Read Online The Lady and the Falconer by Laurel O'Donnell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laurel O'Donnell
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, romance novels, romance books, Historical Romance, romance adventure, medieval romance, romance ebooks, romance author
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prisoners, but had not had an opportunity to do it yet.
Solace rubbed a hand over her eyes. She had spent half the night lying awake in her bed. A killer in Castle Fulton. It could spell doom for them. Her people needed to be protected. She had to find him. Her gaze swept the crowd of peasants and soldiers around her. She knew most of the people, and those she didn’t know by name, she at least knew their faces. Had Barclay somehow bribed someone? The thought made her scowl. Even though she knew the attraction of coin was strong, she liked to believe her people and men were loyal and they wouldn’t betray Fulton so easily.
But strangely, it wasn’t the thought of a killer that had kept her awake. It was the offer of protection. Protection proposed by someone with deep gray eyes.
She wiped a strand of hair from her eyes as her gaze swept the outer ward. She saw the falconer immediately. He stood a head above everyone and wasn’t hard to miss as he spoke with old Ben across the courtyard. The falcon perched majestically on the leather patch sewn onto the shoulder of his brown tunic.
A man carrying an armload of wood toward the kitchens crossed Solace’s vision. She leaned her head to the side, looking around the man to get a better glimpse of the falconer’s powerful physique. Even when he was standing still, the muscles in his arms strained against his tunic. A hot flush spread through her body as she remembered the feel of his hands on hers.
Then, she saw him turn slightly and followed his gaze to see Beth heading in his direction. Her half sister wore the lowest cut dress she had, a pale blue velvet to match her eyes. Her dark hair was curled tightly over her ears in the latest fashion. Beth held out a hand to the falconer, and he promptly took it and brought it to his lips. Solace had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Disappointed, her shoulders slumped. Was there no man who could resist Beth’s beauty?
Old Ben had moved away from the two. Solace could only see Logan’s back, his rich, dark hair rivaling the darkest feathers of the falcon on his shoulder.
Beth raised a hand to touch the falcon. The bird nipped at Beth’s fingers. Solace found some satisfaction as her half sister quickly withdrew her hand. Serves her right, Solace thought, and was surprised at her own viciousness.
Suddenly, the falcon spread its dark wings and took flight, screeching loudly.
A cry went up from one of the guards stationed on the battlements.
Solace’s grin slipped a notch as she saw every muscle in Logan’s body tense. He turned and their gazes locked. Solace read the warning there, the alarm. Then, suddenly, a whooshing filled the air. She quickly lifted her head to see a swarm of arrows blanketing the sky, heading straight for them!
Chapter Seven
S houts of warning crescendoed around Solace as the arrows descended on their deadly paths. Screams of pain and cries of death rose from all around her. An arrow landed in the ground beside her, scattering the chickens in the coop. A mad dash followed as the villagers raced for the safety of the inner ward.
Instinct told her to run. Instead, she glanced over her shoulder to see the falconer hurrying Beth through the open gates that led to the inner ward.
Solace followed the crowd. Then, she saw a young woman screaming, bending over an older man who had an arrow sticking out of his chest. Solace recognized the miller and his daughter, Jenny. She dodged the peasants running for cover and moved toward the fallen man. Jenny’s outstretched hand was smeared with blood, her tear-filled eyes pleading with Solace. Solace turned her gaze to the miller. The blood on Jenny’s hand was not from the arrow wound, but from the blood the miller was coughing up.
“Go to the inner ward,” Solace ordered Jenny, bending over the miller.
“But my father –” the girl sobbed.
“Go!” she ordered. When Jenny hesitated, Solace turned to her with
Solace rubbed a hand over her eyes. She had spent half the night lying awake in her bed. A killer in Castle Fulton. It could spell doom for them. Her people needed to be protected. She had to find him. Her gaze swept the crowd of peasants and soldiers around her. She knew most of the people, and those she didn’t know by name, she at least knew their faces. Had Barclay somehow bribed someone? The thought made her scowl. Even though she knew the attraction of coin was strong, she liked to believe her people and men were loyal and they wouldn’t betray Fulton so easily.
But strangely, it wasn’t the thought of a killer that had kept her awake. It was the offer of protection. Protection proposed by someone with deep gray eyes.
She wiped a strand of hair from her eyes as her gaze swept the outer ward. She saw the falconer immediately. He stood a head above everyone and wasn’t hard to miss as he spoke with old Ben across the courtyard. The falcon perched majestically on the leather patch sewn onto the shoulder of his brown tunic.
A man carrying an armload of wood toward the kitchens crossed Solace’s vision. She leaned her head to the side, looking around the man to get a better glimpse of the falconer’s powerful physique. Even when he was standing still, the muscles in his arms strained against his tunic. A hot flush spread through her body as she remembered the feel of his hands on hers.
Then, she saw him turn slightly and followed his gaze to see Beth heading in his direction. Her half sister wore the lowest cut dress she had, a pale blue velvet to match her eyes. Her dark hair was curled tightly over her ears in the latest fashion. Beth held out a hand to the falconer, and he promptly took it and brought it to his lips. Solace had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Disappointed, her shoulders slumped. Was there no man who could resist Beth’s beauty?
Old Ben had moved away from the two. Solace could only see Logan’s back, his rich, dark hair rivaling the darkest feathers of the falcon on his shoulder.
Beth raised a hand to touch the falcon. The bird nipped at Beth’s fingers. Solace found some satisfaction as her half sister quickly withdrew her hand. Serves her right, Solace thought, and was surprised at her own viciousness.
Suddenly, the falcon spread its dark wings and took flight, screeching loudly.
A cry went up from one of the guards stationed on the battlements.
Solace’s grin slipped a notch as she saw every muscle in Logan’s body tense. He turned and their gazes locked. Solace read the warning there, the alarm. Then, suddenly, a whooshing filled the air. She quickly lifted her head to see a swarm of arrows blanketing the sky, heading straight for them!
Chapter Seven
S houts of warning crescendoed around Solace as the arrows descended on their deadly paths. Screams of pain and cries of death rose from all around her. An arrow landed in the ground beside her, scattering the chickens in the coop. A mad dash followed as the villagers raced for the safety of the inner ward.
Instinct told her to run. Instead, she glanced over her shoulder to see the falconer hurrying Beth through the open gates that led to the inner ward.
Solace followed the crowd. Then, she saw a young woman screaming, bending over an older man who had an arrow sticking out of his chest. Solace recognized the miller and his daughter, Jenny. She dodged the peasants running for cover and moved toward the fallen man. Jenny’s outstretched hand was smeared with blood, her tear-filled eyes pleading with Solace. Solace turned her gaze to the miller. The blood on Jenny’s hand was not from the arrow wound, but from the blood the miller was coughing up.
“Go to the inner ward,” Solace ordered Jenny, bending over the miller.
“But my father –” the girl sobbed.
“Go!” she ordered. When Jenny hesitated, Solace turned to her with
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