Anna guessed that this knight’s price might be higher than she would have liked.
Still, she did not have a choice, and he would be the kind to both recognize as much and use it against her.
How she hated knights!
Chapter Two
“Explain your terms to me, clearly,” Anna demanded when they were out of earshot of the village. She thought it better to act as if she were in a position of power than to acknowledge outright that the knight had much advantage.
“Why?”
“Because you and your kind are deceptive,” she said, her tone cross. “I would know your intent before I am of assistance to you, the better to ensure that I am not tricked.”
“You think little of knights.”
“I do.”
“Yet you would make an agreement with me.”
“Aye. I perceive that I have little choice, for I will need aid to retrieve Percy.”
“Have you no other allies?”
She shook her head, choosing not to betray the others in the forest, then spared him a backward glance. “If you would treat with a woman.”
He smiled. “Only one who keeps her word.”
“I do!”
“I have no way to know as much. You have promised me naught thus far so owe me naught.” He marched in silence for a moment, as if mustering his argument. “As I see it, we each have something of interest to the other, or have contributed to the loss of something possessed by the other. Together we have a better chance of retrieving both.”
“Agreed,” Anna said, though it nigh killed her to agree with one of his ilk.
“To state it clearly, so that no one believes themselves deceived, you stole the saddlebag that is now in the keep of Haynesdale. I and my fellows would like it and its contents back.”
“My brother was taken by the baron’s men. I should like him back.” She granted him another glance. “Hale and free.”
“You are skeptical of my intent,” he said mildly. “I cannot vouchsafe for his state until he is in our company, but I will not do him injury. Does that suffice?”
“What of your fellows?”
“They will not do as much either. It is against our nature and our vows to injure a child.”
“Even a thief?”
“Even a thief.” The knight’s agreement was so easy that Anna eyed him, knowing her doubt was clear. He smiled at her, which was most discomfiting. “Who would have taught him how to behave with honor?” he asked with humor. “You? Having poor instruction and not knowing the difference cannot be his fault, not at such an age.”
“I do not grant poor instruction!”
“Then you think a life as a thief has merit. An interesting moral code.”
“I think life has merit, when the alternative is to starve.”
“Is this not a prosperous holding? The land seems most bountiful.”
Anna snorted again. “It depends who you are, that much is certain. I hear the baron’s table groans with plenty and that his coffers overflow with the taxes he is determined to collect.”
“Have you no love for your overlord and baron? Surely his powers are rightfully gained?”
