The Rogue Knight Read Free Page A

the slope opposite the one Joe had climbed. “Flail, follow,” Mira called, and the weapon obeyed.
    His shoulder smarting and his scraped legs sore, Cole crossed to the autocoach. No longer harnessed to the coach, the walking brick lay motionless on its side, two of its legs broken off at the thigh.
    Cole and Jace reached the opening where the door had been and climbed inside. Bertram lay facedown, his body limp.
    â€œIs he dead?” Jace asked.
    Worried that Jace might be right, Cole crouched and shook the elderly coachman’s shoulder. “Are you okay, Bertram?”
    The old man stirred and raised his head. “I’m on holiday with my grandniece and my grandnephews.” He gave a small smile. “Nothing to worry about here.”
    After climbing to reach the floor of the coach, Jace opened a hatch and several items fell. He jumped down and started rummaging. From outside, Cole heard the faint trickle of the stream.
    â€œYou didn’t seem like yourself back there,” Cole said to Bertram. “You screamed.”
    The old guy blinked. “I’m no longer a spring chicken. The young must forgive us older gents a little episode from time to time. I’ve been under the weather. I won’t let it ruin our holiday.”
    Jace dropped down. “We should go,” he said, backing out of the coach.
    Cole held up a finger to tell him to wait. He tried to frame a question in terms that might enable Bertram to respond. “Our holiday is in trouble. The coach went wild and crashed. How will we get to Elloweer now? What happened?”
    Bertram gave an uncomfortable chuckle. “The coach did what it had to do.”
    â€œThe coach takes orders from Mira,” Cole said. “It doesn’t go fast. What happened?”
    â€œIt performed as required,” Bertram said. “So did I.”
    â€œWho gave the order?” Cole asked. “Who changed the autocoach?”
    Bertram looked unperturbed. “You youngsters may have to go ahead without me for now. The coach is in poor repair. Might do me some good to rest here for a time. This holiday has worn me out! Every uncle has his limits.”
    â€œCome on,” Jace urged. “I grabbed the money and some food.”
    â€œBye, Bertram,” Cole said. “Thanks for the holiday.”
    Bertram gave a nod. “You’re a fine grandnephew.”
    Cole stepped out of the autocoach.
    â€œAre those tears?” Jace asked.
    Cole wiped his eyes and glanced away. “No.”
    â€œHe isn’t real,” Jace said. “He’s a semblance. He was constructed.”
    Cole sighed. “That almost makes it worse. He’ll just sit there thinking he’s supposed to be on vacation with us.”
    â€œHe’s not thinking,” Jace said. “He just blabs the kind of stuff Declan taught him to say. Don’t be sad for him. Just be sad we lost our ride. Let’s go find Mira.”
    â€œWhat about the guys you took out with your rope?” Cole asked. “Should we check if they’re alive?”
    â€œNo chance,” Jace said. “They tried to kill us. I didn’t hold back.”
    â€œThey had armor.”
    â€œArmor won’t protect you from falling off a cliff. I threw them hard. Joe wasn’t worried about them.”
    â€œJoe was in a hurry,” Cole pointed out.
    Jace exhaled sharply. “Fine. You take that one.” He pointed toward the man closest to them. Jace’s rope coiled like a spring, then uncoiled, launching him over to where the farthest of the two fallen riders had been thrown. The rope coiled ahead of him to soften his landing.
    Cole trotted over to the other rider. The front of his helmet and breastplate were badly dented from the impact with the boulder. The figure didn’t move. Cole knelt beside him and put his ear by the helmet, listening for breathing. He heard nothing.
    â€œDie!” a voice said as hands grabbed