Free Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) by Dan O'Sullivan

again. He wondered how she’d managed to bathe him as she barely came up to his shoulder even when she was wearing shoes and he knew it must have been a difficult task for her when he was unconscious. He blushed darkly as he imagined her washing him, but he found himself captivated by the thought of Charie’s pretty freckled face leaning over him and her white blond hair tickling his skin as she touched him. Eibhear laughed aloud and Dale flung the covers away in annoyance.
    Eibhear shrugged apologetically. ‘I’m sorry Dale. I’m sure you meant to keep that thought private!’
    Dale stared at him as conflicting emotions rippe d through his heart. ‘Eibhear, can you call her back?’
    ‘ That I can do,’ said Eibhear confidently. A minute later Charie appeared once again, looking a little confused but also pleased. ‘I’ll take your pack to the ship, Dale,’ said Eibhear casually. He closed the door as he left.
    ‘ Are you still too weak to bathe?’ asked Charie.
    ‘ No. I think I could bathe myself,’ Dale admitted. His heart beat a little faster as he gazed at her. Her hands looked like they had been hastily washed and he could tell she had been working with flour. There were traces of something oily on her apron. He reached up and took her hand, pulling her closer to the bed. ‘I just wanted you to do it,’ he finally admitted, looking warily into her eyes.
    She smiled at him and blushed deeply. ‘I’d like that,’ she replied in a whisper. With utmost care she removed his night shirt. She picked up a washcloth, rinsed it in the water and began to wash his body. He watched her intently as she worked. Eventually he reached out and dragged her down until her face was inches from his own.
    ‘ Now what?’ he murmured.
    ‘ I should finish bathing you and then I have to go,’ she said, as unexpected tears filled her eyes. ‘Dale this can’t happen.’
    ‘ Why not?’
    ‘ Because you’re a Baron and I’m a kitchen maid, and you have to go back to Emerald, and I have to stay here.’
    ‘ Embrace me, and then I’ll let you go,’ he whispered.
    ‘ You will?’ she asked seriously.
    ‘ I will,’ he replied with equal solemnity. ‘But don’t embrace me unless you want to.’
    ‘ Oh I want to, Dale, more than you imagine,’ she murmured. She lay down on the bed and cuddled to his side, placing her head against his chest to listen to the sound of his heart.
    ‘ You are so beautiful,’ said Dale softly, running his hand through her white hair. ‘So very beautiful...’
    ‘ Time to go,’ she said, slipping from the bed. With gentle care she helped him dress. ‘I’ll send someone to remove the water. I have to get back to the kitchen.’
    ‘ I have to go to Emerald,’ Dale said sadly, wishing she was coming with him. ‘Charie, I need...’
    ‘ No. I don’t want to think about it. I just want to imagine for a moment that you really could be mine.’ She turned away and slipped out into the hallway.

Chapter 6
    Qinel
     
    Kelian stared anxiously towards Qinel. The voyage from Castle had been uneventful, even boring and although he was eager to leave the ship, he felt uneasy about entering the settlement. He fidgeted uncomfortably as the longboat was prepared. It was very dark aboard the ship. All lamps had been extinguished and there was no moon behind the thick clouds. Very little light could be seen along the shore line. Timbul placed his hand on Kelian’s shoulder and Kelian acknowledged that it was time to go. He climbed into the longboat and held Elena’s hand, waiting impatiently for everyone else to climb into the little boat. The longboat was lowered and they set out towards the shore, with two skilled sailors manning the oars. They reached the breakers. The sailors pulled hard against the current and the boat crested a high wave. They seemed to hang midair for a second then the boat dropped into the wave and was driven forward. It raced towards the sand with the foaming water