willow weren’t paying attention to
the creaking of the portcullis as it laboriously climbed its chains.  The
subject had shifted between them and now they were speaking of [J4]   going into the town to the Shipshop import merchant because the man usually had all manner of textiles and other
items for purchase. He was a particular favorite with the de Lohr women and the
girls knew it wouldn’t be a difficult thing to convince their mother, and her
purse, to come along.  As they neared the great retractable steps that led into
the keep, Adalind heard someone call her name.
    It was a shout, really, like a desperate plea. 
Mid-way up the steps she came to a halt, turning to see who was calling her
name. Her jaw dropped.
    “Oh… Dear Lord,” she muttered. “Please, not him.
Not today.”
    Willow was anxiously looking to the portcullis,
the bailey, and trying to find what had her sister so distressed in all of