No Price Too High by Jo Ann Ferguson Read Free Book Online

where to seek this thief named Abd al Qadir. When Gabriel had led her and his men to this craggy hill, she was only a bit surprised that his target was so close to where he had been encamped. He had told her that the hill bandit was his enemy.
    Because they were rivals in preying on the Crusaders ? She wished that thought had remained silent. Gabriel had not said why he was here or why he had this group of warriors with him.
    â€œThe village well is in front of the largest building,” Gabriel said in a hushed whisper as he turned back to her. He put his hand on her shoulder as he pointed at the village below them. “Do you see it?”
    Again she nodded, not trusting her voice. His touch unsettled her too much. This was not how it should be between sword-sworn allies. She should be thinking only of his skill with a sword, not how his arm around her would draw her up against his strong chest as his mouth teased hers.
    She tried to focus her gaze and her thoughts on the village below. Dawn was a milky wash at the eastern horizon, but she could hear voices from among the dozen flat-roofed buildings that were huddled together on the plain below them.
    Gabriel said something to his men, and they rumbled with hushed laughter. She waited for him to repeat the words in Frankish, but he did not translate. Instead, he lifted the tube with the glass at the end and peered through it.
    â€œDo not scowl, milady,” he said with a smile that twinkled more brightly than the first rays of sunshine. “The sun will cook your face into that unbecoming expression.”
    â€œI wish to have this be done. Why do we linger here?”
    He handed her the tube. “See for yourself.”
    â€œThis tube?” Two pieces of glass were lashed a hand’s length away, wrapped in the leather tube.
    â€œRaise it to your eye and look.”
    Lifting it in front of her face, she peered over the top. What was its purpose?
    Gabriel laughed. “No. Like this.” He stepped behind her. Grasping her hand, he raised the tube before her eyes again. “Close your left eye, milady, so you may see through it with your right.”
    â€œIt only works with one’s right eye?”
    â€œYou may use either eye.” His chuckle brushed her cheek above the draped fabric, sending a heat, hotter than the sunlight, coursing through her. “Look through it.”
    Lifting the tube again, she followed his orders. She ignored the snickers from around her when she gasped. The village leaped toward her, every detail instantly clear. Lowering it, she saw nothing had moved. Again she raised it. She could see women gathering around the well—which was in the center of the settlement, just as Gabriel had told her.
    â€œThis is a miracle!” she cried as he took it from her.
    â€œNo miracle.” He stared at the village. “Simply the use of knowledge that the West has forgotten.”
    â€œIf Geoffrey had had a tube like this—”
    â€œHe would have seen death approaching more quickly.”
    Melisande’s breath caught. How could she forget, even in wonder of this tube that let her see distant things, the reason she stood on this hill with Gabriel and his men? Her hands tightened into fists. She would see this hill bandit pay for the slaughter of her brother and the men from Heathwyre.
    She wiped sticky sweat from her forehead as Gabriel again spoke with his men. Cursing the heavy wool, she wished she could sweep away the dampness on her nape. She wondered if this heat grew worse as summer waxed. Her father’s manor house remained cool even at midsummer, for the thick stones reluctantly released the chill gathered through the winter.
    Again she looked at the village. She wished Gabriel would offer her the tube again. The shadows were shrinking, and more people were walking among the buildings. A pair of dogs barked wildly as they chased something across the flat plain.
    Melisande looked over her