A Flight of Ravens by John Conroe (thriller books to read TXT) 📗

pair of constables appeared through the crowd ahead of us, riding side by side.  Rather than move out of the way they studied us (me, really) and then just slowed to a stop, blocking the street.

“Look, if it isn’t the hero,” the taller of the two said to his buddy.

“Everyone’s savior in the night,” his partner said, her expression one of disdain.

“Yup, a right handy one with the poison,” the other said.

Beside me, I sensed Rose shifting in her saddle, straightening as if she were about to say something.  I tapped my left hand against my leg lightly. She settled back in her seat.

“And he’s leading yet another young boy down a dark path,” the woman said.  “Such a pretty boy too.”

That was about enough of that.  Having them focus on Rose was not what I wanted.

“Constables, I sense you have issue with me.  Are you asking for satisfaction?” I asked them.

“Satisfaction?” the man asked, confused. “Isn’t that what the boy provides?”

“He’s asking if we want to duel him,” the woman said, eyes locked on me, as I intended. Constables weren’t often challenged to duels.

“I’m fine with both of you at once,” I said.  “Give me your names and I’ll get clearance from the crown, all nice and legal.  You’re throwing plenty of insults at me; you should back them up properly.  Hell, the lord marshal, himself, can oversee it if it pleases you.”

“You’re challenging us?” the man asked, considering it.

“Don’t be a moron, Jed,” his partner said.

“We’d get to pick the weapons,” he said to her, starting to get excited.

“As if that would matter,” she said, sitting upright and clicking to her horse to move.  She rode at a diagonal, slightly in front of her partner, eyes on me.  “You stay safe now,” she said in a warning tone. After a second of indecision, her partner rode after her, frowning.

When they were past us, I started Tipton forward, Rose following my lead immediately.

“Why?” she asked.

“Why were they being assholes?”

“Yes, and why didn’t you just threaten them with reporting their behavior; why the duel thing?” she asked.

“Your first and second questions have the same answer… the lord marshal.  Threatening them with the crown would be seen as cowardly and would only encourage other constables to do the same.  But a duel would be the last thing they’d want.”

“Why the lord marshal, and other than you beating them badly, why would a duel be the worst thing?”

“If I brought a complaint to the crown, requesting a duel for my honor, the reasons would have to be announced in His Majesty’s open court.  Insulting me for my service to the kingdom would likely piss off the king and embarrass Kiven Armstrong, who has been angry with me since my fall from grace and even more so since Ash, his nephew, went missing.”

She was silent as she absorbed all that.  “The constables are throwing you dung because the lord marshal has a bone to pick?”

“He leads the city’s constable force among his other duties.  His opinion of me wouldn’t be a secret. Dung flows downhill.”

“Does he not realize your disgrace was just a ploy by the princess and the king?”

“He’s a smart man; I’m sure he does.  But he loves his nephew and blames me for his death.  Anger often makes even smart people lose their better judgement, as does power.  And Kiven has always had something against me.”

“If Her Highness puts me to work, I’ll have to keep an ear and eye open for what he says and does,” she said.

“Yes, but you must do that with everyone else as well.”

We arrived at the castle’s front gateway and were let through without delay, my stock among the royal guards much higher than among Haven’s law enforcement officials. I led Rose through the hallways to the royal offices and into Brona’s antechamber.

Her secretary, Marda, looked up and frowned at me, as did a number of waiting hopefuls seated about the room.  “She’s busy.”

“I have important information, Marda.”

“You always do, Captain,” Brona’s formidable secretary said.  Marda is rather plain in appearance, which I think causes some to ignore her or discount her.  That’s a mistake.  She’s very sharp, a keen observer, and tough as nails.  Brona backs her completely.  If she really wanted to keep me at bay, I’d be facing master-level stonewalling.

“Let me check,” she said, her eyes flicking over Rose in her messenger gear before she pushed back from her desk.  She gave me a hard look as she entered the princess’s office.

Rose and I stood where we were and waited, ignoring the stares of the other folks in the waiting room.

A minute or two later, Marda opened the door.  “She’ll see you,” was all she said, slipping back out as we went in.

Brona wasn’t behind her desk, instead waiting by her fireplace, staring into the flames. She wore a light blue dress with her hair up in a businesslike bun.  She turned when I closed the door, her eyes immediately going to Rose, who curtsied as soon as the princess looked her way.

“Stop.  Stand up like you were,” Brona said, eyes narrowing in focus as she studied the girl.  Approaching, she moved in a circle around Rose, who stood stock still, looking straight ahead.

Studying the girl in boy’s clothes, the princess stopped by my side, almost in front of Rose.

“Take off your cap,” she ordered, although her voice was mild.  Rose did as directed. “And let down your hair.”

Rose unpinned her hair and shook it out to its full shoulder length.

“Hmm, you are pretty,” Brona mused, moving directly in front of the girl.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Rose said, eyes straight ahead like she was a soldier.

“Just telling it like it is.  Take off your jacket, Rose,” Brona said.

Rose complied without hesitation, which I knew would win her points—or at least not detract any. Brona hates indecision.

Clad in a light linen shirt, her feminine curves were no longer hidden.  “You, my dear, are petite, yet perfectly proportioned.  Savid says you are capable