Winter of the White Wolf (Noble Heart Book 4) Read online

  Noble was wrong. There would be no trip in the morning or anytime soon, for that matter. Dawn did not reach Noble in his dark corner at the top of the stairs, but he woke early nonetheless. He stretched his cramped muscles and stood up. There was still no sound coming from the locked room, but it was time to waken Foster anyhow, if they were to get an early start.

  Noble unlocked the door and pushed it open cautiously. He half-expected Foster to be up to one of his tricks, but the old man was still under the covers, sound asleep, it appeared. “Wake up, Foster,”” Noble said from the doorway. “It is time to go.”

  “I am sorry, sir,” a voice came from behind him. It was Thomas, the innkeeper’s son. “I don’t think you will be able to leave the village this morning. There was a blizzard last night, and although it has stopped snowing now, it will be impossible to get through the drifts.”

  Noble did not answer but strode to the window. He scratched at the heavy frost on the glass and finally cleared a spot large enough through which to peer. The boy was right. The world outdoors was covered. The courtyard did not look nearly so far away now, for giant drifts of snow reached halfway up the walls of the inn. The trees were bowed under the heavy weight of the snow, their branches reaching toward the earth rather than the sky. There was not a soul outside; not an animal, bird or human. All lay buried beneath the thick blanket that had descended on Aber through the night.

  Noble looked at the stable. A path would have to be cleared from the inn, and then the door itself dug out. Valiant would be warm enough in there, but he must be fed and watered. Noble turned back and asked, “Is someone caring for the horses?”

  “I will go out there myself, sir, and see to him.”

  Foster was watching and listening from the bed. Now he spoke up. “Disappointed, Sir Noble? I’m not! I have no objection whatsoever to staying in this nice warm bed all day!”

  Noble ignored him and turned to the boy in the doorway. “Thank you, Thomas. When you go downstairs, please ask your father to send up breakfast for us both when he is able.”

  Thomas agreed to do so and disappeared. “How are you feeling?” Noble asked Simon Foster.

  “Better,” the old man said, but a moment later coughs racked him and he sank back on the pillow.

  Noble frowned. “You sound worse than yesterday. Should I send for the woman again? She may have some other medicine that would help.”

  “No, no. I’ll be fine,” Foster said weakly, but he coughed harshly again. He turned over in the bed with his back toward Noble. A small smile played on his lips as he closed his eyes in satisfaction. Let the lad think he was too ill and weak to attempt an escape. Let him think he was content to stay in bed. Then when the time was right… He coughed again for good measure.

  Noble stared at Foster’s back and thought. Perhaps the old man was worsening, perhaps not. If he was still coughing like that later in the day he would send for the woman again. He may have no respect or liking for Foster, but he was responsible for him, and as such must see that he came before the king swiftly and in as good shape as he could manage.

  Noble was restless. The day shut in the small room with his prisoner stretched endlessly before him. He wished he were on the way back to Caernarfon even if it meant braving the weather and battling the drifts of snow. Valiant must be restless, as well. Noble knew the great warhorse would not be happy being confined to the small stall for long.

  The hours dragged by. Noble fidgeted on the hard wooden chair listening to Foster snore. When he wasn’t snoring he was coughing. Noble listened to it with growing unease. If Foster became worse they might have to stay in Aber, even if a way through the snow became open. That was the last thing Noble wanted. Finally he called for the innkeeper.

  “Is there a way to get the woman here through the snow?” he asked. He nodded toward the bed. “He needs more medicine, I fear.”

  “I will send Thomas for her. It is not far. My boy is young and strong. He will make it.” Master Locke puffed his chest out with pride.

  Noble smiled. “I have no doubt, sir. Thomas is a good boy.”

  The woman came bustling up the stairs some time later, all wrapped up in scarves and cloaks. As she had before, she hurried over to the bed without glancing at Noble. She frowned as she heard Foster cough. The spasms seemed to rack his body, and he moaned slightly in his sleep. “He’s worse,” she said, finally looking at Noble. The look in her eyes seemed to be accusing, what did you do to my patient? She reached inside her cloak and brought out a vial. She poured its contents into Foster’s mouth. He turned his head, but did not open his eyes.

