Risking a quick glance to his side, Ian saw that he and Erich were fully surrounded. An additional two hooded attackers had appeared behind their guards. However, Ian had not missed the soft whistle in the trees to his left or the creaking of a bowstring in the darkness to his right. These bandits knew how to set up a trap.
“Surely you have some coin to spare for the good citizens of Iseldis?” The voice came from the faceless silhouette directly in front of him. The bandit’s voice sounded young, but rough. Likely, he was obscuring it to hide his identity.
“And you would make yourselves out to be those good citizens?” Ian replied, not keeping the scoff from his tone. Rowena strained her head forward, stretching out her long neck and sniffing loudly.
“Of course not,” the hooded one replied, much to Ian’s surprise. “We are doing quite well for ourselves. It’s the old woman on the farm at the end of this road. She’s had her garden ravaged by soldiers, and her granddaughter is ill. She has no coin to purchase a tonic.”
Ian’s confusion at this unexpected answer was cut short by the sound of a loud crunch. He flinched, unable to contain his surprise when he was already on edge.
The loud munching sounded again. Right in front of him.
Chewing. A breathy snort. And more chewing.
His battle-trained horse was eating at a time like this?
Ian pulled back the reins, urging Rowena to step away from the stranger. “Drop it,” he commanded as though speaking to a dog. “It’s likely poisoned.”
“I would never hurt an animal.” The speaker’s voice was quick and defensive. He—well, it sounded more like a she—had also lost the forced roughness. She sounded distinctly more feminine. “It is just an apple.” She held up the half-eaten fruit so it was visible in the torchlight.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Ian asked, his own voice filling with unusual anger at the escalating strangeness of this interaction.
“We’ll only take half your purse, as is our law,” the woman replied. This time her voice sounded natural, but guarded. Something about it seemed vaguely familiar to Ian. “Although Iam tempted to demand the whole of it as I know that would not leave you destitute.”
“You will take none of my purse, thief,” Ian replied. “But you will face justice for your actions, as is the law.”
“You can take the whole of my purse,” Erich called out lightly, speaking for the first time. Ian could hear the sound of his brother fumbling through his saddlebag.
Ian shook his head, not daring to look over his shoulder if it meant turning his back to the enemy. “No, do not give in,” he ordered loudly. They might be surrounded, but he, Erich, and the two guards were highly trained and definitely had the advantage over a group of bandits.
“Thank you, my lord,” the woman called pleasantly to Erich, ignoring Ian. “Your coin will be well spent.”
“I need more light,” Erich muttered. “I overpacked.” Ian could hear the sounds of Erich fumbling through his pack before he struck a flint. It didn’t light.
Ian’s growing panic dissipated.
His brother had not gone mad. He was merely biding time to light a torch. An excellent decision that would give them an advantage.
Pressing his horse forward, Ian twisted his wrist, lifting his sword so that it was aimed at the woman in front of him. “Unhood yourselves and we will take you in peacefully.”
The sound of another flame scraping to life finally came from behind Ian. In front of him, the shadows disappeared as Erich’s torch illuminated their attackers.
Ian looked down the length of his sword, ready to face the bandit in front of him.
But his entire body froze at the sight of her face.
He knew that face.
He’d kept that face locked away in his memories, untouchable even in his dreams.
But now she was standing before him, as real and as touchable as ever. He wanted to throw himself off his horse and wrap his arms around her.
“Robin.” His heart stopped with the word, unable to believe it was coming out of his mouth.
“Ian.” Her tone was short, as though she spoke to a stranger. She had already seen his face, had time to process the surprise.
“What are you doing?” Ian asked, his own voice rising in pitch.
“Ah, found it!” Erich called out behind him.
