Tyrant's Blood Read Online Free PDF Page A

dire need of some female company.’
    ‘I’ll say!’ Leo exclaimed.
    Jewd spat some of his dinch with amusement. ‘Now look what you’ve made me do,’ he complained.
    ‘Well, it’s all right for Kilt, he’s got Lily. And you, Jewd, I know you and the others can escape the forest whenever you want for some rumpy-pumpy.’ This made both men roar with laughter. ‘But you keep me on such a close leash. I’m twenty-two anni, I need some freedom and I desperately need a—’
    ‘Here we are, then,’ Ciara said, back with a pair of small, oval-shaped cakes dripping with syrup. ‘Careful, they’re moist. Don’t get yourself all sticky.’
    The men laughed louder and even Ciara threw them a backward glance of amusement. ‘The dinch is on its way,’ she said.
    Leo looked indignant. ‘Laugh it up, you sods. I really need—’
    ‘I know what you need,’ Kilt said, chuckling, ‘and we’ll fix that. I’ve been remiss.’
    ‘You’ve been a gaoler more like,’ Leo said.
    Kilt grew serious. ‘So, do we trust this man?’ he asked Jewd.
    His big friend nodded. ‘Yes. He’s genuine.’
    ‘What’s going on?’ Leo asked, chewing on a cake.
    Kilt fixed him with a grave look. ‘The man you spoke of years ago. You know, the one who is now aide to the emperor?’
    ‘Freath?’ Leo said, looking between them. ‘Tell me Loethar’s slit his throat,’ he added, putting his cake down and swallowing.Then he glared. ‘But then he’ll have stolen more from me. I want to be the one to spill that traitor’s—’
    Both men shook their heads. ‘He’s not dead,’ Kilt replied, cutting off Leo’s words. ‘He’s made contact.’
    Leo leaned forward. ‘What?’ he whispered, shocked.
    ‘Well, not contact, exactly. But there’s word out. We’ve just received it.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    Faris left it to Jewd, who took up the thread of conversation. ‘A few days ago Tern picked up snippets of information that money was greasing palms all over the north’s “network”.’ Leo nodded with understanding. ‘Word was moving in certain circles that an influential man was seeking an audience with the infamous highwayman of Penraven.’
    Leo’s expression darkened and he scratched softly at the close beard he was growing, his syrupcakes forgotten.
    Jewd continued, ‘We paid attention, of course, but we’ve had this happen before.’ He shrugged. ‘Lots of influential men want to speak with Kilt.’
    ‘Usually to claim the bounty on my head,’ Kilt grumbled.
    Leo looked at him. ‘You’re safe, though, aren’t you?’
    ‘Not safe enough it seems. The barbarians came too close recently. We got sloppy.’
    ‘You didn’t,’ Jewd admitted. ‘That was my fault.’
    Leo shook his head. ‘Jewd, it was no one’s fault.’
    Kilt sighed. ‘Attributing blame is pointless. The fact is, they nearly stumbled across you, Leo. We must never be off our guard. As for me, no one outside of our band even knows what I look like. Most people in this town, don’t know who we are. And this town might keep its secrets quiet but it also knows everyone and everything passing through it.’
    ‘Aren’t you two rather easily identifiable?’
    ‘Not when I wear women’s clothing,’ Kilt offered indignantly. Leo smiled.
    ‘He’s not jesting,’ Jewd said, sounding slightly exasperated. ‘He’s done it many times. I’ve walked alongside him when he’s been an old man, an old woman, a blind beggar, a noble.’
    ‘Ah, but my leper was the best, wasn’t it?’ Kilt said.
    ‘He was a triumph,’ Jewd agreed.
    ‘People gave me such a wide berth. It was wonderful. I shall have to find that old pair of clappers we’ve got somewhere and roll him out again.’
    Leo frowned. ‘I’m sure Lily would appreciate the humour.’
    ‘No, well, that’s right,’ Kilt said, his theatrics dampened. ‘It’s why I haven’t used him for a while. And anyway, it’s not just me.’ He lightly slapped his big friend’s chest. ‘Jewd