Lord of the Beasts by Susan Krinard

Author:Susan Krinard [Krinard, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-12-18T08:27:20+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

NEARLY MAD WITH RAGE, Tod buzzed about Inglesham’s head like a wasp making ready to sting. He had come to Donal this morning in spite of his desire to avoid his master, knowing that he must behave as if nothing had changed between them. When Donal had apologized for his neglect, Tod had come very near forgiving him for concealing his plans to leave England.

But then Yellow-Hair had interrupted with his threats against Donal and Ivy, and incongruous emotions had possessed Tod like some powerful enchantment—not only the familiar desire to protect Donal from mortal treachery, but anger that Ivy should be in danger…Ivy, who was nothing to him save a responsibility he had never wanted.

It didn’t matter. All he wished now was to punish Yellow-Hair…if only Donal would permit it. But Donal only stared at his adversary, calm and cold as a still, deep lake.

“What is this lie?” he asked quietly. And he listened with equal dispassion as the bad man spoke of incomprehensible things: of some other mortal in the Iron City, of dark places and darker feelings, of an unprovoked attack by a thief who carried the same pendant that protected Ivy from the wrong enemies.

“What proof?” Donal asked when the man was finished. “All you have is the word of this dead acquaintance.”

“Proof?” Inglesham said, snorting through his mouth like a nasty troll. “My word is enough against a nameless thief whose actions led to the death of a titled gentleman. Sir Geoffrey will gladly support me in my accusations.”

“Against his own daughter?”

“He will naturally desire to protect her. I truly fear for her state of mind if she learns that this girl she has taken into her heart is capable of such savagery. She would be placed in an untenable position.” His face grew long. “Delia is much more delicate than she would seem, you know. That is often the case with women who appear unusually strong-willed.”

His face still expressionless, Donal drew Boreas closer to keep the horse from kicking Yellow-Hair across the meadow. His anger reached so far that even the beasts in their cages roared and howled.

“What do you want, Inglesham?” he said at last.

The man examined the tips of his fingers. “Very little, actually. Nothing that you will find unduly taxing. I have told you that I enjoy betting, and flat racing is my particular sin.” He smiled. “Have you ever been to a race meeting, Fleming?”

“No.”

“No matter. I will instruct you, and the rest you’ll learn quickly enough. You will accompany me to various meetings, and you will advise me as to the physical state of the entries and the accuracy of the odds placed on each horse. If I am happy with the results…that is, of course, if your picks win and I obtain a useful profit…little Ivy’s secret will remain so.”

Donal’s nostrils flared. “You expect me to determine which horses will win each race?”

“Surely that is not beyond your capabilities. I’ve seen proof enough of that. And if

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