The Lion and the Crow by Eli Easton Read Free Book Online Page A

faded and he looked up into Christian’s cold eyes and clenched jaw.
    “They’re well dead,” Christian said darkly.
    William nodded.
    There was no remaining at the camp with the corpses, and dragging them into the woods was not distance enough. Neither one of them wanted to linger. So they packed up and headed out, with hours to go before dawn.
    ****

CHAPTER 9
    That day they rode along a wide road, approaching Manchester. They’d be able to refill their wine and provisions in town, and Christian was looking forward to seeing it. He’d passed through it once, with Sir Allendale, but they had not stopped. He hoped for an eyeful of the church at least.
    But though he relished travelling, the closer they drew to Somerfield’s lands, the more Christian’s mind worried at the problem of what would happen when they got there. He and William rode side by side on the wide track. They sang awhile— William had a very nice voice. And William talked about his first battle. Christian enjoyed listening to William’s tales, but when a comfortable silence fell, he broached the subject foremost on his mind.
    “When we get to Somerfield’s castle, do you really intend to ask for an audience?”
    “I do.”
    “And you will tell him that you wish to take Elaine home for a visit?”
    William narrowed his eyes at the road in front of him. “I will tell him I have come to take Elaine and her children back home.”
    “By the Blood! You would.” Christian cursed.
    William frowned at him. “What would you have me say?”
    “Say that your father is quite ill. You wish to take Elaine and the children to visit him on his deathbed.”
    William pursed his lips firmly. After a long moment, he spoke. “’Tis not a bad plan. But I dislike standing in a man’s hall and lying. A knight does not lie. And even if Somerfield bought the tale, he’d be a fool to allow all three of them to go. He’d keep the children so Elaine would have no choice but to return.”
    Christian nodded. He’d already thought as much. “Are you sure Elaine would not leave the children? If she hates her husband so much—”
    “Never,” William said without a trace of doubt. “Not Elaine. No matter what their sire has done.”
    Christian’s chest tightened. “You would not seriously challenge Lord Somerfield to single combat?”
    “I must. I can’t raise an army to defeat him. My only option is to get him to fight me man to man.”
    “By the saints! You do not challenge a lord in his keep. He’ll have his guard grab you and behead you on the spot. Or perhaps he’ll lock you in the dungeon for a slow death!”
    “ Enough ,” William snapped. “’Tis my own affair.”
    Christian didn’t argue. They rode on for a bit, then William rubbed his chin pensively. “My best chance is to insult his pride. Somerfield is said to be cruel and vain, and he was a renowned fighter in his younger days. If I say he is too cowardly to face me one-on-one—”
    “He will have his guards disembowel you,” Christian finished surely.
    “’Tis a chance I must take. You cannot know what he will do, no better than I can.”
    “I know my father. And I know what he would do.”
    William did not reply.
    Christian felt his stomach churn with anger. It was even worse than he’d suspected. William’s sense of honor was sure to get him killed. And Christian could not bear the thought of it, if only for the sake of William’s kindness to him if naught else. And there was else— much else. He had to convince William he was wrong.
    “Listen,” Christian said, taking on a softer tone, “the lesson I learned in my youth was this— when you do not have the advantage in size and power, you must use your wits and cunning. I don’t suppose that’s a lesson you were ever forced to learn.”
    William arched a bemused brow. “Are you saying I lack cunning?”
    Christian barked a laugh. “I’m saying you probably have never lacked for power. But such trickery as I have had