Web of Deceit

Read Online Web of Deceit by M. K. Hume - Free Book Online

Book: Web of Deceit by M. K. Hume Read Free Book Online
Authors: M. K. Hume
Tags: Fiction, Historical
Ads: Link
quickly as possible.’
    ‘The women are wearied from their journey, Myrddion, and they must rest. Bridie won’t complain, but she thinks she’ll lose her milk if she has no opportunity to sleep comfortably. And if you haven’t noticed, Finn, Praxiteles and I haven’t slept for two nights and we’re nearly spent. I don’t know how you keep going: you’ve rested even less than we have, and we’re exhausted. No matter how dangerous the road ahead might be, we’ll be ineffective if we don’t take the time to sleep in a real bed.’
    Cadoc rarely complained, being a man who jested easily and understood the necessities of the road. If he counselled breaking their journey, Myrddion was obliged to consider the advice seriously.
    On cue, Bridie’s son began to wail thinly and Bridie eased her aching limbs into a more comfortable position before she bared one breast. Myrddion could see the furrows between her eyes and the pouches of violet skinaround the sockets that spoke of exhaustion.
    ‘Very well, friend, perhaps it’s time to find us an inn. But it must be within the walls of Verulamium, for I’d not wish to be caught in the lower town if the Saxons should attack.’
    Cadoc nodded in reply, and Myrddion caught the swift twitch of the scarred man’s lips that spoke eloquently of his satisfaction . . . and his relief. ‘Then I’ll follow my nose and find a suitable inn,’ he said, and set the oxen moving to a chorus of creaks and groans from the ill-made wagon.
    The Flower Maiden was an inn with an auspicious name from Myrddion’s perspective. Blodeuwedd, the Maid of Flowers and Owls, possessed the dual personality ascribed to so many of his people’s deities, including Grannie Ceridwen, as his grandmother had called the goddess, who was reputed to be an ancestor. Myrddion had never put much credence in this kinship, but the Maid of Flowers and Owls had always captured his imagination. He felt they could dwell under her sign with some impunity, as if the gods were smiling on them.
    The innkeeper, Gron, was a cadaverous man who had made a sensible choice when naming his inn, for his namesake had been Blodeuwedd’s lover in the legends. This particular Gron lacked the grace, manners or beauty of the original, however, being in the habit of predicting ruination for the city at the slightest sign of political trouble. Myrddion decided that the man had a jaundiced eye and a pessimistic nature, neither of which traits made for success in his trade. Still, the inn was well sited near the city gates, the beer and wine were good and the food was excellent, courtesy of Gron’s matronly wife Fionnuala, who was as merry as her husband was glum.
    The rooms were also a surprise, for they were clean, plain and well ventilated. Despite the presence of an inn cat, a ginger male called Mouser who insistedon twining himself around Myrddion’s legs and pushing himself on the healer’s chest whenever he reclined on the straw-stuffed pallet, the party was very pleased with everything the Flower Maiden had to offer. After a filling meal of mutton stew and fresh vegetables, the party was made comfortable in the two rooms rented for the night and soon fell into the dreamless sleep of the seasoned traveller.
    Gron had been eager to accept the healers’ coin, judging by their dress and bright swords that they were men of substance. But long habits of complaint ran deeply in his nature, so he started to whine as soon as the guests had departed to their beds.
    ‘I don’t trust men with heavy purses and real swords who come from the Londinium road. How are we to know they’re not Saxon spies?’
    ‘Are you daft, man? When did Saxons wear their hair like Master Myrddion, or have such a crop of freckles as Master Cadoc? If you weren’t such a curmudgeon, you’d admit we’re lucky to have such distinguished guests.’
    ‘Then it’s to be hoped that their coin is good, Fionnuala, else we’ll have been cheated. And none of that

Similar Books

Class Reunion

Linda Hill

Royal Inheritance

Kate Emerson

Off Limits

Alexandra Vos

Kye's Heart

Marisa Chenery

Vital

Jamie Magee