Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

even more was the delightful way in which Brynn responded to him.
    “Your training is almost complete,” Dalton said to Brynn as they walked beneath the sprawling oaks, enjoying the delightful sun of an unusually warm autumn. More than two years had passed since he had left home. “What will you do next?”
    “I’m going to travel!” Brynn said with exuberance.
    “On a mission then?”
    “Not exactly,” she replied. “I just want to see the kingdom.”
    “How’s the haven? Sir Dornan still instructing?”
    “Yes, but it’s not been the same since you left.”
    “Koen still a thorn in his side?” Dalton asked with a grin.
    “No, Badger was commissioned last spring and went on mission,but that pesky sister of his is worse than he is.” Brynn smirked. “I’m surprised Sir Dornan even puts up with her.”
    Dalton looked ahead into the trees as he remembered Carliss’s quiet intensity.
    “She actually seems like a nice girl—perhaps too zealous for most people, but still…”
    Brynn looked at Dalton as though he’d lost his mind.
    “Nice? Are you kidding?” she said. “That girl had the audacity to confront Sir Dornan in front of the other trainees yesterday.”
    “Really? On what?” Dalton asked.
    “Sir Dornan was explaining how he had seen such great chaos in the kingdom that it was logical to conclude that the King had removed his influence from the land and was really not involved in the affairs of the people anymore.” Brynn hesitated. “It makes sense to me. After all, Sir Dornan has traveled to many regions and seen much more than we have.”
    Dalton had often wondered the same thing himself, and it did seem quite reasonable to think that way. “What did Carliss say?” he asked.
    Brynn laughed. “She interrupted him and said that what he was teaching was not true. She got that strange, fierce look on her face, and she said the story of the Prince is evidence of the King’s concern and compassion for the people. Or something like that.”
    Brynn grinned. “You should have seen Sir Dornan dismantle her argument. He’s far too intelligent to be rattled by the ranting of a girl like Carliss.” Brynn slowly shook her head. “You would think that brat would finally learn to be quiet.”
    “What exactly did he say?” Dalton asked.
    “Well, he first asked her how many of the regions of the kingdom she had been to and then asked her to disprove him. Then he said that if the King did indeed establish Arrethtrae, it was more likely a result of discovery rather than establishment, and that the kingdom has been allowed to follow its own path of development for a long time. The King’s hands-off approach allows the people freedom to explore life inmany unique ways. He said that the Prince would agree. In fact, that’s why he rebelled against the Noble Knights and their narrow-minded view of the kingdom.”
    They walked in silence for a moment as Dalton thought about Sir Dornan’s words. Something disquieted his spirit after hearing Brynn speak of Sir Dornan, and yet how could one prove anything different?
    They took a detour off the main road to the haven, one which they had traveled together a hundred times. The walk reminded Dalton of their earlier carefree days together, and he felt his uneasiness draining away. The arching tree branches billowed in the gentle breeze above them and soothed his mind with the rustling of leaves. How could he feel bad while walking with such a lovely companion?
    “Brynn,” Dalton looked at her. “I’ll be on mission for another year or so, but I was wondering…”
    Brynn looked at Dalton and smiled in a way that caused Dalton to want to reach out and take her hand.
    “Yes?” she said.
    “Well I was hoping that… You see, we’ve spent a lot of time together, and your father seems to be warming to me a bit.”
    “Yes?” Brynn’s eyes seemed to drink in the beauty of nature and spill its splendor out every pore of her body.
    “Would