My Royal Pain Quest (The Lakeland Knight series, #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

be what the tavern-keeper thought, too, as he peeked from under a table.
    The pirate girl stepped up to me and produced the medallion.
    “I believe this is yours, sir,” she said, handing it over.
    “Thank you.” I took it. “What is your name?”
    “Cassandra. And I wasn’t doing this for a thank you.”
    “Oh? What do you want, then?”
    “Fifty golden coins.”
    “Fifty?!” My, she certainly knew how to make a profit. “You probably meant fifteen.”
    “Nope. Fifty is what I meant, and fifty is what I want. From my observations, this little piece of jewelry is worth much more than that to you.”
    “And what makes you think that I’ve got this kind of money?”
    She narrowed her eyes. “I know a nobleman when I see one. I bet you’ve got a title, and a treasury that goes with it.”
    She was right, I had both. However, while my title was always with me, my treasury wasn’t. I relayed that to the entrepreneurial young lady.
    “You did help me quite a bit, and I’d pay you fifty coins if I had them, but all I’ve got is twenty, and a long journey ahead of me. Will you take fifteen? I need to keep at least five for myself.”
    She looked me over, thinking.
    “I’ll take ten, for now.”
    “For now? What do you mean?”
    “I mean that I’m stuck with you, wherever you’re going. You’ll pay the remaining forty when you get home.”
    I laughed. “That’s going to be a while, young lady. We’re talking weeks, probably months.”
    She wasn’t dissuaded.
    “I’ve got time, I am out of work at the moment. Forty golden coins is nothing to be sneezed at. I’ve got to keep an eye on my investment. Who knows, I might be of service to you again.”
    “And bill me for it?”
    “Naturally.”
    Well, at least I knew exactly where she stood. Besides, she promised to make a fun companion.
    I gave her ten coins. Cassandra tied them into a handkerchief and stuffed it into her pocket.
    “There’s one other thing,” I said. “I have one condition. You’ve got to promise not to help me when I say so.”
    “What?”
    “Well, there are certain tasks that I must perform without anyone’s aid. So when I ask you to stay back, you must obey.”
    She scratched her brow. “All right. Got it. I don’t help when you want no help. I can even hinder you if you’d like, but that will cost extra. So, where are we going?”
    “For starters, to Triar the hermit.” I sighed. “If I manage to find a guide.”
    “Look no further. I know the man, I’ll take you to him. That will be ten more coins.”
    I couldn’t help laughing again. “The service isn’t worth five, but you know what? I like you, so I’m not gonna bargain. Forty plus ten, I owe you fifty.”
    “Fifty it is. A nice round sum, easy to remember,” she confirmed. And I thought she blushed a little.

     
***
     

Chapter 3
     
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      “You know my name, and I still do not know yours,” said Cassandra, riding her stout brown mare next to my Onyx. “Not fair.”
    She was right, I had not introduced myself yet. After a moment of consideration, I decided that revealing my real name should not create any problems with her.
    “I am Lord Arkus.”
    The girl’s eyes widened, but that was the expression of amazement and curiosity, not fear.
    “Lord Arkus? The Lord Arkus?!”
    So she’d heard about me.
    “That depends on what you mean by ‘the’.”
    “The lord of Blackriver Castle ! The one who’d set a big monster on Prince Kellemar of Dalvanna!”
    Hmm, I did not know that word about that had already spread so far…
    “Well, that’s not how it was. However, if this is what people are saying, I am pleased.”
    “People are also saying that you like capturing folks and collecting ransom.”
    “True.” I smiled. “You are safe though, I’ve got other things planned.”
    “Ha! As if you’d make any money off of me… So what are you doing here, if I may ask, traveling all by yourself?” Cassandra patted