Sacrifice Read Online Free Page B

smoothly. Suspecting nothing, Rivers had camped his men in and around the town. Most were still in their beds when Richard and his followers clattered down the main street.
       At the southern end of the street was The Rose & Crown Inn, where Edward and his retinue were lodged. Richard brought his lathered horse skidding to a halt and tossed her reins to one of the startled halberdiers at the door.
       “I wish to see your master,” he said in the curt tone he reserved for underlings, “now.”
       The halberdier looked at the duke, and at the reins in his left hand, and back again. “His…his majesty is still at breakfast, my lord,” he stammered, “we weren’t told to expect guests.”
       Richard smiled thinly. “I have come to surprise him. My nephew enjoys surprises. Announce me.”
       The halberdier knew better than to argue. He nodded at his comrade, who after a moment’s hesitation vanished inside.
       Richard slid from his horse and waited impatiently while the beast was led away to the stables behind the inn. Buckingham and six retainers waited with him. Their prisoner, still bound and gagged, was kept well to the rear, guarded by ten mounted archers.
       “I’m not used to being kept waiting,” complained Buckingham, stamping his feet against the morning chill, “not even for a king.”
       “You know nothing of kings or how to serve them,” Richard replied caustically. Buckingham scowled, but it was true: Edward IV had thought little of the young duke, and promoted other men above him, even in regions of the country where he had vested interests.
       I will have to watch this one , thought Richard. Starved of favour and office in the previous reign, Buckingham was hungry for power. He was a useful tool, but Richard meant to keep him on a tight leash.
       To his surprise, Edward came outside in person to welcome him, escorted by the halberdier and an elderly knight named Sir Thomas Vaughan, treasurer of the royal household.
       Richard eyed Vaughan with hatred. The old knight was another of his targets, a close friend of Rivers and companion in treason.
       It pained him to look at Edward. Though just twelve years old, the boy was already the spit of his late father, tall and strong and fleshy, with long berry-brown hair, parted in the middle. Not yet stretched on the rack of adolescence, he was somewhat lean and lanky, though his broad shoulders hinted at the strength to come.
       His father was lean, once. A great knight ruined by kingship. For all his might, he could not uphold the burden of a crown.
       “My lord of Gloucester,” said Edward, dabbing at his lips with a napkin, “what means this? We did not expect you.”
       His voice still had a childlike, fluting tone, and he regarded his uncle with little enthusiasm. Richard was dismayed but not surprised by Edward’s coldness. The prince was entirely under the influence of the Woodvilles.
       A mere puppet. God help England when he is crowned. I should have insisted on taking him into my custody, but my brother was blind to the ambitions of his wife’s kin. 
       Now for it. Richard cleared his throat, and looked for assurance to his retainers. Their bodies were clothed in steel under their coats displaying his livery of the white boar, and swords and daggers hung from their belts.
       “Dear nephew,” said Richard, adopting a grave countenance, “my apologies for the disturbance, but stark necessity brought me here. Your Highness is surrounded by traitors. One of them is already taken, but there are others.”
       Richard pointed at Vaughan. “Arrest Sir Thomas,” he ordered. Three of his retainers clanked forward.
       The old knight’s raddled face turned white, and his hand dropped to the eating knife at his belt. He was otherwise unarmed.
       “Careful, sir traitor,” warned Richard, “draw steel on my men, and they have my permission to kill you where you stand.”