The youth’s blue eyes blazed, but before the fool could open his mouth and blurt out more information, the giant snapped, “Whist, now! Dinna say nobut wha’ needs to be known—which isna much.” The giant returned his attention to Max, his breath puffing white like that of a huge dragon getting ready to spit fire. “Throw yer pistol on the ground.”

Max wished he could draw and engage; except for the lone highwayman positioned at the head, not a single man had his weapon drawn. While not having their guns ready was a good strategy to keep rowdy troops from unnecessarily firing and perhaps raising an alarm, it left them open to surprises.

It was sorely tempting to answer this lack of foresight, but the realization that his grandmother was in the coach behind him and thus directly in the line of fire, kept Max from pursuing the risky course.

Instead, he shrugged. “As you wish.” He withdrew his sword and dropped it at his feet, yet close enough to reach should the opportunity arise.

“And yer pistol.” The giant’s eyes narrowed. “Dinna say there’s none, fer we know ye’ve one, and mayhap two.”

Max resignedly removed his pistol and dropped it to the frozen ground beside his sword.

The giant nodded at the youth, who loped forward to pick up the weapons. Ignoring the sword, he fell upon the pistol, examining it in an expert way. “Silver engravin’. Italian?”

“And a hair trigger,” Max said in a dry tone. “Don’t point it in a direction you don’t wish to shoot.”

The young highwayman’s jaw tightened. “I know pistols, I do. I’ve no need fer yer advice.” He emptied the chamber, pocketed the bullets, and dropped the pistol back onto the road beside the sword.

Why didn’t he take the—

“Dinna get any wild ideas, Prince,” the giant warned.

“The only idea I have is to find a warm fire and some ale, and there’s none to be had here.”

The giant grunted agreement. “ ’Tis possible a small donation might see ye sooner on yer way to a wee dram and a warm fire.”

“A donation?”

“Aye. A thanks, ye could call it, fer safe passage.” The giant’s eyes gleamed with humor. “The woods are filled wi’ bandits.”

“So I’ve heard,” Max returned drily. He’d never met such polite highwaymen, and in his wide travels he’d met quite a few. What is this? There must be a reason. Perhaps I should test them. He rocked back on his heels. “I’m in no mood to pay a donation. If you wish for handouts, go see your parish church.”

The giant didn’t move, but his brows lowered.

Max added, “In fact, I am tired of standing in the cold and believe I shall go.” He bent and retrieved his sword.