Suzanne Robinson Read Online Free Page B

shutters were open to let in sunlight. She knelt on a bench and leaned out the window to gaze over the sparkling blue of the river Clare, past a patchwork of fields to the forest beyond them. Dozens of knight’s tents had been erected between the castle and palisade at the edge of the promontory. To her right the sun was sinking toward the hills. She drummed her fingers on the windowsill, deep in thought.
    “Please, mistress, not again.”
    “You may stay home this time.”
    “Someday you’re going to meet a man who’ll turn your own tricks against you.”
    Juliana smiled. “There’s not a man alive clever enough, or if there is, he’ll be too full of his own male importance to reason out the solution.”
    Alice crossed herself and muttered a quick prayer. “God preserve you, my lady.”
    “I like to help God along in his care of me—what’s that noise?”
    Juliana leaned farther out the window and listened. On top of the keep the sentry was blowing his horn. She heard a shout. Her gaze swept the river valley and found a mass of riders poised on the west bank. Ranged along the river, they formed a long line of glinting metal and rich colors, the most dominant of which were green and gold.
    “De Valence! I’ve no doubt he’s as hateful as his cousin since they share the same evil blood.” Juliana left the window and raced out of the room. “Come, Alice. Let’s see this scandalous phoenix Father so dreads to meet.”
    She ran downstairs and shouldered her way through the throng of servants in the hall who were preparing it for an evening feast. Outside she saw her parents, their younger daughters, and their highest retainers hastily putting themselves in order as they rushed across the bailey to the drawbridge to greet the new arrival. Juliana ducked behind the dovecote before they could see her, then went to the stairs that led to the wall walk. With Alice protesting behind her, she gained the wall walk and dodged men-at-arms on her way to a turret beside the gatehouse.
    Once at the turret, she hurried up a winding stair to the top. There she perched in an embrasure and watched as a standard-bearer rode across the west bridge. He bore a great emerald banner that snapped in the wind. The breeze tossed her hair in her eyes, and she brushed it away. When she could see, she beheld a winged golden dragon rearing on the standard. The wind made the standard furl and billow so that the dragon appeared to twist, snarl, and claw in attack.
    Behind the standard-bearer rode a long line of men,three abreast. Juliana surveyed their number. Thunder of heaven, there must be almost two hundred men! Only the most powerful barons had riding households of that size. This was indeed a powerful phoenix.
    She searched the first line of men riding behind the standard-bearer and in the middle found de Valence by the colors he was wearing—an emerald-green surcoat of the finest silk over gleaming silver chain mail. A glittering dragon of gold breathed fire on his chest. She wished he would remove that great helm, for all she could see were black slits where his eyes should be.
    Suddenly that great helm turned and tilted in her direction. Juliana ducked behind a merlon, then peered out at him. The black slits in the great helm pointed at her, and for some unknown reason, she shivered and couldn’t make herself leave her hiding place. Thunder of God, she was frightened, and for no reason. Swallowing, she chanced a peek. To her relief, de Valence had ridden up to the gatehouse where her parents, sisters, and cousin Richard waited.
    He pulled up his mount, a black destrier Juliana now noticed for the first time. A quiver of uneasiness passed through her. Ah, what a foolish thought. There was more than one black stallion in the world.
    De Valence was still sitting on his horse. He gazed down at Hugo, who was giving a host’s greeting. Hugo finished, and still de Valence sat on the black horse that was growing restive. He controlled the