Knight Errant Read Online Free PDF

of another, much smaller square. On three sides, tall, dilapidated buildings leaned inward, blocking much of the afternoon light. Dank, moldy air and the scurry of small creatures accompanied the dimming light. She sat on the edge of a crumbling well and searched her surroundings for something familiar.
    Sitting was a mistake. She should have turned straight around and followed the road out of the square, then tried to determine her location. Better yet, she should not have left the caravan. Now that she was seated, she noticed figures stealing from the tumble of buildings. Those people creeping out of the shadows were between her and the street leading out.
    Soon she found herself surrounded by a ragged group of men.
    Pointing at her, one large fellow with a fraying cap spoke in a rapid spate of what she assumed was the local language. It certainly wasn’t Latin, the universal language of the church and all believers.
    All but three of the group fled.
    Confused, she smiled, shook her head, raised her shoulders, and lifted her hands in a gesture meant to indicate that she did not understand.
    Murmurs circled through the group. Then the men approached, holding out their cupped hands.
    Juliana knew what that meant. They were begging. Unfortunately, she had nothing to give them.
    She turned out one pocket of her bilaut to show that she had nothing.
    The large man spoke again. His voice soft, he leered at her.
    A shorter man sidled forward and touched Juliana’s skirt, lifting it to his cheek and rubbing the cloth against his dirty skin.
    Surely he didn’t want her to give him the clothing from her body. And with that thought, a chill shivered through her. Perhaps it was her body they wanted.
    Frantically, she searched her other pocket and found the cheese, which she offered to the short man as she drew her skirt from his fingers.
    But the third man snatched the food. The short man’s fingers tightened around the cloth and pulled.
    Juliana didn’t know what the fellow wished, but she was fairly certain she wanted no part of it. She braced against the stones on either side and leaned away.
    When the fellow started to lift her skirt, she kicked at him, which unbalanced her. She teetered on the edge of the well when huge hands grasped her torso and lifted. The large man held her over his head as if she were no heavier than a bundle of sticks. He shouted and shook her.
    Along with anger at his treatment, an ache bloomed in her head. She lashed out with a foot and caught him on the chin.
    He toppled to the ground, like a felled tree. Locked in his grip, Juliana landed atop his chest.
    The two shorter men were on her, pulling her away from the leader, who lay gasping for breath. They held her arms on each side, and struggle as she might, she could not break loose.
    The large man levered himself into a sitting position. Hate gleamed in his watering eyes. A growl of glee emerged from his throat as he stood and stalked toward her, his hands unknotting the strap that held his leggings up, his gaze fixed on her bosom.
    Like a rabbit hypnotized by a snake, Juliana watched him come. A buzzing formed in her ears, and red clouded her vision.
    He hooked meaty fingers in the neckline of her dress.
    Juliana pulled her leg back in order to kick him again, but his fingers uncurled, and his palm slid down her front.
    As if burned, the men holding her arms let go and fled.
    The hateful joy in the large man’s expression became wide-eyed astonishment. His body performed a slow sideways slide to reveal Sir Robert, bloodied sword raised to strike once more. “Didn’t you hear me? I said run.”
    She dropped her gaze to the long, red slash oozing across the back of the man at her feet, then looked away. Sir Robert was wiping his blade clean. His mouth moved at the same moment that her stomach heaved.
    She felt his arms around her, holding her until the sickness passed. Then he placed her atop his saddle.
    “If you feel dizzy, put your hand on my