The Knight and the Seer Read Online Free PDF Page A

well.”
    “Is Jeremy your husband?”
    Again that soft, musical laugh that wrapped itself around his heart in a way that he found puzzling. “Jeremy is a troll who lives with us in the Mystical Kingdom.”
    “A troll?” He arched a brow. “Now I know you’re having fun with me.”
    “Nay. I assure you. He is more than ten score years.”
    “No one lives more than a hundred years.”
    “No one in your world, perhaps.” Seeing that he had no intention of withdrawing his hands, she gave a long sigh. “Just so you know that I tried to give you fair warning.”
    She kneaded his hands between both of hers, moving her thumb and fingers over his, while she began to chant.
    Andrew was forced to absorb a sudden shaft of heat as her fingers slowly moved over his. Heat that went straight to his loins. As if that weren’t enough, he felt a momentary thrill at the sound of that soft, breathy voice as she began to chant.
    There was something about this woman. By firelight, her skin was as pale as alabaster, her eyes gleaming golden like a cat’s. Her hair, the color of palest ale, fell in silken curls to below her waist. He had a compelling desire to plunge his hands into her hair, to see if it could be as soft as it looked. But that would be dangerous. For all he knew, she could have been sent by his enemies to lull him into a false sense of security. Besides, with all that had happened, he was hardly in a mood to have his mind muddled by some charming female.
    Suddenly the chanting ceased and her eyes widened. “I command you, as all things begin, to heal these wounds and make new this skin.”
    At her words, something flew through the air and landed with a crash in the middle of the table, sending meat and gravy spilling across the linen cloth.
    Both Gwenellen and Andrew pushed back from the table, staring at the resulting mess with matching looks of shock.
    Then, as the truth dawned, Gwenellen’s cheeks grew bright pink. “I wanted this man’s skin made new. Not a new skin.” She picked up the odd thing that had intruded and muttered, “It appears to be kidskin, or perhaps a lambskin.”
    Andrew plucked it from her hands to study it by the light of the fire. “I believe it’s a pig’s bladder.”
    As Gwenellen blushed in embarrassment, the corners of Andrew’s mouth curved upward. He wanted very much to laugh, but he knew it would only add to her humiliation. Still, the absurdity of it had him covering his mouth with his hand and coughing several times before turning back to her.
    “I’m…” Seeing what she thought was a scowl, she could hardly get the words out. “I’m truly sorry. But I did warn you that my spells often went awry.”
    “So you did. But I must admit I wasn’t quite prepared for a pig’s bladder in the middle of our table.” He lifted a decanter, filling both their tankards. “Let’s ignore this…minor interruption and try to enjoy our meal.”
    Humbled, Gwenellen took a bite of warm bread and made an attempt to get the man’s mind off her blunder. “What did the queen ask of you when you went to Edinburgh?”
    “Her Majesty is feeling put upon by many who want her to share the power of the throne. She requires a few trusted friends to counsel her on matters of church and state.”
    “And are you one of the queen’s trusted friends?”
    “My family has long been aligned with hers. Now that she has returned from France to claim her rightful place upon the throne, she is feeling besieged from all sides. But, though I was flattered by her trust, and eager to see her succeed, I have no desire to live anywhere but here in the Highlands. Alas, I arrived home too late.”
    “Do you believe someone alerted your enemy to your absence?”
    He nodded. “How else to explain what happened?”
    “And now your enemy has your stepmother.”
    “Sabrina.” There was something about the way he spoke her name that had Gwenellen looking at him closely.
    “Do you think she is still