The Kings of Clonmel

`I'm the man who just saved you a fortune,' he said. `And the other night, I saved your boats from burning.

Be grateful you still have your money and your livelihood. You can keep the others. Do what you like with them. But I'm taking this one with me.'

The young man started to reply but a curt gesture from Wilfred stopped him. The head man stepped forward to face Halt.

`I assume you have some kind of authority to make these demands,' he said.

Halt nodded. 'I'm an Araluan Ranger,' he replied.

There was a murmur of recognition around the pavilion. The villagers might not be part of any fief, but they knew the reputation of the Ranger Corps. Taking advantage of the villagers' moment of uncertainty, Halt gripped Farrell by the elbow and started towards the entrance to the marquee. After a moment's hesitation, the group parted to allow them through.

As he emerged with his prisoner into the warm morning sunlight, past the unconscious form of the Outsider guard who had tried to stop him, Halt was frowning slightly. He was remembering Farrell's words when he had pushed his way into the marquee.

You? What are you doing here? The words, and Farrell's ma

Because he knew they had never met before.

Chapter 12

The dining room at the i

Will had grimaced at the table when they were shown to it. Typically, he would have preferred to be tucked away in a corner, out of sight. He preferred to see and not be seen. Alyss gri

`Get used to it,' she said. 'You're a celebrity. Some people actually enjoy that, you know.'

He frowned. 'How could anyone enjoy having every eye in the room on them?' he asked. He was still casting around for a table in a less prominent position.

`Nevertheless, people do. I'm surprised there aren't crowds of sketch artists outside the entrance, waiting to draw our pictures as we leave.'

`Does that really happen?' he asked, incredulously. Alyss shrugged.

`So I'm told.' She shoved him gently towards the table. `Come on, Je

And here was Je

`Will!' she shrieked. 'You're here at last! Welcome to my humble dining hall!'

She threw her arms around him and he ducked instinctively, expecting the ladle in her right hand to whip round and crack the back of his head. But Je

`Oh, come on! I haven't hit anyone since second year! At least, not anyone I didn't mean to hit. Sit down! Sit down!'

Will hurried to hold Alyss's chair, while Je

`Not so humble. There must be fifty or sixty people in here!'

Je

`The place is usually this full,' Alyss put in. But Je

`There are extras here tonight. Word got out that the famous Will Treaty and his beautiful girlfriend would be dining here and the bookings just flowed in.'

Will reddened slightly but Alyss took the comment in her stride. She and Je

`How did that word get out, I wonder?' she said with a raised eyebrow. Je

`I have no idea. But it's great for business.' She looked back at Will, her smile widening. 'It really is wonderful to see you again. It's been too long. And I believe you'll be staying with us from now on?'

Will's eyes widened in surprise. 'How did you know that?' He had assumed that the facts about Crowley's Special Task Group were secret.

Je

Will shook his head. He'd only been told within the past five days. It never ceased to amaze him how quickly people found out about so-called secrets. Je

`Will there be just the two of you?' she asked.

Alyss shook her head. 'Lady Pauline will be joining us.'

Je

Alyss shook her head. 'You don't need us to do it.' Je

`Now, did you want to order? Or shall I do it for you?'

Will sensed her eagerness to show off her skills. He set both hands palm down on the table in a gesture of readiness.

`I think we'd be mad to refuse your offer,' he said.

Je

`Yes, Mistress Je

`I've got a rather nice first course,' Je

Without breaking her flow, or even looking at the table server beside her, she flicked her wrist, swinging the ladle in a diagonal arc so that it cracked noisily on Rafe's head.

Will winced but he had to admire her accuracy and skill.

`Knife on the right, fork on the left, all right? I've told you that, Rafe.'

Rafe looked at the offending implements in some confusion. His lips moved as he repeated the mantra, knife on the right, fork on the left. Je

`Hold up your right hand,' she said. Rafe hesitated, his eyes fixed warily on the ladle, swinging in a gentle arc like a snake about to strike. 'The hand you write with,' she prompted.

`I don't write,' he said in a dejected tone. To her credit, Je

`The hand you fight with,' Will put in. 'Your sword hand.'

Rafe's face cleared and a wide smile spread across it as he raised his muscular right arm. Je

`Thanks, Will,' she said. 'Good thinking. All right, Rafe, that's your right hand, your sword hand. And a sword is like a big knife really, so that's the side the knife goes. All right?'

`Tha's fine,' Rafe replied happily. 'Why didn't you tell it to me like that before?'

Je

`Nay, mistress. But thee's a fine cook, I'll say that for thee.'

Confidently, he switched the knife and fork to their proper places. Then he checked to make sure he was right, wielding an a imaginary sword. Satisfied, he nodded and turned to Je

`Will there be any more, mistress?'

`No. Thank you, Rafe. That'll be all for now.'