“Aye,” Magnus said. “You are free to go where you wish.”
“Again thank you,” she said and went through the arch that led to the cooking area.
“She is different than most women,” Thomas said, staring after her.
“She is too skinny.”
Thomas nodded. “Lack of food will do that.”
“She does have courage.”
“And she is honest.”
“Aye, that she is.”
Thomas waited a moment, then continued. “The question is, will you be honest with her?”
“In time.”
“You will not tell her then?”
“There is no need,” Magnus said.
The puppy woke, yawned, stretched and attempted to climb in Magnus’s lap. He picked him up and held him close, the little pup licking at his chin.
Thomas shook his head. “No need to tell the small wisp of a lass that you already had every intention of paying Peter Kilkern, earl of Culberry, a visit?”Chapter 4Reena stretched her arms up as if reaching for the sky. She rolled her neck from side to side, lowered her arms, and gave a huge yawn. It had been a long night, with barely two hours of sleep, and the pallet before the hearth in the great hall had been most welcoming. Now that dawn had graced the land with light she needed to get busy.
She had mapped most of the keep, having started at the top and worked her way down. The tower room had fascinated her. She had recorded the area quickly, but she could not help but linger and look over the many interesting objects. Many were from distant lands, but many were foreign to her, their purpose unknown to her. She realized the room was Magnus’s solar, his retreat that held his prized possessions, and it gave her a more personal glimpse of the Legend.
He had traveled extensively, and she envied him the sights he had seen and the memories he had gathered, though she realized not all were favorable memories. Weapons of all shapes and sizes hung on the walls, along with beautifully crafted tapestries. Wooden chests carved with the most interesting designs mingled with chairs carved in the same fashion. Goblets of silver and gold sat along flasks of the same metals, and bright-colored silks lay draped over chairs and chests. Then there were the skulls of animals and pelts of the softest fur and a silver metal shield imprinted with strange symbols and several large dents, making her cringe at the thought of the severe blows it had suffered.
She had lingered too long in that particular room, but then there had been so much of interest to look at. She had hurried on after that, recording with her charcoal and storing objects in her mind so that she could add pertinent details later.
Now that the sun had risen she wanted to take advantage of the light and the fine weather.
The keep was just coming to life, the smell of fresh-cooked food wafting in the hall from the kitchen. The delicious aroma made her lick her lips. But there was no time to eat if she was to finish mapping the castle grounds. Besides, there were many in her village that would not have food this day. And that reminded her of the consequences of her task at hand. She could not fail her people. They needed a champion, someone to defend them and to see that they had decent lodgings and adequate food—they needed the Legend.
And she intended to make certain they got the Legend.
She would map his keep and castle grounds so well that he would realize that he could not do without her skills, and though her agreement would bind her to him, she did not mind—the thought actually excited her. Being his mapmaker, she would travel with him and get to see and to record far distant lands, and she would learn and strive to improve her skills.
Reena felt confident, while her stomach quietly protested its hunger. With a hand to her stomach she said, “There will be time for food later.”
“I think not.”
The strong objection had her spinning on her heels to face the Legend. His good looks caused her stomach to flutter. She had never known or seen such a handsome man.
Today he wore all black, the leather on his tunic trimmed with silver metalwork over his shoulder and across his chest in a well-crafted, circular design. His brown hair was tied back with a few strands of golden blond falling free. But it was the sight of the plump black puppy he held in his arms that made him appear less intimidating.
“You will fill your protesting stomach before you set to work.” He summoned a servant who lingered nearby.
The young woman’s face lit with a wide smile as she hurried over to him.
“Fill this table close to the hearth with a hearty fare.”
The lass nodded, her smile remaining as she hurried off.
Magnus directed Reena to the table flanked by two benches.