Death Or Fortune by James Chesney, James Smith Read Free Book Online

had my
breath taken away.  This was the first time that I had seen her face, the
love of my life, the one who would become my wife, my Jasmin.

10.  Trap
     
        
I spent the better part of the night awake. Under a constant assault from my
own thoughts I could not get any rest. I knew first thing in the morning I
would have to go see Captain Turk. I knew something wasn't right about what I
saw that day. I believe his loyalty to the kingdom was the only thing that kept
him from charging the gallows to save his friend.  He had a look of
helplessness on his face. That was a feeling I understood.
        
Then I kept going back to the face of Jasmin. How her eyes captured me and set
my soul on fire. I kept her in my room as long as I could without touching her
or saying anything to betray my feelings. She was the inn keeper’s daughter.
She was beautiful. She looked fragile yet carried herself with an inner
strength that would make a mob cower from her look.  Her family had money
that much was clear.  She was an only child she told me that night.
 One day the inn would pass to her.  That was a life I could live
with if it meant having her by my side and in my bed.  I would give up all
my plans if it meant I could be with her.  All dreams of glory faded when
I saw the light in her eyes.
     Just when I had started to quiet all the voices in my
head Hetaron came back. Why he insisted on sleeping in the same room as me I
will never know. Looking back perhaps he didn't trust me as I trusted him then.
I will never know. He told me that he would need another full day to prepare
his spell. If it was up to me we could have just waited outside of that door.
At some point, I thought, the wizard would have to come out. At the same time
as I was thinking about how much blood I could get from Hetaron before he would
shut up, word of our adventures was getting back to the wrong people. As I
tried to sleep, the great machine had started to turn. Hoping to catch us in
its wheels and grind us to death between the cogs of its teeth.
     Once I found sleep someone else had found me. I was
awoken by a pounding on the door. I opened it up to see the face of one of the
city guard ordering me to report to Captain Nikle. I was ready to throttle the
man when I noticed that it was mid-day. I had slept several hours yet it felt
as if only minutes had passed. I told the man that I would need some time to
get dressed but I would be along as soon as I could. I only wondered what in
the world he wanted with me. I turned to see Hetaron had already left. Another
quick check found no sign of Hans or Pare. I still don't know why I did it but
instead of just putting on normal clothes I started putting on my armor. I then
took the papers we found so I could pass them on to Turk once I was finished
with Nikle.
     On my way out I saw Jasmin washing down the tables.
With one hand on my sword and the other on my heart I gave her a smile and half
a bow. It was as if she was just seeing me for the first time. Her father also
saw me and he did not look pleased at all. Not that I thought of it, I just
turned and left. Just seeing her face again made me happy, so happy I had
walked half the distance to Nikles office before I knew it. The power she had
over me was incredible. Even the smug face of Captain Nikle seemed pleasant when
I thought of her.
         Nikle was
irritated that I came alone. I tried to explain to him that I figured it was
best to come as soon as possible instead of keeping him waiting for me to
gather all of my friends. "I have need of you tonight Kromwell." Nikle began unrolling a map over the top of his desk. It was the first time I
had seen a proper map of the main city. "I have reason to believe there
are more traitors hiding about. I received word of something odd going on at
this farm house here." Nikle pointed to a spot on the map well outside
of the city. "I want you to go there, see what is going on and