Page 23 of The Iron Dagger
“We needhorses. Donkeys cannot gallop far distances.”
“They can trot rather quickly,” said Hara. “Besides, the most important thing is to keep off of your foot as much as possible for the journey.”
“But—” he spluttered in indignation. “I can’t be seen riding a donkey into the city.”
“I only saw one horse for sale in the village, but it was more costly than the two donkeys combined. So unless you’d prefer to steal some horses from the palace, you can go right ahead.”
Gideon didn’t fancy making an enemy of the Norwen Steward to join the Lenwen king in the hunt for his hide.
“Fine. We’ll keep to the side roads and I’ll steal some horses the first chance we get.”
Hara scowled at him. Gideon threw his hands up in exasperation. “We’ll take these back and look at the horse—the singular horse for sale in this cluster of dung-streaked hovels. I’ll determine if it’s worth the coin.”
And so they made their way back to the pasture where Hara had bought the donkeys. With his darkened hair and walking stick, Gideon felt a scarf wound around the lower half ofhis face was more than enough of a disguise in the unlikely case any lawmen were about.
“Clare,” Hara called out, and the woman who was rounding up sheep waved and made her way to the fence.
“Angharad, back again so soon? Something amiss?”
“We’re here to see about your horse,” said Angharad. “This traveler is hoping to buy it.”
“Oh,” said the woman, eyeing Gideon warily. “Yes, well, right this way. He’s in the stables. A fine dark stallion, very handsome breeding. Used to do a bit of horse breeding myself, but it’s ever so much work.”
The woman led them to stables and they peered into the stall she indicated. There was Ruteger, and Gideon was glad his scarf covered his mouth to hide the mix of fury and relief at seeing him here. He had been Harris’ charger, until that poisoning wench had taken him and ridden off into the forest. Somehow, he had made his way back here.
“Handsome, isn’t he?” said Clare.
“How did you come by this stallion?” he asked tersely.
“A couple in the village found him in the forest and brought him to me. No injuries, he was just hungry. I haven’t kept him for more than a month, but he’s eaten his weight in grain twice over. Would honestly do me a favor if you took him, so I’m willing to sell him for fifteen gold pieces.”
Loath as he was to buy back his own horse, the alternatives stood lowly and squat at his side, their dull eyes and coats made all the more inferior beside Ruteger’s satiny black coat. Ruteger was a giant, with a broad back and legs as thick as tree trunks. More than up to the task of bearing two riders. It was the obvious choice.
He nodded to Hara, and she turned to Clare. “Might we do an exchange? You’ll get your donkeys back, and we’ll pay the difference for the horse?”
“Sold,” said Clare. “My children will be glad to have these boys back. They were rather like their pets.”
Gideon glared at Hara as he passed over the money, and Hara passed the reins.
FIVE
Gideon
Of all the troubles Gideon anticipated they would encounter on the road, transporting a mobile apothecary was not one of them. Four bags stuffed with herbs were strapped to the saddle, and that did not include their bedrolls and packs. Hara had insisted that everything she brought with was necessary, but that hadn’t stopped Gideon from voicing his dissent.
“What if we get stopped on the road and someone wants to search our bags?” he grumbled as she strapped the last saddlebag onto Ruteger’s flank. “It will look rather odd if we’re carrying enough herbs for a witch’s emporium when we pass into Montag.”
“But I’ll be with you,” she said, turning to him. “You said you would act as my protector in Montag.”
“I will, but you would make my life so much easier if you tried to blend in and leave some of your witchy accouterments behind,” he said, gesturing at the bags. “Besides, I’ve given it some thought and I think it would be safer for you to not draw attention to yourself as a hedgewitch. At least, not the traditional kind.”
“I didn’t plan to,” said Hara, dusting her hands. “Did you expect me to stroll into your father’s hall with smoking herbs and steaming vials?”
“I just mean, it may be . . . prudent, if we give you a reason for being there other than searching for your mother.Say . . . you’re searching for a certain witch for questioning about illicit magic, or a plot.”
Hara frowned and crossed her arms. “That would just make her look guilty. Why would they set her free if she’s suspected of having nefarious plans?”
“Well, my father would hardly release her just so you two can be reunited. More than likely this will end in a prison break of some sort. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try!” he said, seeing the shock on her face. “I know how to talk to him, I’ll come up with a reason.”
