Red Adam's Lady by Ingram Grace; Chadwick Elizabeth;

Author:Ingram, Grace; Chadwick, Elizabeth;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 2018-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

12

Julitta and Alain crossed the drawbridge almost on the heels of another party, and drew rein among a throng of idlers gathering to an ominous spectacle. She picked out the participants from her elevation; Sir Brien, retribution on horseback; Godric half-drunk and blustering between two archers, his arms bound; the innkeeper grey-faced with fear, his wrists corded to a soldier’s saddle, and a grimy woodcutter jellied with dread similarly secured. His donkey, flicking long ears at the crowd, suddenly loosed a nerve-jarring bray, and Julitta saw in the wicker panniers on his back damning evidence, a forequarter of pork and a great piece of beef flank. She thrust Folie through the jostling spectators, compelling her to obedience though she jibbed and sidled. The woodcutter, in panic at thought of a noose about his windpipe, screeched his own innocence.

“I never knowed nowt, m’ lady! I never knowed they was thieving! I only taken t’ stuff as they bid me! Oh m’ lady, me good lady, ’tweren’t no blame o’ mine!”

Godric spat in his face. “Whoreson liar! Had thi share, tha did!”

The crowd gabbled, swaying back and forth, and Alain came up alongside on his steady dun as they pressed close, to force them back from Folie when she tried to plunge.

“Silence!” Julitta cried, and to her secret surprise was instantly obeyed. “Back!” The throng retreated, leaving Sir Brien, his men and the conspirators in the center of their ring. “Sir Brien?”

He saluted her. “My lady, my men and I kept watch on Godric as you bade us. When the woodcutter brought faggots for the ovens Godric placed flesh from the kitchen in the empty panniers, under stale bread and broken meats. Roger and Eric will bear witness to that. We followed the woodcutter from the castle and took him at the inn, in the act of handing over the flesh to Herbert the innkeeper. There are five of us to testify to that.”

“A lie!” snarled Godric, his brow greasy with the sweat of fear. “I give him nowt but kitchen leavings, that I’ve full right to bestow.”

“Kitchen leavings?” repeated Julitta, and signed to one of the soldiers to lift the pork and beef from the ass’s panniers and hold them for all to see. A gasp went up from the crowd, and she turned sternly on the woodcutter.

He waited for no question. “I did as he bid me—I took t’ flesh to Herbert at t’ inn—but I swear to you by Our Lady I never knowed ’twas thieving, noble lady.” He would have plumped down on his knees but the tether prevented him, and at his distressful wail in her ears Folie danced sideways with upflung head. Julitta reined her in sharply, and Alain swung from his saddle and moved to take her bridle at need.

“Hidden under kitchen leavings? You knew.” Her rejection struck him speechless. She turned grimly on the innkeeper, who was of harder stuff.

“I bought what was offered me,” he said sullenly. “There’s no crime in that, m’ lady.

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