The Unexpected Ally by Sarah Woodbury Read Free Book Online

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of late, that the price for serving him was often very high. If
Erik’s death wasn’t enough to prove it, Gareth’s wounds were a
daily reminder.
    “In that case, wouldn’t he have made himself
known to some of the men already here?” Conall said. “Prince
Cynan’s encampment lies less than a mile from the monastery.
Doesn’t your brother oversee this region for your father?”
    “He does, but I doubt Erik would have sought
him out,” Hywel said. “Erik’s and my arrangement was known to only
a few—or rather, to only one other person.”
    “Gareth.” Conall grinned. “Then it was known
to two because Gwen knew as well.”
    Hywel laughed. “Indeed. Regardless, I have
yet to speak to Cynan, so perhaps I’m wrong and Erik did go to him.
At the very least, one of his men or a monk here at St. Kentigern’s
might have seen Erik and be able to tell us about his movements.
Such questioning is a task that Gareth and Gwen usually take charge
of.”
    “I offer you my service as well in this
matter.” Conall spoke formally, and there was no doubting that he
felt he could be of use.
    Hywel eyed the Irishman, not sure he was
entirely ready to trust Conall with an investigation, though the
events in Shrewsbury implied that he could, at least in regard to
something over which the King of Leinster had no stake. He canted
his head, deciding for the moment that he’d include him. “I accept.
Our first task, since we can’t know Erik’s mind and are deprived of
all evidence of his death, is to find out if anyone in the village,
the encampment, or the monastery saw him. Even more, we should
simultaneously be searching for the people who took his body.
Hopefully questions about one will lead to answers about the
other.”
    Gareth appeared in the doorway. “This is a
small community. Someone had to have seen something. And Erik was
an easy man to remember.”
    “Have you ever investigated a murder before,
Conall?” Hywel said.
    Conall contemplated Hywel for a moment
before answering in a completely even tone. “No.”
    Hywel hadn’t meant his question as a
criticism. He genuinely wanted to know because it would help Gareth
to figure out how much direction to give Conall as the day
progressed.
    Gareth tipped his head. “I would be grateful
for your help. Between the two of us, we might have one working
body.” He snorted laughter.
    “You need more than just Conall, Gareth, if
not to help with the questioning then to watch your backs.” Hywel
glowered at his captain. “You surely need it.”
    “You have me.” Gwen slipped through the
doorway, which Gareth was mostly blocking, and came forward to the
table.
    Hywel had forgotten to call for breakfast,
and he sent an apologetic look in her direction as he reached for
the bell above the mantle. “I will find other men to help, Gareth.
You will stay here, Gwen. I won’t risk you. It doesn’t bear
thinking about what would have happened if you’d ridden in the cart
with Gareth—or instead of Gareth.”
    In a lowered voice, Gareth added, “What I
really need you to do, Gwen, is question the monks working within
the monastery walls.”
    Gwen expression turned more than a little
mutinous, but she didn’t argue out loud, just gave both men a brief
nod. Then a monk bustled through the kitchen door, carrying a tray
of food and drink for breakfast. He began setting out the dishes on
the table. The smell was heavenly. Given the fire, it came as no
surprise to Hywel to learn that Abbot Rhys didn’t skimp on other
important things either.
    Eyeing the monk, Hywel spoke his next words
carefully, not wanting to talk of anything important in an
outsider’s presence. “As for you, Conall, if you help Gareth, it
might delay even longer your return journey home.”
    Conall shrugged. “Another day or two of
absence from Leinster will hardly matter one way or the other. My
king knows where I am and when I tell him of what I have learned he
will not begrudge time spent in