Free Blood in Snow by Robert Evert Page B

lords,” Abby replied. “There aren’t many roads this far north. It is quite easy to get lost amongst these hills and lakes.”
    “And this blasted snow doesn’t help either.” A third knight swatted at the falling flakes as if they were flies. “We can’t tell if we’re following a road or a deer path!”
    “I dare say, we’ll see a good deal more if we don’t resolve this business quickly,” a fourth said. “I hear it gets as high as a man’s head in these parts.”
    The lead knight lifted a hand, gesturing for his comrades to calm themselves.
    “Fair lady.” His horse pawed at the snow covering the rocks. “Could you or your husband please help us correct our error? Where is this Rood? Have you been there?”
    “Yes, my lord. My husband and I left there five days ago.”
    The knight’s murmurs turned more agreeable.
    “Five days,” the lead knight said, delighted. “Well, that is good tidings, indeed! We’d feared we were lost well beyond that. So, if you are able, please tell us: how do we reach the city?”
    “Of course, my lord,” Abby said. “If you take the path we were following, it’ll lead you right there.”
    The knights fidgeted.
    “Forgive me, my lady,” the lead knight said. “But we can’t see any paths under these leaves and snow. Perhaps you can tell us some landmarks by which we may steer?”
    “Oh!” Abby said with an embarrassed giggle. “Yes. Yes, of course. I’m terribly sorry. How stupid of me.”
    “Not at all.” The knight smiled.
    “Yes, well, if you turn right here …” Abby pointed to the gap between the hills from which Pond had driven the wagon. “And you go straight eastward …”
    The knights peered in that direction. Edmund and the guards ducked behind the brush.
    “… you’ll eventually come to the River Bygwen. If you follow it north toward the mountains, you’ll reach the city. At the river, you’ll see signs. The road to Rood is well marked.”
    One of the knights clasped his hands together, then raised them to the grey sky. “At last! I thought we’d never find the accursed place.”
    “Please, my lady,” the lead knight continued. “I have one more question, if you don’t mind.”
    “I’m only happy to help.”
    “Very good. Now, we have a rather large party coming up from the south—fifty wagons in all.”
    “Fifty wagons!” Abby gasped.
    Up the slope, Edmund cursed to himself.
    Fifty wagons! They’re more prepared for winter than we are.
    So much for your asinine plan.
    “Yes, my lady,” the lead knight said, “and we require a large enough area to bivouac them.”
    “Well, if you go east about a day’s ride”—Abby pointed eastward—“you’ll come to a meadow along a large lake. The meadow is rolling but flat enough for wagons, and the surrounding hills will shield you from the northern winds.”
    “You know what bivouac means?” one knight said, surprised.
    Abby stammered, giggled again, and looked nervously at Pond.
    “She reads!” Pond blurted out.
    The knights seemed even more impressed.
    “A traveling merchant with a wife who can read?”
    “And what does she read that includes military terminology?” the knight behind their leader said suspiciously.
    Uh-oh!
    Abby’s forced laugh was much too long. “Oh, he’s just joking. Why would a woman need to read?”
    At this, the knights laughed as well.
    “No, my lord.” She fanned her face, though it was cold enough for thin layers of ice to form on the river. “I simply guessed what you meant. Given what you’d been saying about wagons and such, I merely thought you’d need some place to stop and camp. The valley to the east should suit you. But I’m no expert on such matters, of course.”
    Many of the knights seemed to ponder this, though two surveyed the hills as if danger might be near.
    “That should do wonderfully.” The lead knight bowed to Abby. “Fair lady, thank you very much for your assistance in this matter.” He pulled a small