Wine of the Gods 03: The Black Goats Read Online Free PDF Page B

Never's fury, Likely and Mostly made it to the street first, laughing as they crossed it, walking over toward the tavern. They stopped half-way across and pretended surprise at the sight of the three riders.
    The riders stopped too. The man in front was tall and thin, raven-black hair cut short to wear a helm, but with a devastating single curl down over his forehead. The boy behind him to his right was a bulky redhead with an arrogant curl to his lip and a gem-encrusted sword at his side. The third man was plainer and older. When the first man dismounted, the older one did as well, and took his commander's reins.
    The bulky boy thudded down off his horse and tossed his reins to the third man as well.
    Never scowled, and waited until Likely and Mostly had escorted the two inside before crossing the street herself. The older man led the horses around to the stables in the back, throwing her an appreciative look, before he rounded the corner.
    Great. They got the nobles, she attracted the groom.
    Inside it didn't get any better. Mostly and Likely were sitting with the men, acting like ladies. Furious waved Never back to the kitchen, and set her to serving the foursome. Mostly and Likely hid smirks as she poured the wine.
    "Captain Wullo came through just two days ago." Mostly smiled charmingly at the young man, clearly picking up a conversation already started. "With all of you mounted, well, it's still too late in the day for you to reach the Fort tonight. Especially since the ground is rough, thereabouts. If you bide the night here, you can ride out in the morning and find the captain mid-afternoon."
    Up close, Never could see the royal pin on the man's tunic. "You're a royal courier?" she asked, pouring more wine.
    "That I am, miss," he looked her over appreciatively. “Lord Merc Hastin, at your service. And this is Lord Ferth Utner."
    The redhead leered as he looked her over, but turned back to Likely without any show of reluctance.
    "Do you get any Travelers through here?" Lord Merc asked.
    Never glanced up, but the man was speaking to Mostly.
    "Travelers? There were some that came here, oh, five or six years ago, but they haven't been back since." Mostly told him. "Is there a problem?"
    "Who knows." The Lord shrugged.
    "Tell us about the city." Likely beamed at the redhead. “The balls and dances."
    "The fashions." Mostly picked at her dress, how had she managed to be wearing one of her good dresses at just the right time? "What are the ladies wearing in the city  these days?"
    Never rolled her eyes and retreated to the kitchen for bread and butter. She was just wearing a belted shift and long vest, and no doubt looked like a peasant to men from the city.
    ". . . and then the little tyke, instead of grabbing the spear like he was supposed to, climbed right over it and took up the crown and put it on before anyone could try and snatch it away." Ferth learned back with a smirk.
    Likely looked puzzled. “But, if he was the king's grandson, wasn't that all right?"
    "No, no! It's the tradition of the royal family, some say it powers a magical spell that protects the kingdom, that the first son takes up the spear and becomes the commander of the army, and the second son takes the crown and in time becomes the next king."
    "Well, he's just a baby, they couldn't expect him to get it right."
    "Ah, but you see," Merc took over the story, "it has been the habit of the royal family to take first a commoner for wife, to breed a strong healthy son. Then to divorce her and marry a noblewoman with good connections, to support the second son when he takes the throne."
    "So, they are saying that the prince must have gotten a bastard somewhere, and so the crown prince is stuck with the common wife." Ferth wrinkled his nose.
    "Not that the prince minded, mind you. After all the yelling and fuss, someone finally said something about him being stuck with her. And they just looked at each other and started smiling, and then there was a deal