Free Angst (Book 4) by Robert P. Hansen Page A

couldn’t weigh more than eighty pounds, but he had no desire to
face her in battle—especially with that staff in her hand. She had a heavy dark
blue cloak draped over her shoulders, and her violet eyes peered out at him
from beneath the shadows of her cowl.
    “Dagremon,” Hobart acknowledged with a nod. “It’s unlike you
to see us off.”
    “Indeed,” she replied. “I have a request of you.”
    “If it is in my power,” Hobart said as he looked down at
her. “However, I have been ordered to return to Hellsbreath and report in; I
cannot dally long.”
    “I wish to travel with you to Hellsbreath,” Dagremon
replied. “I will pay you well for your protection.”
    He had never heard of Dagremon leaving her inn. Didn’t the
caravans bring her all the supplies she could sell? The first caravans would be
arriving from The Southlands soon, so what was she really up to? Hobart smiled
and shook his head. “You don’t need protection, Dagremon. Only a fool would
risk crossing you.”
    “There are many fools in this world, Hobart,” she replied.
    Hobart shrugged and turned back to the strap. It would take
longer to get to Hellsbreath with Dagremon with them, but he wasn’t in any
hurry to comply with Commander Garret’s summons—or to end his Banner. He
finished with the strap and turned back to face her. “You are more than welcome
to join us, Dagremon,” he said, “but there is no need for payment. Ortis and I
will be happy to have your company.”
    “Thank you, Hobart,” Dagremon said, bowing slightly. Then
she turned and gave a sharp tweet, like a songbird’s chirp, and was answered
with a whinny from behind her inn. Hobart turned in that direction and saw a
beautiful chestnut pony prancing anxiously up to her. It was saddled, and
behind the saddle were a blanket bundle, a few jugs, and other odds and ends he
couldn’t make out. Strapped to the top of the bundle was a thin little sword
with a plain iron hilt tucked into a black leather scabbard studded with iron. An
elf blade? Perhaps she will show it to me while we travel? He raised his
eyes and looked once more at Dagremon, wondering what other surprises she might
have in store for him.
    “Are you expecting mischief?” he asked her.
    Her violet eyes flashed with humor as she turned away and
lithely leapt into her saddle. “It is best to do so, don’t you think?” she
asked.
    “Prepare for the worst, eh?” Hobart chuckled. “And you’re
prepared for anything else that can happen.”
    Her horse danced as if it sensed its rider’s good humor, and
then settled down to a quiet rest. “I do not think it possible to prepare for
the worst, Hobart,” she gravely admitted. “Nevertheless, it is wise to prepare
for what you can.”
    Ortis rode up next to him and said, “We should make good
time while the weather holds.”
    “It will be clear for at least five days,” Dagremon said
with certainty.
    “Good,” Hobart said, wondering how she could be so sure of
herself. He had a decent weather sense, but Ortis was much better than he was—and
Ortis would never claim to know what the weather would be like even three or
four days in advance. He climbed into the saddle, the familiar shifting of the
metal plates of his armor bringing him alert. “Let’s be off, then.” He turned
to Ortis and added, “Dagremon is going with us to Hellsbreath.”
    Ortis nodded and urged his horse to a quick walk. The rest
of them fell into place behind him.

 
    13
    Tears ran down Grayle’s cheeks as she backed out of the
dusty, cobwebbed tunnel yet again. It was no use. She just couldn’t get
very far before the grime drove her crazy. The tunnel had to be cleaned, and
she didn’t have any clean cloth or water to do it. Damn Argyle and his
disgusting habits! she thought, trying to ignore the hideous stench of
Argyle’s chamber.
    She tried closing her eyes so she couldn’t see the tunnel,
but that didn’t work either. With each step she took up the stair, she