Grace of the Goddess (The Death Dealer Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

working fast and nimbly to secure a pincushion inside an elaborate bun. The needles would do little damage, but they provided a nasty surprise. They also provided Grace the chance to get the upper hand. Of course it also meant needles stuck in her head if she fell wrong, but thanks to Cassandra’s talents, her hair would take most of the impact.
                  “I don’t suppose you gave any thought to working in town at The Pig and Flute.” Cassandra tugged at Grace’s hair, putting the strands where they needed to go.
                  “I’ve been a serving girl before. It doesn’t suit me.”
                  “And having to protect your hair with needles does? Ugh, I suppose I should know better than to bother talking about it with you. You never did want to set aside the sword.”
                  When Grace still wore the hood of the Death Dealer, Cassandra made her piece known, but ultimately deferred the decision to Grace. Now that Grace was a servant, Cassandra’s pronouncements about her living life doing what she deemed as “men’s work” got louder and more frequent. For Grace, it was the only real downside to being on equal footing with her.
                  “There, done.” Cassandra patted Grace on the head to let her know it was time to get up.
                  From under the bed, Grace grabbed her belt and safely secured her sword and sheath. She looped it around her waist, letting the sword hang off to the right side. She grabbed a fur-lined jacket from her trunk. It was tattered, too large, and smelled a bit, but it was warm.
                  “Thank you, Cassandra. I shall be by for dinner tonight.”
                  Cassandra waved her hands in annoyance. “Aye, aye, off with you now, though. You’ll miss muster if you don’t hurry.”
    ~*~*~
                  The castle in Arganis was small but functional, with a great hall, a library, and a few guest rooms on the upper floors. The windows on the lower floors were cut into the stone as mere slits. Easy for archers to shoot out of, but harder for archers to attempt to shoot in. The lone tower had bigger, more elaborate stained glass windows. The noble family of Arganis lived there, occupying the six family rooms, each with their own solar, and then a smaller dining room for private meals. Grace’s old room in the tower looked out to the south. Her view growing up had been of trees, trees, and more trees; an evergreen sea that moved with the winds.
                  A stone wall surrounded the castle with one main gate entrance that faced south along the king’s road, and four small guard stations stood along the ramparts to keep watch in case trouble came. The courtyard was large enough for the townsfolk to set up a camp if raiders came in from the sea. The stables were located on the north end with the guard barracks next to them. There was a training yard on the east side of the courtyard. When Grace’s cousin was training for his knighthood, it served as a sword ring and a jousting ring. Now it was used for guard training.
                  On top of the castle, the hawk banner of Arganis blew in the wind. The silver and blue stood proudly, proclaiming to everyone that the Hilren family currently resided at the castle. It made Grace smile to see it.
                  Around her, men filed into the courtyard; some coming from the town and others from the barracks. The guards coming off the night watch nodded and greeted the day watch as they shuffled past. All were tired and feeling the morning chill, even though half of them wore coats that matched Grace’s to keep warm. The men circled around one man who stood in the center of the courtyard.
                  Leon Hilren was not a tall man. None of the men in the Hilren line had been blessed with height. He did not tower above the men he