The True Prince by J.B. Cheaney

Author:J.B. Cheaney
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307548375
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2002-01-18T22:00:00+00:00

MORE ROGUERY

e has some rough edges,” Starling conceded the next morning, when I told her of our adventure.

“Rough edges?” I was helping her spread new rushes on the floor, and their sweet dusty scent made me sneeze. “He could saw oak. And I can't fathom how he got you to even look at him, much less talk to him.” She merely smiled. “That is your cue to speak.”

“Oh, is it? Well, he was right simple and straightforward. On Tuesday three weeks past, before I left for the market, he arrived with a piece of raw meat and lured the dog out of the gate. While Roland was attending to the meat, Bartlemy tied a ribbon round his neck, and a message to the ribbon. When I came out, he sprang Roland after me. Of course the ribbon caught my eye first. The message read: ‘A friend wishes to walk you to Bishopsgate Market.

If you would know who, turn around and let him speak first.' So of course I turned around and there he was, making a most elegant bow. In truth, I was so surprised I could not have spoken my own name.”

“And you call that simple?” I said. “Simple would be appearing at the gate with a piece of raw meat for you.”

This was meant as a jest—mostly—but she took it ill, turning her back and speaking in a small, tight voice. “Do you mean to say I'm no better than a dog?”

“No, of course not. But look you—the last time you saw him, he appeared just the opposite of a friend. Allow me to wonder how he won you over so easily.”

“How do you know it was easy? You don't know what he said.”

I held back an impatient sigh. “Right. Forgive me, I assumed too much. What did he say?”

After a moment she made a swipe at her nose and turned around. “Leave it at this: he convinced me that what's past is past and he means you no harm. He only wants to catch a thief.”

“Well? Say on.”

“That button led him first to the Admiral's Men, because of the Robin Hood play they put on last spring. He soon determined that their Robin Hood has nothing to do with the ballads, but some of the players told him about Kit's being dismissed. That was all the gossip this summer: according to rumor, Kit mysteriously lost his powers and tried to kill the Welsh Boy in a fit of madness. Some are even saying he succeeded, since Davy hasn't been seen. Bartlemy tried to find him but turned up Kit instead—in Captain Penny's company.”

“Has he questioned them?”

“No; he's only watching now.”

She and Bartlemy had had quite a little talk, it seemed. “Do you know if he's approached anyone else in the Company?”

“Only John Heminges, who refused to say much. He was Kit's guardian for five years, you know, and loved him like a son. But by the time you joined the Company, Kit was becoming difficult, and it's gone from bad to worse.

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.