Read Elder Isles 2: The Green Pearl for Free Online Page B

see a very tall man shrouded in a black cloak, with a hood concealing his face. A bow hung at his shoulder; he snatched it free and let fly an arrow, but the light was poor, the target fugitive and the range long; the arrow sang harmlessly away through the foliage.
    Sir Tristano galloped his horse until he had won free of the woods, and the threat of pursuit was past. He rode with a light heart; in his wallet he had carried, along with the green pearl, only two or three small silver coins and half a dozen copper groats. For protection against just such events, he carried his gold in his slotted belt.
    Full dusk drowned the landscape with purple-gray shadow before Sir Tristano came to Phaidig, and there he took lodging at the Crown and Unicorn, where he was nicely accommodated in a clean private chamber.
    As Long Liam the Barber had attested, the mutton pie was of excellent quality, and Sir Tristano felt that he had dined well. Casually he inquired of the landlord: “What of robbers in these parts? Do they often molest travellers?”
    The landlord looked over his shoulder, then said: “We hear reports of one who calls himself ‘Tall Toby’ and his favorite resort appears to be the woods between here and Toomish.”
    “I will offer you a hint,” said Sir Tristano. “Are you acquainted with Long Liam the Barber?”
    “Of course! He plies his trade everywhere about these parts. He also is a very tall man.”
    “I will say no more,” said Sir Tristano. “Save only this: the correspondence goes somewhat deeper than mere stature, and the King’s Warden might well be interested in the news.”

V
    LONG LIAM THE BARBER wended his way by lane and by road south into Dahaut, that he might ply his trade at the harvest festivals of the late summer. Arriving at the town Mildenberry, he did brisk trade and one afternoon was summoned to Fotes Sachant, the country house of Lord Imbold. A footman took him into a drawing room, where he learned that, owing to the illness of the valet, he would be required to shave Lord Imbold’s face and trim his mustache.
    Long Liam performed his duties with adequate proficiency, and was duly complimented by Lord Imbold, who also admired the green pearl in the ring worn by Long Liam. So distinctive and remarkable did Lord Imbold think the gem that he asked Long Liam to put a price on the piece.
    Long Liam thought to take advantage of the situation and quoted a large sum: “Your Lordship, this confection was given to me by my dying grandfather, who had it from the Sultan of Egypt. I could not bear to part with it for less than fifty gold crowns.”
    Lord Imbold became indignant. “Do you take me for a fool?” He turned away and called to the footman. “Taube! Pay this fellow his fee and show him out.”
    Long Liam was left alone while Taube went to fetch the coins. Exploring the room, he opened a cupboard and discovered a pair of gold candlesticks which inflamed his avarice to such an extent that he tucked them into his bag and closed up the cupboard.
    Taube returned in time to notice Long Liam’s suspicious conduct, and went to look into the bag. In a panic Long Liam slashed out with his razor, and cut a deep gash into Taube’s neck, so that his head fell back over his shoulders.
    Long Liam fled from the chamber but was taken, adjudged and led to the gallows.
    A crippled ex-soldier named Manting for ten years had served the county as executioner. He did his work efficiently and expunged Long Liam’s life definitely enough, but in a style quite devoid of that extra element of surprise and poignancy, which distinguished the notable executioner from his staid colleague.
    The perquisites of Manting’s position included the garments and ornaments found on the corpse, and Manting came into possession of a valuable green pearl ring which he was pleased to wear for his own.
    Thereafter, all who watched Manting declared that they had never seen the executioner’s work done with more grace and