Read Online Yesterday's Kings by Angus Wells - Free Book Online

father answered. “And now this discussion is ended. I shall find my bed and think on what you’ve said.”
    “I trust,” Abra heard the priest say, “that you shall make the right decision.”
    There was shuffling then, and a loud slamming of doors. Abra withdrew from the fireplace to brush soot from her hair and pour another glass of wine as she considered all she’d heard.
    There was much to ponder, and outside her windows the night was very black. She emptied the glass and climbed into bed, wondering about her future. Wondering about Kandar’s future.

    C ULLYN SET THE TWO BUTCHERED DEER on his cart and started off for Lyth. He was determined that this time he would come back with a horse. He’d not wait for the Summer Horse Fair, but buy one now—even did it cost him more.
    He reached the village and dragged his cart into the yard of the Golden Goat, where both Martia and Andrias met him with surprise.
    “Two, you said, eh? And here they are!” He dropped the straps as they stared at him. “Now find me a horse.”
    “Now?” Andrias asked.
    Cullyn nodded.
    “Eat first,” Martia suggested.
    “And let’s talk,” said Andrias.
    He went inside the hostelry to encounter Elvira’s … he was not sure whether it was smile or scowl. But he grinned at her and took the mug Andrias offered, and felt pleased with himself. After all, he had brought in the two deer Andrias had said would purchase him the horse. And he might see Abra again.
    He drank the ale thirstily, then settled at a table to which Martia brought a venison pie.
    “Yours,” she said, “cooked of what you brought us before.”
    He smiled and waited for Elvira to bring another mug.
    When she did she was not so friendly. She set the cup before him and stood waiting until he asked, “Shall I … see you tonight?”
    “I don’t know.” She set hands on hips and tossed back her blond curls. “I’ve other friends.”
    “I thought …”he said, and shook his head. “I don’t understand this.”
    She said, “No, you don’t,” and walked away.
    He called after her, remembering the pleasure they’d found, but she ignored him, so he ate his meal and drank his ale, thinking that he did not understand women. And when he was done, he found Andrias to ask about the horse.
    “It’ll take all you’ve saved with me,” Andrias said, “but it’s a fine mount. And Jordia will throw in all the trappings, but you’d still be better off to wait for the Horse Fair. It’s not the friendliest of animals. Indeed—”
    “Just show me,” Cullyn grunted. He felt excited at the prospect of buying a horse, but also disappointed by Elvira’s rejection. He wanted to get out of Lyth as quickly as possible. Save that staying might catch him another sight of Abra—for whatever that was worth.
    Andrias shrugged. “Come look at it, then. I’ll let Jordia tell you about it.”
    They went down through the narrow streets of Lyth to the stable, where a gray-haired woman greeted them and looked Cullyn up and down before she looked at Andrias and said, “He might be able to handle the bastard.”
    Andrias said, “If anyone can. He’d not listen to me.”
    Cullyn wondered what was wrong with the horse.
    “Well, let’s see.” Jordia grinned at him. “Perhaps he can manage the beast. And at least it’s cheap.”
    Her face was as nut-brown as Lofantyl’s, and massively lined, but she walked with a fine stride, skirts swinging over wide hips with a vigor that belied her obvious age. Her arms were muscled from handling the horses.
    She took them to a stall at the end of the stable, where a tall, black horse stood, stamping its feet. It rolled its eyes when it saw them, and bared its teeth.
    “Why should he be cheap?” Cullyn asked. “He’s superb.”
    “He killed his last owner,” Jordia said. “Stamped him to death. I was going to sell him for meat until Andrias spoke to me.”
    Cullyn stared at the horse. It was big as any hunter out of the keep, and