The Huntsmen Read Online Free PDF Page B

thought to embers flying free and the gown parts being found. Don’t worry though. I’ll cut it up nice and small to burn a piece at a time. I think it’ll be cathartic to get that done, don’t you?”
    "I think it’ll be whatever you make of it, Princess," Dierk said quietly. "It's in my pack still so you can collect it.” Reaching down, he pulled a blade from his boot and, flipping it over, he passed it to her hilt first, "You can use that to slice it up into whatever pieces you wish."
    “Thank you,” she murmured and pulled her gown from his pack. Quickly, she began to tear the gown to shreds, making smaller and smaller pieces as she went. Grabbing an empty basket, she put the pieces into it and nodded, “There, we have many a piece to burn, would you like to be with me when I drop the first one into the flames?”
    Nodding, he stood and took the blade from her slipping it back into his boot. Guiding her to the fire, he crouched down and held the basket out, "Better say a prayer or something before you cast the first piece. I'd hate for you to ruin your chances of ever being married by burning this gown, Princess."
    Snow snorted, “As if anyone would have me,” she muttered and tossed the first piece upon the fire. “I've been caged like an animal for thirteen years, believe me, no one wants a Princess whose only wishes in life are to kill the witch that killed her father, and take back her kingdom and set right what was destroyed."
    "Only a fool wouldn't want a strong and determined woman as his own," Dierk told her quietly. Sitting down, he crossed his legs and watched the fire eating at the piece of cloth. "You might be surprised, Your Highness, at just what a man would do to possess such a rare blossom as yourself."
    “Surprised wouldn’t even come close to covering it,” Snow admitted and tossed the next piece of cloth on the flames. “But as long as my people are free and my kingdom once more thrives I’ll have to be happy with that,” she added with a soft sigh.
    "And if you find a man or two who would be honored to have you for their own?" he asked curiously. "Come on, Snow, I'm pretty sure I could name you three fellows at the very least who would walk through the fires of Hell to take you as theirs."
    Snow smiled, “You’re sweet, Dierk, but if you could name me three men that would want me as theirs, and be willing to share me, I’d jump at the chance. As long as I could care for each them in turn,” she added. “But since I seriously doubt you could do that, will you let this go, please?”
    "You'll be sorry you asked me to do that because I could and they would," he said softly. Shrugging, he hopped to his feet, "Keep burning your gown and think about it while I clean up.” Moving away from her, he collected the dishes from the table and took everything into the kitchen to scrape them clean and wash them.
    She continued to burn the dress, from time to time rising to look in on him and wondering at his words. She had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she pushed it off. When she was about halfway through the burning of the gown she heard a sound outside and rose, “Dierk? What is that?” she whispered, fear in her voice even as she tried to battle it down.
    Moving to her fast, he put himself between her and the door and whistled on a rising tone. Hearing an answering but reverse sound, he relaxed, "It's just the lads finally arriving.” Turning, he smiled at her and touched her cheek, "No harm will come to you here, you have my word on that."
    Snow leaned into his touch and closed her eyes for a moment. “Alright,” she pulled back then and looked up at him. “Are the others your sons? You speak of them as if they’re children, but then you said that you each had a home. I’m confused.”
    "They’re my best friends and always have been," he told her, looking up as the door opened. "Ahh, here they are, the errant lads finally come back home. Any troubles?" he asked