Wine of the Gods 08: Dark Lady by Pam Uphoff Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Pam Uphoff
get to gallop all over the place."
The Captain chuckled. "Half of them got sent off. And this is the best town yet this year. I lost a bet with Roger about it."
" Hard though it is to believe. What is the usual problem?" Roger leaned back to accost the serving girl. "Ale all around, darlin', bring a pitcher."
" It's either a bunch of farm boys on plow horses that can't jump, or a pack of city swells with nervy high strung animals that spook of everything and refuse at jumps. It's rare that we keep a quarter of the volunteers."
" How often does the militia get called out? I'm surprised that there's regular training."
" We've always had yearly training, but it didn't used to include the Imperial Troops." Roger took his mug and eyed the prince over the rim.
" Arbolia has been looking our way the last few years . . . and has what they consider grounds for offense . . . so we've gone from an occasional visit to combined maneuvers three times a year. Personally I suspect twice would be sufficient, and we may cut back in a year or two once we get the kinks worked out."
Liz frowned, "But you don't bring many troops with you."
" No, it's mostly a matter of us officers getting familiar with the whole country and all the barons' troops, and the local troops plus the militia learning what's meant by specific commands and getting used to obeying the King's officers." He shrugged. "Hopefully we will never need to use it. The Imperial Guards we have along are mostly for showing the locals how it ought to be done. I think it may be a punishment assignment."
The Lawyers' wives excused themselves shortly, and the lady joined them at their table, little Quail sleeping through all the comings and goings. Four ales down, they were all using first names and telling jokes, Roger's a bit risque, and December's really silly.
And the lady getting homesick, and everyone else morose.
" Wherever it is." December said.
" My father won even look at me anymore." Kurt finished his fifth mug. "I think he wishes I'd been killed instead."
" My family thinks it all my fault." Liz said, and glared at Roger.
" It ish your fault. You've no business reading all the time and acting like I shmell bad." Roger said. "Your Dad should never have taught you to read."
" He didn't. My mother did. She was born in Arrival, and she says everyone goes to school there, even the common girls."
" Ooo. La. Te. Da. And then she gets knocked up and married off to a Baron's horsemaster, far enough away that no one will count on their fingers and shay, no wonder the wedding was sho hasty. I'll bet he's not even your father." At which point Roger slid off his chair.
" Don't kick him," Kurt advised. "His head's gonna hurt enough already tomorrow . . . later today. Oh crap, do I have to be up an on horseback by dawn?"
He and the tavernmaster managed to get Roger on his horse, and one of the boys trotted along to make sure he got home.
Then Liz and December supported each other back to their rooms, with the girl trailing behind, carrying the baby, who woke up and demanded food.
Liz vaguely thought she should be helping but . . . She collapsed in bed and dreamed of a handsome prince.
Chapter Eight
Tuesday , February 24, 3493 AD
Jeramtown, Arrival
Liz whimpered as she crawled out of bed in the afternoon. She looked in the next room. December was sitting on the floor again. She waved Liz in and pointed at a pitcher. "Drink a big glass of water. That and time will cure all hangovers."
" Oh my. Tell me I did not go out drinking with Roger. " And Kurt. Did I call the prince by his first name?
" A baronet and a prince. Are our reputations trashed?"
" No, we had plenty of witnesses that we were never alone with them. And went to our own rooms without them."
" Ah, good. I worry sometimes about this place."
" Oh no. Wait." Liz sipped at the water and tried to think. "How loud was he when he said that about my mother? About me?"
" Umm, it's no big deal, a baby a bit
The Captain chuckled. "Half of them got sent off. And this is the best town yet this year. I lost a bet with Roger about it."
" Hard though it is to believe. What is the usual problem?" Roger leaned back to accost the serving girl. "Ale all around, darlin', bring a pitcher."
" It's either a bunch of farm boys on plow horses that can't jump, or a pack of city swells with nervy high strung animals that spook of everything and refuse at jumps. It's rare that we keep a quarter of the volunteers."
" How often does the militia get called out? I'm surprised that there's regular training."
" We've always had yearly training, but it didn't used to include the Imperial Troops." Roger took his mug and eyed the prince over the rim.
" Arbolia has been looking our way the last few years . . . and has what they consider grounds for offense . . . so we've gone from an occasional visit to combined maneuvers three times a year. Personally I suspect twice would be sufficient, and we may cut back in a year or two once we get the kinks worked out."
Liz frowned, "But you don't bring many troops with you."
" No, it's mostly a matter of us officers getting familiar with the whole country and all the barons' troops, and the local troops plus the militia learning what's meant by specific commands and getting used to obeying the King's officers." He shrugged. "Hopefully we will never need to use it. The Imperial Guards we have along are mostly for showing the locals how it ought to be done. I think it may be a punishment assignment."
The Lawyers' wives excused themselves shortly, and the lady joined them at their table, little Quail sleeping through all the comings and goings. Four ales down, they were all using first names and telling jokes, Roger's a bit risque, and December's really silly.
And the lady getting homesick, and everyone else morose.
" Wherever it is." December said.
" My father won even look at me anymore." Kurt finished his fifth mug. "I think he wishes I'd been killed instead."
" My family thinks it all my fault." Liz said, and glared at Roger.
" It ish your fault. You've no business reading all the time and acting like I shmell bad." Roger said. "Your Dad should never have taught you to read."
" He didn't. My mother did. She was born in Arrival, and she says everyone goes to school there, even the common girls."
" Ooo. La. Te. Da. And then she gets knocked up and married off to a Baron's horsemaster, far enough away that no one will count on their fingers and shay, no wonder the wedding was sho hasty. I'll bet he's not even your father." At which point Roger slid off his chair.
" Don't kick him," Kurt advised. "His head's gonna hurt enough already tomorrow . . . later today. Oh crap, do I have to be up an on horseback by dawn?"
He and the tavernmaster managed to get Roger on his horse, and one of the boys trotted along to make sure he got home.
Then Liz and December supported each other back to their rooms, with the girl trailing behind, carrying the baby, who woke up and demanded food.
Liz vaguely thought she should be helping but . . . She collapsed in bed and dreamed of a handsome prince.
Chapter Eight
Tuesday , February 24, 3493 AD
Jeramtown, Arrival
Liz whimpered as she crawled out of bed in the afternoon. She looked in the next room. December was sitting on the floor again. She waved Liz in and pointed at a pitcher. "Drink a big glass of water. That and time will cure all hangovers."
" Oh my. Tell me I did not go out drinking with Roger. " And Kurt. Did I call the prince by his first name?
" A baronet and a prince. Are our reputations trashed?"
" No, we had plenty of witnesses that we were never alone with them. And went to our own rooms without them."
" Ah, good. I worry sometimes about this place."
" Oh no. Wait." Liz sipped at the water and tried to think. "How loud was he when he said that about my mother? About me?"
" Umm, it's no big deal, a baby a bit
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