Queen of Lost Stars (Dragonblade Series/House of St. Hever) Read Online Free PDF

“Born with the birth cord wrapped around his neck, he was,” he said. Then, he pushed Mavia aside so he could finish descending the steps. “When you tell Lady l’Ebreux, be kind about it. She has suffered great loss.”
    That was a fairly compassionate statement coming from the usually tactless physic. Quickly, he shuffled past Thomas and out into the bailey beyond. Thomas turned to watch him as he made his way over to the wagon with Ewan and Reece encouraging him onward. Reece even took him by the arm and began pulling, simply to make him move faster. Dolwyd slapped the young knight’s hand away. He was moving as fast as he wanted to move. Thomas returned his attention to his wife.
    “Come with me,” he muttered. “This is an unhappy duty that I must share with you. Madelayne will need your comfort.”
    Mavia was wiping her cheeks as she allowed her husband to direct her back up the stairs. “This is tragedy beyond reason,” she said softly. “First the child and now Cairn. I do not know how Madelayne will take the news. What happened to Cairn? How was he killed?”
    Thomas was weary, so very weary. Cairn’s death was dragging at him tremendously, made worse because it was now his job to inform the man’s wife. He hated the responsibility and he hated emotion of any kind. This situation called for both and he wasn’t good at either.
    “He was pulled off of his horse and set upon by many Welsh,” he said. “At least, that was what I was told. Another knight saw it happen. He managed to pull Cairn away from the attack but by then it was too late.”
    Mavia shook her head sadly. “And Kaspian?”
    Thomas sighed heavily as they reached the top of the stairs. “His injury was unexpected,” he said. “He was fighting a group of Welsh who only seemed to be armed with clubs and daggers, but a spear was thrown and hit him in the lower torso. It went through his mail and tore into his belly. But he did not go down; he simply yanked the spear out and tossed it aside. He kept fighting before eventually making it back to the wounded under his own power but by then, his blood loss was great. Had he not insisted on staying in the battle even with that great wound, it might have gone better for him, but as it is, he compromised himself with his sense of duty.”
    Mavia pondered the information. “He believes that he is invincible,” she said quietly. “He always has. Everyone says that about him.”
    Thomas grunted. “It is that arrogance that may cost him his life,” he said. They were at the top of the stairs now, right outside of Madelayne’s closed chamber door. He took a deep breath and pointed at it. “Knock, if you will. I cannot delay this.”
    Mavia felt the tears again but she fought them. She needed to be strong for her friend. With a soft knock on the door, she admitted both herself and her husband, and closed the door softly behind them.
    *
    Madelayne heard the footsteps enter behind her but she didn’t move. She was certain it was a servant, perhaps even someone with her dead son in their arms. Perhaps they’d come to show her, as she’d requested. Sick to her stomach, she didn’t want to turn around and look. Now she was suddenly afraid to look, panic welling in her chest. Perhaps if she didn’t look at the baby, he really couldn’t be dead. She could pretend that someone had stolen him away and she would always hold out hope that, someday, he would come back.
    But those were foolish thoughts. Deep down, she knew she was being ridiculous. Taking a deep breath, she forced her bravery and turned around, surprised to see that Mavia had entered the chamber. Right behind Mavia came Thomas, dirty and exhausted from days of fighting. As soon as Madelayne saw Thomas, fear welled in her heart and she struggled to sit up. She felt a good deal of angst at the knight’s appearance.
    “Mavia, nay !” Madelayne hissed weakly. “You did not tell Thomas, did you? I do not want him to tell Cairn. I must