  “I will stay,” she said. Noble brought the chair over to her and she sat down next to the bed without another word.

  Noble stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Finally he said, “Thank you, mistress. Stay with him. I will go out for a short time then. Send for me if he wakens.” Noble stared intently at Foster, but there was not a flicker of an eyelash, or a twitch of his fingers. At last he left the room.

  The room downstairs was empty as Noble passed through. The snow had obviously kept the villagers at home. Master Locke was nowhere to be seen, but by the sounds and smells coming from the kitchen, preparations for dinner must be underway.

  The stable was empty, as well, except for the horses. Valiant tossed his head and neighed loudly as Noble entered. He stomped his feet, moving restlessly in the cramped stall.

  “I am sorry, Valiant,” Noble said as he moved in alongside his horse. “I am as anxious as you are to leave this place.” He stroked his steed’s face. “I see Thomas has cared for you. I think he admires you, my friend.” He continued to talk to the animal as he groomed him, running the brush down his sides and paying special attention to Valiant’s mane and long, flowing tail.

  He finished his task and with a final pat for Valiant he went back outside. Noble stood outside the stable for a moment and breathed in the cold, brisk air with appreciation. It felt good to be away from the cramped, stuffy room upstairs. The heavy clouds were gone now and the sun shone brightly on the sparkling snow, almost blinding him at first.

  He looked across the courtyard toward the road. He could see the path through the snow that Thomas had forged when he had gone for the old woman. It led to the cottages clustered around the town square. A few men were outdoors now, trying to clear the mounds of snow away from their doors. Noble walked through the inn’s gate and out to the road. At least he assumed it was the road. It was hard to tell with the drifts covering everything in sight.

  The inn lay on the outskirts of the tiny village. Noble walked a short distance back the way he had come the evening before. It actually was clearer outside of the village. The wind had blown the snow across the open fields, and although there were high drifts here and there, the road was not nearly as buried as he had expected. Hmm, he thought. Maybe we can get through after all! Noble walked a short way down the road and looked off into the distance. Yes, if Foster is able to travel, we will leave tomorrow.

  Noble was suddenly anxious to get back and check on his prisoner’s welfare. He turned and retraced his steps to the inn. Thomas was outside the stable clearing snow when Noble returned. He waved to the boy and hurried inside.

  “Your dinner will be ready soon, sir,” Master Locke called to him as he started up the stairs once more.

  “Thank you! I am ready for it!” Noble said over his shoulder. He felt better, and the cold air had made him suddenly hungry. A warm meal would be most welcome.

  He opened the door to his room and stopped dead in his tracks. The old woman lay crumpled on the floor. The bed was empty and Simon Foster was gone!

  __________

  CHAPTER FOUR

  __________

  The Empty Stall

  Noble rushed to the woman’s side. There was a small amount of blood on the back of her head where she had been struck. A piece of firewood lay on the floor next to her. The reports about Foster had been wrong. He was not above using wea
pons other than his tongue.

  Noble gently turned the woman over and patted her cheek. Her eyelids fluttered and she looked up in confusion at him. “What happened?” he asked.

  “I – I don’t know,” she stammered. “I turned to look out the window and the next thing I knew something slammed into my head.” She tried to stifle a groan.

  “Lie still!” Noble urged. He stood up and went to the top of the stairs. “Locke!” he yelled.

  “Yes, sir?” The innkeeper hurried up the stairs. He stopped in the doorway, his mouth hanging open in shock when he saw the woman lying on the floor.

  “Take care of her,” the young knight ordered. “Foster hit her, and then escaped. I must go after him. Did you see him outside this room?” Master Locke shook his head. Noble did not wait for further answer. He dashed down the stairs.

  Thomas was still in the courtyard. He looked up in surprise as Noble burst through the door. “Have you seen Foster, my prisoner?” Noble questioned the boy before he’d even reached his side.

