The carriage lurched to a stop. Hilda and I were perched on the backwards facing seat so we only crashed into the wall behind us. Jans nearly launched into us.
“Everyone all right? There’s a tree blocking our path,” our guard Silas said just outside the door.
My eyes met Jans’. Any second now.
“Hello wealthy travelers,” a rich, jovial voice called from somewhere behind the carriage. “We have come to collect the toll for using the king’s highway. There are six of you and twenty of us. Lower your swords. If you remain calm no one will be harmed.”
“Word?”
That was Royal’s voice.
“You have my word as the king of thieves.”
“For whatever that is worth,” Jans said under his breath.
“Who is in the carriage. No, don’t bother. I’ll get it.”
Excerpt from The Beastly Spy – Royal Book 2
