They charged up the stairs with as much stealth as a herd of cattle, brandishing everything from rakes to hunting rifles. They slammed to a halt at the top of the stairs and looked a little deflated that they had been denied their moment to shine as they took in the scene in the hallway. “We need your upmost discretion on this,” Rupert warned and issued each man with a look that warned them they were expected to comply. Not one of them appeared to be a day younger than fifty, but they were old enough and wise enough to understand the gravity of the situation and seemed willing to allow Rupert and Luke to issue the orders. “There are two bodies in there,” Luke warned with a nod toward Rupert’s room. “Who are you?” The inn keeper demanded as he held his gun at the ready. “We work for his majesty’s government,” Rupert replied. “These men are Frenchmen who are here to spy on us.” As if on cue, Guerin chose that moment to start to wake up. His mumbles were distinctly French, and supported Rupert’s attempts to gain the co-operation of the disgruntled villagers.
