The Fourth Horseman Read Online Free Page A

hadn’t contradicted
him, but Ranulf was clutching at straws. That Alard would climb up
the rope into the castle made no sense at all. It was hard to
imagine an entrance that was more likely to get him noticed. The
most logical course of action would have had him coming through the
main gate unremarked, as just another visitor to the castle, one
that some men in the garrison recognized and still believed to be
an ally. Alard could have left the rope tied around the merlon as a
precaution, an escape route of last resort that he would use if he
had to and leave behind if he didn’t.
    Ranulf seemed not to have
heard Amaury’s understated disapproval. Perhaps to make amends
anyway, Amaury cleared his throat and stepped forward, deflecting
Earl Robert’s attention away from Ranulf to himself. “I have men
scouring the banks of the brook for any sign of the man, my lord.”
He paused and didn’t say what Gareth expected to hear, which
was it is only a matter of time before we
find him.
    It seemed that Earl Robert had expected to
hear those words too. When they didn’t come, he said, “But you
believe him to be long gone.”
    “ Not necessarily gone,”
Amaury said, “but certainly untraceable unless Alard wishes to be
found. He had a significant head start, and he knows the area
well.”
    “ And why would he want to
be found?” Earl Robert remained focused on Amaury, who stood
steadily before him.
    “ Alard may have murdered
David, but that doesn’t make him less intelligent than he was
yesterday. He has a plan. He would return to Newcastle if he
believed his work unfinished,” Amaury said.
    Earl Robert raised his eyebrows as Amaury
hurried on.
    “ As you may be aware,
Alard’s skills as a knight and a purveyor of information have
always been considerable. If he killed David, as it appears he did,
he did it for a reason he believes in. I find it unlikely that the
matter will end with the death of one Welshman.”
    Earl Robert transferred his attention to the
two princes of Gwynedd, both of whom had been listening with great
interest to the Normans’ conversation. “I suppose you have a man
whom you would like me to include in this investigation? I will
allow him to participate as a courtesy to your father, since it
appears that he has been wronged in this matter.”
    “ We do, sir,” Prince Rhun
said, speaking for both himself and Hywel.
    Robert turned on his heel and canted his
head at Gareth. “It’s you, is it?”
    “ Yes, my lord.” Gareth
stepped forward.
    “ Ranulf!” Robert waved a
hand at his son-in-law in much the same way Ranulf had waved at
Amaury earlier. “See to this matter but keep me
informed.”
    Ranulf bowed. “Yes, my lord.”
    “ Now.” Earl Robert nodded
towards the two princes. “If you would come with me to my receiving
room, I would like to welcome you properly, without this
troublesome event hanging between us.”
    “ Certainly, sir.” Rhun
bowed, though the act came off a bit stiff. Strictly speaking, as a
prince of Gwynedd, Rhun outranked the earl, but not if rank
depended on men at his command or wealth. The question of status
had been making their conversation awkward from the moment Earl
Robert greeted the two princes, especially in front of so many
observers. It was better for the three of them to meet in
private.
    “ Good.” Earl Robert led the
way out of the room.
    Prince Hywel clapped Gareth on the shoulder
as he passed him. It was a sign of confidence that Gareth knew what
to do and would do it. At least that’s what Gareth hoped it
meant.
    When Gareth had ridden into Chester last
winter, from the moment he entered underneath the gatehouse, he’d
felt the eyes of every Saxon in the city on him. Here at Newcastle,
the feeling was similar, if not worse, and Gareth had to
acknowledge that he was more out of his depth in this Norman castle
than he’d ever been, even when he’d sailed to Dublin to find Gwen
after she’d been abducted by King Owain’s brother,