Bears of Bridgetown (Rage of Lions Book 7) by Matt Barron

Author:Matt Barron [Barron, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blade of Truth Publishing Company
Published: 2024-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 46

“After we left his shop, I confess I wasn’t of a mind to let the matter sit, even for a breath, Your Grace,” Spindle continued. “I remembered how Baron Ash captured that traitor leather merchant years ago in Dweltford, when he was still just a convict captain. Lady Righteous has told us the tale more’n once. She’s still livid he went to that task without her, but I think mostly ‘cause she was already gettin’ sweet on him at that point and just wanted to be around him.”

Amelia remembered that night’s work. Prentice had only been recently freed and had hunted down a man named Folper as a member of the conspiracy that Duggan the traitor had arranged to overthrow her rule. Folper had tried to run from Dweltford in the night, and Prentice and Sir Gant had chased him through a dark storm.

“Like the baron, I wanted to run the haberdasher down, but I had no idea where to look for him if he wasn’t in the shop,” Spindle explained.

“I said we should wait for him to come back,” Seskia put in, “but Lady Spindle didn’t think he was comin’ back and she weren’t of a mind to let him go so easily as that.”

Spindle raised her hand for quiet.

“That’s enough for now, maids,” she said. “I have my wits back to me enough to carry the story. Unless you are asked, you’ll hold your tongues from now on.”

The four neophytes curtseyed.

“I wanted him like a drunk wants a drink, Your Grace,” Spindle said, her tone suddenly like that of a penitent sinner. “I’m a little shamefaced to say I raged about it some, but only in the shop, not the street. I remembered your dignity.”

“Thank you, My Lady,” Amelia told her.

“For a moment I was on the path to do as Lady Dalflitch suggested, going straight to the Conclave house and list the fiend as a front for smugglers and cutthroats, but then I figured on a longtime trader like this haber’ having friends in the Conclave, so I decided on a different course. I went to my husband’s trader’s house. I knew he was there—spends most of his days there while I’m here and her Grace’s gold has been in his strongroom. I knew he’d have an ear to where to find this crooked-dealing clothier. Nothing happens ‘mongst any town’s merchants that my Caius doesn’t make a point to learn when he’s staying there.”

“Then I will make it a point to consult him,” Lady Dalflitch said, “with your permission, Lady Spindle. If he has intelligences on these matters, I would like them in my hands as well.”

“I think he’d like that, My Lady,” Spindle said back. “He speaks highly of you, though not frequent, and he’s always spoken of your canniness and good judgement. I have never heard him mention your beauty once.”

“Well, now, I don’t know whether to be complimented or insulted,” Dalflitch retorted, her facial expression once again the haughty bedswerver of king’s and princes rather than the shrewd spymaster she truly was.

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