Gregar's Passion: Elven Conceptions 2 by Jade Astor

Gregar's Passion: Elven Conceptions 2 by Jade Astor

Author:Jade Astor [Astor, Jade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781622418275
Google: 0oiH9Era23AC
Publisher: Siren-BookStrand
Published: 2012-05-14T12:00:00+00:00


Chapter 5

Arowan faced their accusers in the way he had been trained to. Knife out, senses on alert, he stood ready to deal a lethal blow to whichever of them flinched first. Beside him, Mulciber dropped into a similar defensive stance. His dagger, a perfect match for Arowan’s, flashed in the candlelight.

The intruders, thrown off by the speed and skill of their response, drew back a step. Arowan saw the winemaker and the constable exchange nervous glances, though Igby’s expression remained obstinate.

“Gregar, return to the inn at once,” Arowan said without looking around. “Wait for us in our room.”

“He shall not!” Reaching out, Igby slapped the constable’s shoulder—none too gently, either. “Constable Dolof, apprehend Gregar at once and return him to my house, where he can be safe from these miscreants!”

“You will do nothing of the kind,” Mulciber said in an eerily calm voice. “This young man is free to choose his own lodgings for the evening. You may invite him to your home if you wish, Alderman, but if he declines, you have no right to force him.”

“Nonsense,” Igby retorted. He started forward as if to seize Gregar, but Constable Dolof held up a pudgy hand to stop him.

“He makes a fair point, Alderman. I mean…there’s no evidence they brought Gregar here against his will. If he obtained permission from Carawog to be out and about, none of us has any right to curtail his movements.”

“Carawog? That pandering sot? He cares nothing for Gregar’s welfare! You would set his judgment above mine?”

“Let him continue on his way,” Arowan demanded through clenched teeth. He and Mulciber did not move as Gregar cleared his throat and slowly got up from the table.

“Speaking of my master, Carawog, he will indeed be expecting me back at the inn,” Gregar said. “Now that it’s growing dark, the guests will be wanting to return to their rooms, and the supper dishes will want washing.”

“Go, then.” The constable jerked his head to the side. Igby stiffened as though he might lunge for Gregar as the younger man hurried past them and slipped through the low doorway to the shop. They heard his footsteps rapidly crossing the stone floor toward the street exit.

“This is an outrage,” Igby bellowed after Gregar had gone. His hair and lanky beard bristled with anger, reminding Arowan of the straw men farmers sometimes placed in their fields to frighten away destructive creatures. Igby, however, had a long way to go before he was in danger of frightening anyone. “’Tis all well and good to maintain a friendly and cooperative attitude toward visitors, but you and your friends have taken sore advantage of my good nature. From here on I shall make it my personal mission to see that all four of you are ejected from this village at once!”

“Have a care, Alderman. Private grudges are one thing, but ’tis my business you are interfering with now. These men have paid good coin to enjoy their evening meal in peace.” Grunting with distaste,



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.