The Tower Grave by J.E. Moncrieff Read Free Book Online

well?”
                  “I’m great, John. You?” she replied, smiling.
                  “Not bad,” he smiled back, trying to keep his eyes on hers but failing miserably and becoming embarrassed as he took in her body and clothes below. She’d switched the riding outfit for a pale-yellow summer dress that accentuated her tan, and had her hair tied up in a high pony-tail that revealed delicate shoulders and the firm swell of her breasts.
                  “So, what do you think of your team, Johnny?” Geordie Pete asked, snapping him back to reality before he lingered too long without speaking.
                  “Yeah, they all seem great,” he replied. “If nothing else, it should be a good laugh and quite an adventure!”
                  “To say the least, mate. I have no idea how dangerous it’s going to be.”
                  “What are going to learn? Defence-wise?”
                  “Originally they wanted you armed. Just in case, you know. But the slightest inclination of something unusual and they’d probably call it witchcraft and come after you with pitchforks. So we’re going to train daily; open hand, sword, dagger, shield work and archery. Twice through each.”
                  “Twice?”
                  “On foot and mounted. You may need both, after all. Especially considering your undercover legends; you’ll have interesting personas to say the least.”
                  “I can’t even ride a horse!” John exclaimed, laughing.
                  “That’s why I’m here,” Jane interrupted. “I’ll teach you to ride and we’ll be doing loads of it.”
                  “I bet you will, Janey!” Geordie Pete shouted, cracking out a bark of a laugh.
                  John laughed too as Jane leaned past him and punched Pete in the arm, growing a deeper red by the second and looking around to see if anyone else had heard.
                  “You sod, Geordie.” She said, smiling and glancing up to John shyly.
                  “I’m sorry, Jane,” he continued, chuckling. “Maybe you should take your eyes off him for a second.”
                  John felt his own cheeks flush in embarrassment but was cooled as he saw she felt just as shy and awkward as he did. From their introduction he had expected more confidence, but from what he had seen so far, she had the personality to match her appearance.
                  “What were you saying, John?” she said, changing the subject with the embarrassment clear on her face.
                  “Of course, what are our legends then, Pete?”
                  The table grew quiet as some of the team turned their attention to Pete at the question and within moments only the sound of the oblivious Chris and Rich discussing the portal at the end of the table could be heard.
                  “You’ll get everything in the morning,” Derek said, quietly from the other side of the table. “I’ll brief you properly and we’ll discuss any changes you want to make.”
                  “Ok,” John replied, in thought. “We’ll wait until tomorrow. I hope you’ve got a decent Jester’s outfit for Jake.”
                  Jake squinted at John and laughed as a chuckle rippled around the table.
                  “Anyway,” Derek jumped back in. “Have a few beers and relax because starting tomorrow you’ve got some pretty intensive training ahead. I expect your brains, arms and arses to be in agony within forty-eight hours.”
                  They continued to eat and talk, John remaining with Jane and Pete while he ate, others in small groups as they all gradually moved about and spoke with each other throughout the evening. By ten o’clock, David announced