Bondmaiden Read Online Free PDF

her belly. Tilda squealed and beat her fists ineffectually against his broad shoulders, though it seemed to Lia a token resistance only. She couldn’t help noticing that the soldier in question was young and quite handsome, and she began to suspect Tilda’s lapse of concentration was nothing of the sort.
    ‘Go on, Terrell lad,’ the man across from him guffawed. ‘Let’s have her clothes off!’
    Others joined in the call and the young soldier obliged them, tugging Tilda’s smock up over her head and throwing it at the man who’d first goaded him, and what would have happened next was anybody’s guess if the two newcomers hadn’t appeared. They called for order and gradually peace was restored. The young soldier released Tilda, who sheepishly retrieved her smock and put it on. The newcomers – the captain and sergeant, Lia assumed – sat down and were given their meals.
    There were still three loaves remaining, which seemed odd, but Tilda explained that three of the soldiers were on sentry duty. ‘They come off shift soon,’ she said. ‘They’ll get their meal then. Just leave the bread on the table.’
    Tilda seemed none the worse for her ribald encounter. Just the opposite, in fact, for her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were shining. She dished out stew into the three empty bowls, then took Lia’s hand and led her out of there, though not without a backward glance at young Terrell.
    ‘He’s a handsome devil, isn’t he?’ she said as they made their way back. ‘I could eat him alive. The first time I saw him I—’
    ‘Tilda!’ a voice roared from below. ‘Get down here!’
    Both girls jumped, then hurried on down the stairs. Holmann was standing in the middle of the kitchen and he glared at them, red-faced and furious. Lia assumed it was because of what had just happened, but it turned out to be something else entirely.
    ‘What do you call this?’ he demanded, holding up an apple.
    ‘It’s… an apple, master,’ Tilda said, looking more confused than afraid.
    ‘An apple, exactly. And what might it be doing under your pillow, answer me that?’
    ‘My pillow, master? I don’t… but I never…’
    As her voice faltered her face turned pale and she started to tremble. Lia guessed this must be a serious crime, though surely one of which Tilda was innocent. The young woman seemed genuinely bewildered by this turn of events.
    ‘How many times have I warned you all about pilfering food?’ Holmann thundered, glaring at the others in turn.
    Everyone looked sheepish – everyone except Dagna, that is. She had a triumphant glint in her eye, and was clearly relishing the situation. Holmann stared at the assembly a while longer, then made his pronouncement.
    ‘This evening, at the vespers bell. And no shirking off, any of you. I want everybody in here promptly to witness punishment. Dagna, make sure Kerta and Clady know about it.’
    ‘What about Paxon and the others?’ Dagna asked. ‘They’re always keen to see a punishment, aren’t they?’
    ‘You’re right, good thinking. Let them know, too. Jarold, see to it the table’s cleared and covered, and get the pole and straps ready.’
    Tilda gave a faint moan of despair. Lia glanced at her and saw that her eyes had a haunted look.
    ‘Dagna,’ Holmann said, ‘you bring the stick.’
    ‘The heavy one, Hol?’ Dagna asked hopefully.
    ‘Yes indeed. She needs a hard lesson, this girl, and I’m going to see she gets it.’
    Tilda was subdued all afternoon, which was hardly surprising in view of what was in store for her. She said barely a word as she went about her duties, though her eyes spoke volumes. Delaying her punishment in this way was especially cruel, Lia thought, for a beating was bad enough without having to spend long hours worrying about it. Lia wondered if Holmann had planned it this way deliberately to increase Tilda’s suffering.
    The afternoon wore on, and when the cathedral bell rang to announce the evening prayers Lia