“Split what? What are you talking about?”
“Ronald wants her dead. He offered two pounds of gold for her body brought back to him.”
“What? What does he want her for?”
“I dinnae ken but what does it matter. Think of it, Eddard. A pound of gold. You could set up your own kingdom with that much.”
“He hasnae got that much gold.”
“He will have. He’s going to rob the tax train when it comes through.”
Eddard laughed. “And you believe him? You’re more of a fool than I thought.”
“You need the money, I ken you do.”
“I’ll get my money back out of the treasury and that’s all I’ll take. The tax train? That’s a fool’s errand.”
“That’s what I said but he’s hired Vikings to the job.”
Jessica noticed something Eddard hadn’t. While they were talking the landlord had reached into his pocket and was drawing out a knife of his own.
“Look out!” she screamed.
Eddard saw it just in time, the blade catching his skin but only nicking him. He roared with anger as the landlord lunged a second time. Jessica looked around her, seeing a tankard on the nearest table. Jumping down the stairs she grabbed it and hurled it through the air.
It missed entirely, hitting the wall behind the landlord. She gasped as it bounced off and fell onto his head, sending him staggering straight onto Eddard’s outstretched sword.
“Come on,” Eddard said, pulling his sword free and turning to Jessica. “It isnae safe here anymore. We’ll find somewhere else to sleep.”
They ran for the door and out into the darkness, not stopping until they were both fighting for breath.
“Where are we?” she asked, looking out into the darkness, hearing only water running in the distance, nothing else.
“Near the river,” he replied, still pulling her forward.
“That’s helpful.”
“There’s a barn over there. Hidden from view if I remember right. We’ll stop there.”
They turned off the track and passed through a pasture, descending slowly before stopping in front of a stone building that had appeared from nowhere.
“Is it safe?” she asked as he looked inside.
“Aye. Been empty many years. I dare not light a fire though. We will have to sleep close if we are to keep warm.”
“I can live with that,” she replied.
“Here,” he said, passing her something in the dark. “Drink this.”
“When did you get that?” she asked, feeling the leather flask in her hand, fluid sloshing around inside.
“Snatched it off the table when we ran,” he replied.
She took a swig of the contents, the strength of it almost knocking her off her feet. “Alcohol was stronger back then,” she said with a cough. “Wowsers.”
She felt dizzy but warmed by the spirit, sinking to the musty old straw at her feet.
Eddard took the flask and gulped down half of it, kicking off more straw to form a kind of blanket. Together they settled under it, his arm once more around her as she tried to sleep. Rest wouldn’t come.
