The Bloody Quarrel (The Complete Edition) by Duncan Lay Read Free Book Online Page B

you!” they said.
    “The baby is Fallon’s,” she whispered, embracing them. “I lied to them, but we shall be long gone before they discover it.”
    They hid quick smiles, bowing their heads, before heading back to the fields.
    “Now, escort me back. It is too hot out here,” she said, hiding her triumph and wanting to sit down somewhere cool before she vomited in public.
    *
    Gokmen did not accompany them back, something for which Bridgit was heartily grateful. She was barely able to believe what she had done. Yet the way the guards kept away from her said it had worked. Of course there would be all sorts of trouble when Prince Kemal returned, so she had to be away by then. That was the only thing that would save her unborn child. The icy despair that had gripped her melted away in the heat of that knowledge. She looked around the city as they walked, trying to understand it.
    “Ely, tell the guards we must walk back through the markets. The children are getting bored of the food they are given and I need to see what else is available,” she said.
    Ely looked back at her worriedly. “They will not like that,” she said slowly.
    “Tell them Prince Kemal’s baby will become sick without it. And they will be punished when he returns and I tell him,” Bridgit fired back.
    Ely gaped at her and she shoved the girl towards the guards. “Quick now!”
    The guards had argued briefly among themselves before agreeing, as she knew they would. It was a dangerous game, but now she was playing it, there was no way to stop. So Bridgit and Ely found themselves walking through one of the city’s markets, the nervous guards about three paces behind. She doubted the guards could hear them talk and, even if they did, they wouldn’t understand what was being said. They would be able to tell if there was an argument under way though, so she decided to keep things light.
    “So, where did you learn our language?” she asked Ely.
    “That is not important.”
    Bridgit heard the tone in Ely’s voice and cursed herself. She needed to start this far more gently if she was going to win Ely over. She was a slave: of course she was going to be suspicious.
    “Well, what do you think the children might like to eat?” She changed direction. “They are bored of lamb, flat bread and dates. You must have potatoes here?”
    Ely shook her head. “It is the wrong season for them. They are grown in a different part of the empire, anyway. But maybe they would like to try oranges.”
    “And what are they? Some kind of animal?”
    At this Ely burst out laughing, a surprised giggle that she covered with her hand.
    Bridgit was torn between feeling foolish at having said something silly and relieved that she had made Ely laugh.
    “No, they are a fruit. They are shaped like a ball and when you tear the skin off, there is sweet, juicy flesh beneath.”
    “I like the sound of that. Anything else? What was your favorite when you were a child? If you liked it, I am sure the rest of the children will enjoy it.”
    Bridgit congratulated herself as Ely thawed out gradually, talking about some fluffy grain that soaked up meat juices and gravy.
    She was glad she had taken the time to speak to the young woman, for she drew involuntarily nearer to Ely when they entered the market. It took Bridgit back to the first day in Adana, when they had been overwhelmed by the smells and noises of the strange place.
    She was thankful she wore the hood, for it allowed her to hide her surprise and her disgust at some of the things she saw.
    The meat stalls were the worst. She had seen sheep and pigs and cattle butchered before, of course, but the strange, tall animals with the humped backs, were a revolting sight. Meat was meat but the lines of animal heads, tongues lolling out, flies landing on them, turned her already-fragile stomach.
    The fish was a much more welcome sight.
    “Can you ask the guards to bring us fresh fish for the children?” she asked Ely.
    The young