By Grace Alone (The Death Dealer Book 2) by Katie Roman Read Free Book Online Page A

favorite place for off-duty guards to enjoy a drink and a warm meal. It was a good thing she’d taken the precaution of telling Thom and Ridley about dinner with Nathaniel. If no one had seen her yet, she’d be caught for sure at the King’s Beard. The Guild always had someone working at the tavern to spy on the Guard. Her every smile and yawn would be reported back to Thom and then to Marcus.
    Nathaniel watched her reaction to his suggestion for dinner. She reminded herself that he was a sergeant, and as such would know the Guild had a man in the Guard’s tavern. The Guard also had a man in the Angel. Everyone kept everyone else in check in Glenbard, and right now he was gauging her to see who kept her in check.
    She smiled and nodded. “I’ve heard they do have the finest ale in the city.” She let him take her arm and lead her toward the King’s Beard.
    ~*~*~
    The smell of fresh bread was a comforting smell of home. The rolls that the serving wench brought had recently been pulled from the oven, and three slices of ham off the bone were sitting next to the rolls with a dollop of butter. She sipped at her soup; a broth with onions and noodles floating in it. The taste lingered on her tongue even after she swallowed and she lifted her mug to take a swig of ale. The soup was too salty for her and too hot for the summer. This would have been more fitting in the heart of winter. Grace wondered that the cook hadn’t collapsed of heat stroke.
    “It’s the best brew in the city,” Nathaniel commented when she put her mug down.
    Grace wasn’t much for ale, not when red wine was so readily available. The ale he ordered her was almost a meal in itself. It sat heavily in her stomach, right next to the too salty soup. “It’s delicious,” she lied.
    When Nathaniel split open a roll, the steam rose up and so did the wonderful smell. She grabbed a roll for herself and bit into it without bothering to add ham or butter. Three men in their guard uniforms passed the table, each patting Nathaniel on the shoulder. The last in the line stopped.
    “Sergeant, you can’t take a pretty wench like this one to a better tavern?”
    “Constable Trenton.” Nathaniel shook his hand with a slight smirk. “Allow me to introduce you to Miss Grace Hilren.”
    Trenton gave Grace the once over. “Glenbard’s serving noblewoman? Here? Well!” He dragged a chair over from another table. “You made quite a stir last summer after you came to the city. Dueling in the King’s Tournament? Ha! Foolish little minx!”
    Grace bit her lower lip. She wanted to scowl and kick the constable under the table, but it would be poor form and they might just drag her to the lockup for it.
    She had secretly dueled in the tournament when her cousin was injured, but it was a mistake that ruined her life and forced her from her childhood home and her family. It had been months before she was finally accepted, the jokes stopped, and the suspicions ended. Being reminded of things from her past soured her mood, though that wasn’t a difficult thing to do these days. Her moods swung easily, like a pendulum on a clock.
    The constable was still rambling on, quite ignorant to her mounting anger, but Nathaniel stopped listening to Trenton to take in Grace’s reaction. “Constable,” Nathaniel cut him off. “We are trying to enjoy a quiet meal. Perhaps you should enjoy your own quiet meal? Away from us?”
    “Er…” The constable pushed back from his seat. “Miss Hilren,” he said, bowing to her. “Enjoy your meal.” It was a relief to see him go.
    “He seemed nice,” Grace said sarcastically. She put her roll down, suddenly less than hungry.
    “I apologize for his insulting behavior, Grace. I can see that you don’t want to talk about how you came to Glenbard, but the city knows and loves your story. Trenton can be a senseless bore, but please don’t let him damper the evening.”
    Grace looked around the room. Trenton was by the door, pointing in