Orphan of Destiny by Michael Spradlin Read Free Book Online Page A

clear the guards had intended to do me harm.
    Then later, Sir Hugh attacked me on the practice field during sword drills, and Sir Thomas had warned him to leave me alone on threat of death. When Sir Thomas had bested Sir Hugh on the fields of the Commandery, Sir Hugh had said, “I know who he is. . . .” How could he when I didn’t even know who I was?
    Something jerked me off my feet, and the next thing I knew I was up against the side of the building with Robard’s face inches from my own. He had yanked me back into the alley after I had just absentmindedly wandered out into the street.
    “What?” I groused.
    “What are you doing, Tristan?” Robard asked. “You blundered out into the street without looking to see if it was clear. Are you deliberately trying to get us killed?”
    “No,” I said, ashamed.
    “You need to be here , Tristan, not in Outremer or back in France or dreaming of the fair Celia,” Robard commanded. I blushed when he mentioned Celia’s name. It would be useless to protest that she was about the only thing I wasn’t thinking of.
    “I . . . I’m sorry,” I said. And I was. Robard was absolutely right. My attention was too scattered, and my lack of focus was dangerous.
    I took a deep breath and tried to push the thoughts of kings and queen mothers and King’s Guards out of my head.
    Robard let out an exaggerated sigh. “Sorry won’t keep us out of the dungeon, squire. Let’s do what we came here for, whatever it is, and get back to our horses.”
    “Right. Of course. I’m sorry, Robard. Come. It’s not much farther.” We walked on, keeping to the shadows, and a few moments later stood just down the street from the main gate of the Commandery. Peering around the corner of a darkened shop, I studied the surroundings for several minutes. No one entered or left the grounds, but it was not guarded.
    “What now?” Maryam whispered.
    “I’m going to sneak in and see if there is anyone there who might be able to help,” I said.
    “How are you going to ‘sneak’ in?” Robard asked incredulously.
    “I don’t know,” I replied.
    “That’s what I thought,” he said.
    I tried hard to think of something. If I could get into the Commandery without being seen, perhaps I could find a friendly brother like Sir Westley or some of the squires I’d served with and explain my predicament. Perhaps I could even learn of Sir Hugh’s whereabouts.
    Several minutes passed and no one came or went from the grounds. Time to take action.
    “Come on, I want the two of you to boost me over the wall,” I said. “We’ll go around to the rear where the training grounds are. We’re less likely to be noticed there.”
    “Wonderful,” Robard muttered, but he and Maryam followed me down the street.
    “You are trying to sneak into a small fortress manned by a group of heavily armed, well-trained fighters who may have been ordered to capture you,” Maryam observed. “You don’t see any problems with your strategy?”
    “None,” I said. Without giving them time to answer, I stepped onto the street and, staying to the shadows, moved along the front of the building opposite the gate. I wanted to circle the Commandery first, to make doubly sure there was no one about.
    Just then, without warning, the doors pulled open and six mounted knights rode through, Sir Hugh at their lead.

8
    I dove behind a two-wheeled cart parked in front of the building. It would be a miracle if they didn’t see me. Casting a quick glance behind me, I found Robard and Maryam backing into the shadows of the building’s recessed doorway, trying desperately to become invisible in the darkness. I lay on the ground, attempting to tighten my entire body into the tiniest size possible.
    The horses pranced out of the gate, then stopped in the street. Sir Hugh’s high-pitched voice was instructing the knights, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I raised my head, peering over the top of the cart, but a sharp hiss from