She was listening with some fascination. “I did not realize that about you,” she said. “I thought you were simply a knight, sworn to The Marshal.”
He chuckled at her simplistic view. “Nay,” he said. “I am sworn to the man who can pay me the most.”
“Then I like this choice,” she said. “I can pay you. The Roden Twins are yours if you will help me.”
It was an offer Caius hadn’t expected, not in a million years. His eyebrows lifted in shock as he looked at her.
She’d hit him where it counted.
Everything he had told her was correct. He was a mercenary and he’d never sworn allegiance to William Marshal. He served the man because he was paid to serve him, but Caius’ allegiance was to himself. Even so, he was a man of his word. If he gave his word of honor, he stuck to it. Fifteen years ago, he had given his word to William Marshal when The Marshal had needed a good man to command Richmond Castle. Caius had been his man of choice and, so far, it had been an excellent arrangement for them both.
But he realized he’d made a mistake.
He shouldn’t have offered to bring his army to defend Hawkstone.
“I did not mean to offer it as a choice,” he said. “Allow me to clarify. What I meant was that I could create a ruse againstWinterhold by staffing my army here, making it look as if Hawkstone had reinforcements from some unknown ally in an effort to deter de Wrenville, but in hindsight, that would not be the wisest thing to do. I would risk a great deal in doing it, but more than that, it would only be a temporary measure. I could not use them against Marshal troops if he ended up siding with Winterhold.”
Emelisse’s expression washed with disappointment but along with that, there was also understanding.
“I see,” she said. “I did not mean to suggest anything improper by offering you money. But when you said you served the man who could pay you the most, I thought… I hoped…”
She trailed off and he nodded. “I know,” he said, not unkindly. “It sounded as if I was for hire by anyone at any time, and I am not. I should not have given you that impression. I suppose your desperation makes me want to help in any way I can, but that is not the right way. It is not an option in this situation.”
“Then you are not for hire?”
“Not at the moment. At least, not until my time with The Marshal is finished.”
“When will it be finished?”
His lips flickered with a smile. “It is difficult to say,” he said. “Sooner than I think if I side with you.”
He meant it as a jest and she forced a smile at his humor, but she clearly did not feel like smiling. There was no humor in this situation that she could see.
“But I still think this might be an excellent option to me starving to death in the keep,” she said. “It had never occurred to me to hire a mercenary army until now. The Roden Twins are worth a good deal of money and I would gladly give them over to someone who could bring their army to protect us.”
At least she wasn’t talking about sacrificing herself any longer. He had her thinking of hiring an army, which in hindsight, wasn’t a bad idea. Caius didn’t know why he didn’t think about that before. All he knew was that he could not be that army, at least not at the moment.
But he had also been right about something else– her desperation made him want to help her, very badly, and now he was afraid of making a decision that would cost him.
His confusion was getting the better of him.
“Let me speak with Maxton,” he said. “Please do not make any hard decisions right now. Let me discuss this with men I trust and we shall come up with a solution. Will you at least give me that opportunity?”
Emelisse nodded reluctantly. “Do what you must,” she said. “But know I shall not leave Hawkstone, in any case. I will never leave it again.”
He understood. He looked into her face, seeing such determination there, yet such sorrow. The poor woman had suffered so much heartache and disappointment since he’d known her that it was difficult not to be invested in her plight. The more he knew her, and the more he spoke to her, the more involved he became.
His lines were beginning to blur.
As a mercenary who fought other men’s wars for a living, Caius knew that allowing himself to become emotionally involved in the situation could be a very deadly attribute. He should have known better. But he couldn’t help himself.
He had to talk to Maxton before he did something he might regret.
Looking into her lovely face, he couldn’t stop himself. Reaching out, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
“I understand,” he said huskily. “But at least give me the chance to save you.”
Emelisse visibly shuddered as he kissed her hand again. Her mouth was hanging open in surprise, or perhaps even desire, as she watched his lips against her flesh.
