The Rogue Knight
Page 38

Cole lined up between Twitch and Jace, facing the Rogue Knight. The knight’s shiny armor looked like it must have been washed and burnished an hour before the ambush. Cole did his best not to stand out. The many people in the caravan helped him feel less conspicuous.
The Rogue Knight pointed his sword at Lucinda. “Tell me your name.”
“Lucinda,” she replied.
“Who is your father?”
She straightened bravely. “Alderman Cronin.”
“Interesting,” the Rogue Knight said.
“He will not smile to know what happened here today,” Lucinda said.
“I hope not,” the Rogue Knight replied. “Rustin Sage could use some pressure from other leaders.”
“My father’s anger won’t be directed at Rustin Sage,” Lucinda said.
“Alderman Cronin can react as he pleases,” the Rogue Knight said. “Tell him he should hurry, because after Rustin Sage has been entombed, I’ll come to Carthage, kill Henrick, and expel your father from his office.”
Lips trembling, Lucinda made no reply. Cole felt bad for her.
The Rogue Knight held up his sword. “The name of my blade is Verity,” he declared. “She and I dislike falseness. That includes all forms of illusion. Before we collect your valuables, why not wipe any seemings away?”
He swung his sword in a broad horizontal swipe. Cole felt a brief tingling. Glancing to one side, he saw that Mira now looked like herself, and Skye looked as he had never seen her. She was still attractive, but a bit leaner, with big blue eyes and a short white-blond pixie haircut. Cole would have guessed she was in her thirties. At the moment, she looked astonished.
“Your seeming is gone,” Jace whispered to Cole.
“We’re in trouble,” Cole said, glancing over toward Konley. To his surprise, Cole saw that Lucinda, still in her dress and hat, was actually a thin old woman with wispy hair and wrinkled features. The nearby guardsmen appeared surprised.
“Konley,” the Rogue Knight said. “I take it this is not the daughter of Alderman Cronin?”
“I’m one of his servants,” the wrinkled woman proclaimed spunkily.
“Explain,” the Rogue Knight said.
“We needed an excuse to join the caravan,” Konley said. “We didn’t want to put the actual Lucinda in harm’s way. My mission was to observe you if you appeared.”
“You have my congratulations,” the Rogue Knight said. “Mission accomplished. My knights will now take custody of your valuables. Please save time by not trying to hide anything of interest. You won’t succeed, and I’ll take every last ringer if you attempt to hold anything back.”
The Rogue Knight pointed to Cole’s coach and Skye’s coach. “For example, these two conveyances have hidden compartments that until recently were disguised by skillful seemings. This is your last chance to voluntarily produce your valuables.”
Cole looked at Joe, who gave a nod. As the knights dismounted and approached the members of the caravan, Cole and Twitch hurried into the coach. Skye went into her coach as well, as did a few of the merchants.
“Think the Rogue Knight noticed my seeming vanish?” Cole asked Twitch once they were inside the coach.
“I don’t think much escapes him,” Twitch said, popping open a little secret door and removing a bag of ringers. “Let’s hope he doesn’t care.”
“I’m worried for Mira,” Cole said.
“Be worried for all of us,” Twitch said. “If Konley or any of his men have our descriptions, it won’t go well after the Rogue Knight leaves.”
Cole itched with anxiety over what would happen next. He was so close to finding Dalton—and now this! At least he was no longer hiding anything from the powerful knight. That brought a small measure of relief. Cole grabbed the remaining ringers and then returned with Twitch to wait to be robbed.
The Rogue Knight approached Skye. “You and the girl were both concealed,” he said to her, holding open a large canvas bag.
Skye dropped ringers and papers into his sack. “It was for our safety,” she replied meekly.
The Rogue Knight extended his bag to Mira, her warped reflection visible on his armor. “There is something familiar about you,” he said.
A chill passed through Cole.
“I’m told that often,” Mira replied, not looking up at him as she handed over her goods.
The Rogue Knight remained before her. “You had best come with me, my lady.”
“What?” Mira asked, raising her eyes.
“You’ll depart with us,” the Rogue Knight said. “In fact, come with me now. My knights can finish without me.” He reached down and took her by the wrist.
Cole could hardly believe it. How did the Rogue Knight know Mira? Cole wanted to interfere, but what could he possibly do that would make any difference?
Skye reached out and gripped the shiny guard protecting the antlered knight’s forearm. “Then take me too,” she said. “The girl and I mustn’t be separated.”
“Remove your hand, woman,” the Rogue Knight said. “The girl will accompany me alone. No harm will befall her.”
Looking uncertain, Skye released his arm and took a step back. The Rogue Knight began leading Mira toward his horse. Glancing at Joe, Cole danced in place with panic. Wasn’t somebody going to do something?
Jace opened the door of the coach, leaned in, and came out with a Jumping Sword. Yelling at the top of his lungs, he raced after the Rogue Knight.
Releasing Mira, the Rogue Knight turned and drew his sword. He blocked one, two, three swings from Jace before kicking him in the chest with the bottom of his boot, sending him sprawling.
Cole winced. Attacking the Rogue Knight had been reckless and hopeless. It was suicide, really. But Cole had never loved Jace more.
The other knights paused their collecting to watch. Jace scrambled to his feet and stabbed his blade at the Rogue Knight, who parried the thrust and dropped Jace with a brisk slap.
“Stay down, lad,” the Rogue Knight said.
Blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Jace was back on his feet in an instant. He faked twice, then swung hard. The Rogue Knight deflected the attack, then stepped forward and shoved Jace to the ground. Planting a foot on Jace’s chest, the Rogue Knight crouched, pried the Jumping Sword from his grasp, and tossed it aside.
“Phillip,” the Rogue Knight ordered, keeping a boot on Jace’s chest. “Come see that this boy stays down.”