Lancelot and the Wolf Read Online Free PDF

stables. We brought the horses out of the stalls but mounted in the stable. I bent low over Ash’s neck to stay in the saddle.
    “ Be ready to run,” I said quietly. Else nodded. We walked out of the stable. I kept my sword in my right hand and I knew Else carried a long knife in his left. No one stood in the yard. Were we really going to be this lucky? We walked from the yard, into the pre-dawn street. Nothing. We headed toward the south gate of the town. A hush over the town ate at my paranoia. There should be movement by now. The bread sellers, the flower markets, something should be moving.
    We walked on, Else by my left elbow. I saw the town’s finely built wall and its open gate. It came into full view as we rounded a corner and so did half a dozen fully armed men across the street.
    “ And I thought you wanted the North road,” said the sheriff. “The stonemason’s daughter died three weeks ago. He is a friend of mine. A bad choice boy.”
    I’m not into heavy rhetoric when it comes to a standoff. There would be no point in trying to convince this man to release us. There would be no point in apologies. The only objective would be escape.
    “ Ride,” I snapped. I dug my heels into Ash. Crossbow bolts flashed past my head as I moved, I heard Else cry out in shock but Mercury remained at my side. Your enemies rarely expect a suicide run and this would be one of the best. I crashed Ash into three men. Three others were reloading their crossbows.
    “ Just go,” I yelled at Else as he turned to fight. Someone waved a sword in Ash’s face and he screamed in rage. His feet lashed up in the air and I rode his rear. He pirouetted on the spot to strike out with his front hooves. This was why I put up with his bad moods. He is the finest horse a man could have in a tight spot. I lashed down with the flat of my blade and knocked a soldier’s helmet off his head. He collapsed to the floor. The sheriff ordered the gates closed. His voice loud but calm. They stood open to lure us into the trap, but hadn’t considered how damned desperate we would be to escape. I watched Else cut down at a man trying hard to shut the gate. He jumped back and Else held the position waiting for me. I slashed down, bellowing a war cry at the top of my voice. Ash wanted to continue the fight but I forced him toward the gate and ordered him forward. Now was not the time to face the guard of two towns.
    We galloped over the cobbles, sparks flying. Else turned Mercury and we rode, shoulder to shoulder out of the town. More arrows whizzed over our heads but aiming a crossbow at a moving target isn’t easy. If they’d had a long bow, we’d have been in trouble.
     

 
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    We raced down the main road scattering people and livestock everywhere. Chaos erupted in our wake. I glanced down at my companion in the dress and realised blood stained the faded blue cloth.
    “ You’re hurt,” I cried out. We galloped past a hay cart causing its old horse a fright. Ash tugged at the reins asking for his head so he could really race Mercury. I held him back.
    “ I’m fine,” came the gasped reply. “Just find a way off the bloody road before they catch us,” Else glanced behind, as did I. Men on horses with hounds were already leaving the town.
    “ This way,” I yelled and I headed for the fields. We began to jump low stone walls and our passage became marked by the shouts of outraged crop farmers.
    “ The forest, we have a chance in the forest,” Else managed to say.
    I remembered the horror of something chasing me through the trees and the mist hiding me and my enemy. I remembered the fear, but we had nowhere else to run.
    We galloped for the tree line, flat out, low over the necks of the horses. Mercury began to drop back as we hit an incline. Even Ash started to slow. I risked a glance over my shoulder. Soldiers were now on our trail. We did not have the luxury of easing off on the horses. I pulled Ash back slightly and