  The innkeeper’s son shook his head. “No one has been out here, sir! I would have seen anyone who came through that door, I am sure. I’ve been here all along.”

  “You weren’t here when I first came out of the inn a while ago. You didn’t see me then, did you?” Thomas shook his head and Noble went on, “Where were you before you started clearing the snow?”

  “Well, first I took care of the horses, and then I went to fetch Mistress Evans for you. After that I chopped some firewood over there.” The boy pointed to a woodsy area behind the inn. Noble could see the path Thomas had carved through the snow. It wound around a corner, out of clear sight of the courtyard.

  “He came out while you were chopping the wood,” Noble muttered. “I have to get Valiant and go after him.” Noble strode through the stable door and once again came to a complete halt. Valiant was gone.

  The world seemed to spin around him. “Thomas!” he bellowed. “Where is he?” he managed to choke out as the lad ran into the stable.

  Thomas skidded to a stop. The color drained from his face as he stared at the empty stall where the great black warhorse had been not long ago. “I—I don’t know, sir! I have not been in here since I fed him earlier this morning!”

  “He has taken him, then. The scoundrel has escaped with Valiant,” Noble finally admitted to himself. “Naturally, he would take the best steed in the place.” He felt sick. To lose his prisoner was bad enough—terrible, in fact. But to lose Valiant, as well… Well, it almost couldn’t get any worse than that. Valiant, the best of all horses, his friend and trusted companion and help.

  Noble bowed his head. Father! his heart cried out. Help me now! Please, Lord!

  He drew a deep breath as he lifted his head. “I must go after them,” he said calmly. “To whom do these other horses belong, Thomas?”

  “Brownie is my father’s horse. He keeps him to rent out from time to time. I am sure he will allow you to take him. He’s not as fast as Valiant, I know, for he is just an old farm horse, but he is stout-hearted and will do his best for you.”

  “And the other horse?”

  “That is Lacey. Widow Biggs boards her here. After her husband died she could not care for her, but she did not want to sell her, either. She trades eggs and baked goods for Lacey’s board. Lacey is old, but she is a good horse, as well.”

  “Does the widow live far from here?” When Thomas shook his head Noble said, “Go to her then and ask her if I might borrow her horse. Take this money with you and give it to her if she says yes.”

  “But sir, what about Brownie? I am sure my father will gladly—”

  “I need them both,” Noble interrupted. “I want you to go with me, if your father will allow it. Now, hurry! I will speak to your father while you are gone.”

  Thomas’ eyes lit up when he heard Noble’s plan. To ride with a knight of the King’s Guard! He could not believe his luck! He turned to dash away.

  “Go quickly!” Noble called after him. “The longer you are gone, the further Foster will run from our grasp!”

  Noble leaped up the stairs inside the inn two steps at a time. Master Locke had the woman sitting in the chair again and was pressing a towel against the cut in her scalp. “Did you—” he started to ask Noble when the young knight burst into the room.

  “Foster’s gone!” Noble said grimly. “He took my horse.”

  “No!”

  “I am sorry, but I must take your horse Brownie, Master Locke, and go after him.”

  “Brownie? But, Sir Noble, Brownie cannot compare to your fine steed!”

  “I have no choice. Thomas assures me the horse is sturdy, at least. I want to take Thomas with me, as well, Master Locke.”

  “Thomas!” The thought of the knight wanting to take his son was even stranger than him wanting his old farm horse!

  “I may need someone with me once I catch up to Foster.”

  But won’t he slow you down, sir? I have only one horse.”

  “He has gone to Widow Biggs to see if I might borrow Lacey,” Noble said. “Now, I have no more time to talk. I came to see about Brownie and to ask if Thomas may go with me.”

  “Yes, yes, of course, Sir Noble! Whatever you need. I feel responsible that your horse was stolen while in my care.”

  “Don’t. Foster was my responsibility and I am at fault for letting him escape once more. Now I must do what I can to bring him back. Thank you, Master Locke. I must see to the horses and be ready when Thomas returns.”

