Read In Service Of The King (Book 2) for Free Online Page B

lamplight. Joseph glanced back at the inn door; no one emerged.
    “I’m ready to be taken to the magistrate, now,” he said, turning back to his fellows. Dunner chuckled.
    “I think they’ll be delighted to meet ya, lad.”
    A few moments later, the Magistrate’s guards ran up to the Inn, with torches blazing and swords drawn.
    “Over here!” Hezekiah called out, “We have apprehended the villainous rogue! Citizen’s arrest!” The magistrate’s men jogged up to them; a round-bellied man in front appeared to be their leader. His coat had been buttoned over his nightshirt.
    Pausing for breath, he looked at each stranger in the face and looked at the two men, lying on the ground nearby. One of his men went over and shook them, one by one, looking relieved at the answering groans.
    “I am Wesley Chamberlain,” the leader panted, addressing Hezekiah. “Head of the Magistrate’s Guard. What happened here?!” Curious townsfolk began slowly filtering through their doors, lanterns in hand.
    “Oh good sir,” Hezekiah replied, bowing his head slightly. “Although I am a humble tinker, I--and my fellow craftsmen--did indeed witness the horrible melee that has taken place in this fine inn. That man...” He stabbed a finger at Joseph. “… why he called the priest here a pigheaded fool! Several men of the town--slightly inebriated as they were--jumped to clear the good charitable priest’s name... and this young bull, this raging madman, made short work of them and danced on the tabletop in some strange barbaric way, saying something about the magistrate’s mother being born in the swamps. The Magistrates own son was among the battered, I believe. I was so upset I could hardly drink my ale!”
    The head of the guard looked at Joseph with uncertainty. “Oh yes, he is quite insane,” Hezekiah went on, grimly. “Don’t let his calm facade fool you. Take him to jail, good men of Hoggen! Give him the lash; draw and quarter him... but you may want to wait until morning as not to wake the Magistrate or the priest. Oh, take this troublemaker at once and lock him up to await judgment!” Joseph stepped away from the group, towards the wary guardsmen. Swords drawn on the villain, they led him away, towards the keep a hundred yards away, at the end of the street. Seeing the sport was at an end, the townspeople slipped back into their homes.
    Chamberlain smiled broadly at the three witnesses.
    “Citizens, here, are not encouraged to arrest violent criminals,” he told them. “But, you have done Hoggen a great service. If you stay this night, the priest will surely bless you at morning services.”
    “You are most nobly kind,” Hezekiah told him with another bow. “It is reward enough to see the blaggard pays for his lunatic antics.”
    “Have no fear, he will. Good evening, tinker.” Chamberlain nodded at the group and walked quickly after his men.
    Unseen by him, nor the townsfolk, the three ‘witnesses’ followed the head of the guard closely, walking in the shadows of the street. Far ahead, the posse of guards led Joseph into a low, simple building of stone set against a large, rocky hill. As the thick wooden door swung closed behind them, he prisoner observed holding cells--lined up against one wall--barred with iron doors. All were empty.
    A gray-haired man in a faded, red guard uniform--with a ring of keys in his belt--approached the group. He looked at Joseph, then at Chamberlain.
    “What do we do with him?” he asked, simply. Chamberlain smiled; his smile was not one of mirth.
    “He tried to kill the Magistrate’s son. I say down to the caves with him; he’s strong enough. We might get five years out of him.” The man with the keys looked surprised.
    “Sir,” he protested. “We do not know who he is...”
    “The Magistrate will say the same as me come morning. He’s a peasant; no one ever comes looking for the peasants,” the head of the guard returned. He pushed Joseph forward, keeping his