Two Heirs (The Marmoros Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

we get on.”
    Held considered for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders. “I don't have any better offers for today but I'm making you no promises.”
    “Fair enough. Let's go eat.”
    Without waiting for a reply, Manny turned on his heel and strode off towards the fire. Held picked his shirt off the bush where he had thrown it and pulled it over his head. He could feel eyes watching him as he walked back towards the wagons. As he passed the slave wagon, the hostage who Jaks had called Lady Falaise was standing there.
    From close to, he could see that she was even more attractive than he had realised. She was tall, only slightly shorter than himself. She had shoulder length brown hair that shone in the early morning sunlight and soft hazel eyes that took in everything about a man in one look. Her figure was slender and she wore a dark green dress made of a material he did not recognise but which clung to every curve.
    He made a formal bow. “My Lady.”
    She looked at him as though appraising his worth and then turned her back and climbed into the wagon without saying a word.
    ***
    They buried the giant Torsten at the edge of the clearing before they set out that morning. Held was surprised when, after the burial, Jaks turned up carrying Torsten's sword and a small bundle of possessions.
    “'S yours now,” he said. “You kills a man in a fair fight, you gets all 'is stuff. That's the rules in this outfit. Manny says.”
    They went through the meagre bundle together. Apart from a purse containing a few copper and silver coins, there was only a pair of oversized boots, some clothing in a poor state of repair and, of course, the sword.
    “Lose the clothes,” he told Jaks.
    “Lose 'em . What d'ya mean, lose 'em. I can sell this lot. There's some of the women 'ere who are very 'andy with a needle. Cut down, this could make a tidy outfit for any one of the blokes 'ere. Meself included.”
    “Do it then. And if you make any coin from it, you can keep it for your trouble.”
    “Blimey, thanks mate. You're all right, you are.”
    Held lifted the sword. It was far too heavy for him to use but it was a magnificent weapon.
    “This sword I would like to keep but I don't want it walloping around on my horse's rump all day. Can you find somewhere to stash it on one of the carts?”
    “Consider it done, my friend. No problem.”
    Jaks gathered up the clothes and sword and stood there, shuffling from one foot to another.
    “Okay, out with it. What's on your mind?”
    “Well, it's nothing really. Only I know it's a big ask but...”
    “Jaks, whatever it is, spit it out. Otherwise we're going to be riding in the dust of the wagons all day, trying to catch up.”
    “Well, it's just that... what you did to Torsten last night. I ain't never seen anything like that. Not even Manny could of done that and 'e's a pretty useful swordsman. I mean I don't expect you to teach me how to do that but I watched you doing your exercises this morning. Could you teach me some of ' em moves?”
    Held looked the youth up and down. “How old are you Jaks?” he asked.
    “I'm seventeen next spring. But I'm big for me age. And strong. Everybody says so.”
    “By the time I was your age, I'd been in sword school for five years. And it's not all about strength. Torsten was the strongest man here. Far stronger than I am. And yet I killed him.”
    “That's what I mean. That's what I want to learn.” Jaks looked at Held with a pleading expression on his face.
    “Listen. I haven't decided yet whether I'm to stay or go. Ask me again when I've made up my mind.”
    “But if you stay, you'll teach me?”
    Held hesitated for a second then nodded. “If I stay, I'll teach you.”
    ***
    The day was very mild. The sun was warm but not hot and there was a hint of a breeze that made it a very pleasant day to be riding. The sombre mood surrounding Torsten's funeral disappeared in the sunshine and the men were bantering happily as they rode along. Held spent