By Queen's Grace by Shari Anton

from the abbey, as I did?”
    The sheriff made a face, revealing his chagrin. “They seemed to travel in circles. But they did make the road, eventually. As you did.”
    “True. Since then, signs of their passing have been harder to find, and I wonder if we have not both beenplayed for fools. Consider, Sheriff. One of them could have taken the lady to a place of safekeeping, and the others are leading the two of us away from her.”
    The sheriff thought about the suggestion, then shook his head. “‘Tis possible, Corwin, but my gut tells me they all head north. If I do not find them by the time I reach Coventry, then I will have to give your suspicion more thought. For now, I will stay the course.”
    The man was both tenacious and cautious; Corwin would give him that. He swallowed his disappointment in not turning the sheriff around. “Will you follow the road?”
    “Aye, for the most part. You are most welcome to ride with me.”
    A natural thing for Corwin to do if he were still in pursuit of the rebels, intent on rescuing Judith and bringing the brigands to justice. Instead, he had to find their hiding place to keep them from going to Coventry and possibly being caught.
    “Consider this, Sheriff. I will do you the favor of searching the river from here to where it bends west. If I do not find them, I will head back to Cotswold and leave the search in your capable hands. If I do find them, I will send word to you in Coventry.”
    The sheriff smiled. “When William told me of you, he also bragged of your skill with a sword. If you find them, try not to kill them all. I want to see at least one hang.”
    Corwin gave a slight bow. “I shall do my best, my lord sheriff.”
    With a flourish, Robert, Sheriff of Hampshire, continued his journey north, along the road Thurkill had taken and Corwin prayed fervently that he’d left.
    “How are your tracking skills, Oswuld? Think we can find your father?”
    “Mayhap. I gather there is some urgency? I do not understandFrench, but understood the word Coventry. Is that where he intends to go?”
    “I tried to alter his course, but to no avail. We need to warn Thurkill.”
    Oswuld smiled. “I do believe you are truly a rebel now, Corwin. This makes the second time today you have misled a Norman. They will not be pleased when they find out.”
    Inwardly, Corwin cringed. No matter what happened with the rebellion, there may very well be a penalty to pay for having lied to the sheriff. “Only one. Sedrick is Flemish, not Norman. Besides, the punishment for joining the rebellion will be severe if it fails. I do hope this leader of yours is a good commander or we will all hang right beside him.”
    “Too true.” Oswuld looked up the road. “I hope Duncan did not cover his tracks too well, but knowing him, he did a thorough job.”
    Duncan certainly had. After two hours and as many backtrackings, Corwin finally found the spot where they’d. left the road. After that, he counted on a broken twig here and a hoofprint in the leaf-carpeted forest floor there-and a good bit of luck-to guide his way.
    Corwin was about to give up when he saw Duncan at the edge of the water-across the river.
    “Duncan!” Oswuld cried out. “Where did you cross?”
    Duncan pointed downstream. “Back a ways, other side the man-height boulder. The horses will need to swim some.”
    Corwin turned his warhorse around and retraced his path. By the time he and Oswuld crossed the river and found the campsite, Corwin was wet and tired, and wanted nothing more than a bite to eat and a patch of long grass on which to lay his head.
    Judith came up, looking worried. She laid a hand onOswuld’s leg as he sat on his mount. “I think you should have a word with your father. The ride this afternoon taxed him sorely. He does not look well.”
    Corwin swore inwardly. If the old man died, or even grew too ill to retain command, Duncan would certainly take over as leader. Given the man’s distrust and animosity,