The Falls of Erith Read Online Free PDF

nicest room in the keep, but
that wasn’t an overwhelming statement.  The hearth had been built as in the
olden days, a massive fire pit in the center of the room that emptied smoke
into the ceiling.  The hall itself was two stories tall; consequently, the second
and third floors of the keep butted up along the south side of the hall and
were a single room a piece. Both rooms were reached by a narrow spiral stair
case, one stacked upon the other.
    Gray
had spent a good deal of time preparing the great hall for their visitors. The
grand old dame would once again come alive with guests, as it had in ages past.
Though still wary of the mercenary army’s presence, she found herself
increasingly excited as she prepared the room.  It wasn’t often they had
visitors, and she was looking forward to having someone new to talk to. Perhaps
there would be news of the happenings through the realm.  Isolated as Erith
was, information was few and far between.  
    As
far as they knew, Longshanks still ruled, though he had been in poor health for
some time. The Scots were creating issues as far south as York, but had
thankfully missed Erith, to the west of York although still considered a part
of the disputed north.  The landscape of their region of Cumbria was thickly
wooded and off the beaten path.  In spite of their regional location, they were
protected by the barrier of the Pennine Mountains from the turmoil that gripped
the rest of country.
    The
buck that Braxton’s men had brought had been roasting over an enormous pit in
the kitchen yard for several hours, creating a heavenly smell of roasting
venison.  Gray had been in the kitchen when two of the knights who had helped
rescue Brooke brought in other supplies – dried fruits, jerky, barley meal, and
a large sack of flour. And not just any flour; it was finely sifted white
flour. Gray had been momentarily speechless, but quickly found her tongue and
graciously thanked the knights. Dallas and Geoff bowed graciously and left the
kitchen yard just as swiftly as they had entered it. 
    The
cook, a fat woman with a strange habit of howling like an animal, was delighted
with the supplies.  She hooted for her daughter and immediate began preparing
the flour to bake fine white bread for their sup. The woman’s equally bizarre
daughter joined her and Gray left the two hooting and barking as she continued
her duties. 
    The
sunset was creating ribbons of orange and pink across the sky, signaling the
onset of a lovely night.  Normally, Gray was so busy with never-ending chores
that she scarcely had time to notice such things. But she gazed up at the sky,
enjoying the colors, her mind eased that they would actually be enjoying a
satisfying meal this night. In spite of her caution regarding the mercenary
army, they had thus far provided Erith with much appreciated supplies and her
resistance to them was beginning to wane. Perhaps she was being too harsh. 
Perhaps she should be more thankful and less suspicious.
    Deep
in thought, she wandered from the kitchen yard and into the main bailey. The
keep was to her left, a big stone tower that was too cold in both summer and
winter. Passing the stables, she kicked a few scrawny chickens out of her way
and nearly tripped over a broken piece of some kind of farming tool.  Reaching
down to pick it up, she propped the piece of wood on a small fence near the
stables.
    Continuing
on, she rounded the keep and ran headlong into several of de Nerra’s men.  She
recognized two of the knights but there was another knight standing with them
that she had not met yet. They were a young group, perhaps her age or younger,
yet they radiated the aura of seasoned men. All three men bowed graciously to
her as she passed, but their interest was apparent.  She was uncomfortable with
the way they stared at her. Suddenly nervous, she bobbed her head politely and
turned for the keep, running headlong into Braxton.
    She
plowed right into him. He reached out to