Blood Oath: The Janna Chronicles 1 Read Online Free PDF

poured some water into a bowl and added a few leaves of soapwort to cleanse her filthy hands. She beckoned Godric to join her.
    “Where is your mother?” he asked, once he’d dried his hands on the cloth Janna offered him.
    “Gone to look after Dame Alice.” Janna scowled at the memory.
    “Is something amiss with my lady?”
    “My mother has gone to help the dame recover from the birth of her babe,” she said briefly, not wanting to fuel the situation with wild rumors.
    “Will you be all right out here on your own? Shall I stay with you until your mother returns?”
    “No! I’m quite used to being alone.” Janna turned from him, willing him to be gone. Her thoughts were in turmoil, and he was standing far too close for comfort. She could feel the heat from his body, and shivered as his sleeve brushed hers.
    The black cat uncoiled and began to weave around Godric’s ankles. He nudged it aside with his boot. “Don’t!” Janna remonstrated as the cat gave an affronted growl.
    Godric looked up then, his expression serious. “I know your mother has skill with herbs, and I have good reason to be grateful to her. Dame Alice’s patronage must also be seen as a mark of respect. But take care, Janna. There is talk in the village and in the hamlets around here, much talk about this cat—and about your mother.”
    “What nonsense is this?” Janna snatched up Alfred and stroked him, soothing his dignity along with her own agitation.
    “The new priest speaks against you for refusing to come to his church. He says that your mother meddles in matters which should be left to God.”
    “I suppose he’d rather a woman die in childbirth than seek help,” Janna said scornfully.
    “I understand that you and your mother seek only to heal, to bring relief to those in need, but there is a midwife at Berford. Why not leave such things to her?”
    “My mother has far more skill and knowledge than Mistress Aldith,” Janna retorted. “She says the midwife knows more about burying mothers than bringing babies into the world. That’s why Master Fulk was summoned to the manor house. And that’s why he came to fetch my mother and not Mistress Aldith tonight.”
    Janna stopped abruptly as she remembered Godric’s position at the manor house. “If Aldith has been speaking against us, it is because most women respect my mother’s knowledge and seek her out rather than place their safety in the hands of an ignorant woman!” she added hastily.
    “I have not heard Mistress Aldith blacken your mother’s name, but others do. There is talk that your mother communes with the dead, and that she is even able to take on their appearance.” Godric pointed at the cat in Janna’s arms. “’Tis also said by some that this is the devil in your home.”
    “Alfred?” Janna’s arms tightened around the cat. “You can’t be serious!”
    “And that’s another thing,” Godric said awkwardly. “They’re angry that you’ve given your cat the name of the greatest king that Wessex has ever known.” He smiled then. “Couldn’t you just call it Fluffy, or something?”
    “No, I could not.” It was because of what had happened to the cat that she’d come to name it Alfred. She wouldn’t change the name for anything.
    “Well.” Godric moved to the door. “I mean no harm in repeating what people are saying. It’s nonsense anyway. I just wanted to warn you. But perhaps a warning isn’t necessary if Dame Alice has called on your mother’s skill to aid her. That should be enough to stop any ill-natured tattle.”
    He opened the door, then quickly turned, seized Janna’s hand and kissed it. “Farewell,” he muttered. “God be with you, Janna.”
    “God go with you, Godric. Thank you for saving me tonight.” Janna put her hand behind her back, feeling the mark of his lips burn like a brand on her skin.
    “Shall I ask for a reward?” he said cheerfully. His face brightened. “Shall I ask for more than just your thanks and a