Knight's Prize Read Online Free PDF Page B

shown. God's wounds! Helena greeted him with a sword."
    Colin
frowned. "You've met Helena?" At Rand's nod, Colin briefly scanned
him from head to toe. "And you have no scars to show for it?"
    Rand
looked horrified. "I would not fight her, I assure you."
    To
Rand's surprise, Colin chuckled. "Then, good fellow, you've chosen the
right Rivenloch sister to court."
    Pagan
was not so amused. "No one's given him permission to court her."
    Anger
simmered inside Miriel again. She needed no one's permission. Who did Pagan
think he was?
    Fortunately,
Deirdre intervened before Miriel's ire could come to a full boil. "I don't
see any harm in it," she said, resting a calming hand atop Pagan's
formidable forearm. "He comes from a respectable household. They're
acquainted. And Miriel's old enough. After all," she reminded him pointedly,
"she was nearly betrothed this summer to a man she didn't love."
    That
man had been Pagan himself. He grunted at the pointed reference.
    Deirdre
gave her a conspiratorial smile. " 'Tis only fair she be allowed to make
her own choice in this."
    Pagan
muttered something under his breath about headstrong Scotswomen.
    "Besides,"
Deirdre added, "Sung Li will doubtless be nigh to keep them out of
trouble."
    As
if her words had conjured the servant, Sung Li appeared in the midst of the
courtyard, his arms laden with a platter of food.
    Miriel
sighed. She'd won her way. Rand had permission to court her. But with Sung Li
present, her opportunity to learn what Rand was up to by charming it out of
him had disappeared.
    ************************************
    Rand
wondered how many more surprises awaited him at Rivenloch. First he'd been
challenged to battle by a warrior maid. Then the delectable Lady Miriel, who
lied almost as smoothly as he did, had stolen a kiss. Now, unless he was
mistaken, the ancient maidservant who scurried forward to deliver breakfast to
them was a curiosity from the Orient.
    The
shriveled, old, white-braided woman offered him pandemain loaves and soft ruayn
cheese with a nod. "You must be hungry from your long journey."
    How
she guessed he'd had a long journey, Rand didn't know. But he was hungry,
and the fragrant steam of fresh-baked bread made his mouth water.
    "We'll
break our fast in the garden," Miriel decided, dearly as anxious as he was
to be away from her meddling kin.
    "When
you've finished, Sir Rand," Lord Pagan said, "come to the lists. You
may as well make yourself useful. I assume you can handle a blade?"
    Rand
knew better than to boast, especially when he was talking to one of the famed
Knights of Cameliard. 1 manage."
    Pagan's
skepticism was evident, and he exchanged a glance
with Deirdre that said as much.
    Rand
smiled to himself. If they knew how skilled he was at swordplay, they'd likely insist he
wed Lady Miriel. She could ask for no better protector.
    The
garden turned out to be a walled square adjacent to the practice
yard. Though 'twas bleak and bare at this time of year, the odd little
maidservant seemed determined to take Rand on a tour of every inch.
    "I
am certain you did not see the garden," she said, adding pointedly,
"the last time
you came to visit."
    He
and Miriel exchanged careful glances. Was the old woman alert to their
deception?
    “Besides,”
the maidservant told him, "if you learn what grows in the garden, on the
morrow I can send you to fetch what I need for the wedding."
    "Sung
Li!" Miriel scolded. "He's not a kitchen lad."
    "Oh,
aye," the servant said. "He is your, what is it, friend?”
    As
if to prove their relationship, Miriel looped her arm through his. "Rand
is my suitor."
    The
impertinent maid only huffed once in disapproval, then led them down the garden
path. "These are pasternak and rafens."
    "Ah,"
he said, feigning interest, gulping down a warm morsel of bread.
    "And
these are roses," the old woman continued, adding with heavy sarcasm,
"which you, of course, will be cutting to give to your... ladylove."
    "Sung
Li," Miriel warned.
    They
didn't look