Ensnared (Knights of Brethren Book 3) by Jody Hedlund

Author:Jody Hedlund [Hedlund, Jody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: Northern Lights Press
Published: 2022-06-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

15

Mikaela

I didn’t see or hear from Gunnar again, but the rumors circulating through the castle reached me by eventide that he’d gone into the forest to aid Frans.

I received the news as calmly as I could but hadn’t been able to hide my shaking hands from Nanna. She raised her brow at me but didn’t say anything, for which I was grateful. After she’d forbidden me to have any further interactions with Gunnar, I didn’t want her to know I’d kissed him again and had practically pledged myself to him.

At some point, I needed to tell her I couldn’t go through with marrying Frans. But first Gunnar had to find Frans. Although Gunnar had assured me that he would bring Frans out, I was under no illusion his task would be easy, since Frans already had a six-to-eight-hour head start.

“Finish the last bite, Renate,” I said as I scraped the final spoonful of the thick stew. She and Rikissa sat at the table in their chamber where they took most of their meals. When they turned sixteen, they would start eating in the great hall and begin the process of mingling with suitors in preparation for their coming-of-age balls. Until then, Nanna and I were in charge of their meals and manners.

“I am done.” Rena wiggled on the bench, ready to get down and play, bored from her long hour of sitting with her mother and having to behave properly.

I held the spoon out to her. “Before you decide to waste your food, I want you to think about all the villeins, my family included, who are hungry and would love to have this bite.”

Rena, at three, was too young to understand the difficulties. But I took every opportunity I could to inform her and Riki of the true plight, hoping I might instill in them sensitivity and insight into what life was like for many people who served the earl.

Nanna had done the same with all the children in her care over the years, including Gunnar. She claimed that changes began with small steps, and she worked tirelessly to influence the children to live honorably, to look out for the needs of others, to be generous and kind and unselfish.

Though I’d followed her methods, at times I grew impatient and wished for bigger and more practical ways to make a difference.

Yes, our influence over Rena and Riki was important. I didn’t deny that. But we couldn’t stop there. The problem was, I didn’t know how to do more. Perhaps others who’d come before me had also wanted to find ways to change our pitiful circumstances but hadn’t known how either. Maybe even Nanna had once been like me and resigned herself to doing the little she could the best way she knew how.

If only that were enough for me. . . .

As Rena opened up and ate her last bite obediently, Riki swallowed her final mouthful and peered up at me. “You look pretty.”

“Thank you.” I smoothed a hand down her long braid, plaited just like mine.

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.