'You did,' Relph pointed out. Will nodded and was about to speak when he saw a small grey haired man in a duty brown tunic moving at the edge of the crowd. The man saw him at the same instant and swiftly darted down an alleyway.
'Alyn Shortblade,' said Will. Ill have the old bastard one of these days. What was I saying?"
'Can't remember, something about buildings going up and immigrants coming in,' answered Relph, pausing at a meat stall and helping himself to a salt beef sausage. The stall holder said nothing and looked away. Relph bit into the sausage. 'Not bad,' he said, 'but too much cereal. Shouldn't be allowed. Can't rightly call it a sausage if there's more bread than meat in it.'
The two moved slowly through Market Street, then down Baker's Alley and into the main square, where the tents and marquees were being erected ready for Tournament Day. The sound of hammers on nails filled the square as workmen continued to build the high banked seats for the nobles and their ladies and Will saw the slight, blond Lord Leofric directing operations. Beside him stood the Captain of the Watch. Will cursed softly. Relph tapped Will's arm.
'Let's go back through Market Street,' he advised. Will was about to agree when the Captain saw them. With an imperious flick of his finger he summoned them over. Will took a deep breath. He had no liking for the Captain, and worse, no respect. The man was a career soldier, but he cared nothing for the well being of his men.
Redgaer Kushir-bane, Knight of the Court, son of the Earl of Cordenia, did not wait for the soldiers to reach him. Arms clasped behind his back he strode towards them, his red beard jutting.
'Well?' he asked. 'Caught any cutpurses?'
'Not yet, sir,' said Will, giving the clenched fist salute.
'Hmmm. Nor will you if that stomach keeps spreading, man. I'll have no lard bellies under my command.'
'Yes, sir.' It was futile to offer any form of argument, as Will Stamper had long ago discovered to his cost. Happily for Will the Captain turned his attention to Relph.
'There is no shine to your buckle, man, and your helmet plume looks like it's been used to wipe a horse's arse. That's a five copper fine, and you will report to my adjutant for extra duty.'
'Yes, sir,' said Relph meekly.
'Well, get on with your rounds,' commanded Redgaer spinning on his heel, his red cloak swirling out.
'What a goat-brain,' whispered Relph. 'Yourplume looks like it's been used to wipe a hone's arse,'
he mimicked. 'More likely it was used to brush his tongue after he'd dropped on his knees to kiss the Baron's rear.' Will chuckled, and the two soldiers continued on their way through Tanner Street and back into the market.
'Whoa, look at that!' said Relph, pointing. Will saw the object of his attention and let out a low whistle. A tall woman was moving through the market, her hair shining silver despite her youth, and on her left fist sat a red hawk. 'Look at the legs on that girl, Will. All the way up to the neck. And what an arse, tight, firm. I tell you, I wouldn't crawl across her to get to you!"
'Bit thin for my taste,' said the older man, 'but she walks well, I'll say that. She's a Highlander.'
'How do you know? Just because she's wearing buckskins? Lot of Lowlanders wear buckskins.'
'Look at the way she moves,' said Will. 'Proud, arrogant. Nah ... Highlander. They're all like that. I see she's not wearing a marriage bangle.' As they watched they saw the hawk suddenly bait, wings flapping in panic. The woman calmed it, gently stroking its red head.
'She could stroke me like that,' said Relph. 'A bit lower down, though. Come on, let's talk to her.'
'What for?'
'I go off duty at dusk. You never know your luck.'
'I'll bet that five-copper fine that she's not interested.'
'And I'll bet you I'll spear her by midnight!'
'You arrogant son of a bitch,' said Will, with a smile. 'I'm going to enjoy watching you cut down to size.' The two soldiers angled through the crowd, coming alongside the woman as she stood by the dried fruit stall.
'Good morning miss,' said Will. 'That's a fine bird.'
The woman offered a fleeting smile. 'She hunts well,' was all she said, then she turned away.
'Are you from the Highlands?' asked Relph.
The woman swung back. 'I am. Why do you ask?'
'My friend here had a little bet with me. I said you were mountain bred, he insisted you were a Lowlander. I told him you could always tell a Highland woman.'
'Tell her what?' countered the woman, turning her pale gaze on the soldier.
'No ... I mean, recognize one. It's in the ... er walk. Tell me, are you ... er ... staying on in Citadel tonight? There are some fine places to dine, and I'd be honoured to escort you.'
'No, I am not staying on. Good day to you.' She walked on, but Relph hurried alongside, taking hold of her arm. This made the hawk bait once more.
'You don't know what you're missing, sweet-thing. It's never wise to turn down a good opportunity.'
'Oh, I never do that,' said the woman. 'Goodbye.'
She strode off leaving Relph red-faced. 'Ah,' said Will, 'the sound of five fresh copper coins jingling in my palm. I can almost hear it.'
Relph swore. 'Who does the bitch think she is?'
'I told you, she's a Highlander. As far as she is concerned you are an occupying enemy soldier.
And if she doesn't hate you - which she probably does - she despises you. Now let's move on, and you can figure out how to pay me.'
'How'd she get a hawk?' said Relph. 'I mean, a woman with a hawk. It's not proper. Maybe she stole it!'
'You can put that thought from your mind now, son,' said Will sternly. 'Just because a woman doesn't want to sleep with you, it doesn't mean you can just lock her up. I'll not have that kind of wrong-doing in my cells. Put it from your mind, and concentrate on the crowd. It'll be more than a five-copper fine if there's a purse cut while we're on duty. More like five lashes!'
'Yes,' said Relph. 'Plenty more sheep in the field anyway.' He laughed suddenly. 'Did you hear that Gryen picked up a dose of the clap from the whorehouse in North Street? His dick is covered in weeping sores. He's in a Hell of a state. They put bloody leeches on it! Can you imagine that?
Must be pretty small leeches, eh?'
'Serves him right,' said Will. He stopped outside the apothecary shop and stepped inside.
'What we looking for?' asked Relph.
'My youngest has the whooping-cough. Betsi asked me to pick up some herb syrup.'
'Always ailing, that boy, ever since the fever,' said Relph. 'You figure him to die?'
Will sighed. 'We lost two already, Relph. One in the plague back in Angosta, and the second when I was campaigning in Kushir. Yellow fever struck him down. I don't know whether the boy will survive or not. But he's a fighter, like his dad, so he's got an even chance.'
'You were lucky with Betsi,' said Relph, as Will waited for the apothecary to fill a small blue bottle with syrup. 'She's a good woman. Cooks up a fine stew, and your place is always so clean.
I'd bet you could eat off the floor and not pick up a scrap of dust. Good woman.'
'The best,' agreed Will. 'I think when summer comes I'll try to relocate down south. Her folks is back there and she misses them. Might do that.'
'There's a rumour we'll be campaigning in spring. You heard it?'
'There's always rumours, son. I don't worry about them. One of the reasons I came here was for the quiet. Betsi was always worried that I'd be killed in a battle. 'Ain't no battles here, so who are we going to campaign against?'
'The Captain was saying that the Highland clans were getting ready for war, attacking merchants and travellers.'