Sworn Loyalty - A Medieval Romance Read Online Free PDF

she could barely stand.
    He paused for a long moment, his eyes moving from hers to stare toward the northwest. Pain seeped into his gaze, along with a hint of longing. At last he nodded. “I have trusted you so far, and you have been well worthy of that trust. We follow your plan.”
    He pulled himself up onto the grey, then drew her up before him. Mary wondered if she imagined it, or if he left a bit of distance between them, if his carriage was slightly stiffer and more careful in where he touched her. But then they were in motion, the world was blurring alongside her, and she once again faded from thought.
     
    * * *
     
    A moon was shining amongst a glittering of stars. Mary realized she was being carried, that Erik’s feet were making a crunch-crunch noise as they moved across the thin layer of snow that surrounded the tower’s walls. He was working his way cautiously toward the main gates, picking his steps carefully amongst the tumble of rocks and weeds. The grey steed was nowhere to be seen.
    Mary roused her energy, drawing herself up out of the stupor that called to her so strongly. “Not that way,” she murmured.
    Erik glanced down at her in surprise, but his movement stopped, and he swung his head from left to right along the length of the high wall. “I thought this was the only gate?”
    “Continue along the wall to the right,” she instructed. “About a quarter of the way around.”
    He obliged, making his way by the shimmering moonlight, holding her easily against him. She heard the soft siren song of sleep and fought it with effort. They were nearly there; she only had to hold on for a few more minutes.
    Finally the swath of ivy was just ahead. She pointed at it with a shaking finger. “Over there. Pull that aside, but gently.”
    He snugged her up in his left arm, dropping to one knee to balance her, then reached forward with his right. The ivy formed a thick curtain over a small hole made by tumbled down stones. If he crouched, there would be just enough space to make it through.
    He carefully eased them both through the hole, taking care to rearrange the ivy once they had passed. Then he stood and looked across the small courtyard and the tall tower at its center. His eyes drew to the shuttered window at the top, and a shiver ran through his body.
    Mary’s vision blurred, and she focused on the moment. “Walk in the stream.”
    His eyes went first to the undisturbed dust that lay across the width of the cobblestone area, then to the thin trickle of water that meandered across one side. Nodding, he made his way carefully along the slick stones, each footfall erased by that rippling cascade.
    At last they were at three short steps before the tower, and the wooden door, banded in iron. He looked at it for a long moment, then gave a heft against it with his shoulder.
    The door remained firmly in place.
    He looked down at her, raising an eyebrow.
    Mary wriggled out of his arms, leaning against the cold stone for a moment as she gained her feet. Three more minutes. She only had to last three more minutes, then she could sleep all night and day.
    She found the loose stone to the right of the door, pulled it free, and handed it to Erik. Then she reached her hand into the hole, her fingers searching for the thick rope. Ah, there it was. She drew in a long breath, gathered her strength, and pulled.
    There was a creaking noise from within, and then a soft thud.
    She reached forward with her hand, gave a gentle push, and the door swung open.
    Erik nodded in appreciation, replacing the stone, then wrapped an arm around her waist as they moved into the circular room. It was coated in dust, housing only a broken table and an upended chair. Moonlight streamed in through one barred window, and a circular staircase headed up in the far corner.
    Erik turned, closing the door behind them, resetting the bar in place. He looped the rope back over its pulley and laid the end in front of the hole. Then he turned to look