The Fallen One Read Online Free PDF

“You
should not be kissing them at all.”
    Roxane shrugged with a half-hearted attempt
at defiance. “I do not kiss Dunstan anymore,” she said, “merely Beauson.   I do believe Dunstan has a fondness for you
so he is unresponsive to my charms as of late.”
    Cathlina finished with the bridle. “Dunstan
is a nice enough man, big and strong, but he is not what I would call a smart
man,” she said.   “Besides, he is too old.
I am not interested in him as a romantic prospect. He will have to seek
affection elsewhere.”
    With that, Cathlina finished the last strap
on the bridle and moved to secure the basket on the back of the saddle.   Roxane assisted her and between the two of
them, they managed to tie it down securely.  
    “Mayhap you should ask Dunstan or Beauson
to escort you to town,” Roxane said. “It is a long ride to Brampton and there
are dangers about. You know you should not go alone.”
    Cathlina shook her head as she gathered her
mare’s reins and turned to lead the horse from the stable. “I do not need an
escort,” she said. “The ride to town will take an hour or two at the most. It
is a fine day for travel and I shall return in good time.”
    Roxane didn’t argue with her, mostly
because she knew it wouldn’t do any good.   Cathlina was stubborn and determined and Roxane was never strong enough
to take a stand against her. She didn’t think the ride into town was a good
idea but she had already voiced her objections. Now there was nothing to do but
wait until her sister returned.
    The wind was picking up as they moved into
the stable yard.   Bits of chaff blew
about as Cathlina mounted her mare and adjusted her cloak, gathering the reins.   Once she was settled, she turned to her
sister.
    “I should be back before the evening meal,”
she said. “If Mother or Father are looking for me, tell them that you have not
seen me. Swear it?”
    “I swear it.”
    “Good.”
    “Can I have your clothing if you do not
return?”
    Cathlina made a face at her sister to let
her know exactly what she thought of that question.   Kicking her mare in the ribs, she trotted out
of the bailey quite simply, losing herself in the peasants and farmers milling
in and out of the open gates.   Being the
only castle within a several mile radius, many of the locals came here to do
business with each other.   It was easy to
get lost in the masses of the small and crowded bailey.
    Soon enough, Cathlina was on the road south
towards Brampton.

 
 
 
    CHAPTER THREE

 
 
    “I am going to marry her,” Sebastian said
firmly. “Did you see the way she looked at me? She wants me.”
    Mathias was in the midst of shoeing a
massive charger with a nasty temper.   He
was trying to concentrate as his brother, propped on the edge of a table,
chewed loudly of his nooning meal, a large bird leg.   Food flew about as Sebastian chomped and
spoke.
    “Could you see how attracted she was to
me?” he asked enthusiastically. “Mark my words; I have found my future wife.”
    Mathias avoided a thrown horse-head. “You
never came even remotely close to her,” he said. “How can you know anything
about her?”
    Sebastian tore at the bird. “It was the way she looked at me.”
    “Is that so?”
    “It ‘tis. It was the look of love.”
    “How would you know? You have never seen
such a look.”
    Sebastian snorted, pieces of food falling
from his lips.   “I have indeed, my fine
lad,” he informed him. “Every time I step foot in The Buck’s Head down the
street, those women give me the look. They want me.”
    He was deeply self-assured and Mathias
couldn’t resist taking a swipe at his arrogance. “They will give anyone the
look that they think will pay for the privilege,” he said.
      Sebastian
shrugged, unwilling to admit that only whores were throwing him expressions of
passion.   “Sometimes I do not have to pay
them.”
    Mathias fought off a grin at his brother’s
damaged ego.   Letting go of