Anna knew that her brother would not have cried out without good reason. He was notoriously silent. That ensured he was a good partner, but made his shout doubly troubling.
The cry had come from the direction of the cavern, which was no good portent. He should have met her there and should have been safe.
Had their refuge been discovered?
Or had Percy not reached their sanctuary?
There was only silence after that cry and Anna feared the worst.
As she ran, she had no doubt that the knight would follow her. He was naught but persistent, to be sure. She dared to hope he might actually be useful, but that seemed overly optimistic. At least he managed to move with relative silence, though she could discern him behind her.
She paused to steady her breath when she drew nearer to the cavern. The knight halted behind her, their breath mingling white in the night air. She cast him a quelling glance and touched her fingertip to her lips.
It was an unnecessary warning, for he was already silent. His lips tightened and he reached out, seizing her wrist to keep her from fleeing anew.
Too late she wondered whether she had stepped into a trap.
Then Gaultier shouted, in close proximity, and offered a challenge. “Hoy there! Whoever is allied with this brat can find him in Haynesdale’s dungeon, if you would care to make a bargain for his survival.”
Anna froze and feared for Percy’s fate.
The dark-haired knight watched her with interest. She heard the horses riding through the forest, heading back to Haynesdale. There were four of them by the sound.
Perhaps she could save Percy before he was trapped in the keep. Gaultier and his knights were riding back to the keep by the easiest route and would have a long gallop on the curving road. Even better, the road was exposed near the village. There was naught she would have liked better than to have taken Gaultier down with an arrow.
Anna eyed her crossbow pointedly.
The knight smiled and held it out of her reach, his eyes glinting with such satisfaction that she yearned to do him injury.
His grip was firm on her wrist, but he did not hurt her. She twisted a little and realized she could not free herself.
He was larger and stronger than she, which was frightening.
She took a breath and leaned closer to him, even though the sound of the horses had faded. “We can cut through the forest to the village, and maybe stop them from entering the keep.”
He nodded once in agreement, awaiting her choice of direction. When she tugged at his grip, he touched the rope hanging from his belt with his other hand, as if inviting her to be trussed like a wild creature. Anna let him see her dislike of that notion and was rewarded by a fleeting smile, one that set her heart leaping despite its brevity.
He was fiercely handsome.
She pointed and he nodded, keeping a grip upon her as they hastened through the woods. There was no visible path, but Anna knew the way, orienting herself by the shape of the land and the location of old trees. The knight did not release her, but neither did he hinder their progress.
Anna halted where the forest thinned near the village, then crept forward to the edge of the shadows.
All was quiet.
All she needed was that crossbow.
How badly did her companion want to retrieve that saddlebag?
Could she make a wager with him?
She watched the knight through her lashes as he peered ahead of them into the shadows. He must have noted the thin trails of rising smoke because his gaze trailed upward. At least some of the villagers were sufficiently awake to have kindled a morning blaze. Anna noted the huts and knew it was Finan the apothecary. Doubtless he and his wife felt the cold more in their later years. Smoke rose from Denley the baker’s abode, as well as that of Cedric the tailor. Both widowers with infant children, they did much to ensure the welfare of their young children. She would have to see if Esme could spare some eggs. Perhaps Regan would trade some cheese for the eggs.
Anna watched the knight beside her inhale, sampling the air, and respected that he gathered information much as she did. His eyes narrowed. Aye, he would smell the pigs and the latrines, as sure a sign of human habitation as there could be.
He met her gaze and lifted a brow in silent query.
Anna edged closer to the road, which was on the far side of the bracken, the knight’s grip fast on her wrist. They hunkered down in the overgrowth, and she knew she was not the only one straining her ears.
