Blood in Snow Read Free

climbed over the initial ring of rubble.
    “Getting the larger blocks into town could be a challenge,” he said, breathing hard. “We might want to keep them here, in case we ever decide to rebuild the tower. This is a good place for it. Very defensible should anybody try to assail the town.”
    Surveying the view, Hendrick nodded in approval. “It’s very pretty up here.”
    “Wait until it snows. We’ll make some sleds and slide down the slopes.” Edmund’s grin became more genuine as he remembered his childhood. “You’ve never had such fun.”
    “I’ll bet.” Hendrick shielded his eyes and scanned the colorful horizon. “Perhaps we should post somebody up here. They can certainly see a long way.”
    “Maybe. But they can see farther from the hills to the south, where the Highlands rise above the lowlands. Anybody who comes up here will follow the River Bygwen. If we watch the river and its fords, we should be well aware of people before they arrive. That’s where we should build a tower, if we had the manpower to build one. Around here, an entire army could be hiding in the forests or behind the hills, and we’d never know it.”
    “Very true.” After one more glance around, Hendrick nodded again in satisfaction. “Speaking of which, that party we saw approaching a couple of days ago has reached town.”
    “Anybody interesting?”
    The guard grimaced. “Actually, there kind of is.”
    “Go on.”
    “Well, I’m worried there might be an issue with one of them. Not an issue; not with him, exactly. But I have some concerns about what could happen if he stays in town, if you get me. We may want to begin thinking about who we let join us. At least for now.”
    Edmund walked down the hill, indicating for Hendrick to follow him. “What’s the issue?”
    “Well,” Hendrick hemmed. “I think it would be best if you judged for yourself. I’m just a stupid soldier.”
    Edmund stopped midstride.
    “You’re nothing of the sort,” he said sternly. “Thanks to you and your men, we’re alive. If you ever have any thoughts or insights, I want you to tell me. That’s an order.”
    Hendrick grinned. “I appreciate that, sir. Thanks. Thank you very much. And for the record, you’re the best commander I’ve ever served under. Still, I think it best if I give you my thoughts once you’ve formed your own. The newcomers are in the tavern, demanding to see Lord Norbert.”
    “Lord Norbert,” Edmund mumbled, his foot sliding on the steep slope. “All right. Let’s go see if we can get our new guests acclimated. Hopefully some of the more useful ones will stay.”
    Edmund walked with the Captain of the Guards through the wasteland of broken stumps and woodchips, saying very little. When they opened the door to The Buxom Barmaid, a swell of voices greeted him.
    “Here he is!” One of the guards pointed at Edmund as he and Becky entered the common room. “If you won’t believe me, he’ll tell you.”
    The voices quieted.
    “Do you need me?” Hendrick asked Edmund.
    Edmund shook his head. “No. I suspect you should get some rest. You have the night watch, I believe.”
    But Hendrick waved this off as if it were nothing to worry about. “I can stay up for three days straight without so much as blinking.”
    “Well, let’s not let it come to that. You deserve some rest and relaxation.”
    “Thank you, sir. I will.”
    Edmund surveyed the staring crowd of newcomers—sixteen adults and five children ranging from a year or so to maybe twelve. He smiled at the two women in the group to soothe their obvious anxiety. Other than Abby, they’d be the only women for hundreds of miles around.
    Abby . . .
    He tried not to think about her.
    “You Lord Norbert?” one of the younger men asked, pulling from his pocket a crumpled piece of worn parchment. On it read the words: “The Lord and Lady of the Highlands …”
    “There’s nothing here!” Another man pushed his way through the group. “Not a