Cinders: The Untold Story of Cinderella by Finley Aaron

Author:Finley Aaron [Aaron, Finley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Knox Press
Published: 2016-11-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

They tore down the tent by torchlight. Henry insisted they put on their armor, since Raedwald could arrive at any moment. Ella didn’t argue with him.

Jerome had returned earlier. They awakened him and he helped them. None of them could bring themselves to awaken Sigismund, who was in a sausage-induced stupor, so they loaded him on his pallet into the back of the cart, atop their other belongings, and sneaked away just as the light of dawn colored the sky.

“If we’re lucky,” Henry predicted, “Raedwald won’t go looking for you until later in the morning. If he tries to run after us too soon, he could very easily catch up to us.” He used the name Raedwald instead of Richard, because the route to the next tournament took them through town, and though most people were still asleep, anyone might overhear them at any time.

Jerome assured them, “If Raedwald comes after you, run on ahead. I’ll keep track of the cart and meet you in Reims ahead of next week’s tournament.”

But Henry frowned. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with that. If they can’t catch Allard, they might take out their anger on you and Sigi.”

Jerome made a whimpering noise. “Then what are we going to do?”

“Stay ahead of them. I do think Raedwald will head for the eastern circuit, and they’re not going to waste a week looking for us,” Henry guessed.

Ella hoped he was right, but she had hoped for many things in her life, and knew that the best way to see a hope fulfilled, was to make practical plans toward it.

And she wasn’t nearly prepared to risk Sigismund and Jerome’s safety on a hope.

Certainly not when Raedwald was involved.

“If they catch up to us,” she determined, “I should part ways with you.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Henry asked, sounding alarmed.

“He’s upset with me,” Ella clarified.

“He was upset with me first.”

“Yes, but never so much as he is with me, and he knows he dare not hurt you. If I leave, he’ll feel victorious about running me off. It will appease his anger a bit, and save Jerome and Sigi from getting caught up in his anger.”

“What do you mean, leave?” Henry pressed.

“I mean I’ll go home and take time away from the tournament circuit, either until he goes east or his anger blows over, or he finds someone else to hate—someone unaffiliated with you.”

Jerome offered his opinion, “I think that’s a fine idea.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” Henry corrected, using his most authoritative voice. “And it won’t come to that. Raedwald’s going to go east and we’re going to stay together. End of story.”

Ella didn’t challenge Henry further. She wanted to doze on her horse, but their pace was a bit brisk for that (they were still riding through town, and the cobbled roads there allowed the cart to roll much more swiftly than it could on the rutted dirt roads of the countryside, and Henry insisted they take advantage of the opportunity for speed).

Henry rode beside her, and he was eager to talk.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.