Aizel thought he might have more control over that than he let on, but she didn’t push the matter. She had other things to communicate while she still had the bandit leader’s attention.
She flapped her hands again like a bird, and then raised her palms in a questioning gesture. “Where’s Robin?”
But the bandit leader was still piecing together the clues he had received. “If you’re wearing one of those necklaces... doesn’t that mean you’re a Majis?”
Chapter 28
Erich tensed.
Azel had just saved his life by risking her own.
And now that these bandits had figured she was a Majis—he wasn’t about to let her get hurt.
Jumping away from the bandit leader, Erich took a wide step around the fire to stand at her side. He was still confused about who and what she was, but if she was going to face justice, it wouldn’t be at the hands of an angry mob.
Azel stared across the fire at the bandit leader. She slowly lifted her head, pausing for a moment before nodding once to answer his question.
“No!” Erich yelled. “It’s just a necklace that looks like any other necklace.”
Ignoring him, the bandit leader reached up and dropped his hood, giving them a clear view of his face for the first time.
Despite his unruly facial hair and weathered skin, the man’s face appeared open and relaxed. His eyes traveled up and down Azel and there was respect—perhaps even awe—in his gaze. “I’ve always wanted to meet a Majis.” He held out his right hand, palm up. “May I?”
Azel’s face was so confused Erich would have laughed if the moment were any less tense. She tentatively raised her hand palm up, holding it in the air in front of her as if unsure what he was indicating.
The bandit wrapped his hand around hers and twisted her wrist as he bowed low over it, kissing the back of her fingers. “My lady, if there is any way I may be of service to you and your people in your fight for freedom, you have my aid.”
Erich couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Not only was this bandit not afraid of a Majis, but he was also acting as though they were the ones who needed help. Didn’t he know what was going on in this war?
“Count me in,” the lady bandit’s voice called out, adding her support to their leader’s.
“And me as well.”
“Aye. We’ve always helped the underdog, that we have.” The words of support came from all around the small fire.
Erich turned to Azel to see her reaction.
Her normally guarded face was filled with emotion. The look of appreciation in her eyes stabbed him to the core. He felt left out.
He turned back to the bandit, wanting to see what it was about this rural outlaw that moved her so.
But the rural outlaw in question had straightened his back and was wearing a very different expression on his face. He was still grasping Azel’s hand protectively, but glared at Erich with a distrustful fury. “Who is he and what are you doing with him?”
Erich’s eyes went wide. He was about to hand her over to the Council—and their magical examiners—in less than two days. He held up his hands in defense. “I... I am...” He struggled to find the words to explain himself.
The bandit leader pulled Azel around the fire, moving her away from Erich and into the safety of his group. The fingers of his other hand curled around the hilt of his dagger.
“I would never hurt her!” Erich spoke the only truth he could think of at the moment, but it sounded like an excuse even to his own ears.
The leader leaned closer. “You’re clearly not one of them. What is a rich quotidian fool like yourself doing alone in the woods with a muted Majis and why haven’t you removed her necklace? You’re not one of those Chendas secret soldiers, are you?” His eyes looked over Erich as if expecting the answer to his questions to make itself apparent. “Search that saddlebag again and see if he has one of those fancy doublets the military boys wear.”
Erich shook his head. The man had discovered all their truths and he could think of no way to talk himself out of this.
Could he talk himself out of this?
Did he even want to?
If this bandit figured out what was going on and whisked Azel away, he wouldn’t have to deliver her to King Gareth.
