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Chapters (76)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Dedication
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. PART I
  6. ONE
  7. TWO
  8. THREE
  9. FOUR
  10. FIVE
  11. SIX
  12. SEVEN
  13. EIGHT
  14. NINE
  15. PART II
  16. TEN
  17. ELEVEN
  18. TWELVE
  19. THIRTEEN
  20. FOURTEEN
  21. FIFTEEN
  22. SIXTEEN
  23. SEVENTEEN
  24. EIGHTEEN
  25. NINETEEN
  26. PART III
  27. TWENTY
  28. TWENTY-ONE
  29. TWENTY-TWO
  30. TWENTY-THREE
  31. TWENTY-FOUR
  32. TWENTY-FIVE
  33. TWENTY-SIX
  34. INTERLUDE
  35. PART IV
  36. TWENTY-SEVEN
  37. TWENTY-EIGHT
  38. TWENTY-NINE
  39. THIRTY
  40. THIRTY-ONE
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. INTERLUDE
  45. PART V
  46. THIRTY-FIVE
  47. THIRTY-SIX
  48. THIRTY-SEVEN
  49. THIRTY-EIGHT
  50. PART VI
  51. THIRTY-NINE
  52. FORTY
  53. FORTY-ONE
  54. FORTY-TWO
  55. FORTY-THREE
  56. FORTY-FOUR
  57. FORTY-FIVE
  58. INTERLUDE
  59. PART VII
  60. FORTY-SIX
  61. FORTY-SEVEN
  62. FORTY-EIGHT
  63. FORTY-NINE
  64. FIFTY
  65. FIFTY-ONE
  66. FIFTY-TWO
  67. PART VIII
  68. FIFTY-THREE
  69. FIFTY-FOUR
  70. FIFTY-FIVE
  71. FIFTY-SIX
  72. EPILOGUE
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  75. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  76. Newsletter Sign-up

“We have a few options, then,” Guy said, sliding back away from the ridge. It was probably ridiculous to stay prone at this distance, but nobody was willing to risk messing this up. “No horses and no carriage could mean a few things. Could mean they abandoned them earlier, to throw us off. Or could mean that’s only half of them down there, and the rest are out doing whatever unsavory things thieves like to do in the morning.”

“Raping, I’d think,” Reginold said, though no one even gave him a courtesy laugh. “If I were a thief, I’d think you’d start your day off with a good rape or two, then maybe some ham.”

FitzOdo stared at Guy dully. “He’s always like this?”

“Unfortunately,” Bolt answered, earning himself a smack in the chest.

“If they’re not all there,” Guy continued, “we risk losing Bassett again. Might be wiser to wait and see if the others return. At the same time, if that is all of them, waiting only prolongs the danger he’s already in. I’m open to suggestions.”

There was a short amount of face-making at this, and FitzOdo answered quickly upon seeing their reaction. “We should go now,” he barked, rising as if the decision had been made. “While we still have the advantage.”

It seemed to be exactly what everyone wanted. It had been a long ride back to Hallam, and there was nothing they wanted so much as to put this behind them.

But Devon didn’t move. Guy caught his eye, saw his urge to say something. He gave him a tight nod, permission. Devon’s lips parted and his voice was weak. “What advantage?”

“What?” FitzOdo said, barely noticing the distraction.

“You said we have every advantage, but I don’t … I don’t see that.”

“Are you serious? Is he serious?” FitzOdo chortled. “They don’t have any horses with them. We do. You want to wait for more of them to show up, with fresh supplies and horses? Or you want to ride down there and take care of them while they’re sleeping?” He sneered and turned to the others for a laugh. “Or perchance the word advantage is just a little too big for you?”

For a moment, Devon shrank. But Guy saw the look in Reginold’s face, and the way Bolt shifted his eyes while pretending to smile. They weren’t comfortable with the way the knight had just insulted Devon, and frankly Guy wasn’t keen on it, either. Against all odds, Devon shook off his worry and spoke, quickly, his eyes buried in the heath.