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

Gabriel. I will never forget. I trust you can say the same.”
    His dark eyes twinkled as he reached for the material and settled it back around her face. His fingers played along her cheek while he tucked the tcharchaf into place. “I never, milady, never forget a single vow I make.” Hiding the lower half of his face as well, he said, “Our task is to seek out our common enemy before he realizes he is surrounded.”
    â€œSurrounded?” She scanned the hillside, but the other riders had vanished.
    With a muffled chuckle, he motioned for her to follow as he walked toward the village.
    Melisande hesitated for the length of a single heartbeat. The temptation to flee must be ignored until she had her vengeance on those who had killed Geoffrey. She almost laughed at her own silliness. If she walked in any direction but toward the village, Gabriel would halt her.
    Her back was slick with perspiration by the time they reached the thin shadows of the building at the edge of the village. She yearned for a breath that was not soured with heat.
    Up close, the buildings showed signs of neglect and a beating by the winds. She had not guessed a successful bandit would live so poorly.
    â€œAppearances can hide the truth, milady,” Gabriel said, warning her how easily he could gauge her thoughts even when she was cloaked in this black wool. “Our prey lives like a Frankish lord with what he has gained by treachery and death.”
    Images of Lord Vaudrey’s glorious house, which was not appropriate for a man who had taken the vow of the Cross, filled her mind. Did Abd al Qadir live as well?
    A dog leaped out of the shadows. With a cry, she jumped back from its bared teeth.
    Gabriel snapped an order at the dog. It watched them closely, but did not attack again. Taking her by the arm, he led her around the closest building. He paused by a closed door. With a chuckle, he picked up a jar that once might have been painted. Now it was the same color as the dust.
    â€œYou’ll need this,” he said.
    She took the clay jar he handed her. Peering into it, she saw nothing.
    â€œIt’s a water jar,” he explained impatiently.
    Wishing he could see her frown, she nodded. She could tell him that he would be as uncertain of the most commonplace things if he found himself in her familiar world of Heathwyre. “Why do I need it?”
    â€œYou must appear to be one of the village women.” His lips became taut. “Keep your eyes lowered, for no woman of the East has eyes the color of yours.”
    â€œYou want me to go among the women? Why? I cannot understand a word they speak, so how can I learn anything about Abd—”
    His eyes slitted as he growled, “Watch what you say, milady. You will betray us before we have begun.”
    â€œI will not betray us.” She strode around the building. Let this begin so it would be over sooner. Then she would put an end to this absurd alliance and not have to listen to Gabriel’s endless orders.
    She faltered as she stared at a scene that could have been plucked from Heathwyre. Save for the tcharchafs and the odd mountains in the distance, this resembled a morning at her father’s manor house, the serving maids chattering together as they gathered to prepare the first meals of the day.
    These women spoke lightheartedly as they drew water from the well. A shove in her back forced her feet forward. She fought not to glower at Gabriel. He should remember that she was his ally, not his slave.
    Balancing the water jar on her hip as the other women did, she walked to the well. Beside her, Gabriel was silent. Her words could betray them, but he spoke the language of this land.
    He scanned the buildings around them. Did he expect to see his enemy at one of the few windows? When his eyes narrowed, crinkling his skin, she knew he was smiling with satisfaction. What had he seen? A furtive motion on a rooftop, she realized. His men must have