The men looked incredulous at this, and they pestered Riann insistently about it for the rest of the ride. He fended off their questions as tactfully as he could manage, seeing that many of them were enamored of the bandit witch, and wished that he didn’t have to make a pretense of getting along with these scum. But perhaps if he could gain their trust, they would let their guard down around him, and he could finallyescape.
Their group made it back to the keep without incident, and Riann sighed in relief as he dismounted, the blindfold removed from him once more. His stomach gnawed at itself from hunger, and he greatly looked forward to dinner, even if it meant having to eat out of Sallara’s handagain.
But before the men had a chance to go inside, two more riders galloped through the gates. They sported the same colors as the rest of them, and Riann’s insides twisted with dread as he recognized their faces. The remaining survivors of the bandit group he and his friends hadkilled!
“Wellion,” the one with long hair and a scar on his chin said as he brought his horse to a halt. He jumped to the ground along with his companion, and by the way his legs wobbled, Riann could tell he wasexhausted.
“Maril.” Wellion’s eyes narrowed as he looked at them. “Where is the rest of yourparty?”
“Dead,” the other man rasped. He looked as though he was about to keelover.
“All of them?” Wellion asked incredulously. “How?”
“A witch and three fighters,” Maril said. “They completely decimated ourgroup.”
“There is a witch roaming our lands?” Wellion sounded incensed. “Please tell me one of you killedher.”
Maril shook his head. “We were lucky to escape with ourlives.”
Wellion shook his head, disgusted. “I’ll let you explain that to Lord Traize. I’m sure he will bethrilled.”
The bandit leader was decidedlynotthrilled. “Your entire party was killed by awoman?” he thundered, banging his glass against the table. “A woman with only three fighters traveling alongsideher?”
“She was notjusta woman, my lord!” the bandit protested. “She was a witch, and she wielded very powerful magic! We stood no chance againsther.”
“Just how powerful?” Sallara demanded. She stood at her father’s elbow, and did not sound at all pleased that there was someone else in her territory withmagic.
“Powerful enough to throw us from our horses with a wave of her hand so her protectors could kill us while we were down,” Maril said stubbornly. “They were both fast and extremelyskilled.”
“If your men could be so easily beaten by three men, then they deserved to lose their lives,” Lord Traize said coldly. “And I have no use for cowards like you, who would run from battle rather than stand by your fellow men. The two of you are hereby banished. You have twenty-four hours. If you are still in my territory after that, you are fair game to anyone who findsyou.”
The two bandits paled, then turned and fled the room. Twenty-four hours was not enough time—unless they had fast horses, and rode all day and night, they wouldn’t make it to the border in that time. Even so, they would probably survive if they were careful, and Riann was grateful they were gone. They hadn’t gotten a good look at his face, and now that they were leaving, they would never be able to outhim.
“Send patrols to scout for this witch,” Lord Traize ordered Wellion. “I want her found and brought tome.”
“Father,” Sallara said before Wellion could answer. “If this witch is truly as strong as the men suggest, it may be unwise to attack her directly. It might be best to simply send one or two men out, and have them report back on what theyfind.”
Lord Traize frowned. “I will think on it,” he said after a moment. “We’ll speak more about itprivately.”
The implied dismissal in the bandit leader’s voice was clear, so Riann retreated to one of the tables so he could eat. He expected Sallara to join him, but instead she sat with Wellion and her father. The female companion Riann had seen yesterday was nowhere to be seen today, and Lord Traize looked to be in deep conversation with his children. When were they going to send out scouts? Was there any way Riann could convince Wellion to allow him to go out with them? It would be the perfect cover to get back toTariel.
He was nearly finished with his meal when Sallara sashayed up to him, a cup of wine in her hand. “For you,” she said sweetly, handing it to him. “To celebrate your first successfulraid.”
What we did was hardly a raid,Riann wanted to say, but he kept the thought to himself as he brought the wine to his lips. He frowned as the dark liquid flowed over his tongue, tasting a strange, bitter note he was unfamiliarwith.
“What sort of wine isthis?”
“My own special blend.” Sallara’s smile widened. “Come, walk with me for abit.”
Riann reluctantly rose from the bench. He knew better than to refuse her, especially since everyone in the room was watching. He cringed inwardly when Sallara took his hand in hers, and he took another swig of wine, hoping it would help make her presence morebearable.
Whatisthat strangetaste?
“Wellion tells me that you have your heart set on another woman,” Sallara said as she led him through the dingy stone halls. She pouted as she looked over her shoulder at him. “Is thattrue?”
“I do,” Riann confessed, hoping that the knowledge would deter her. “She still consumes my thoughts night and day. If I had not been forced to leave, I would be by her side rightnow.”
Sallara was silent for a moment. “I confess it would be nice if a man showed me that type of devotion.” They reached the top of the stairs, and she turned, leaning up against the wall outside a door as she turned to look up at Riann. “Do you think you could ever love me the way you lovedher?”
