Knight Errant by Rue Allyn Read Free Book Online

the street.
    Executions were free entertainment. Rich and poor, noble and serf, all would gather to watch the life snuffed from a fellow human being. Some would shake their heads, perhaps even weep. The majority would cheer and afterward celebrate their own lives in a night of carousing. Too often for comfort, the celebrating crowds would turn ugly, their good sense drowned in drink. ’Twas an opportunity rife for innocents to come to harm. He had to get back to the Beguines. He must be certain they were all safe.
    “Juliana,” he bellowed, striding up the inn stairs. He needed to see her, to ease his concern and his temper in her infinite calm.
    Berthild emerged from the private sitting room he had procured for their use. “She is not here, Sir Robert.”
    “What?” he shouted. “She would not be so foolish!”
    “Rein your temper,
sirrah
. I can hear quite well,” the Beguine scolded. “Juliana is not foolish. She suspected you were having trouble getting a ship, so she went to see what she could do to help.”
    “Not foolish? The woman goes wandering a strange city alone when a man with Basti’s reputation and authority is known to be in the area. How much more foolish can she be?” Robert felt his face and neck heat. Strong emotion tightened around his chest. With that crowd out there, ’twould be near impossible to find Juliana.
    Berthild paled at the mention of the priest’s name, but she squared her shoulders and met Robert’s gaze head-on.
    “Hidden as we are at this inn, we knew not of Basti’s presence here. You are right to be concerned, Sir Robert. However, Juliana took your last warning to heart. She had Henry accompany her.”
    The pressure in Robert’s chest eased a mite. Henry was near as tall as Robert himself and could be seen above the crowd. Also, the groom’s loyalty to Juliana could not be questioned. “Where did she go?”
    “She told us she would go to the docks and nowhere else.”
    “Good.” He had probably missed her in the throng. He would retrace his steps, looking for Henry’s shaggy head. The mob might be a problem, but with luck and the use of his size and strength, he would find Juliana and bring her back to the inn before disaster struck. Now that he had a plan, his ire receded. “You and Gretle stay put. I will find Lady Juliana.”
    “I pray that you do.”
    “So do I, Berthild. So do I.” Worry churning in his stomach, Robert set out to find his wayward Beguine.

Chapter 4
    Juliana held on to the tail of Henry’s jerkin as he pushed his way through the crowd toward their inn. Where had all these people come from? ’Twas no major feast day, nor was it market day. In fact, with summer at its height ’twould be a while before even market day drew such a crowd. She wished she understood the language better. The throng chattered wildly, but they might as well have been magpies for her ability to comprehend.
    “Henry, can you see what’s happening?” she shouted over the noise.
    “Nay, milady.” He slowed to answer her.
    A mass of people surged toward the road, and the sudden movement separated her from Henry. She was swept along with the multitude, her protests lost in the roar of voices.
    She tried to turn back and found herself nearly trampled. She had no choice but to move with the flood of bodies toward the street. The swiftness of her progress was as exhilarating as the lack of control was frightening. Curiosity buoyed her above the panic bubbling in her gut. Where would she end up?  Worry for Henry dropped her down at the front of the crowd on the edge of the roadway. Amazingly a thin path had been left open through the midst of the mob. Just as surprising, the noise of voices faded.
    Juliana heard drums. She looked in the direction of that doleful rhythm.
    Three drummers preceded three cowled, black-robed priests through the narrow lane. Others followed but were too far back for Juliana to see.
    She craned her neck.
    Hands grabbed her waist and lifted