Devilʼs Brew: The Janna Chronicles 5 Read Online Free Page A

telling her the truth about herself or her lover, Janna’s father. She would not have approved of what Janna was doing because she wouldn’t have understood it.
    “Janna? Try not to fret, lass. Let us rather talk about how you’re going to manage until your father arrives.” Ulf’s anxious voice brought the difficulties of her new situation rushing back. Her spirits dropped even lower, crushed under the burden of memory. She’d lost everything.
    Janna straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath. Yes, she’d lost everything – except her courage. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails cutting into the soft flesh of her palms. The pain helped her to come back to herself, and shift her focus to the tavern and her present predicament. She took another deep breath and quietly exhaled, trying to calm her fear. It was easier to dream of the past than confront the future, but confront it she must.
    “Any ideas?” Ulf prompted.
    “No. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
    “I wish I could offer you shelter but that wouldn’t be seemly. Maybe I could find you a room close by, so I can watch out for your safety?”
    “I have no coin to pay for a room,” Janna said tiredly. “And I will not live on your charity either,” she added.
    “But you can’t live too close to me,” Ulf rumbled on, clearly not paying attention. “’Tis the poorest, meanest, smelliest part of town!”
    Janna patted his hand. “I’ll have to look for work somewhere, find something I can do that will also provide shelter.” She thought for a moment. “Perhaps I could offer myself as a scullion in a kitchen, or as a lady’s maid?”
    “Nay, lass!” Ulf’s horrified exclamation drew several curious glances their way. “You’re the granddaughter of a king!”
    “Without the means to prove it,” Janna said dryly. “Besides, I know what it is to be poor and needy, and to work hard just to survive. When my mother was alive, we lived in a small cot at the edge of a forest. We had a few hens and two goats, and a little plot of ground to grow our vegetables and the herbs for my mother’s potions. But there were many times we went hungry.”
    “Herbs and potions? There are several apothecaries in town who might be glad of an able assistant. But whether they’d employ a young woman…” Ulf’s enthusiasm, which had so quickly caught fire, now seemed in danger of snuffing out. Then his expression brightened again. “What about Robert of Gloucestre, now he’s back at the castle? You’re known to him. You should ask him for help.” He took a long swallow of ale, and wiped his mouth dry on the back of his hand. “After all, he’s your…What? Uncle?”
    “And the Empress Matilda’s my aunt!” Janna said flippantly, recognizing suddenly that this was true. The thought rendered her speechless for a moment. “But how can I go to them, dressed in this filthy gown, and with nothing to prove I am who I say I am?” 
    “You can clean yourself up a bit. Any road, no matter how you look – or smell – they owe you for what you did, delivering that letter of warning about the bishop!”
    “Shh!” Alarmed, Janna looked around at the crowd gathered in the tavern. Only Ossie, the simple giant whose role was keeper of the peace, caught her eye. He was vigilant as usual, but there seemed no need for it, since conversation was muted. News and opinions were being exchanged in low undertones, for everyone was worried about the presence of the empress’s army, and the apparent lack of rapprochement between her and the bishop. There were rumbles from the merchants, who were torn between wanting to stay for the great fair and the money they stood to make, set against their concern that trouble might erupt and then they’d be caught up in it and their goods put at risk. There was also disquiet among the townsfolk, who knew they stood to lose everything if a peace could not be patched up.
    The mention of the empress’s name attracted