Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 01 by A Knight of Silence Page B
Authors: A Knight of Silence
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mother.
Dropping his arms, he acknowledged her with a curt nod before slowly
making his way back inside.
Tears blurred Reina’s vision as she stared after his retreating figure.
With a sad sigh, she followed the well-worn path her father had just
taken.
Curling up on the grave, she bid farewell to her mother.
* * * *
The next morning dawned overcast as Reina prepared to leave Kenwick for
the first and last time.
Glancing around her small chamber, she did not feel the sense of loss
she thought she would. Her home had
always been with Warin and Hylda and she would be taking them with her in her
heart.
Pulling her door closed, she made her way down the darkened passage.
Pausing by Fulke’s chamber, she splayed her hand on the closed door. She stood
there a moment, giving into her tears.
For the first time in her life, she wished she were sound. Taking a deep breath, she dried her eyes with
her sleeve.
Knowing Warin would keep his word to stay away as she bade him, she
descended the steps with her head held high. She would not give Baldith the
pleasure of seeing her weep.
Passing through the Great Hall without pause, she stepped outside to
find Hylda waiting on the top step. Finding herself gathered in the small
woman’s fierce embrace, her resolve not to cry failed her.
Easing herself from Hylda’s grip, she forced a smile. “You shall be in my prayers every day, Hylda.”
Raising tear-swollen eyes, Hylda handed her a wrapped bundle. “God keep
you, my Reina.” Wringing her hands, she
rushed back into the hall.
Taking several deep breaths, Reina looked up to find her father’s gaze
resting on her. For one heartbreaking
moment, a glimmer of hope flared within her, before being extinguished as he
turned to rejoin the conversation with Father Godfrey and Baldith.
By the time she felt composed enough to descend the steps, the men
riding guard were mounted.
She clasped her trembling hands around the bundle Hylda had given her
as she approached the group. Dipping her head to Father Godfrey, she briefly
glanced at her father’s unreadable visage, ignoring Baldith altogether.
Reaching to climb into the high seat of the wagon, she was surprised
when her father stepped forward to assist her. Searching his face for some sign
of warmth, she observed the pain of loss in his eyes.
Briefly meeting her own anguished gaze, he stepped back.
She kept her eyes averted from the heat of Baldith’s gaze as she
situated herself.
Her hand stilled in the process of raising her hood to glance up at the
top of the tower. His face solemn, Warin
stood with his arm held high in a solitary salute. She briefly raised a trembling hand to him
before pulling her hood low over her face.
Father Godfrey climbed up to settle himself beside her as she clutched
Hylda’s bundle to her chest. She felt
his gaze as he picked up the reins to set the mules in motion.
As they slowly wound their way down the slope leading to the village,
she knew Warin would still be on the tower, yet could not bring herself to look
back.
Father Godfrey patted her hand to get her attention as they reached the
rutted road at the base of the hill. She glanced up only to choke back a sob by
the sight before her. The villagers were all standing alongside the road with
their heads bowed in silent tribute to her.
She spotted Rolfe standing proudly beside his mother with tears
tracking down his rosy little cheeks and gave in to her sorrow.
* * * *
Fulke woke at dawn with his heart racing. Recalling the dream that had woken him, a
fleeting vision of Reina in anguish entered his mind. Lying back on the pillows, he stared at the
faded linen canopy above him.
At some point during the long fitful night, he resigned himself to what
he already knew to be true. He could not marry Sibilla, any more than he could
willingly stay away from Reina. For as long as he remained at Kendrick, Reina
would be a temptation to
Dropping his arms, he acknowledged her with a curt nod before slowly
making his way back inside.
Tears blurred Reina’s vision as she stared after his retreating figure.
With a sad sigh, she followed the well-worn path her father had just
taken.
Curling up on the grave, she bid farewell to her mother.
* * * *
The next morning dawned overcast as Reina prepared to leave Kenwick for
the first and last time.
Glancing around her small chamber, she did not feel the sense of loss
she thought she would. Her home had
always been with Warin and Hylda and she would be taking them with her in her
heart.
Pulling her door closed, she made her way down the darkened passage.
Pausing by Fulke’s chamber, she splayed her hand on the closed door. She stood
there a moment, giving into her tears.
For the first time in her life, she wished she were sound. Taking a deep breath, she dried her eyes with
her sleeve.
Knowing Warin would keep his word to stay away as she bade him, she
descended the steps with her head held high. She would not give Baldith the
pleasure of seeing her weep.
Passing through the Great Hall without pause, she stepped outside to
find Hylda waiting on the top step. Finding herself gathered in the small
woman’s fierce embrace, her resolve not to cry failed her.
Easing herself from Hylda’s grip, she forced a smile. “You shall be in my prayers every day, Hylda.”
Raising tear-swollen eyes, Hylda handed her a wrapped bundle. “God keep
you, my Reina.” Wringing her hands, she
rushed back into the hall.
Taking several deep breaths, Reina looked up to find her father’s gaze
resting on her. For one heartbreaking
moment, a glimmer of hope flared within her, before being extinguished as he
turned to rejoin the conversation with Father Godfrey and Baldith.
By the time she felt composed enough to descend the steps, the men
riding guard were mounted.
She clasped her trembling hands around the bundle Hylda had given her
as she approached the group. Dipping her head to Father Godfrey, she briefly
glanced at her father’s unreadable visage, ignoring Baldith altogether.
Reaching to climb into the high seat of the wagon, she was surprised
when her father stepped forward to assist her. Searching his face for some sign
of warmth, she observed the pain of loss in his eyes.
Briefly meeting her own anguished gaze, he stepped back.
She kept her eyes averted from the heat of Baldith’s gaze as she
situated herself.
Her hand stilled in the process of raising her hood to glance up at the
top of the tower. His face solemn, Warin
stood with his arm held high in a solitary salute. She briefly raised a trembling hand to him
before pulling her hood low over her face.
Father Godfrey climbed up to settle himself beside her as she clutched
Hylda’s bundle to her chest. She felt
his gaze as he picked up the reins to set the mules in motion.
As they slowly wound their way down the slope leading to the village,
she knew Warin would still be on the tower, yet could not bring herself to look
back.
Father Godfrey patted her hand to get her attention as they reached the
rutted road at the base of the hill. She glanced up only to choke back a sob by
the sight before her. The villagers were all standing alongside the road with
their heads bowed in silent tribute to her.
She spotted Rolfe standing proudly beside his mother with tears
tracking down his rosy little cheeks and gave in to her sorrow.
* * * *
Fulke woke at dawn with his heart racing. Recalling the dream that had woken him, a
fleeting vision of Reina in anguish entered his mind. Lying back on the pillows, he stared at the
faded linen canopy above him.
At some point during the long fitful night, he resigned himself to what
he already knew to be true. He could not marry Sibilla, any more than he could
willingly stay away from Reina. For as long as he remained at Kendrick, Reina
would be a temptation to
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