Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
“I find myself in an awkward position, my lord. Lord Berengur would have reason to believe the things I’m telling you, and he would understand why I cannot reveal the source of my information. I have no choice but to rely on your discretion.”
“You have it.” He leaned closer. He was already taking up too much space, and now he blocked half of my view.
“Do I have your word?”
“Yes.”
“The hunter of knights will strike again, and he has selected a new victim. He will track her until the opportunity presents itself, ambush her, abduct her, torture her, and then display her mutilated corpse to terrify the city. I want to spare her that fate.”
“Who is she?”
“Dame Eliarde.”
No reaction. I had expected surprise, outrage, something.
“If I were to warn Dame Eliarde, she would not heed my warning. She has no reason to trust me. She might take it as a threat or a slight against her skill. Depending on her mood, I might not be able to walk away from that meeting. I came here to beg Lord Berengur to deliver that warning on my behalf.”
He studied me. “This is a grave matter.”
“It is. I do not want her to die, my lord.”
He fell silent, considering it.
I waited. I had no arguments left.
Bellen nodded to me. “Although I’m not as renowned as some, my words do carry a little weight. Do not fret, my lady. I will deliver your warning in Berengur’s stead.”
I exhaled, and I didn’t even care if he saw it.
“What can you tell me about this killer?” he asked.
“He is a man who uses magic to enhance his speed. When he strikes, he shimmers with purple and blurs, and his attacks become almost impossible to parry.”
Unless you’re Everard.
“I don’t know his name or where he’s hiding. I know he’s wounded, but I’m afraid it will only spur him on. He will strike again.”
“Who wounded him?”
“A swordsman who interrupted him as he was about to display Velpor’s corpse.” The best lies were mostly true. “A chance meeting that ended badly. I only heard about it and cannot tell you more.”
“Of course.”
Sooner or later, the Defenders would find out about the scar Everard left in the plaza, and Lord Bellen would likely decide that the Sleepless Duke might have been involved. It was good to distance myself from it.
“Thank you. I will not forget this favor.” I rose.
He stood up. “On the contrary, we owe you a debt. Dame Eliarde is dear to our Lord Commander. Any threat to her safety must be taken seriously by all of us.”
“Then I leave assured. Goodbye, my lord.”
I turned. He caught up with me.
“Please allow me to escort you.”
We started down the path. I would have to walk all the way to the barbican, and then I would have to walk some more to Old Town, and Kair Toren didn’t have Band-Aids.
“Would you like to borrow a carriage, my lady?” he asked.
“Is it that obvious?”
He smiled. It softened his harsh face, turning him unexpectedly handsome. It didn’t seem fair—like finding out that a gorgeous actor, who already seemed to have everything in life, could also sing like a rock star.
“As a knight with others under my command, it is my job to recognize when someone is hiding pain. You have done so much for us. Please allow me this one small courtesy.”
Climbing into a Defender’s carriage was ill-advised and dangerous, but my feet hurt like hell.
“Thank you. A carriage would be most welcome.”
We walked across the courtyard. He was keeping close to me, almost at the distance Everard was when he hovered over me at the market. Except Everard did it because we were in a crowded place with a lot of potential danger. Bellen and I pretty much had this courtyard to ourselves.
“Thank you for the escort, my lord.”
“My pleasure. Escorting beautiful women is the rarest of our duties but it is one of grave importance. You never know where dangers may lurk.”
I laughed softly. He smiled at me again.
It was probably force of habit. He was maintaining the “bodyguard” distance.
“What place in all the city is safer than the Citadel of the Defenders? Surely, I’m in no danger here.”
He assumed a serious expression, but the smile was still there, in his eyes. “You could trip, my lady. Should that happen, have no fear. I will not let you fall.”
Flirting with Lord Bellen in the Defender Citadel. Heh.
Everard’s betrayal had hit me like a semi. I felt raw, as if someone had taken a brick to my emotions and viciously smashed them until they turned into one continuous bruise. I didn’t want to think about it. I had a big hurdle to overcome today and if I managed it, I would have to go home, and home had turned from my shelter to a dragon’s lair.