Chapter Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE

"O h… God," Athdara breathed. "I know that name. Kane . He has been following me since the day Breda Castle fell. He caught up to me, once, and I had to fight to break free. He's the worst of the bounty hunters, unfortunately. And now, he has found me again."

Marina was sitting in front of the fire, drying out, as Athdara struggled with her composure. She had just told Athdara about the encounter with Kane at The Black Cock, and watched her face go from a healthy pink to a sickly white. The woman was positively terrified.

"He does not know you are here," Marina said. "I did not tell him anything. He asked if I had seen you, but I did not tell him that I had. I knew he must have come to hurt you simply by the look of him. He looks… evil."

"He is," Athdara said, greatly laboring not to panic. "He was sent after Niko and me when… Oh, God… Niko! "

She gasped, looking at Tay in horror, but he put up a hand to ease her. "I am sure he does not have the boy," he told her calmly before looking to Marina. "Did he mention her brother?"

Marina shook her head. "Nay," she said. "There was no mention of anyone else. He said that he had been trying to find his sister, who was taken away by an evil man. I might have believed him, except Athdara was not taken away by an evil man. I knew he was lying."

Athdara was shaken, so shaken that she had to lean against the wall because her legs were trembling so badly. She put her hands to her face, dazed.

"I thought he was dead," she muttered. "I'd not seen him for months and months. I thought he was either dead or had given up, but now he's here? He will find me. People have seen me at The Black Cock, and they will tell him that I've been around. People will tell him!"

She was starting to grow agitated, and Tay could feel her fear. It was a palpable thing, and for the first time, he could see what a toll her flight from Breda Castle had taken on her. She'd been so strong and determined since he'd known her, but at this moment, he saw the terrified young woman who had lost everything. For a man who never gave much thought to showing compassion, he had a well of it for her at this moment.

"You were here for an entire month and I never saw you," he reminded her, trying to keep her calm. "Even if he does hear that you've been here, what then? He will not know where you are. He will not know you are at Blackchurch, but if he comes sniffing around here, he'll not survive long. I can promise you that."

Athdara nodded, but it was doubtful as to whether she actually believed him. "All this time," she murmured. "He has found me after all this time. Do you know what he will do to me if he finds me? He caught me once—he found me in a town and ambushed me. He tied me up and told me that my uncle had promised that he could have me as a prize. Can you imagine? My own uncle promised a bounty hunter that I could be his prize. He'll keep me like a dog in a cage. I wish he would just kill me. I'd rather be dead than have any part of him."

Tay was listening to all of it very carefully. Athdara had mentioned bounty hunters before, but she was clearly shocked to realize that one was still following her—or perhaps not shocked as much as she was disappointed. Terrified, absolutely, but also disappointed. The poor woman had not only endured the fall of her father's duchy and the death of her father and brother, but now that war was still following her, still trying to claim her as a victim.

Tay knew he couldn't let that happen.

He turned to Bowen. "I want you to summon Fox, Sin, Ming Tang, and Creston," he said. "Send them to Exford Castle and tell them I will meet them there. I also want you to send a servant for food and have it brought here. All they can carry. Lady Athdara hasn't eaten all day and requires a meal."

Bowen nodded smartly and was off, back out into the rain. When he was gone, Tay turned to Athdara, who was still leaning against the wall, looking horribly pale and distressed. He didn't enjoy seeing her like that. Truth be told, he found himself wishing the bounty hunter would track her to this very cottage so he could show the man some deadly Blackchurch hospitality. He'd throw the body in the lake and be done with it.

"Marina," he said, looking at the woman still sitting in front of the hearth. "It was brave of you to bring this information, but I must ask—are you sure you were not followed?"

Marina shook her head. "Nay, my lord," she said. "I waited until this evening to leave. The conversation I had with the man was earlier in the day. The last I saw, he had taken a room to sleep. When he did, I left."

Tay considered that. It was possible that the man was watching everyone coming and going from his rented room and possibly saw her leave, but he didn't say what he was thinking. If he did see her leave and perchance followed her, they would know soon enough.

"Lady Athdara says that you took a job at The Black Cock," he said. "Serving wench?"

"Aye, my lord."

"She also said you were once a dreg."

Marina grinned, glancing at Athdara. "I was until the lady knocked me silly and I was unable to recover in time," she said. "But I can try again in a year."

"It means so much to you to be Blackchurch-trained?"

Her smile faded. "Aye," she said. "I must make my own way, and marriage is out of the question."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like men," she said frankly. "I would rather earn my own way as a warrior. I'm good at it. I can prove it if Blackchurch will give me a chance. If warlords know I am Blackchurch-trained, I can secure a prestigious position."

"What about going home to your family?"

Marina scratched her head. "My father was a merchant in Rome," she said. "When he died, my brother took over the family business and ruined it. There is nothing there for me. I took all of the money I had and brought it with me to pay for my entry into Blackchurch. Whatever my life becomes, I must make it."

That explained quite a bit. Tay didn't even know the woman, but she'd risked much to help Athdara. A lesser person would have simply ignored the information, and, at some point, Athdara might have walked right into the bounty hunter.

That said something about Marina's character. It was Blackchurch quality.

"Marina, do you know who I am?" he asked.

Marina looked up at him. "A Blackchurch knight," she said. "I do not know your name."

"Do you know anything about the Blackchurch trainers?"

Marina nodded. "A little," she said. "The dregs are kept away from them, but I've heard about them. I've heard about the one from Cairo and the one who used to serve kings. They have names like the Avenger and the Conquistador and the Leviathan."

"I am the Leviathan."

