Murder in Cormyr - Chet Williamson [56]
At first I was about to say, "Oh, you wouldn't have done that," but then I realized she might have done worse than that. I had no proof that she had not been the slayer of both Dovo and Grodoveth. Perhaps this meeting was doubly lucky, not only saving my life, but also giving me the opportunity to question further this beautiful warrior.
"Thank you," I said."You most definitely saved my life. But you've been wounded. Why not come with me to Benelaius's cottage? He's very skilled at healing, and you can't ride far, bleeding like that."
"This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that you have to walk back, would it?"
"Milady, I will still walk back next to your horse, if it please you. You've saved my life, and I wish you only the best."
She gave a half-laugh and patted the saddle behind her. "Come up and ride behind me," she said. "Darrun can easily bear us both to your master's house."
Triple good fortune, I thought as I climbed up behind her and she took my hands and placed them around her slim waist so that I would not fall. "Hold tight," she said, "but put your hands only where I placed them if you wish your fingers to remain unbroken. And try not to bump my injured leg."
In spite of holding myself like a statue, I still enjoyed the ride. So tall she was that my face was against her back, and some of her red hair spilled out the back of her helmet so that it brushed my cheek. It was very soft and smelled of spices. But she had been fighting hard, and the scent of her body was musky, though I found it not at all unpleasant. Indeed, I would have been happy to ride on forever with her. Finally she spoke to me.
"You're brave to be riding with me, aren't you? Especially after what Captain Flim thinks of me."
"And what's that?"
"That I killed Dovo for insulting me the other night. And that I probably killed the king's envoy Grodoveth as well, since he was insulting too. And there's further evidence against me."
What was she doing, confessing? "And that is?"
"I was searching for treasure in the Vast Swamp. Grodoveth was killed in Fastred's tomb, and now the treasure is gone. Suspicion should naturally fall on me."
"Do you mind my asking how you heard all this? I mean, assuming of course that you didn't actually kill Grodoveth."
"An adventurer hears nearly everything. And it's my business to know about the things that concern me. Besides, just because the treasure's stolen doesn't mean it's gone. To my way of thinking, it's no crime to steal from a thief."
"Assuming that you didn't take it to begin with, and aren't just saying this to divert suspicion from yourself."
"A possibility. But if I wanted to divert your suspicions from me, there's a far easier way to do it."
"And that is?"
"Kill you the way I killed Dovo and Grodoveth. Ifl killed them in the first place."
I swallowed heavily. "Very true," I said. "My death would very efficiently end my suspicions of you. But if you wanted me dead, I doubt you would have saved my life."
"Sometimes," she said, "one does foolhardy things just for the sheer joy of doing them. Frankly, it's fun to kill monsters."
"And is it fun to get wounded in the process?"
"Perhaps. If you're riding with someone who thinks you capable of killing them. I enjoy that somehow. I suppose it's the bully in me."
"I don't think you would kill me," I said with more bravado than I felt.
"We're not at your home yet, are we?" she said, and I had no answer. I simply clung to her waist, figuring that if she did kill me on the way, I at least had the consolation of embracing her until she did the deed.
26
But when we arrived at Benelaius's cottage I was unscathed, though Kendra seemed weary from the loss of blood. Benelaius and Lindavar were standing outside worriedly, since Jenkus had arrived home alone, and they both hailed us as we came riding up.
"Kendra saved my life," I said as I climbed off her horse. "A hydra attacked me and Jenkus threw a shoe. But Kendra killed the monster."
"With a slight