Chapter XIII, Reading 3

Without answering, Flindra drew back her hood exposing her long auburn braids.  She shook her head slightly to make sure that her hair was seen.  All the while she had been looking directly into the lieutenant's eyes.

"Well, I see you are indeed a maid.  I guess your mother could tell the difference after all."  There was a hint of amusement in his eyes.  "Now tell me, what are you doing here?"

"I'm on my way to Deodar," Flindra answered truthfully.

"And what do you intend to do there?"

"I have family in Deodar, sir.  I'm going there to find them."

"Do your parents know you are traveling alone?"  The lieutenant had concluded that Flindra was a runaway.  Probably running away from an unwanted arranged marriage.

"My parents were murdered," Flindra said softly with a catch in her voice.  "What family I have left is in Deodar."

The young sergeant swore under his breath.  "Who did this crime?" he demanded.

"I don't know who the men were."

"Didn't they show any livery?"

"No, sir.  Their clothing was plain."

The sergeant quietly swore again.  "It's just like the Duke's men to remove their insignia.  This isn't the first time we've heard of the Duke's minions attacking innocent civilians."

The lieutenant and the sergeant withdrew slightly - just out of earshot.  Flindra absently stroked Deru's neck while the two men discussed her.  She hated to lie, but she couldn't tell them the truth.  In any case, there was an element of truth to her story.  It was true that her parents had been murdered, although their deaths had occurred years before.

The officers returned.  "You'll ride with us until the next village," the lieutenant commanded.  "I'll see to it that you will have some sort of escort as far as Deodar."

"Thank you, sir.  I appreciate your concern."

Flindra mounted Deru and was surrounded by the horsemen as they took up their positions in their formation.  She rode behind the young sergeant with a trooper on either side of her.  She was surrounded by the sounds of creaking leather and rattling chain mail.  The men rode in tense silence and it was obvious that they were searching for someone.