Two Heirs (The Marmoros Trilogy Book 1) Read Free Page B

sniggers and muffled laughter around the circle.
    “I thank you for the hospitality of hearth and food and I promise not to be too hard on Torsten in the morning.”
    That provoked some more open laughter and a scowl on the face of the giant Torsten, who grabbed a slab of venison from one of the slaves and attacked it savagely. As the food was being served, Held took the opportunity to look around the circle. Manny sat in front of his tent in a wooden chair with some ornate carving and his two women, one on either side, on collapsible camp stools. All of the other fighters, barring those on sentry, were seated on the logs, some with their womenfolk alongside them. The slaves were walking round carrying platters of steaming meat and pitchers of beer.
    He helped himself to a generous portion of venison and then gave Jaks a nudge.
    “As I rode in, I thought I saw another woman, rather striking, long brown hair. I don't see her now.”
    “Oh, that'll be the Lady Falaise. She's an 'ostage. She don't eat with us.”
    “A hostage for what?”
    “Well we went to 'er village to collect the regular tribute. You know, provisions for the winter an' that. An' the village came up short like. Manny got pretty riled up with his local lordship, so Torsten belted ' im one an' we took 'is woman as 'ostage. Gave 'em one week to come up with the rest of the goods. We go back there, day after tomorrow.”
    “So her village is near here then?”
    “Well it ain't a proper village like. They're travelling folk. Settle somewhere for a few seasons, plant some crops, raise some livestock and then, suddenly, up and move on. One of the old-timers told me it can sometimes take weeks to track them down to collect our provisions.
    “Some people call 'em gypsies but that ain't right. My da told me. They used to be regular settled folk with towns an' villages an' that.”
    “So what happened?” Held prompted after a mouthful of meat.
    “Dunno for certain. I ' eard there was some trouble with a local warlord. Took over their main city an' drove ' em out. Been ' omeless ever since. Least that's what I ' eard. Long time ago now.”
    “So why do they give you this tribute?”
    “'Cos we needs it. For the winter. Otherwise we'd starve. They always grows too much anyway. That's what Manny says. So we asks 'em and they gives it.”
    “And if they don't? What happens if they don't come up with the rest of the provisions?”
    “Manny will keep Lady Falaise for 'imself. Fancies 'er something rotten 'e does. Course it'll cause some trouble with Leyla an' Mo but Torsten's quite sweet on Leyla so it'll all work out.”
    “Leyla and Mo, I take it, are the two on either side of Manny.”
    “That's right. Mo's the little dark one on the left and Leyla's the blonde with the big um...”
    “Chest?” he supplied helpfully.
    “Yeah. Not 'arf.”
    Any further musings on the potential domestic difficulties which Manny might face, were interrupted by a shout from across the fire.
    “So Held. Tell us your story.”
    “It's a long story.”
    “We have all evening. Where have you travelled? Where did you learn the sword? Where did you work last?”
    “I've travelled all over but mostly in the southern regions. This is my first trip up North. And I learned the sword at my father's knee.”
    “So your father taught you everything he knew?”
    “Not exactly. He was killed in a swordfight when I was only twelve.”
    “He wasn't the best then,” Torsten threw across the circle.
    “He was to me.
    “After he died, I sailed to the island of Nasaki and enrolled in the sword school there. Best in the known world. They didn't want to take me so I had to insist.”
    “And how exactly did you do that?” Manny asked.
    “I challenged the leading student in the school and killed him in a duel. After that they took me in and I spent the next five years there, studying everything I could about the sword.”
    “And then?”
    “And then I went back and killed the man who