The Knight and the Dove Read Online Free PDF

foot and then inform him that she had designed the creamery at the Stone Lake abbey. All she said, however, was yes, she had. Megan figured if she worked for a time, she might better determine a way to get inside the castle. So just minutes later, Megan found herself working over a churn. She worked silently and efficiently, not speaking or looking at anyone, but feeling eyes on her. She also listened. If the gossip around her could be believed, the lord of the castle was not even there.
    Megan could have howled with frustration, but refraining, simply worked silently until she thought her arms would give way. It was a tremendous relief to have the man who had grabbed her, the one the other women called Eddie, dismiss them for the day. Megan breathed deeply of the fresh air once she was outside.
    She noticed the servants queuing up behind a cauldron of food and suddenly realized she was starving. Without a shred of pride left, Megan joined them. Heads turned to stare at her, but she ignored them. At the moment she would have given up her dowry for a bath, but food in her stomach was the next best thing.
    The line moved steadily along, but Megan seemed to be the last, for no one stood behind her. She glanced up at one point to find the giant some ten feet away. He appeared to be staring right at Megan, and for a moment she could not look away from his steady gaze. Just then, the man in front of her sneezed loudly, and Megan dropped her eyes.
    That the big man was of some importance was obvious, but he terrified Megan. She heard someone call “Arik” and looked up to see the huge man turn. He towered over the person who spoke to him, as he did everyone. Megan dropped her eyes just before the other man leftand the giant turned his attention to her once again. It never occurred to her to ask him for help; he was too intimidating for that.
    At last it was Megan’s turn to eat. She took one of the few remaining bowls, which were carved roughly from wood and a bit greasy, and held it out to the man behind the cauldron. Megan ignored his odd look, so she didn’t see the exchange with the giant behind her. Her bowl was suddenly filled to the top, and where the bread pan had been empty, it now held a full loaf. The man broke a huge chunk off for Megan, who thanked him humbly.
    She then moved to a place against the wall and sank down to eat. There were no utensils, so Megan soaked her bread with broth for the first time. She ate like a man starved. Her bowl was over half empty and some of the shakes had left her body when she once again looked and found the giant’s eyes on her.
    Megan’s face flamed with the way she’d been eating, and she set her bowl aside. To her surprise, the giant averted his gaze.
    Megan’s eyes dropped to her bowl, but when she looked up he was still looking away. Still hungry, she reached for the food again, and this time she finished every bite. The giant was still there, but he was not staring directly at her.
    The sun was falling fast by the time Megan was through, and since it was midsummer, she watched many of the castle’s inhabitants make their beds along the castle walls. Megan didn’t care for the idea of sleeping on the ground without a blanket, so she rose slowly and surreptitiously made her way in the gathering dusk across the inner courtyard to the blacksmith’s. The building was empty.
    Wishing she could see a little better, Megan entered on nearly silent feet and soon found what appeared to be an empty stall. The hay smelled fresh, and she gingerly stretched out on her side. She was asleep inside of five minutes, and even when the giant of the castle, holding a lantern and ducking his head to enter, came to check on her, she didn’t stir. She also didn’t stir when he settled down for the night against the wall just outside the door.

     
    By Megan’s fifth day at Hawkings Crest, her life had developed something of a pattern. Every night she slept in the smithy’s shop andate with