Lancelot and the Wolf Read Online Free PDF Page A

though he understood and we left the room silently. The woman in my bed had no idea. I left her enough money to cover the night and a new dress. We all have to make a living.
    On quiet feet, we carried my pack and sword downstairs. I didn’t want to fight if I didn’t have to and I didn’t intend on killing anyone. This sheriff might forgive the death of his brother eventually but if I slaughtered more of his men, I’d have a bigger problem on my hands. I unlocked the front door of the tavern quietly. The well oiled hinges opened without a sound. I couldn’t see the redheaded man and decided a daring approach would be best.
    “ Give me your arm,” I ordered Else.
    He frowned, opened his mouth to argue and snapped it shut. His arm slipped through mine and his small body blended with me perfectly. I hid the sword under the cloak and made certain the hood covered my face.
    We walked straight out of the tavern, intentionally bold. Else’s arm trembled on mine but his grip remained strong. There were no men in the yard. We walked calmly toward the stables. My nerves pinged and the skin on my back crawled, screaming at me to turn around and check for arrows targeting my back. Stupidly, I held my breath. I forced the air out and focused on my breathing. If we were caught, we’d be hung. No argument and I doubted there’d be much of a trial. We were steps away from the stable when the tall redheaded man walked out. Else whimpered and clutched my arm. We’d covered his head so his short hair couldn’t be seen but would the Sheriff believe the ruse?
    “ My lady,” the sheriff had a quiet precise voice. His eyes were a green hazel and reminded me of an eagle, as did his nose. “You are awake early.”
    Else curtsied beautifully and withdrew his arm from mine, “I have to reach my father as soon as possible, Sir. My escort and I are here for only a few hours.” He smiled and I stared, a horrible idea beginning to surface.
    “ You are returning to your father?” the sheriff asked.
    Else smiled again, “Yes, he is very sick and my brother sent for me. My husband gave me his best man to escort me.” He waved a negligent hand in my direction as though I were no more important than a dog.
    “ Did you happen to see a man with a boy in there?” asked the sheriff.
    Else frowned, “As we walked through the tavern’s drinking hall late last night, I think I might have seen something. A tall man, with a whore on his lap, making a fool of himself at cards. A young man stood near him but seemed to be unimpressed by his master’s behaviour. I noticed them purely because of the amount of noise he made with the strumpet.” His tone made me fully aware of how he felt about my behaviour. If we managed to escape this threat unharmed, we were having a long chat.
    “ And where are you headed to reach your father, if you don’t mind me asking?” the sheriff’s eyes twinkled as he tried to catch the scent of a lie.
    Else didn’t miss a beat, he named the town we’d come from originally. The sheriff’s own town, le Havre. Then he named a man, a stonemason. The sheriff nodded.
    “ I know the man. He has a daughter married down here somewhere,” the sheriff stepped back from the door of the stable. His reluctance plain he nevertheless bowed. He knew something was wrong but he couldn’t quite work it out. We walked past him and into the dim light of the stable.
    Now, I had to hope he wouldn’t offer to help with the horses because Ash stood in the largest stall and I wasn’t leaving him. Else glanced up at me, “Well, man, what are you waiting for, saddle the horses.” His ringing imperious tone caused me a moment of reflection. I glanced at him. The fear in his eyes came from more than the Sheriff’s presence. He silently begged me not to challenge him.
    I nodded and saw relief flood through his small body. We moved quickly, Else to Mercury and I saddled Ash. The sheriff didn’t come to check on us and no men were in the