The man’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not pirates, are you?”

“Do we look like pirates, sir?” Both he and Cecilia smiled broadly at the farmer.

“Well . . . Pay me, you say?”

“Absolutely.”

“As it happens, my wife has just put on the ket—”

He stopped, his eyes growing wide as he stared with horror at something above and beyond Ned’s shoulder. The pirates looked at each other and sighed. The farmer slammed his door shut. Bolts clattered into place.

“Well, at least we don’t have to go to the trouble of house-stealing,” Cecilia said.

“True. I say, have I told you how lovely your eyes look in the spotlight from an enemy’s turret?”

“You’re kind to say so.”

They turned to watch the vast dark abbey descend from the sky in front of them.

Cecilia squinted up at the dozen windows bristling with cannons and guns. “Goodness, this is a shame,” she commented mildly.

Ned stared at her openmouthed.

She shrugged. “I told you I wanted to get inside that abbey. If that means being captured, I really don’t mind.”

“You’re mad. We need to run!”

But suddenly the great abbey door slammed open and three armed men dressed in black appeared.

“Lightbourne!” one growled. “Traitor! Do me a favor and try to escape, so I have a reason to shoot you.”

Ned raised his eyes with amusement. “Don’t be so dramatic, Randall. You’re impressing no one. I’m here on Morvath’s doorstep with his long-lost daughter, just as I was ordered to be. Far from being a traitor, I expect I’m due a pay rise for a job well done.”

He winked at Cecilia. She gave him a vicious look and stepped back as if he was suddenly filthy.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” he said, catching her arm, pulling her back against him. “No trying to run away!”

“I wasn’t,” she began to say, but he clamped a hand over her mouth. She struggled, but his grip was serious and unbudging. “Randall, there’s a bottle of chloroform and a handkerchief in my coat pocket. Get them out for me, will you?”

“Mmmph-mph!” Cecilia declaimed.

“Don’t worry,” Ned told her as Randall fumbled in his pocket. “It’s not one of Aunty Army’s potions. I always carry a little chloroform with me in case the need arises to kidnap someone.” He grinned as her eyes widened. “That’s right, I could have rendered you unconscious at any time and taken you to your father. Or prison. Or wherever I chose. So now will you be quiet?”

She responded by stamping on his foot. He did not even flinch. Taking the soaked handkerchief from Randall, he pressed it against her nose and mouth. “Have you had a busy day?” he asked Randall conversationally as Cecilia struggled in his arms.

“Oh, you know,” Randall replied, shrugging. “Taunting prisoners, target practice, listening to the captain rave—the usual.”

“Uh-huh,” Ned said, and looked down at Cecilia. She was sagging against his shoulder, eyelids fluttering. “And there she goes,” he said, smiling.