Read Online Down Among the Dead Men (Forest Kingdom Novels) by Simon R. Green - Free Book Online Page A

horses in the reception hall and out into the courtyard. MacNeil had to spend a few moments calming the dismayed horses before he could follow, and when he finally got out into the courtyard, Scarecrow Jack was nowhere to be seen. The rest of the team arrived soon after, and they stood together by the hall door, looking around them at the courtyard’s impenetrable shadows.
    “This may seem a stupid question,” said Constance finally, “but just who the hell are we looking for?”
    “An outlaw,” said MacNeil. “He was spying on us from the doorway.”
    “How long for?” said Flint.
    “Too long,” said the Dancer. “He’s very good, whoever he is.”
    “Scarecrow Jack, I think,” said MacNeil.
    The Dancer raised an eyebrow. “I hadn’t realized we were in his territory. I wonder what he wants with us.”
    “More importantly, how did he get in here, and where is he now?” MacNeil hefted his sword impatiently. “He couldn’t have got in through the main doors; they’re still locked and bolted. I saw to that before we turned in.”
    “He must have come over the wall,” said Flint. “He’s probably up on the catwalks somewhere.”
    They all looked up at the battlements, but there wasn’t enough light to see them as anything more than darker shadows against the night.
    “If he was up there, he’s long gone by now,” said MacNeil disgustedly. He hesitated and then slammed his sword back into its scabbard. Flint and the Dancer looked at each other and put away their swords. MacNeil turned to Constance.
    “Can you use your Sight to find the outlaw?”
    The witch shook her head. “My Sight is still clouded by whatever’s here in the fort with us. If we were to go out into the Forest, I might be able to help you track him down.”
    MacNeil shook his head. “We’d never find Scarecrow Jack in the dark, and by morning he could be miles away.” He looked thoughtfully up at the battlements. “If he could get over that wall, so could anyone else. We’d better keep our eyes and ears open.”
    “Perhaps I’m missing something,” said Constance, “but why should a footpad like Scarecrow Jack want to break in here? What could he be looking for, in a border fort?”
    “I was wondering that,” said Flint. “This isn’t the kind of thing he usually does, according to all the stories. It’s not his style at all. Is there something here we don’t know about, Duncan? Something we haven’t been told?”
    MacNeil smiled slightly. “Nothing much escapes you, does it, Jessica? All right, let’s get back to the dining hall, and I’ll tell you the whole story. I don’t want to talk out here. You never know who might be listening.
    Back in the dining hall, MacNeil pulled up a chair and gestured for the others to do the same. He waited patiently while they got settled, and then leaned forward.
    “One of the reasons we’re here,” he said slowly, “is to find out what happened to the hundred thousand ducats of gold this fort was supposed to be guarding.” He looked around at the others and smiled as he watched their jaws drop.
    “A hundred thousand ducats,” said Flint reverently. “That is one hell of a lot of gold.”
    “Damn right,” said MacNeil. “It’s the payroll for all the border forts in this sector. It was only supposed to stay here overnight, while arrangements were made for it to be broken up and distributed, but unfortunately that turned out to be the night the fort broke off all contact with the outside world. You can imagine the heart flutters that caused at Court. So, officially we’re here to find out what happened to the fort’s missing personnel, but we’re also supposed to find the gold and make sure it’s intact and secure. You can guess which of those orders has top priority.”
    “That’s why you insisted we check every room earlier on,” said Flint.
    “Right,” said MacNeil.
    The Dancer looked at him steadily. “Why weren’t we told any of this