Halcyon Rising Read Online Free

to her eyes as she put weight on her raw, blistered feet.
    “Can you walk, my lady?” He slung her pack over his shoulder with effortless ease and gave her a concerned glance. “My tower lies on the other side of the bailey.”
    She wasn’t certain she could make it across the small cell, let alone to the other side of the huge fortress, but she stepped forward, determined not to show her weakness. Drawing on reserves of strength she’d never known she possessed, she forced herself to place one foot in front of the other, following him out of the dungeon and up the narrow stone stairs.
    At the top, he came to an abrupt halt, then turned to give her a considering look. “You cannot cross the bailey in this strange garb. Father Alaric’s followers will stone you before we clear the vegetable garden.”
    With quick, efficient movements, he drew off his robe and settled the heavy garment over her shoulders. A clean, woodsy scent filled her senses, and the thick, woolen folds settled over her chilled limbs, giving her the first hint of warmth she’d experienced since she’d dove off The Dolphin ’s prow.
    She gave him a surprised glance, only to discover that the monk had disappeared. The man who stood before her now, dressed in a faded green tunic and brown chausses, seemed every inch the warrior. Shoulders twice the width of her own stretched the worn fabric, and his arms and thighs bulged with lean muscle.
    “This way, my lady.” It was the third time he’d granted her this title of respect, and his kindness brought a new rush of tears to her eyes. She shouldn’t feel gratitude of any sort for one of her captors, but she found it impossible to resist his unexpected gentleness. If she fell into an exhausted lump at his feet, she had a feeling he’d carry her to their destination, and she was sorely tempted to do exactly that.
    Instead, she trudged wearily behind him, taking no notice of her surroundings until he paused before another set of steps. Glancing up, she blinked, then blinked again, certain she must be hallucinating.
    Titania's Tower.
    The stone fortress had been built to hide the entrance to Old Halcyon’s caverns over a thousand years ago. Hysterical laughter bubbled within her when she realized she’d ended up exactly where she’d meant to go.
    “Are you well?” Sebastian frowned as she doubled over in an effort to contain her inappropriate mirth.
    She drew in a deep, shuddering breath, banishing her temporary hysteria. She must remain strong; she must stay in control, because it became more obvious by the moment that no one was coming to her rescue.
    Squaring her shoulders, she gave her captor a disdainful glance and preceded him into the tower.
     
    * * *
     
    “You will be safe here, madam,” Sebastian promised as he ushered the girl up the spiral stairs built into the thickness of the tower’s walls. After the strange burst of laughter she had given in to a moment ago, she had somehow managed to pull herself together, but she had to be near the end of her endurance.
    He should simply sweep her up in his arms and save her the painful journey, but that wouldn’t be properly deferential and he doubted the prideful little thing would let him even if he tried.
    When they reached the top floor, he carefully set her pack on the scarred oak table that held his small collection of books and journals. Though he longed to examine the satchel’s contents, first he must try to speak to her. If he could convince her to trust him with the secrets of her strange instruments, it would save him hours of fruitless hypothesis.
    She stood in the center of the large, circular room, gazing around in obvious dismay. The raised dais on the far side, with its immense, fur-covered bed, had undoubtedly alerted her that this was also his bedchamber, and she looked ready to bolt. Despite his assurances, she had no reason to trust him.
    Why should she? Thus far his people had shown her nothing except uncouth