  Noble turned to the old woman. “How are you feeling? I am sorry you were hurt, mistress. I would never have left you alone with him if I had known he was feigning his illness. Take this now for your trouble and pain.” He handed her several coins. She thanked him and assured him that she would be fine.

  Noble could waste no more time now in the inn. He hurried back out to the stable and had just begun to saddle Brownie when Thomas returned.

  “She said yes, Sir Noble!” the boy said breathlessly.

  “Good. Your father also agreed. Now, saddle Lacey, if you please and let us be on our way. We are going to have to push the horses, I am afraid, if we may even hope to catch up with Valiant.”

  The two boys worked in silence for the next few minutes. Master Locke entered the stable just as they were finishing. “I brought you some food to eat along the way.” He held up a cloth bag and handed it to Noble. “Take some feed for the horses, too, Thomas,” he said to his son. “Now, mind you, boy—do whatever Sir Noble asks of you! And don’t hold him back, either!”

  “I won’t, Father!” Thomas could not hide the eagerness in his voice or the grin on his face.

  “Well, then, be careful, son,” the innkeeper said gruffly.

  “I will watch out for him,” Noble promised. “Thank you, Master Locke.” With that the boys led the horses out to the courtyard and mounted up.

  One thing about the snow—it would make it much easier to follow Foster’s trail, once they picked it up to begin with, that is. Now Noble considered which way they should begin their search. Unfortunately, Thomas had done a fine job of clearing the snow in the courtyard around the inn. There was no trail leading from the stable door. The track the boy had left leading to the forest where he had cut firewood was clear, but Noble could see there was no sign of a horse having gone that way, as well. He himself had been out in the village and along the road. Foster could not have passed him by without him seeing him.

  “This way,” Noble said. Thomas bid a final farewell to his father and followed the young knight. To his surprise, Noble did not turn out of the gate and out into the road, but instead rode Brownie around to the other side of the inn. There, sure enough, were the tracks of a horse ridden through the deep snow.

  “He waited here on the east side of the inn for you to finish chopping the wood, Thomas,” Noble explained. “Then when you came back following the same path you had made earlier and went to the courtyard with your firewood, he came around from thi
s side and headed toward the forest. You see where his trail leads over to that grove of trees? You did not see him because the inn blocked your view.” Noble did not wait for an answer, but spurred Brownie on to follow the tracks Valiant had made in the snow.

  Thomas came behind on Lacey. The widow’s old horse stayed close to Brownie. If the horses could have grinned, they would have been smiling as widely as Thomas. They might be old, but to be out in the cold, brisk air on a bright day like this after the dim stuffiness of the stable—ah! Suddenly their years dropped away and they felt like yearlings again!

  Thomas and the horses pressed forward eagerly. Adventure lay ahead! Noble was not so easily fooled. Only he understood the hardships and dangers they could, and probably would, encounter along the way. He loosened his sword at his side, slung his bow over his shoulder and led the way. The trail through the snow took them to the edge of the forest, to the edge of the unknown. They plunged through one last deep drift and into the shadows of the great trees beyond.

  __________

  CHAPTER FIVE

  __________

  Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!

  A snowy branch slapped Foster in the face—again. He could swear this stupid animal was deliberately choosing the most difficult ways under the trees. He couldn’t believe his luck when he had sneaked into the stable earlier that day. There was the most magnificent horse he had ever seen—his for the taking! He was sure it must belong to the young knight. All the better! Taking his horse would surely slow the boy down. The two animals left in the stable were nothing but old nags. They would never catch up with the fiery black stallion.

  Now, though, he was having second thoughts. He wished he had turned the other horses loose. Even they could make as good speed as this big galute, he feared. What a disappointment. The animal appeared to be as stupid as he was slow. The only fire he had shown at all was when he first took him from his stall. Then he had bucked and fought and tried to bite him. He had certainly shown the great beast who was boss, however! Perhaps he had taken too much of the fire out of the horse, though. Now he could hardly get the animal to move.