The Reluctant Wife by Nina Clare

Author:Nina Clare [Clare, Nina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: lost&foundStories
Published: 2017-07-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The forest ended abruptly at the edge of a hillside. Elena stood gazing out at the view before her.

The hill sloped gently down to meadowlands of flower-starred grass as far as the eye could see. In the far distance, the horizon bore a rippling line of hazy blue mountains. It was good to see the open sky again after days of walking between the shadows of trees. A swallow darted by, and Jango barked in excitement and gave chase.

The minstrel came to stand at the brow of the hill. ‘Ah, the king’s meadows.’

‘Does the king own all this too?’ asked Olovina.

‘He does. And if we hurry we might reach his first meadow-keeper’s house before nightfall, and then we may be in luck of having a hay barn to sleep in tonight.’

‘No bears or wolves in a hay barn,’ said Olovina.

‘No, indeed. And best of all, no rain, for it’s clouding over, and I think we’re in for a summer storm tonight. I can feel it in the air.’

‘Will you tell him he must let us sleep in his hay barn in the name of the king?’

‘No, I will offer to play him and his family some merry tunes to dance to. That’s the way to get a bed for the night.’

‘And the lady will sing?’

‘Perhaps she will.’

‘And what shall I do?’

‘You shall clap your hands to the music, so I keep the proper time.’

‘Delightful,’ said Elena dryly. ‘A hay barn and more dirty commoners to look forward to. Life just gets better and better.’ And she stomped off down the hill, taking some satisfaction in crushing underfoot every wildflower in her path, for why should the crown prince of Moravina have so many beautiful flowers and meadows as far as the eye could see, when all she had to look forward to was a straw bed and singing for her supper?

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