Queen Of Knights Read Online Free PDF

Valkyrie stepped onto his leather perch, grasping her wrist in a light, but secure hold.  She looked into the eagle ’ s amber eyes and smiled.  “Thank you, my friend,” she said to him as she stroked his chest.  She turned and, with a deep breath, lowered her arm .  With a fluid, graceful, and practiced motion, Gwendolyn swung her arm upward .  The eagle left its perch, arched down and , as its wide feathered wings spread, began to lif t toward the treetops .
    Gwendolyn watched her friend, which was how she thought of the eagle, fly skyward.  Behind her, she heard Miles’s voice.
    “You’ve trained him well .  I’ve never seen an eagle that is gentler than a hawk . ” Gwendolyn spun to face the knight .
    “I’ve not trained him at a l l.  He comes with me by his own choice,” she informed him.
    “I would expect nothing else from one such as you,” he said.  “My men will be here shortly .  I would see you safely home.”
    “My thanks, Sir Miles, but I would see myself home.  I have many things to do today, and returning to Kildrake Castle before the sun is down, is not one of them,” she said as she bent and retrieved her cape.
    Miles watched her carefully.  He had never met a woman who carried herself so well., who emanated such strength and power, yet did so without conscious effort .  He knew she spoke truthfully, and was not trying to hide anything.  Suddenly Miles knew something else also .  Now that he had met her, he knew he would never be satisfied with another woman.  In that moment, Miles Delong made up his mind to marry Gwendolyn Kildrake.
    Gwendolyn watched as Miles accepted her words and moved closer to her .  She saw his eyes change and noted the tightening around his mouth.  She realized her heart was beating madly within her chest as his gaze swept across her face.
    “Gwendolyn Kildrake, granddaughter of Hughes, are you betrothed?”
    “Yes,” she whispered through the knot that had suddenly formed in her throat.  She turned from him and walked to the black mare that had stood so patiently waiting .  Before reaching the mare, she felt Miles’s hand stopping her and pulling her around to face him.  She tried to ignore the hot throbbing just beneath her skin as she faced him.
    “Do you have feelings for your betrothed?” he asked, his green eyes boring relentlessly into her lighter blue ones.
    She tried to form some evasive answer, but the words would not leave her tongue.  Slowly, she shook her head.
    “I have no choice.  The bargain was made shortly after my mother’s death.  I am to marry Morgan of Guildswood, by summer’s end . ”
    “After your mother’s death? She would not have approved the match?” he asked, searching her face for the answer.  Then he smiled.  “I would give you your choice!” he stated boldly.  “Would you have me for your husband?” Gwendolyn knew with a strange certainty that life with this man would be everything she could want .  Even the one thing which she knew was impossible, but was her most cherished dream .
    “I would , ” Gwendolyn whispered, her heart stopping for an instant .
    “Then I will speak of this to Sir Hughes.  I will strike a bargain he will be agreeable to.”
    “But ..  . ” Gwendolyn began, taking a deep breath as she lifted her hand and gently stroked his cheek.  The sensation of his skin on hers sent tremors along her arm.  Her thoughts swirled with the possibilities of the fu t ure, and she knew she must voice them before anything further could come of this meeting .  “I would ask one boon if you are to marry me.”
    Mi l es’s eyes were unblinking as he looked at her.  Then he nodded.  “When I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary woman.  Your boon, or as many as you ask, shall be granted! One, or a hundred, it matters not . ”
    Her heart swelled at his words.  She wondered for a moment if this was just his passion speaking.  Then he smi l ed again , his face softening.
    “You