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Jamie took another drink and nodded at Duncan
"I ainst the wall of the tavern, glancing casually around the crowded room "D’ye no feel the eyes on your back?"
A chill ran downlikewise Duncan’s eyes widened fractionally, then narrowed, but he didn’t turn around
"Ah," he said
"Whose eyes?" I asked, looking rather nervously around I didn’t see anyone taking particular notice of us, though anyonewith alcohol-soaked huh to drown out all but the closest conversation
"Anyone’s, Sassenach," Jalanced sideways at me, and ser Not here"
"Not yet," Innes said He leaned forward to pour another cup of ale "Mac Dubh called out to Gavin on the gallows, d’ye see? There will be those who took notice--Mac Dubh bein’ the bittie wee fellow he is," he added dryly
"And the faria will have sold their stores by now, and be takin’ their ease in places like this," Ja the pattern of his cup "All of theood story, no? The folk cast away by the hurricane? And what are the chances that at least one of them kens a bit about e carry?"
"I see," I murmured, and did We had attracted public interest by our association with a crier pass as inconspicuous travelers If finding a buyer took so robbery frolish authorities Neither pros-pect was appealing
Jamie lifted his cup and drank deeply, then set it doith a sigh
"No I think it’s perhaps not wise to linger in the city We’ll see Gavin buried decently, and then we’ll find a safe spot in the woods outside the town to sleep Toht of spending several hts in the woods--with or without skunks--was not appealing I hadn’t takenportions of my anatomy whenever we paused in the vicinity of a strea forward to a real bed, even if flea-infested, and a chance to scrub off the grihed, ruefully eyeing the herubby ear
The tavern door flung suddenly open at this point, distracting me from my contemplation, and four red-coated soldiers shoved their way into the crowded room They wore full uniform, held muskets with bayonets fixed, and were obviously not in pursuit of ale or dice
Two of the soldiersunder tables, while another disappeared into the kitchen beyond The fourth re over the crowd His gaze lighted on our table, and rested on us for a moment, full of speculation, but then passed on, restlessly seeking
Ja his ale in apparent obliviousness, but I saw the hand in his lap clench slowly into a fist Duncan, less able to control his feelings, bent his head to hide his expression Neither man would ever feel at ease in the presence of a red coat, and for good reason
No one else appeared much perturbed by the soldiers’ presence The little knot of singers in the chimney corner went on with an interument broke out between the barmaid and a pair of apprentices
The soldier returned fro rudely through a dice game on the hearth, he rejoined his fellows by the door As the soldiers shoved their way out of the tavern, Fergus’s slight figure squeezed in, pressing against the doorja elbows and lint of us wore in replaceus, but then shouldered his us shoved through the crowd and plopped down on the bench beside Ian He looked hot and irritated
"Blood-sucking salaud," he said, without preaus elaborated He took the lugging until the cup was e, looking noticeably happier He sighed and wiped his s to bury the lican church, of course; there are no Catholic churches here Wretched usurer! He knoe have no choice about it The body will scarcely keep till sunset, as it is" He ran a finger inside his stock, pulling the silted cotton away froed his fist several tirun off her feet by the press of patrons
"I told the super-fatted son of a pig that you would decide whether to pay or not We could just bury hih we should have to purchase a shovel," he added, frowning "These grasping townsfolk knoe are strangers; they’ll take our last coin if they can"
Last coin was perilously close to the truth I had enough to pay for a decent h to pay for a couple of nights’ lodging That was all I saw Ja the possibilities of picking up a little money at hazard or loo
Soldiers and sailors were the best prospects for ga, but there were few of either in the taproo the town for the fugitive In one corner, a s loudly convivial over several pitchers of brandywine; two of thereat hilarity aave an alht of theus
"What have ye done with Gavin for the tius hunched one shoulder
"Put hiworeed to wash the body as part of the bargain" He gave Jamie a faint smile "Don’t worry,of ale to his lips
"Poor Gavin" Duncan Innes lifted his own rave;inte," Ja in reply He set it down and sighed