Fortress of Snow by Melanie Dickerson

Author:Melanie Dickerson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-12-06T00:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Mazy and Ro went back to the market day after day, and everything went back to normal. Ro’s father had repaired the booth, and he had even expressed his gratitude to God for keeping the two of them safe, choking on the words and making Ro and Mazy tear up at the gruff man’s obvious emotion. And though all was well, Mazy was haunted by the face of the man who had threatened her, leaning in so close he was almost touching her with his lips.

But she would overcome this fear. She would stop dreaming about it at night, and she would stop trembling inside whenever she saw someone coming toward her stall who reminded her of him.

Why was she so haunted by what had happened? He had not managed to harm her in any way. And she had been through other attacks when she’d had to use her knives to defend herself.

Perhaps this time was different because he’d gotten so close to her and she’d felt so helpless to defend herself, with her hands held behind her back. Also, the other times she’d acted, the men had left her alone. This time she had thrown her knife, injuring the man, and yet he still kept coming at her. And then he’d puckered his foul lips so close to hers, she was sure at any moment he would press them against hers.

“Mazy? Are you all right?” Ro looked closer at her. She leaned toward her and Mazy jerked back.

Ro’s eyes went wide.

Mazy pressed a hand to her chest, willing her heart to slow down. Why had fear suddenly gripped her when Ro leaned close to her? Why had she jerked away from her friend?

Mazy did her best to sound reassuring. “Forgive me. I was lost in my thoughts. I am well.”

“Good, because I am thinking of going to that shop that sells Flemish dress material, and . . . Oh, look! It’s Sir Berenger!”

Mazy’s heart pounded, but not out of fear. Sir Berenger was dismounting from his horse. He left it with another guard, then came walking in their direction.

“I do love to watch him walk.” Ro made a series of sounds in her throat.

“Behave in a seemly manner, please.” But Mazy loved to watch him, too, as vendors in the market called out to him and he raised his hand and said something polite and kind. He was so mild and tranquil, except when he was clouting an evil man on the head.

“Mistress Mazy, Mistress Ro,” he said, nodding to them. “Any trouble at the market in the last few days?”

“No, all has been calm.” Mazy tried to smile without looking flirtatious.

“No trouble since you saved us,” Ro said, arching her brows and smiling out of one side of her mouth. She just could not behave.

“I am glad to hear it. I wanted to let you know that I will be going on a trip to Suffolk and I shall probably be gone for some time.”

Mazy felt her stomach drop.

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