PENETRATE (The Portals of Time Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

unequal battle. Shoe leather against iron. The sides of his boot compacted slightly before he had his foot in, and then hopped about trying to grab the pommel again. Shoemaker moved above tailor in his mental list of requirements, while Rory sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
    Finally!
    Neal latched onto both ends of the saddle, heaved himself up. Lifted his right hand to toss his leg over the animal’s back, stretching out across the animal’s back, and that’s when the horse bucked. Neal promptly went flying off the far side of the animal, landing ignominiously on his butt as his foot slipped out of the boot.
    The landing took his breath. Sent his vision swirling. A lot of horse was jumping around him, hooves flashing. He was rather grateful for Rory’s expertise as he brought Thundercloud back under control.
    And that’s when he got angry.
     

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    “Did he agree?”
    Ainslee put a finger to her lips as Lileth’s maid, Elvie, finished shutting the door. Trust her sister not to know the slightest thing about subterfuge and secrecy. And it was her future at stake! Ainslee waited another moment before coming fully out from behind the tapestry, crossing to the chamber door, and then lowering the bolt, barring it.
    “Well?”
    She crossed quickly to the bed, opened her shawl, and dumped all sorts of breakfast goodies onto the coverlet beside Lileth. She’d brought crisped bacon strips, lightly browned scones with butter dripping from them, and even a portion of salmon – fresh-caught that morn, before being filleted, breaded, and then grilled to mouth-watering perfection. Although the feast had been crushed in her shawl, it looked immeasurably more appetizing than the crusts of bread and tureen of water Elvie had just delivered.
    Lileth gasped. “How did you steal so much?”
    “Nobody notices anything I do. You ken as much. And they already claim I eat like a horse, so who’s to note?” 
    “With na’ an ounce of extra to show for it. Still.”
    Ainslee grinned, bounced onto the bed, and then sobered as her sister’s eyes filled with tears.
    “So, tell me! Please? I’ve been awake all morn, fretting. I won’t be able to eat a bite.”
    “I told you to rest. Worry will na’ help. Here. I even put honey on your scones.”  Not very much, though. Her shawl was already sticky. She’d have to dip it in the loch at the first opportunity.
    Her sister took a dainty bite, looking lovely and feminine and exactly what the Duke of Straithcairn should receive in a wife. Lileth was a full-blooded Scot, a product of the Sinclair and MacAffrey clans. She claimed vivid green eyes, red-gold hair that rippled to her waist, and womanly curves that promised healthy bairns.
    Ainslee had suspected Father let her sister’s majority pass without accepting any of the offers he received because he was holding out for a prize catch, but even she couldn’t have guessed he’d set his sights on the Duke of Straithcairn! Their antecedents went back the Robert the Bruce! Why...the Laird of MacAffrey wouldn’t even have been allowed to sit at the same table with the Straithcairn laird in the past. And yet Father had managed to arrange a union between the two clans. It was still unbelievable, akin to attaining the moon. She eyed her sister worriedly.  
    “Are you certain...you do na’ wish to wed with him? I mean…truly certain?”
    Lileth dropped the scone, her eyes immediately welled with tears that only made her more beautiful, and then she covered her face with her hands. That got followed by her wailing again, exactly as she’d already done for two days since this had started.
    “Why are you crying now?” 
    Ainslee reached for the handkerchief in her pocket, pulled it out and then shoved it back before Lileth noted it. She’d forgotten. It was worse stained than before. And crusty with the duke’s dried blood now. She lifted a napkin instead. “Stop, Lileth. Please? You ken it breaks my