The Fragile Fall At Tallow Bridge (The White Blood Chronicles Book 1) Read Free Page A

lowered Thaindire onto the bed and lifted his legs up onto it, they positioned him on his side and the pain from his back eased somewhat. He had his back to the window and was able to see towards the doorway.
    “ Right fellow, our Kathryn will be here presently to look at those wounds. She will have a care for you. You try not to move,” commented the first man. The pair made their way out of the room.
    “ Thanks Ansell, I’ll stand you a drink if you will.”
    “ Leave it in the barrel for me Ben, I will drink it this evening, I have work to finish,” replied Ansell.
    The door closed behind them and Thaindire was left to stare at the motes of dust swimming in the sunlight, disturbed by the entrance of the three men. He could hear the faint noise of activity from beyond the window. He wondered if a kind-spirited publican had taken him to Aftlain. At the very least he had been rescued and transported to somewhere that bore the hallmarks of being civilised. He closed his eyes allowing the lingering fatigue to wrap around him and drag him into slumber as one thought tumbled through his mind; where was he?
     

Chapter Two
     
    Thaindire woke and immediately he was reminded of his predicament by the tendrils of pain that coiled about his body. He blinked and saw he was staring at a wall. He lay still, gathering his bearings. The sound of a door creaking came from behind him, but he remained unmoving as he heard a female voice speak softly.
    “ Is he asleep?”
    “I’ll check,” answered a second person, also female.
    Thaindire closed his eyes as the sound of somebody crossing the wooden floor became audible.
    “ Yes, he is asleep,” confirmed the first voice before the sound of movement came again.
    “ See, what did I tell you,” said the first voice.
    “ Yes, alright, his hair is completely white, what of it?”
    “ His eyes, the brightest blue I have ever seen.”
    “ How do you know that? They are shut.”
    “ No silly, yesterday, when he arrived. Look at his skin. It's so pale.”
    “ Hmm, yes I see what you mean,” conceded the second voice.
    “ Absolutely. He is a white blood. I am certain of it.”
    “ I think you are right.”
    “ Of course I am. Red blood is no good. You know what this means though don’t you?”
    “ What?”
    “ She will be looking to get her claws into him.”
    “ Along with the rest of the village I should wager.”
    “ What shall we do then? Before too many others realise.”
    “ What are you two doing?” said a third voice in a strident tone. There came the sound of shuffling and issued denials. Thaindire slowly turned in the bed to look across the room. He saw a young woman looking away from the open door way.
    “ I’ve told you before not to trouble our guests. If I catch you in here again, I will mark you,” declared the woman. She waited a moment, ensuring that whoever had snuck into his room had departed, before she turned towards Thaindire and entered the room. Stood before him was a young woman in a dark blue and white dress, which had clearly been designed to show off her lithe figure. Her black hair spilled in tresses from a high, dignified forehead, underneath which two blue eyes regarded Thaindire with compassion and concern. She was carrying a tray, which she set down on the seat of the chair, beside the bed and knelt by Thaindire affording him a momentary glimpse of cleavage. She shifted her position so she was able to lean across him and regard his back and the rear of his head. As she did so, her dress brushed against Thaindire’s face and he drank in the delicious scent of strawberries and sandalwood, which emanated from her. He felt her delicate touch on his head and then his shoulder, before meandering down his back, her fingers oddly lingering along his spine, causing him to tingle. He realised that he was now naked beneath the blankets of the bed and he reacted by trying to curl up causing the woman to giggle gently.
    Thaindire glanced at his left