Lord of Falcon Ridge by Catherine Coulter Read Free Book Online Page A

kill as true as the mightiest blade.”
    Rollo grunted, still displeased. “Ah, there was another matter, Cleve.” Rollo paused. “It’s about Ragnor of York.”
    â€œWhat about him? I was told by Sitric, after I’d offered him a goodly amount of mead, that Ragnor had tried to seduce Chessa, but failed. She was hurt by his lies and Sitric told me that she gave him a purge that had him puking up his innards for several days.”
    â€œShe doesn’t sound at all submissive, Cleve.”
    â€œI would say rather, sire, that she was wronged and took her revenge.”
    â€œShe should have allowed another to avenge her.”
    â€œJust as Laren should have waited for a warrior to rescue her and Taby?”
    â€œOh, aye, Cleve, you have your smooth, clever tongue. Your wit tires me.”
    â€œForgive me, sire. What is it you wished to tell me about Ragnor of York?”
    â€œHe has decided he wants the princess. His father has told him that he was a fool to try to deceive her, to seduce her without marrying her first. Ragnor, from the tale you just told me, would probably rather flay the flesh off her back than wed her now. Purged him, did she? Puked up his guts? What did she use?”
    â€œMalle leaves mixed with ginger, something Ragnor likes, she told her father.”
    â€œDid he have his ass bare as well?”
    â€œI don’t know if the malle leaves have that result.”
    Rollo laughed, a low rumble, then louder and louder until he threw his head back, striking it against the back of the huge throne. He grunted and leaned forward, allowing one of his bodyguards to rub the back of his head.
    â€œMore to the left, near my right ear,” Rollo said as the man massaged his head as gently as he would a babe’s.
    â€œDid I tell you, Cleve, that William just laughed when I told him I was getting old and I should step down for him? Aye, he laughed and laughed, but he didn’t hit his head. He’s young and thinks ahead.”
    â€œWilliam knows that wisdom and leadership remain constant in a man of your abilities, sire.”
    â€œThat sounds like a diplomat’s hollow praise, Cleve.”
    â€œThat is what the princess told me. Do I speak with false praise? Say meaningless words? Very well, if it pleases you to hear the truth, I would agree with William. Keep to your place, Duke Rollo, until you can no longer rise from your bed. You have fought hard to gain your place, you have brought prosperity to a land that had been nearly torn asunder by avarice and battle and rapacity. Enjoy your power now, for all men must die. Valhalla might be what one would desire for eternity, but I think I should prefer the joys of the mortal world for as long as I could. Aye, sire, keep your throne and power for a while longer. William doesn’t mind. Your people don’t mind.”
    â€œI raised him well,” Rollo said. “Did you say that the princess insulted you?”
    â€œAye, she did, said I had a tongue like an adder, a tongue that lolled about spewing honeyed words but said nothing.”
    â€œShe sounds difficult, Cleve.”
    Cleve just smiled. The princess wasn’t all that difficult. However, William had no heavy hand with a woman, so Cleve imagined that her marriage to him would be pleasant. He wondered what Chessa would think of her father-in-law.
    â€œIn any case, I hear that Ragnor wants her. Wants to wed with her. He’s a man, not a boy, all of twenty-one, but he’s a selfish creature, spoiled. I can’t imagine that he would have any kindness for a girl who purged him.” Theduke laughed again, this time throwing his head forward. Still, his bodyguard stepped up, ready. “Until she is here in Rouen, we must take care that Ragnor doesn’t take her.”
    â€œI will fetch her myself, sire,” Cleve said, then wondered why he’d said it. He didn’t want to see Chessa again until she was standing