DragonKnight - Donita K. Paul [50]
“Debts? As in more than one?”
A half grin twisted the marione’s mouth. “Yes, quite a bit more than one.”
“What makes you think we will sail north?”
“You’re going to have to teach N’Rae discretion.” Holt snickered. “She chatters like a dorker, but she’s quite a bit prettier than those noisy birds.”
“So your plan is to sail north with us. Why not just sail north on your own?”
“They will be inquiring after a lone male passenger, not one of a party of five.”
“And you plan to separate from us once we reach a port at some distance from here.”
“Correct.” He paused. “You can’t keep me from boarding the same ship, you know.”
“Oh, I probably could. But N’Rae would be displeased with my methods.” He rubbed his hand over his chin. “If you happen to board the same vessel that takes us north, I would appreciate your leaving N’Rae alone. She’s too naive to recognize a cad when she sees one.”
“A cad?” For a moment, Holt seemed affronted, but he chortled and grinned. “All right. I’ll not turn the young innocent’s head. When do we leave?”
“I have to visit a friend in the country first. You can make the inquiries to find the fastest ship going north for our party of five tomorrow. I should be back by sundown.”
“Deal,” said the marione and stuck out his hand.
“I won’t shake with you, Holt. From what you’ve told me, it is not likely your honor backs your handshake. I wouldn’t want you to get the impression I trust you.”
The shorter man let his hand fall slowly to his side. The easy and charming smile faded from his handsome face.
“If I didn’t need a cover for leaving this region, I’d part ways with you now,” Holt said.
Bardon shrugged. “It would be inconvenient for me to put off visiting my friend to deal with the matter of arranging passage first. But you may leave our company now if you wish.”
“You’ll allow yourself to associate with the likes of me so that you can see him a day earlier? Your friend is that important to you?”
“He is, indeed.”
17
A FRIEND
Rain drenched the city during the night. Bardon listened to the drum of heavy drops on the windowpane and wondered if he’d have to ride through the torrent to find Greer. He barely heard the town clock strike eleven through the splatter of rain and the claps of thunder. But he heard the midnight toll underscoring a gentle shower. Sleep muffled the lone peal of one o’clock.
He woke in the morning, sprang out of a lumpy bed, and opened the window. The sun rose in the eastern sky, casting an enchanting glow on wisps of clouds as they broke apart and trailed away in puffy filaments. Warm, playful breezes rustled the spring leaves in a tree at the side yard. Chickens scurried about, pecking and scratching in the dirt. Skittish brown thornsnippers twittered from the tree, and plump waistcoaters cooed from the eaves of the buildings. The earth smelled damp and rich and full of promise.
The squire dressed and ran down the back steps to the kitchen. He charmed a few biscuits stuffed with bacon and cheese from the busy cook and stood by the hearth as he ate. He also downed a mug of warm, fresh milk. As soon as he’d tipped the cheerful woman and audaciously planted a kiss on her ruddy cheek, he left the inn.
He’d arranged for the use of one of the inn’s horses the night before. Riding at a brisk clip, he made his way to a location directly east and three miles beyond the last cluster of houses that could have been called part of the city. He tied the horse securely to a woody bush, climbed a hill, and surveyed the surrounding pastures.
This turned out to be a good place to meet. A few farmers, a few stockmen. Not a crowd by any means. That will please Greer.
He sat on grass dried by wind and sun. The smell of the heated, rich green blades acted as a soporific. He yawned, stretched, and lay on his back. A stir of thought not his own passed through his consciousness.
“You haven’t got a chance,” he said out loud, knowing that the thought would go to Greer. “You haven’t been able to sneak up on me