The Dog of the North Read Online Free Page B

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a sword, but if she had misgivings as to the fate of its previous owner she said nothing.
    Beauceron settled to his bread and cheese, sitting on one of the flat stones strewn around the rocky pass. While he ate, Lady Isola approached and sat down. Lady Cosetta sidled up a few feet
behind.
    ‘Gentle Beauceron,’ Isola said with an awkward smile. ‘Can you not let us walk down into the valley to Croad? You already have my dowry.’
    Monetto chuckled. Beauceron smilingly shook his head. ‘You are asking me to give money away. I doubt my men would allow me to do so, even if I wished it.’
    A sly smile crossed Isola’s face. ‘What if I gave my parole that Oricien would send on my ransom to Mettingloom if you released me now? He is a good and true lord, and would keep his
word.’
    ‘You are hardly in a position to bind the man who is not yet your husband. I am sure he would find good reason to avoid payment of the debt, or to ransom you at a lower value than I would
set on you. Indeed, how can a man justly value his own betrothed?’
    Isola pouted. Her dark eyes glared at Beauceron, who remained impassive. ‘There must be some agreement we can reach consistent with both our dignities.’
    ‘Perhaps there is, my lady,’ said Beauceron. ‘To assure myself that the ransom would be paid, you would need to leave an item of value.’
    ‘I have no property except my clothes. You have taken the rest.’
    Beauceron nodded. ‘True, true. But what of this? I will let you walk down into Croad, to send your ransom on to Mettingloom: but you must leave Lady Cosetta. She will not be released until
both ransoms are paid.’
    ‘No!’ cried Cosetta, the cheese falling from her rough wooden plate. ‘You could not do that, Isola!’
    Isola was silent. Beauceron looked at her a moment. ‘Well, my lady? Is that “consistent with your dignity”?’
    Lady Isola stood up, brushed her skirts. ‘Very well. I am sorry, Cosetta, but better that one of us should reach civilization than neither of us. I will ensure Oricien compiles our ransom
immediately.’
    ‘Isola! You cannot leave me with these brutes!’
    ‘Cosetta, it grieves me to leave you. But Beauceron’s men have treated us as well as we could have expected. The circumstances are unfortunate but we must make the best of them. If
Beauceron had offered to release you instead I should not have complained.’
    Cosetta sank her head into her hands and sobbed. ‘Please, please . . .’
    Isola looked at her a moment and turned to Beauceron. ‘I have eaten, and see no reason to tarry further. With your leave, I will depart immediately.’
    Beauceron held up a hand. ‘A moment, my lady. I merely outlined a hypothesis. The situation is unrealistic. I know Oricien of old: he is somewhat parsimonious, and he will not care a fig
for Lady Cosetta’s freedom. I simply wished to see how you would react.’
    Isola scrambled to her feet as if to rush at Beauceron. He languidly leaned aside as Monetto dragged her away. ‘Nonetheless,’ he continued, ‘I am grateful for the favourable
characterization of my conduct that you shared with Lady Cosetta.’
    Isola continued to struggle with Monetto, her cheeks aflame and her hair hanging loose at her shoulders. ‘Is there nothing that will compel you to release me?’ she spat at
Beauceron.
    He shook his head. ‘For reasons I will not bore you with, I bear Lord Oricien considerable ill-will. It may be that allowing him to marry such a shrew is punishment enough; but I am
persuaded he will feel this double blow to his pride and his coffers more strongly. Kindly remount, my lady. We have many miles to cover before nightfall.’
    Isola clambered aboard her gallumpher. Cosetta, who had already mounted, turned her back, and the two rode in silence for the remainder of the day.
    2
    After a journey of ten days, the party arrived at Hengis Port on the western coast of the wide plain known as Jehan’s Steppe. The settlement consisted of