The Thief's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page A

man and stolen his property. 
    Then the letter arrived from Westhold.
    The widow had gone to Rilmar Cavilius, the Comes of Westhold, and appealed to him for justice, claiming that Sir Paul had murdered her husband. The Comes found these accusations grave enough that he would come in person to investigate, accompanied by a party of knights. As Sir Alan’s liege lord, he commanded that Sir Paul remain at the domus for questioning.
    That night Jager stood with Hilder in the great hall, waiting upon his master as Sir Alan raged at Paul. 
    “Well?” thundered Alan, his face nearly purple with fury. “Is it true?”
    Paul shrugged. “I cannot be bothered to remember.”
    “Damn it, boy!” said Alan. “Is it true?”
    “I took the goat, and the ragged commoner tried to stop me,” said Paul. “He received his just due.” 
    “Damn it!” said Alan, flinging the letter against the floor. “How could you have been so stupid?”
    Paul shrugged. “I wanted the goat, and he refused to deliver it to his rightful lord.”
    Alan quivered with fury, and for a moment Jager wondered if he had been wrong about the old knight. Perhaps there was a true and worthy knight of Andomhaim under years of neglect, the sort of knight who would have followed Malahan Pendragon and waged war against the dark elves, the sort of man who would have followed the Dragon Knight into battle against the Frostborn. 
    “Do you have any idea how bad you’ve made me look?” said Alan, and Jager’s hope withered away. “Rilmar hates me, and he’s always been looking for an excuse to reclaim my benefice and give it to someone he likes. Since you had to murder that damned goatherd, you’ve given him just the excuse he needs. Couldn’t you have killed that widow?”
    Jager looked at his father, but Hilder’s face remained impassive. 
    “There didn’t seem any reason to kill her,” said Paul. “Who would believe some goatherd’s slattern?”
    “Comes Rilmar, apparently,” said Alan. “Since you were dumb enough to kill the goatherd in front of witnesses, he will have all the justification he needs to imprison you and take Caudea from me.” 
    Paul scoffed. “What witnesses? Commoners and servants.” 
    “A grieving widow,” said Alan. “Her children. And your body servant.”
    Paul whirled and stalked toward Jager. “What about you, little rat? Will you lie about me to the Comes, tell him I murdered that stupid goat herder?”
    “Of course not, my lord knight,” said Hilder. “We are loyal servants of the House of Tallmane.”
    “See that you remember it,” growled Paul.
    “Enough,” said Alan. “The Comes will arrive and hold court tomorrow. I suggest, my son, that you think of a clever story.”
     
    ###
     
    “You want me to lie?” said Jager.
    He stood in his father’s study again. It was well past midnight, and the rest of the domus had gone to sleep. Hilder paced back and forth before the cabinet holding the silver.
    “Of course not,” said Hilder. “It is a violation of both the laws of God and the High King to lie under oath. But…Jager, you  may have been mistaken. Perhaps you didn’t see what you thought you saw. Surely Sir Paul must have been defending himself. Or…”
    “No!” said Jager. He hit the cabinet so hard the silver rattled. “Paul murdered that man, Father. I saw it with my own eyes. Paul started to steal the goat, the herder tried to stop him, and Paul shot him. He just shot him. Why do you believe him instead of me? Do you think I am lying to you?” 
    “No,” said Hilder. “I just think…”
    “That I’m mistaken,” said Jager.
    “The Tallmanes are our lords and masters,” said Hilder. “They have looked after us for centuries. And now you want to turn against them?”
    “If you had heard that widow scream for her husband,” said Jager, “you would not think as you do. If you had heard those children sobbing, you would agree with me.” 
    “And what happens if the Comes