Conan nodded in thanks as Nolan gave the reins a good snap, setting his cart back into motion. “There must be some competition between them,” he mused aloud to Ardál.
Ardál shrugged. “Or he really likes the other place.”
Illadan, Finn, and Dallan returned from inside. Tension surrounded them like a cloud.
“There’s no one there,” Illadan grumbled, sounding more like Broccan than himself.
“I heard there’s another hostelry on the far side of town,” Conan offered.
Illadan mounted his horse, still grim. “Let’s go.”
The decision made, they started across the causeway. The structure was sturdy and well-crafted, which would only make their work more difficult. And, perhaps most concerning, several buildings sat in close proximity. Even the market square was within sight. They’d have to plan carefully.
As Nolan had promised, a giant roundhouse lay in the last row of buildings. A sign hung above the door, a deep green border surrounding a white hart. But the building and the sign and even the road beyond disappeared from thought as the door flew open and a furious man stumbled through it.
He looked of an age with Conan, handsome but for the scowl on his beet-red face, with cropped ash brown hair and a slim build. Conan disliked him instantly.
The man opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a gorgeous woman using oaths so colorful he couldn’t suppress a shocked laugh.
“Do. Not.Evercome here again,” she seethed, “or the next time you’ll walk out a eunuch.”
“I think I’m in love,” Conan laughed.
Not only could she put obnoxious men in their place and swear like his grandfather, she was stunning. Hair as dark as coal fell loose from a wide plait that lay over her shoulder. Two sapphire eyes leveled a challenge at the man from her oval face. And, as though that weren’t enough to get his attention, she wore trews and a sword.
This was no simpering lass. She was a woman—a woman Conan was nowveryinterested in.
“That can’t be one of the ‘girls’ Nolan mentioned,” Finn laughed.
The red-faced man lunged at her, throwing a punch that she narrowly dodged. Inside the inn, another woman screamed.
Conan swore, charging to intervene. He felt Illadan on his heels as he sprinted the last leg of the path up to the inn. Finn and Dallan moved past the brawl to check on the woman inside. Ardál disappeared from sight.
Before Conan reached them, the woman threw a god-awful attempt at a punch instead of reaching for the sword hanging from her waist. Noble of her, but far less effective.
The man charged her again, but this time Conan caught his fist. Shoving hard, he propelled the man several steps backward.
“Get out of my way!” the man roared. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“If you don’t have a damned good reason for attacking this woman, it most certainly does concern me,” Conan growled.
The woman shot past him, fists flying at the man. “Go back to your own inn and leave my sisteralone!”
Conan’s pulse rose so fast he could hear it in his ears.His own inn. This must be the missing innkeeper. He’d been here harassing these women instead of minding his own business. It seemed Conan’s instant dislike of the man hadn’t been far from the mark.
She slammed her shoulder into the man’s stomach. The force drove him back down the path a commendable distance before he landed another blow. His elbows dug into her back, forcing her to stand and face him.
This was getting out of hand. Conan grabbed the woman’s arms, bracing her against him so that she couldn’t continue the fight. Illadan grabbed the man.
“Alright,” Conan shouted over their continued bickering, “now willsomeoneplease tell me what is going on here?”
Chapter Four
“Let me go!”she screamed, wrenching and kicking to free herself from the giant’s grasp. “I can’t punch him if you’re holding my arms!”
“Aye, lass, that’s the idea,” the man chuckled. His hands held her arms in an iron grip. His feet didn’t even shift as she thrashed about like a wild animal.
“Who are you and what’s your business?” the other man demanded of Oran.
