Read Online License to Quill by Jacopo della Quercia - Free Book Online

steed shined like Damascus steel, and his lean muscles more closely resembled knots of silver silk. He had a long, slender body, a gunpowder-gray tail, a straight profile with a wide forehead, and two large, soulful eyes as pensive as a monk’s. The bard removed a glove and tried to stroke the steed’s long neck, but Aston turned his head and snorted angrily. Shakespeare drew his hand back, much to Bacon’s satisfaction. “Is he always so friendly?” the spooked playwright inquired.
    Bacon continued his briefing: “He’s lighter than the Neapolitan Courser, which should work to your advantage. It makes him a more difficult target to shoot or spear. Speed and agility will be your best defenses on Aston. Any armor would sap him of his swiftness, so you won’t be given any.”
    â€œHe’s a bit thin, isn’t he?” With its long back and high belly, the silver stallion somewhat resembled a massive greyhound.
    â€œTo the untrained eye, Aston will appear weak or underfed. It’s all a facade. Beneath the mask, this horse is a charger with unrivaled endurance. You could cross an entire desert on him towing gear without him tiring. He’s strong, fast, fears neither flames nor thunder, and Master Markham swears that Aston is the most intelligent horse he has ever trained.”
    â€œA horse of letters? That’s adorable,” the playwright teased. “Tell me, how smart is he?”
    â€œSmart enough not to ask so many questions. Please pay attention, master bard.” Bacon waved over a squire carrying a large leather saddle. “We have some equipment that should help you if you find yourself in trouble.” Bacon opened a leather pouch on the saddle and removed a rough-looking iron ball. “This is a larger version of that timepiece we gave you earlier, only this one is designed to fragment without explosives. What you are looking at is a tightly packed collection of caltrops: small spikes designed to point upright no matter how they fall. Just push on this button to loosen them, and then throw the ball behind you as you gallop. The sphere will break apart and cover the ground with caltrops, destroying the feet or hooves of whatever pursues you.”
    â€œBless my sole,” the bard appraised with a smile the scientist did not return. “But wouldn’t it be easier if I just lobbed the ball at the rider?”
    â€œJust make sure you throw the weapon behind Aston, master bard. Also, the same goes for this.…” Bacon reached into a different saddlebag and pulled out a glass sphere filled with amber liquid. “Can you guess what this is?”
    Shakespeare shrugged. “A suppository for the horse?”
    Bacon narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “This is urine from a mare in heat.”
    â€œThat was my next guess.”
    â€œâ€™Twas not.”
    â€œâ€™Twas!”
    â€œBe silent, playwright. This is a weapon to trip your enemies. Shatter the glass orb behind you and any stallions on your tail will quit their chase. The same goes for their riders once they are thrown off their horses.”
    â€œThat’s not reassuring,” observed Shakespeare, who was a keen student of military history. “Master Bacon, that trick is as old as the Song of Songs. * How do you know I won’t be subjected to the same fate due to an unfriendly wind?”
    â€œAs I explained, master bard: you simply throw the sphere behind you.”
    â€œUnderstood, but don’t you think some precautions should be taken?”
    Bacon’s face changed. “What precautions?”
    Shakespeare motioned toward the intact stallion’s underbelly. “Are you going to geld this beast, or must I do it myself?”
    Horrified, Sir Francis Bacon walked straight up to the playwright. “Master Shakespeare…” he spat close enough for the bard to taste every syllable, “absolutely no harm will befall Aston in your