The Sword of Aradel Read Online Free PDF Page B

munching on another piece of cheese, asked curiously, “What formula is she talking about?”
    â€œThe one that will take us to the sword, Sir Brian. We always travel by formula.” The green eyes held a momentary gleam of mischief. “Surely you don’t think I use shanks’ pony to take my strawberries to the abbey!”
    â€œI—I sort of wondered,” he confessed. “But I’ve been wondering about a lot of things. You don’t go to the abbey just to sell strawberries. And it isn’t always to see Brother Benedict—you can talk to him from afar. I know he’s mixed up in something, just as you are. What are you? A kind of messenger?”
    â€œOf course! I take messages all over Aradel.”
    â€œAll over Aradel! But that’s impossible!” He shook his head. “You’re not a bird!”
    â€œNo, but I do have Tancred.” She glanced over at the nightingale, asleep on a perch. “I don’t know what I’d do without him. Anyway, traveling by formula is much better than flying.”
    â€œI—I don’t understand. But I don’t understand any of this, really.”
    â€œMy blessed stars! Didn’t that scheming uncle of mine tell you anything?” But before he could answer she gave an exaggerated sigh and said, “No, of course he didn’t. To all your questions I can hear him saying, ‘No, Brian, for your own safety it is far better that you do not know!’ And naturally he was right—or would have been right if today hadn’t happened.”
    â€œHe said I had upset a lot of plans by downing Rupert. And he also said I’d set something in motion. What did he mean by that?”
    â€œExactly what he said, Sir Brian.”
    â€œBut—but it doesn’t make sense!”
    â€œBut, Sir Brian, you began something by defeating Rupert, for one thing, thus spoiling the plans of Albericus.”
    â€œThat was an accident. Either that, or something was wrong with Rupert. Beating him was too easy.”
    â€œIt was no accident,” she retorted. “And there was nothing wrong with Rupert. My uncle told me all about it. He was so afraid of what might happen that he had a Saracen bow ready to kill both Albericus and Rupert if you had been cut down. Killing them wouldn’t have solved anything, would only have caused fighting all over Aradel for years. So you see—”
    â€œWait!” he interrupted. “You’ve got me more mixed up than ever. Are you trying to tell me that I beat Rupert because I’m actually better at arms?”
    â€œOf course, you silly goose! And why shouldn’t you be? You are a fair-haired Celt, and you were trained by the greatest swordsman the world has ever known. Why, if Albericus even suspected who my uncle is …” She rolled her green eyes tragically and shook her head.
    He could only stare at her, more confused than ever.
    Suddenly she gave one of her gay little laughs. “What has being a fair-haired Celt got to do with it?” she said. “And how do I know you are a Celt?” She paused, then said seriously, “I’m younger than you—only a little girl, really—but because my mother was of the Dryads, I was born with knowledge. Now, I will tell you something. Most Celts are dark, but there is a fair strain that produces great leaders and warriors. My father’s people are of that strain. So are you. That is why my uncle wanted you to hide your hair this morning. But Albericus saw it anyway, and knew you for what you are.”
    â€œBut that doesn’t explain—”
    â€œI’m not through yet. What I’m trying to tell you is that all the time you were at the abbey, my uncle was training you for a very special mission.”
    â€œTo find the true sword?”
    â€œOf course! Only, he wasn’t expecting you to be strong enough and ready for another year or more. But what