The Death of All Things by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zombies Need Brains LLC
Published: 2017-09-01T07:00:00+00:00

A Constant Companion

Juliet E. McKenna

“Wait till I get hold of Anil Deker, spreading tales like that,” the young woman muttered wrathfully. She strode through the market square rather faster than was ladylike, though thankfully the townsfolk were too busy with their own affairs to notice.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” She shot a glance at the enormous black hound loping at her side. “I won’t betray him to Inky Jerban. But he won’t go around clucking like his aunt’s chickens by the time I’ve finished with him.”

They approached a light carriage waiting by the public water trough. The chestnut horse in the shafts pricked its ears, looking over the edge of its nosebag. The driver was dozing on his seat, his russet livery coat unbuttoned. As the horse whickered, the gray-haired man sat up, concerned.

“Lady Dalria? Is something amiss?” Carden asked as he buttoned his coat.

The young woman curbed her anger. This was hardly Carden’s fault. “I’m sorry. I’ve changed my mind about visiting the market. There’s some new rumor that my brother’s alive and returned to claim his title, along with the castle and all the estate.”

The coachman’s expression darkened as he jumped down to open the carriage door and unfold its step. “It’s been, what, six years since the last time someone turned up spouting such nonsense?”

“Quite so.” Dalria paused as she plucked up the green fabric of her skirt to avoid treading on the hem.

“Well, your grandsire drove that scoundrel off with his tail between his legs. We’ll soon be rid of this one.”

Dalria smiled as if she shared Carden’s confidence. Inwardly, she sighed. She well remembered her grandfather ripping that last imposter’s claims to shreds, even though she’d barely been thirteen years old. Now though, Grandfather was dead and gone like the winter that had claimed him, and his loss was still so recent, so raw, that grief could still overwhelm her without warning.

She must maintain the composure he had taught her, essential to fulfill her duties as his heir. Essential if she was to challenge the lawyer who handled the business and legal affairs of her birthright—Master Jerban’s letters already indicated that he assumed she would follow his instructions, rather than him taking hers.

“Indeed, but I fear it may not be so simple this time,” she said as she settled into the coach. “It seems that Master Jerban has brought this particular claimant to Harles himself.”

“My lady?” Carden gaped at her.

Dalria took a moment to make sure her voice stayed calm. “You remember Anil Deker? Nephew to Mistress Warin, the egg seller?”

The coachman nodded as he secured the door. “Proud as one of her own roosters she was, when he went off to clerk for the castle in Bastrys.”

“It seems he was quick to share such juicy news with his family when Jerban’s coachman stopped to water the horses,” Dalria said tartly. “And his aunt is already spreading it in the market.”

“We must have just missed them on the road.” Now the coachman was looking pensive as he climbed into his seat and gathered up the reins.

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