Read The Forest of Adventures (#1 of The Knight Trilogy) for Free Online Page A

dance in front of
my eyes and I had to stuff the whole of clenched fist into my mouth
to try and stifle the scream. The taste of copper filled my mouth
making me gag. The world spun dizzyingly around me and just as I
thought I was going to make impact with the floor, I felt myself
scooped up into a tight hug, warm arms holding me together. I was
rescued. Someone was here.
    “Shh, Mina. Shh. It’ll be okay.
It’ll be okay.” Daisy pressed her cheek against mine and I knew
that she was crying too.

8. LOVERS & LIES
     
    Josef’s flying visit turned
into a month long stay. It was clearly difficult for him to be away
from the London office, and he spent most of his mornings on his
mobile shouting at his graduates and cursing the broadband
connection for being so slow. But despite the fact that his usually
highly organised and minimalist life was in complete chaos, Josef
seemed to be relishing the security and warmth of a home.
    The time came however, when
Josef had to leave for his own life and eventually he was forced to
instigate the conversation for which he’d originally made the visit
over a month ago.
    “Mina,” he shuffled his papers
in front of him, obviously unsure of how to proceed and how I’d
respond. I put down my book. “Mina, darling girl, I came here
originally for quite a specific purpose. There was something I
needed to talk to you and Martha about; something that I wish could
wait longer until you are both in a better place but this can’t
wait and goodness knows I have tried to find a way to make this go
away but I can’t.” Josef coughed, stalling for time. “You know that
I’ve been spending a lot of time in France on the Glass-House
project, well I’ve met somebody over there. His name’s Gerard and
it is serious; serious enough that I’m moving over there to live
with him. We’re in the middle of buying a flat in Versailles. I
know this is really bad timing and I feel really bad but....”Josef
babbled on, embarrassed and guilty.
    “Josef, stop! Really it's o.k.
We’ll be o.k.” I forced a smile at him, hoping that I was being
convincing enough because I was glad that he’d found somebody,
somebody he could love and build a life with.
    “I haven’t told Martha yet,
can’t seem to find the right moment.”
    “You don’t have to now,” Mum
spoke out from behind the kitchen door. Neither of us had noticed
her come in.
    She walked round the back of
Josef’s chair and put her arms round his shoulders.
    “I’m a big girl now Josef,” she
said, patting his shoulder. “I’m really pleased that you’ve met
someone. You need someone Josef; someone to call your own.” She
disentangled herself from him and went back towards the kitchen.
“Now who’s for tea? It sounds as if we have a lot to catch up
on.”
    I smiled over at Josef as he
raised an eyebrow. He knew that he was now going to be subjected to
the equivalent of a medieval inquisition.
    “Not for me Mum, I’m heading
out for the afternoon. I’m catching up with Daisy for a
coffee.”
    I winked at Josef as he placed
his hands together begging me to stay, mouthing a dramatic, “No,
please. Don’t leave me!”
    “What are you two laughing
about in there?” she called out from the kitchen.
    “Nothing Mum! Take it easy on
him whilst I’m out won’t you? I won’t be back for tea. I’m going
straight on to the hospital to check in on Sam.”
    It was the first day of March
and it was a beautiful crisp afternoon. The daffodils weren’t far
off flowering and the promise of spring seemed to be everywhere. It
was difficult to think that when Sam had last been aware of the
world, it had been a cold and icy place. The air had changed and
for the first time in over a very long month I felt a sense of
optimism.
    Daisy was already half-way down
her latte when I arrived. She looked tired and gloomy and I felt an
instant pang of selfish regret that I’d not called off. This was
the last thing I needed.
    “Hi!” Daisy’s