Knight Triumphant Read Online Free PDF

been built to repel an enemy, some resident had taken pains to turn the place into more of a manor. The stairway he followed was not stone, but intricately carved wood. It led to a second landing with a long hallway and doors where the lady did not pause, but continued on to a smaller staircase. There, arrow slits lined the stone and she passed them all, coming to a large room filled with daylight. Makeshift beds littered the space, and light from a break in the ceiling seemed to cast a ray of hope over those who lay there. A priest moved among the beds, a young slender man in the black garment of his calling. He seemed surprised to see his lady at the doorway, and called to her with a frown. “Igrainia, you were to be away from all this!” he chastised.
    She stepped inside. “This is Sir Eric, Father MacKinley,” she said, and walked into the room, approaching a bed. Eric nodded to the priest and followed Igrainia.
    He fell to his knees by the pallet; he had found Margot at last. She seemed to be sleeping. No boils or poxes appeared to mar the beauty of her face. Yet as he touched her face, it was as if he touched flame. He saw where the boils had grown upon a collarbone and on her neck, and he was tempted to weep.
    He stared up at Igrainia of Langley. “Save her,” he commanded.
    She found water and brought it to Margot’s side and began to bathe her forehead.
    â€œWhere is my daughter?” he asked.
    â€œYour daughter?” said the priest.
    â€œMy child. Aileen. Young, blond hair, pale, soft as silk.”
    There was a silence from the priest.
    â€œMy daughter, man! There were not so many young children among our number!”
    The priest nodded. “The little angel,” he murmured. “Sir, God has taken her.”
    He rose from his wife’s side, pain a blinding arrow through his heart. He approached the priest like a madman, tempted to take him by the throat and crush flesh and bone. Some sense delayed him from his purpose, and he paused before the man, who had not flinched. Eric stood before him, fists clenching and unclenching, muscles taut and straining.
    â€œWhere is her body?”
    â€œYonder room,” the priest said quietly. “We meant to do her honor in death.”
    â€œYou knew I would come and kill you,” Eric said in a bitter breath.
    â€œShe was a child, and beloved by all. What fear have we of violent death, of murder, when we work here?” the priest replied, and even in his madness, Eric knew it was true.
    â€œYou,” he said, pointing to the priest, “you will bring me to my child. And you,” he said, pointing at Igrainia, “you will bring Margot to a room alone, and you will spend your every moment seeing that she breathes. If she ceases to do so . . .”
    He let his voice trail.
    â€œWhat of the others?” the lady asked.
    â€œWe are here now. And we will drop down in death ourselves before we let our kindred lie in rot and die without our care. Ready a chamber for my lady wife. Nay, the master’s chamber. See that she is surrounded by the greatest possible comfort. Priest, now you will take me to my daughter.”
    The priest led him quickly from the solar, opening the door to a small room in the hall just beyond. There, on a long wooden storage cabinet, lay the body of his daughter.
    For a moment he couldn’t move.
    He felt the priest at his back.
    â€œThere is comfort in knowing that she rests with our Lord God in Heaven—” the man began.
    â€œLeave me!” Eric said sharply.
    The door closed behind him instantly.
    He walked forward, forcing his feet to move. He looked down upon Aileen’s face, and his knees sagged beneath him and tears sprang to his eyes. He swallowed and reached out for her. Her poor little body was cold. He cradled her against him as if he could warm her, smoothing his long, calloused fingers through the infinitely fine tendrils of her hair. Aileen, with