dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon by linda k hopkins Read Free Book Online Page B

shrugged. “You ran into her in the street, I’m sure, since you know that entertaining someone in your chambers would lead to immediate expulsion, as would sneaking out at night.”
    Zach grinned. “Right you are.”
    “Let these men get out of the cold,” Hannah interrupted. “My Sam lit a fire in the parlor in expectation of your arrival, and it should be cozy and warm by now.” She pushed the door closed behind them and waited as they shed their cloaks. “Take the men into the parlor, dear,” she said to Lydia, “and I’ll be along with some wine and victuals in a few minutes.”
    “Of course, Hannah,” Lydia said, leading the way down the passage. Her long hair rippled over her back as she walked, gleaming in the low light of the rush torches. Beneath the soft folds of a white gown swayed slender hips, and her bare feet passed over the stone floor with barely a whisper. She paused at the entrance of the room and turned to Lleland. He had been watching her graceful movements, but as he lifted his gaze to meet hers, the breath caught in his throat. All thoughts fled from his mind as he stared into her glowing eyes, shining like molten gold and more beautiful than anything he had ever seen. The eyes of a goddess.
    “Please make yourself comfortable, Master Seaton,” she said. He groped behind him and sat down heavily on a hard, wooden bench. Zach sat down next to his sister. “How go the studies?” she asked her brother.
    “Ah,” Zach said, leaning back in his seat. “We poor students are driven very hard. I’ve told you before that only Latin is allowed. A dry, dead language!”
    “A hardship indeed,” Lydia replied in that same language.
    Lleland looked at her in surprise. “You speak Latin?” he said.
    Lydia’s forehead furrowed as she slowly turned to look at him. “Yes,” she said. “Did you take me for an uneducated maid?”
    “Lydia,” Zach groaned. She turned to him with a glare, but then it was gone, and she gave a self-deprecating laugh as she turned ruefully back to Lleland.
    “My apologies, Master Seaton, that was rude of me.”
    Lleland waved his hand. “The apologies are mine, Mistress,” he said. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
    “Thank you,” she said with a smile. “You’re forgiven!” She caught his gaze, and Lleland smiled back, shaking himself when he realized he was staring.
    “How, er, I mean, where did you learn to speak Latin?” he asked.
    “Master Corbin. He was our tutor, growing up.”
    “Did he live in your remote mountain fortress?”
    Lydia laughed. “Yes. And he sent us all over the mountain, searching for every specimen of flora that grew there, didn’t he, Zach?”
    Lleland had forgotten about Zach for a moment, but he glanced at him now, surprised to see Zach regarding him with a slight frown. It vanished as he looked at Lydia. “I think he was just getting back at us for hiding from him so often!”
    “I don’t remember you hiding very often,” Lydia said playfully. “You were quite the student, always eager to please.”
    Zach flushed as Hannah entered the room, a large platter of sweetmeats in her hands. She placed it carefully on the table. “There now,” she said, “a small morsel to keep you going.” She picked up the wine and filled Lleland’s cup. “You’re Master Zach’s tutor, I hear.”
    “That’s correct,” Lleland replied.
    “It’s good to have the children in Civitas. I remember when they were just youngsters, here for the old king’s coronation.” She turned to Lydia. “Remember how excited you were –”
    “Thank you, Hannah,” Lydia interrupted. “I think we have all we need.” Hannah nodded and bustled out of the room. “Poor dear,” Lydia said when she was out of earshot, “she’s getting on in years, and sometimes gets a bit confused. She was thinking of our cousins, Bronwyn and Will.”
    Lleland laughed. “I was wondering about that. It must be…” – he paused to do a quick calculation