The Dog of the North Read Online Free Page A

The Dog of the North
Book: The Dog of the North Read Online Free
Author: Tim Stretton
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learned anything from today?’
    ‘Yes, Father.’
    ‘Good. Your wisdom has been earned with pain. I hope you consider it worthwhile. Do you care to share your learning?’
    ‘Oranges and lemons look alike but taste different. Eilla is cleverer than I. It is as easy to steal a cow as a loaf. You always get caught in the end.’
    ‘These points are all unarguable. Ierwen, I lack all appetite to beat the lad. You must do it.’
    Ierwen gave a sigh and reached for the cane above the fireplace.

3
Croad
    1
    In the twilight Beauceron’s party made its way along the rough trail leading into the foothills of the Ferrant Mountains, concealed by the scrubby trees on the slope
as they moved upwards. As night fell, he called a halt at a clearing of modest expanse with the mountains at their backs.
    In the darkness, Beauceron looked down into the Casalle valley at the blazing stout-coach. The flames, set against the starry sky, would draw attention away from his band, should anyone think to
look up into the woods. His rabbit stew, fresh from the earth-oven, was given savour by mountain herbs, and from the exhilaration of the afternoon’s raid. It was disappointing that Siedra had
not been on the coach, but there were compensations.
    He looked across to where Isola and Cosetta were picking at their stew.
    ‘Eat up, ladies. This is as good as food gets in the wilds. We have the open road ahead and many adventures to come.’
    Cosetta looked at the stew with a grimace. Isola said: ‘Our appetites are understandably impaired. We are unclear as to your intentions, but it seems unlikely our wishes will be taken into
account.’
    ‘I have assured you that your chastity is safe.’
    ‘You expect me to be grateful that your men have not violated me? I was on the way to my wedding! You have taken my future!’ said Lady Isola, with spots of colour at her cheek.
    Beauceron leaned back against a rock. ‘It might be more accurate to say I have substituted one future for another. Your wedding will no doubt proceed, but at a later date. We will take you
back to Mettingloom and ransom you there.’
    ‘Mettingloom!’ cried Cosetta. ‘You cannot take us all the way into the Northern Reach!’
    ‘I am returning there myself, with the treasure we have abstracted this afternoon.’
    ‘Beauceron,’ said Isola with an approach to a smile. ‘Can you not simply take us to Croad? Lord Oricien will pay you a ransom on the spot, and you are spared the inconvenience
of transporting us north, and then all the way back south.’
    Beauceron laughed. ‘I prefer to avoid the inconvenience of a noose around my neck. Croad and Mettingloom might not be at war, but I can assure you that if I fell into Oricien’s power
he would hang me. We will skirt Croad to the north, take the mountain pass and secure a ship from Hengis Port. In three weeks we will be in Mettingloom, ready to secure your release.’
    Isola dropped her hunk of bread to the ground, her nostrils flaring. ‘Dog!’ she shouted, throwing her stew at Beauceron. ‘You will live to regret treating Lady Isola of Sey in
this fashion.’
    Beauceron did not even need to lean aside, so wild was Isola’s aim. He stood up, lifted the empty bowl from the ground, and passed it back to her. Before she could respond, he turned on
his heel and walked away.
    Early the next morning the party set off into the mountains. Lady Cosetta remained largely silent throughout the day; Lady Isola set up a steady stream of imprecations, until
Monetto, riding as their escort, threatened to gag her for the remainder of the journey.
    On the second day the group rested for lunch in the high mountain pass which led from Lynnoc to the Northern Reach. Down in the valley below them was the city of Croad, compact and secure behind
its walls. The air was becoming chill as they rose from the valley, and both ladies were wrapped in rough cloaks from Beauceron’s store. Lady Cosetta’s cloak had clearly been pierced
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