They spoke through their noses and Jess found the accent grating.They spoke through their noses and Jess found the accent grating. The guardsman looked into the wagon at the furs. "They just might. Take a couple of bundles in, and talk to the chamberlain." "Thank you, sahr." Janesse did a pantomime of picking up the furs. "My sister, she is deaf and dumb. But she is strong and a help." Jess heard her cue and moved to the back of the wagon to shoulder a bundle of furs, making sure the white fox was in it. Janess climbed down from her seat, ignoring the offered hand of the guard, Janesse followed her into the castle. "We pulled that off. Deaf and dumb, all right?" "Fine," Jess hissed back, "but watch our backs. I know I've seen that man before. When I remember who he is, I'll tell you, but mark him as an enemy." Jess knew her low, gravelly voice was not the voice of a fur trapper and trader from the far north, where the women, although more barbaric than the civilized south, were very soft spoken. It was a voice used to yelling commands over the crack of a whip and screams of despairing captives. |