Keeper of the Dream Read Online Free PDF Page B

way with women that I have heard so much about?”
    An answering humor glinted in Raine’s eyes as he heaved a mock sigh. “As you can see, I have but to look at them and the poor, besotted creatures fling themselves right into my arms,”
    Earl Hugh tossed back his head and emitted another hearty laugh. His gaze fell on the girl, and Raine was surprised to see his brother’s cornflower-blue eyes darken with lust.
    “In truth, she doesn’t appear to be overly fond of you, big brother,” Hugh drawled. “Do you mind if I relieve you of this particular bit of the spoils? Or we could even share the plowing of her, if you like. Such hot passion as hers could help to pass an interesting hour or two.”
    “Hell, Hugh, show the child some mercy. She’s just lost her man,” Raine said, then wondered what in God’s eyes had possessed him. He was becoming as soft and addle-pated as Sir Odo. The “child” had almost buried her dagger in the back of his neck. Even now she was looking death at him and muttering something that sounded like a Latin prayer but was probably a witch’s incantation.
    Raine felt a shudder curl up his spine, and he whippedaround to growl at Sir Odo. “I thought I told you to take her away.”
    Sir Odo nodded his big, shaggy head. “Aye, that ye did. But then where now, by all that’s holy, am I supposed to put her?”
    Raine gave the big knight a look that said he didn’t want to be bothered with details. “Use your initiative. It’s what I pay you for.”
    Hugh nudged his horse forward for a better look at the girl. “I trow, Raine,” came that drawling, sardonic voice. “Sometimes you are as squeamish as a maid. She’s a whore, not a child. And she’ll be wanting a new protector soon enough.”
    Raine said nothing. But he looked again at the girl to see if he had missed something the first time.
    His gaze roamed the length of her, starting with the worn, dung-splattered felt boots and moving up the shapeless, drab gray tunic and cheap, civet-fur mantle. The tunic and mantle were splotched with mud and blood, and her hair fell in tangled, wet clumps over her shoulders. What he could see of her face was … well, striking—he would grant Hugh that. But she was likely one of the castle whores, and as whores always swarmed around an army more plentiful than corpse-geese, Raine couldn’t see what the fuss was about.
    Odo had hesitated a moment longer, but now he began to drag the girl toward the keep. She bucked violently, trying to break away, and she almost succeeded. The knight wrapped his big arms around her again in a crushing embrace, squeezing her so tightly that her feet came off the ground. For a moment longer Raine and the girl faced each other. Her eyes pierced the distance between them, and a look of the purest hatred blazed from those smoky green depths.
    “Murdering Norman bastard,” she said on a hiss of breath.
    Raine’s face remained as blank as fresh parchment. Hedidn’t care that she wanted him dead, or why. He had spoken the truth when he’d told the girl there were many who had tried and failed to kill him. By the time he had turned and stepped forward to greet his brother, he had already forgotten her.
    Earl Hugh of Chester sprang from the saddle with a jingling of bells. He clasped Raine on the shoulders, giving him the kiss of peace. “Well met, brother.”
    “Hugh.” Raine nodded stiffly and moved out of his brother’s embrace. Beside the young knight’s splendor, Raine suddenly became aware that he was covered with the grime of battle.
    Hugh flashed a knowing grin and used the sleeve of his bliaut to rub off the black smudge on Raine’s nose left by the nasal of his helm. His eyes fell on the oozing bloody scratches and the grin widened. “You look about as pretty as a horse’s ass, dear brother.”
    Raine couldn’t help smiling back at him. “Thank you.”
    Hugh doffed his helm and ran his fingers through thick curls the color of burnished gold. He