Flight of the Nighthawks Read Online Free

her. “Besides, I have my own business here.”
    â€œOh, do you now?”
    â€œYes,” he laughed. “As you well know.”
    As they approached the town square, several people greeted Marie. “Well,” she whispered after returning their greetings, “we can discuss that business later.”
    Caleb looked at the unusually large gathering and asked, “More people have arrived?”
    â€œSome,” she answered. “A shipping concern out of Shamata has put up a building on the edge of the south road, near the old stone bridge. They have three new families and some single men from town working for them. They’re making Ellie’s pa real nervous. I think that’s half of the reason he’s marrying her off to Miller Hodover’s boy, Grame. He wants to make sure that he’s secured the grain-shipment contracts up to Land’s End and Krondor.”
    â€œAs good a reason for a marriage as any, I guess,” said Caleb, “if you ignore love.”
    She glanced at him to see if he was being serious and found that once more she couldn’t quite read his mood. Sometimes Caleb was as easy to read as a child. At other times she had no idea what he was thinking, and disappointingly this was one of those times.
    They carried the kettle over to one of the large wooden tables borrowed from a nearby inn and placed it on the spot indicated by one of the women overseeing the feast. One of the other women looked up. “Marie, Caleb,” she said, smiling a thin welcome.
    â€œTessa,” returned Marie.
    The woman, florid-faced with ale-bloom cheeks as if she were a heavy drinker, had a jowly face set in a painful smile. “Brought another kettle of your nice little soup,” she remarked, her tone condescending. Tessa was the miller’s wife, and soon-to-be mother-in-law of Ellie. She was well attired and took Marie’s hand disdainfully, patting it softly, and giving a slight nod. “We understand, dear.” Her tone couldn’t have been more patronizing.
    Caleb’s smile didn’t falter, but there was a slight tightening around his eyes. He said, “That’s just the start.” He pointed to a fire pit burning at the opposite edge of the square. “We’ve also brought that oxen being roasted.” He winked sidewise at Marie so Tessa couldn’t see. “And that wagon,” he added, indicating the wagon that was rolling into view. “It carries two barrels of dwarven ale from Dorgin, as well as six cases of Ravensburg wine.”
    Tessa blinked like a barn owl caught in lantern light. “Really?” she said.
    Caleb said nothing, merely inclining his head with a slight smile. The now-flustered miller’s wife muttered something under her breath, gave a pained smile, and hurried off.
    Marie turned to Caleb and said, “Why did you do that?”
    Caleb shrugged. “I remember how she annoyed you at the last Banapis festival. Besides, last year all I contributed was a brace of partridges and some rabbits.”
    â€œNo, I meant why did you say ‘we’ when you were the one who brought the oxen and the wagon?”
    Caleb said, “Well, because I brought them for you.”
    Marie was silent for a moment before a small smile crossed her lips, but her eyes showed no humor. “I thank you for the gesture, Caleb.”
    â€œIt was my pleasure,” he said. “Now, shall I fetch bowls and a ladle?”
    â€œNo,” said Marie, her tone neutral. “I’ll return to the house and fetch them myself. You find the boys and make sure that they’re staying out of trouble, will you? I’m worried about them.”
    He nodded, and moved away from the table. Making his way through the quickly gathering crowd, Caleb found himself both amused and surprised at the changes he had seen in the town since his childhood. Though his family had never lived in Stardock Town, they had