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certainly worth the effort. I told her about the town, a pleasant, walled town
where our arrival had been accepted without curiosity, yet I was wary. Not for
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a moment did I underestimate the jealousy of Count Robert, who wanted not only
the castle but the girl as well. The former meant the power equal to that of a
crowned king, and the loveliness of the Comtesse was answer to the second
consideration.
While in town I purchased a fur-lined tunic that came to my knees, and new
leather boots that pulled on over plain hose. The boots came to just above the
calf and were beautifully made. Walking in the town, I carried no sword, but I
had two daggers beneath the tunic that could be reached through a slit in the
front just above the belt.
There was knocking at the door. It was the innkeeper. He was visibly nervous.
"There have been queries about a lady. Knowing you for a friend of
theHansgraf,I said nothing about about your sister."
"Who made the inquiries?"
"Soldiers of a Count Robert. He rode into town this morning with about thirty
men, and I am sure they will be back."
"Do you wish us to leave?"
"Would you? But stay until the night. TheHansgrafshould be here by then."
Taking up my sword, I placed it conveniently on the table. Glancing again at
the innkeeper, I decided to trust to his discretion.
"What I have said is true. I am a merchant of the caravan led
byHansgrafRupert von Gilderstern. As you have guessed, the lady is not my
sister. She was to be forced into marriage with Count Robert. A castle is at
stake as well as the happiness of the Comtesse."
He dismissed the explanation with a gesture. "It is nothing. Count Robert
comes, he goes. In a lifetime I shall not see him again, but each year
theHansgrafcomes to Provins, spends much money here, brings much business. He
is a good man much respected. Do not worry."
When he had gone the Comtesse turned quickly to me. "You must go! If you are
found with me, he will kill you!"
It irritated my masculine pride that she thought me so easily killed.
"Madame, we Kerbouchards do not kill so easily. This blade" I gestured to the
sword "has taken the life of one baron not long since. No doubt it can take
the life of another."
"You killed abaron?"
"After we had taken his fortress by storm. Barons, my Comtesse, bleed as
easily as merchants or peasants. This one bled like the thief he was. The
Baron de Tournemine "
"Tournemine?"
"Not a relative, I hope?"
"No, but a captain at theCastleofSaone once served him, a man named
Taillefeur."
"Trust him not. I believe he betrayed my father, and he tried to rob me. He
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is a mercenary without their virtue of loyalty. If he is not in the pay of
Count Robert, I would be surprised."
"I trust him."
"Others have, to their cost. Once I nearly cracked his skull, and only wish I
had struck harder."
She was frightened. "If I cannot trust my own captains, then whom can I
trust?"
I bowed. "You may trust me with your castle, your wealth, your life, but not
too many nights in the same room with you."
Her eyes were amused. "You have spoken so much of that, merchant, that I
wonder if you are not just a talker."
Stung, I started to reply, but she laughed, and turned her back on me. That
white dress did admirable things to her hips, which were shapely, very
A sudden uproar in the street took me to the window. Six men-at-arms
clustered there, and with them was a tall, powerfully made man with a swarthy
face and thick black brows. Nobody needed to tell me this was Count Robert.
Turning swiftly, I said, "Do you remain here, and make no sound. I shall go
below." Belting on my sword, I turned to the door.
She caught my arm. "No!Please!He will kill you!" Bending my head, I kissed
her lightly on the lips and regretted that I must leave.
"Wait for me. If I die, I take the memory of your lips with me." Adding, for
my own information, that I did not intend to die. Too much remained to be
done.
Count Robert was approaching the steps when I appeared on them. "Stand
aside," he ordered, "I wish to mount the stairs."
"At the head of the stairs," I replied, "is one room. It is my room. You have
no business there."
"Stand aside, I said!" His black eyes were cold. "Or I shall spill your
innards and walk over them to the room."
"If you come up these stairs," I said, "we shall see whose innards lie upon
them." I drew my sword. "Come, if you wish. You can bite on this steel."
Coolly, he stepped back and motioned to the men behind him. "I do not fight
with commoners. These do it for me."
"An excuse for cowardice," I replied. Count Robert gestured at the
men-at-arms. "Kill him," he said.
"If they advance one step," a voice called out in a haughty tone that once
heard could not be forgotten, "I shall hang the lot of them, and you higher
than the rest.
"I am theHansgrafRupert von Gilderstern, of the White Company of traders.
This man is a merchant of our company."
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"I have thirty men!" Count Robert declared. "And I have five times that
number."
TheHansgrafstood on the landing inside the door, feet apart, hands clasped
behind him. "They are veterans of more than three hundred battles, Count
Robert. Any five of my men would take your thirty and spit them like frogs."
TheHansgrafput a hand on his hip. "If you have had no experience of war with
a merchant caravan, Count Robert, this will be a lesson to you, a lesson you
would not live to appreciate."
TheHansgrafstepped down into the room, and a dozen of his men followed after.
Months of hard riding in all kinds of weather had darkened and toughened their
faces. Their armor bore dents from many conflicts. They were lean, muscular
men ready for whatever must be done.
Count Robert's men lowered their weapons, and giving them an ugly glance,
Count Robert strode from the room, followed by his men.
TheHansgrafheld out his hand. "You disappear, then appear again! It is good
to see you, Kerbouchard!"
Then he added, "I would suggest you disguise the lady, and we will go to the
market where we are known."
The Comtesse appeared at the head of the steps. "I am ready,Hansgraf,and you
have my thanks." She came down the steps wearing the old cloak worn when we
first met in the forest, the hood covering her hair.
Turning to me, she said, "From the actions of the Count I can see it is not
only the rascals who have rascality." She looked up at me. "And not only the
nobles, Kerbouchard, who have nobility!"
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