Jar of Souls Read Online Free PDF Page B

once. Finding out that the people who raised me weren’t my biological parents didn’t change how much I loved them. Not one bit. Walking into a room and having my mother bleeding out on the floor and watching my dad murdered in front of me had left its mark. I had been pushing those feelings down since I came to the academy, but now they were catching up with me in a big way.
    The hand on my arm moved up and started to stroke my hair. I felt bad for her, having to rub her hands through the sweaty tangles.
    Britta murmured, “It will be ok.”
    When she rolled over, I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her against me. She wiggled a little bit to get comfortable, and I almost lost it. If my heart hadn’t just been crushed by the thought of my parents’ death, I might have taken that as an invitation for more than cuddling. There was something to be said about sleeping in the same bed with your girlfriend; it just made you feel more comfortable than sleeping alone. We hadn’t crossed that magical line yet, but when the time was right, I was sure neither of us would question it. The warmth of her back pressed against my chest worked its own kind of magic, and I finally started to relax. I felt myself slipping back into unconsciousness. I prayed silently for a dreamless sleep.

2
    Jean Lapointe
France 1440
    T he soft knock at my door reminded me that I should have been out of bed hours ago. The activities after last night’s disaster had taken my mind off of the fact that today I would be forced to explain myself. The bed was empty except for me, and by the looks of it, all of my possessions remained in place. At least last night’s humiliations hadn’t been added to, not that it wouldn’t have been worth it. Pulling the sheets back, I strode to the door.
    “Well, don’t wait out there all day. Come in already.”
    “It’s Marie, my lord.”
    “Yes, I can see that now. What can I do for you, Marie?”
    “I’m sorry that I wasn’t with you this morning, but I had my duties to attend to.”
    “That is ok, my dear, I understand. You needn’t have woken me just for that.”
    “I didn’t mean to disturb your rest, milord, but there are a bunch of men who just arrived. They seem rather agitated, and I heard them using your name in conversation.”
    “Thank you for coming to get me at once, Marie. If they ask after me again, tell them I will be down momentarily. Can you also see that the valet has my chests loaded onto the carriage? I have a feeling I will be leaving with some haste.”
    “Of course, milord. Is everything ok?”
    “As ok as it can be for now. I wanted to thank you for last night and your service today.” I pressed four gold coins into her hands.
    “I did not sleep with you for money,” she spat.
    She made to throw the coins back at me. Before she could, I grabbed her hand and pressed it back to her chest. “And I meant to offer no such insult.” Her eyebrows rose in question. “This is just a small token of my appreciation at the warning you have provided for me, and for arranging the service of my things.”
    “It is too much,” she said, still frowning.
    “Some would say it isn’t enough. I have plenty of gold but not as many friends. Thank you for coming to get me, and make sure that you at least buy something for yourself.”
    “I will, my lord.”
    I could see that she still wasn’t sure about the money, but I didn’t have the time to spend reassuring her. I stepped forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. “Now go see the valet. Tell him I plan to leave within the hour.”
    Thankfully she left without saying anything else. I turned back toward my chests and pulled out the clothes I would be wearing for the day. I had a feeling I wouldn’t get to enjoy the carriage ride back, but one could only hope. A pair of riding pants, a shirt, and a leather doublet, along with my favorite hat, would be enough to see me through. Tying the pouch of coins to a hidden seam inside