Word of Honor (Knights of Valor Book 1) by Lauren Linwood Read Free Book Online Page A

been ready
to feast on her, but he saw how tired she looked after a night that had seen
little in the way of sleep. She curled up against him. His arms went around
her. Soon, her breathing evened out.
    “Sleep, my
fair lady,” he told her softly. “I wore you out last night. You deserve a bit
of rest.” He stroked her chestnut hair, shades of red coming out in the sun.
“But I promise you I shall do the same to you tonight. And every night I can,
God be willing.”
    His
thoughts drifted. He wondered what Merryn would look like when she carried his
children in her belly. How many they might have. He started thinking of names
for both boys and girls. His last thought revolved around not caring which they
had, as long as they proved happy and healthy.
    Geoffrey
fell into a deep sleep.
    And awoke
to searing pain.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 8
     
    Merryn
awoke with a start, unsure where she was. A low moan sounded in her ear. She
sat up.
    And saw
Geoffrey pinned to the tree.
    An arrow
penetrated his right shoulder, holding him fast in place.
    “Sweet
Jesu!” She jumped to her feet.
    “Must be a
stray shot from the hunt,” he mumbled. He strained his neck trying to look at the
arrow.
    She looked
around. “No one’s within sight. Surely if ‘twas an accident, someone would step
forth to render aid.”
    His eyes
met hers. “Not if ‘tis a coward. A true man would live up to his mistake.” He
looked into the woods that lay beyond them. “Only a coward would run after such
an accident.”
    Merryn
leaned in to examine his shoulder and felt about the wound. Her fingers gently
pressed around the injured flesh.
    “’Tis gone
through the fleshy part of your shoulder. Not the bone. That is good news.” She
thought it awful, but she wanted to keep his spirits up as she watched the
agony growing on his face.
    “In war, I
learned to break off the shaft, then the arrow should be pulled out in the same
direction and the wound seared with a hot knife.”
    He tugged
on it. “My left hand is too weak to dislodge it.” He grimaced at the effort. “I
swear I shall build up the strength in that hand to equal my right. Whether in
sword play or love play, my left will do whatever the right can.”
    “Let me see
what I can do.” Merryn tugged with all her might, but the arrow had sunk deeply
into the tree. She sank to her knees next to him.
    She was
afraid what might happen if she did dislodge it. She knew an arrowhead was
secured to the stripped branch using tendons and sinews. Once it hit a man or
beast and became wet from blood and fluids, it would loosen and separate from
the shaft. If she pulled and only the shaft slipped free, the arrowhead left
behind could prove disastrous. Thanks to its rough edges, any movement could
inflame and aggravate the injury.
    That could turn
into an abscess. And infection.
    Which could
lead to death.
    She
couldn’t lose Geoffrey. Not after waiting so long for him to come home. Not
after what she had discovered about love last night. She refused to.
    No one had
emerged from the woods to claim responsibility. Merryn feared whoever shot the
arrow had no idea what a catastrophe he’d created.
    “You must
go for help,” he told her. “I cannot move. ‘Tis barely a trickle of blood that
flows. The arrow has plugged the wound for now.” He took her hand and gave her
an encouraging smile. “I shall be fine, my love, as long as I don’t move about
over much. I will wait for you patiently to bring back others. You are the
healer. You know what ‘twill be needed once I am freed.”
    She tried
to put on a brave face, but a few tears escaped. Geoffrey wiped them away with
his thumb and cradled his palm against her cheek.
    Merryn leaned
in and kissed him. “I won’t be gone long.” She gave him a smile. “And this
little scratch shall not be an excuse for you to lay abed and boss me about as
some invalid might dare.”
    He returned
her smile. “Nay. I fear I shall