Blaze of Silver Read Online Free

wondered—no, he hoped—there might be another time. Although Ellie gave him no encouragement, he could not shake off this hope and when he stood in the stable with Hosanna beside him and Ellie in front, he could sometimes believe he was happy.
    Elric tugged at Will’s jerkin. “Can I go with you tomorrow?” he begged. “I may not be good with a lance yet but I can ride and you’ll need somebody to tend the horses whilst you count the money.”
    Will raised his eyebrows. “It’s too far, Elric,” he said. “I’m not sure you are quite ready.”
    â€œBut if Hal’s going with you, he could carry onteaching me on the way.” Elric could be relied upon to argue. “Think how much improvement I could make.”
    â€œWell, yes,” Will agreed, almost unable to resist Elric’s pleading face because it reminded him so much of himself. “I’ll think about it over supper.”
    Elric knew he had won and threw a triumphant glance at Hal, who winked at him as they all began to move toward the great hall. Then Elric found Marissa beside him. “Don’t think you are so great,” she said, her mouth curled with jealousy. She hated the castle when Will was not at home, and the night before he left she was always at her worst. “It’s only because I am a girl that I can’t go.”
    The boy grinned naughtily. “I suppose when you can canter without clinging on to a neckstrap,” he said, his voice angelically sympathetic, “the earl might take you over to the abbey. They make honey there, you know, which can sweeten even the sourest temper.” He dodged her smack with ease and ran off.
    Will sighed. Elric was naughty but why on earth couldn’t Marissa be nicer? Her obvious adoration of him was very gratifying but it was also a nuisance since it made her so poisonous. He thought of saying something to her—again—but decided not to. He would never change her and anyway, he had more important things to think about. He had just turned to summon Constable Shortspur, who would be in charge of the garrison in his absence, when an archer practicing his craft from the battlements called down. “Sir,” he shouted, “Earl William! There’s somebody coming up the road.”
    Silence fell and the knights stiffened, poised to rush for armor and swords. The porter began to wind up thedrawbridge. But the archer, leaning right over, seemed unperturbed. “It’s just one person,” he called, then after a moment, “and a horse. Yes, sir. One person and a silver-colored horse. The man is leading it and he looks tired.”
    Will signaled for the drawbridge to be lowered again and with Hal and Ellie right behind him and Marissa pushing forward, he strode out. In the courtyard, Hosanna ignored Elric’s proffered apple, stamped one front hoof so hard it drew sparks, and then stood perfectly still.

3
    Amal was more aware of the archer than the group at the end of the drawbridge. He had heard about English archers, so he stooped a little lower and shuffled a little more, his cloak, shabby and frayed, dragging its tatters in the dirt. The silver horse beside him was unconcerned. Recovered from the long sea journey and shining with the sheen only English grass can produce, the horse’s walk was light and brisk and, every three paces or so, Amal was forced to abandon his shuffle and skip to keep up. Occasionally the horse snatched impatiently at the restraining rein and Amal’s arm would jerk. The two looked very ill suited.
    Will screwed up his eyes. Something about the horse was vaguely familiar. That color, the kind of silver that can die or sparkle depending on the light, was unusual, as was the concave set of the face, the darker mane and tail and the wide nostrils. The horse was not big—hardly bigger than Hosanna, who himself was small for a warhorse—but it stood tall, its neck