Vision In Love (Legends of The North Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

first time, she took it all in. She could smell the alcohol, years of it probably soaked into the carpet, and a faint whiff of grilling meats. The decor was old-fashioned and a little worn. Wooden furniture showed years of use in their deep grooves and scars. It was busier than she had expected for a Monday night. Snippets of different conversations floated toward her, merging into one incoherent murmur. And then Matt was back, smiling at her like he'd known her for years rather than almost an hour.
    "Thanks," she said as he set a drink down for her.
    "You're welcome. So, how long have you been living in the village?"
    "I moved here in September, so almost a month. What about you?"
    "Born and bred. So I know how this village thrives on gossip, yet I haven't heard a thing about you. How have you managed to stay under their radar?"
    Mmm, how was she supposed to answer that without sounding like a lonely recluse? "Well, I've not had much chance to meet anybody yet. What with moving in, starting a new job, and my mum being ill, it's been a bit hectic."
    "I'm sorry to hear about your mum. Does she live nearby?"
    "Yeah, my parents live in Stydon, so they're only down the road."
    "Oh, so you're not new to the area?"
    "No. I was born in Stydon. I've never lived in Altenchester before, but I had friends from here."
    He heard the past tense she'd used and saw the sad look that flicked across her face. Maybe she didn't want to talk about her family; he could understand that. Not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable, he tried a change in topic.
    "So, I noticed your interest in the helmet. Anything in particular you want to know about it?" He saw that half-smile again and relaxed.
    "How about everything you know about it?"
    He let out a short, deep laugh. "That might take a while."
    "Okay, how about the edited version so you don't miss your talk and I can get back before my dog destroys the house."
    "You have a dog?"
    Her eyebrows drew together over her narrowed eyes. "Yes. Why do you sound so surprised by that?"
    "Erm, I don't know. I mean, why wouldn't you have a dog? Okay, so, the helmet."
    He sounded flustered, but she couldn't understand why. Surely, the fact that she had a dog wouldn't cause that kind of reaction, would it? She shook her head because it didn't really matter; she only came to find out about the helmet, not him.
    "Was the helmet found around here? I assume it's Roman?"
    "Yes to both. It is Roman and was found by the riverbank, near the church. It was with quite a few other Roman artefacts. They're all on display in the museum. If you come back tomorrow, I'd be happy to show you."
    Her excitement dropped when he mentioned the church. She'd been hoping it had been found where her vision was. At least it would make sense why her dream had taken place there. After his explanation, she was just as confused as ever, but with more questions than answers.
    "Emma? You okay?"
    "Sorry, I'm fine. Just drifted off back in time for a moment. Do you know who the helmet might have belonged to? I mean, who would have worn it? It doesn't seem like it would be very practical to wear in battle," Emma said as she remembered how heavy the helmet looked. It would have covered a person's whole face.
    "No, you're right. The helmet would have been worn by high-ranking soldiers during cavalry tournaments to make a show of their expertise."
    Maybe the last soldier to wear it had some connection to where she'd seen it in the fields. Maybe he'd died there? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. The noise of a crowd entering the pub drew her thoughts back. Glancing at her watch, she realised she'd been out longer than she had planned.
    "You have to go?"
    "Yes, Barney's been on his own for quite a while now. I really appreciate you telling me about the helmet, and the drink."
    "Any time. And I meant it, my offer. If you come back to the museum tomorrow, I'll show you the rest of the items found with helmet. In fact, I think someone gave a talk