Free Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) by Elizabeth Cole

thick of things, in the world of the court and the battlefield. But now, seeing the snow, and hearing Domina’s sigh…
    “I can’t tell if the snow makes you delighted or melancholy,” Luc said then.
    “Both,” Domina said, her expression momentarily unguarded. Her mouth was slightly open. Luc experienced a sudden, strong desire to pull her close and kiss that mouth.
    She blinked, then looked to where he held her by the arm. “Excuse me,” she said, taking one step away. “I must retire.”
    “You must be exhausted,” he said, “if today was typical for you.”
    “The only thing unusual about today is that you’re a guest here.”
    “You should not overwork yourself,” he said.
    She gave a short laugh, one he couldn’t read. “Women must not be idle. But don’t think I endure days of endless drudgery. Tomorrow I will go hunting, a task that is all pleasure for me.”
    Luc smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.” He wished her good night and let her go. He stared after her, though, thinking of the words she’d spoken to Haldan.
The trees, tomorrow morning
. Was the lady Domina truly going hunting? Or did she have other plans?

Chapter 7

    Domina rose before dawn. The presence of her unwelcome guests was already straining the larder of the choicest meat. Ancel warned her the previous day, saying it would look ill if the knights had to dine on everyday meats.
    “They might ask questions, my lady,” the older man said. “Game birds are expected, or venison, which we’ve none fresh. The cooks can offer mutton, or fish…”
    “Not fish,” Domina said quickly. “I’ll go hawking tomorrow, and when the fowler comes around next, I do have a little coin to pay for what he’s caught in the forest.”
    Domina would hunt for game herself today, in order to keep the table supplied with the sort of food her knightly guests would expect. If only she had venison or boar to offer, but she lacked the means to organize that sort of hunt. Hawking was far less extravagant.
    She dressed warmly and ate a hasty meal of bread and cheese, then strode out to the mews. The snow of the previous evening only dusted the ground, and though it was cold, the air hinted of a warmer day to come. Good hunting weather, she thought.
    The mews of Trumwell now held only three hawks, and none of the falcons both Domina and her parents once loved to hunt with. But her hawks were quick and clever, and worked well for her.
    A couple of grooms had got her horse ready. A slender hound named Goldfoot sat nearby. He’d help retrieve any game the hawks might not be able to manage on their own.
    “I think the river will be good ground today,” she announced.
    “Yes, my lady,” one of the grooms said. “Two boys can go ahead of you to flush the game for the hawks.”
    “That will be quite sufficient,” she said in approval. Domina disliked crowds for hunting, and in any case, hawking was often a rather solitary pursuit. If she couldn’t visit her father while her irritating guests remained at the castle, she might as well be far away from the temptation.
    “I’ll begin with Brilliant,” she said, referring to the female sparrowhawk who was her best hunter.
    Domina rode out of the castle gate with Brilliant on her left arm. The sleek hound ran at her horse’s side, and she took a deep breath of crystalline winter air. The freedom she felt while hunting was all too rare a feeling for her. A full day of solitude would restore her.
    Then, the sound of hoofbeats behind her spoiled everything. Goldfoot barked once in warning.
    Domina looked back to see Luc riding to catch up with her. He arrived in the space of a few breaths, not giving her much chance to summon a polite mask.
    “You don’t waste time,” he said on reaching her. He reined in to match her horse’s pace. Domina could already tell that he was a master rider. He probably heard her say “hunting” and pictured falconry.
    “My apologies,” she said, hoping to dissuade him from