Lord of Falcon Ridge Read Online Free Page A

have extra flesh, but still—”
    â€œThe childbirthing lines make no difference. It’s the way of life. It doesn’t lessen a woman’s beauty. No, it’s other things, things you can’t understand as yet.”
    â€œThings Ragnor wanted to teach me but I wouldn’t let him.”
    â€œHe touched you?”
    Chessa had to smile at the sudden grimness in her father’s voice. Debauching his wife was one thing. A man touching his daughter was quite another.
    â€œYes, but I put a stop to it. That’s when he began spouting all his lies about loving me beyond the time of doom. I swear to you, he actually said beyond the time of doom. I could but stare at him. He was a fool.”
    â€œI will make you a bargain, Chessa. You keep away from Sira and I will endeavor to teach her a bit of humility, a bit of kindness toward others.”
    â€œI wish you good luck,” Chessa said, and left her father’s chamber.
    What Sira would probably do, he thought, knowing himself quite well, was to seduce him. He’d forget his own name in the process.
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    Cleve knew the man was after his blood. He waved the stranger toward him, taunting him. “Come, little man, come to me. We will see who can kill. Come, you sniveling little coward.”
    Little was hardly the word for the man. He towered over Cleve, broad as a strapping bull, his fists huge. He was filthy, his stench nearly overpowering.
    He lunged, his hands outstretched. He would try to crush Cleve against his chest, squeezing the life from him.
    Cleve let him think he would get his way easily. He took a step back, as if suddenly afraid.
    The man in his filthy bearskin laughed. “No more smart words for me, lying scum? Now, I’m coming to you just as you asked me to, and I’m going to make you feel more pain than you imagined a man could feel.”
    â€œTell me, who sent you?”
    â€œAh, I’ll tell you that just as your tongue is bulging from your lying mouth.”
    â€œWill you, or are you too stupid to even realize the man’s name?”
    The man yelled.
    Cleve judged the distance, calmed himself in the very deepest part of himself, the way Merrik, Oleg, and others had taught him to. He raised his hand in a fluttering gesture, then dropped his arm. The movement made the man laugh. He strode toward Cleve, blocking his escape, moving him ever backward, toward the dark fetid alley.
    â€œAre you afraid I’ll still escape you? Who wants me dead? Who paid you to kill me?”
    Cleve saw the shadow against the moonlit side of the building.
    â€œDon’t you dare hurt him!”
    â€œDamnation,” Cleve said, recognizing that voice. He called out, “Get out of here, Chessa. Go away.”
    â€œNay, I’ll take care of this miserable bastard. Coward, leave him alone.”
    Cleve sighed, positioned the hidden blade between his fingers and raised his arm. “You want me dead?” he shouted at the man who had half turned at the sound of a female voice.
    â€œAye, and now,” the man shouted, whirling back toward Cleve again with renewed fury.
    Cleve calmly released the knife. It gleamed in the dim light. It embedded itself in the man’s throat, the tip of the knife coming out the back of his dirty neck.
    At the very same moment, he heard Chessa call out, “There, you miserable creature, how does that feel? Go away and leave us alone.”
    The man stared at Cleve, disbelieving, then he opened his mouth to speak, but only blood gushed out. He fell forward heavily onto his face. It was then that Cleve saw the knife sticking out of the man’s back.
    She’d stabbed him. She’d actually stuck a knife in the man’s back.
    â€œAre you all right, Cleve?” She was running to him, her hands out to touch him.
    He stopped her in her tracks. “Why in the name of the gods are you here in this dark place?”
    â€œHow odd. You sound angry. I saved your