Her eyes widened, and she suddenly bolted to her feet, weaving unsteadily because she was so surprised. "M-my apologies, my lord," she stammered. "I did not mean to speak so informally to you. I did not know—"

Tay held up a hand to silence her, though it was not rudely done. At least, he didn't think so, but for a man who didn't deal well with women, it was a gesture sharper than it should have been.

"I know you did not know," he said. "I am not offended. But it seems to me that you have already displayed characteristics that we look for at Blackchurch."

"What… what have I done, my lord?"

Tay tipped his head in Athdara's direction. "You have shown loyalty and bravery," he said. "Those are admirable qualities. You said that made it through the dreg training only to be eliminated by Athdara?"

Marina nodded. "There were only two places open," she said. "Athdara earned the first, and another man earned the second. That is why I went back to The Black Cock. I wanted to try again when I was permitted, so I wanted to remain close by."

Tay rested his fists on his narrow hips as he faced her. "I am the first trainer the dregs will meet," he said. "I teach endurance and physical readiness, among other things. Athdara is no longer part of the group I am teaching, which means there is a place for you if you want it. As a reward for helping Athdara, I think you have proven your worth."

Marina's eyes opened wide. She looked at Athdara in shock before returning her attention to Tay. "My lord," she gasped. "Do… do you mean it?"

Tay nodded. "I do," he said. "But after you do something for me."

"Anything, my lord."

"Athdara will be enduring special training while she is here," he said. "She is going to stay here, in my cottage, but it would not be proper without a chaperone. Instead of sleeping with the recruits in the cloister, you will sleep here, with her. If anyone tries to accost her, you will protect her, and she will protect you if the need arises. I think the two of you together are better than the two of you separate. Would you agree?"

Marina nodded eagerly. "I do, my lord," she said. "Thank you for this opportunity. I cannot thank you enough."

"No need to thank me. It is you who should be thanked."

Marina had gone from shocked to giddy with lightning speed. She looked at Athdara, grinning with delight, and although Athdara was thrilled for her friend, she could barely manage a smile.

"I will not fail, my lord," Marina said. "May I gather my things now?"

Tay shook his head. "Not at the moment," he said. "Lady Athdara needs your help first. This is my cottage, and I hardly spend any time here, so it is not a comfortable place. I want you to help Lady Athdara make this place as comfortable as she wants it. Do whatever she wishes. Once she is fed and beds are prepared for the night, you may return to The Black Cock and gather your things. But be cautious—if the bounty hunter is still there, he may be watching for you."

Marina frowned. "But he has no reason to watch for me, my lord."

Tay lifted an eyebrow. "He has every reason," he said. "Why do you think he told you his story? Because he is hoping you will tell others. Better still, he is hoping you know Athdara and have run off to either tell her or fetch her. Be very cautious with him."

Marina wasn't entirely sure about that statement. It made her a little nervous, and she eyed Athdara, who was still slumped against the wall. She could see how much the news had affected her friend, which made her think that Kane was a bad individual, indeed. She'd already sensed it, but looking into Athdara's face confirmed it.

"Have no fear, my lord," she said with quiet determination. "I will be cautious. But may I ask a question?"

"What?"

Marina turned to him. "What is this all about?" she asked. "A bounty hunter and something about an uncle… May I ask why he is searching for Athdara?"

Tay looked to Athdara, who took a deep breath and pushed herself away from the wall. This was her story to tell—not his. He watched her as she squared her shoulders and faced her Roman friend who had risked much to help her—and deserved an explanation.

"My father was a great duke," Athdara said quietly. "His brother, my uncle, stole his duchy and murdered him. He has sent this bounty hunter to find me and my younger brother, who is the heir to the duchy. If this bounty hunter finds me, he will probably torture me until I tell him where my brother is. God only knows what more he will do. Do you remember once that you asked me what I was searching for?"

Marina nodded. "You told me you were searching for revenge."

"And I am," Athdara said. "My father was a great man, and I miss him every day. The man you spoke to at The Black Cock is trying to erase his legacy from this earth. He is trying to kill or control everything my father gave his life for. My revenge is against that man and my uncle, who is the most evil of men. Even as he told us that he loved us, he was plotting our deaths."

Marina pondered that. "I am sorry for you," she said. "I did not know. We never spoke of it."

"Now you know."

"And I will help you, however I can."

"Good," Tay said, interrupting them. "Then you will remain here with the lady while I tend to some business. Once the food arrives, do not open that door for anyone until I return. Do you understand me?"

Marina nodded. "I will bolt the door behind you."

Tay silently acknowledged her, but his focus was on Athdara. She was standing near the hearth, pale and drawn, and he crooked a finger at her. She went to him as Marina went back to the fire. He pulled her into the small chamber where the linen was still boiling in the pot.

"I will send some soldiers over to watch the cottage," he said quietly. "I do not want you to worry. The bounty hunter will not find you, but even if he has followed Marina, he cannot get over the perimeter wall."

She wasn't convinced. "But—"

He put up a hand to silence her. "All he would know was that Marina went into Blackchurch and nothing more," he said. "He would not know she went to find you. How could he? But I am concerned with her returning to The Black Cock alone."

"Why?"

"As I said, he told her his story for a reason," he said. "Men like that do not dole out information easily. I may have someone return with her when she goes back to collect her belongings."

Athdara was nodding before he finished speaking. "Please," she begged softly. "If it is not too much trouble, that would make me happy. She has risked much for me."

He nodded back, but he wasn't thinking about Marina at the moment. He was thinking about Athdara. His dark eyes glittered as he leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. He liked it so much that he did it again.

"Take your linen out of that pot before it boils into rags," he murmured. "Eat when the food comes, and do not wait for me to return. If you are weary, go to sleep."

Athdara licked her lips where he'd kissed her, tasting him. "Why did you tell your man to summon those trainers?" she asked.

He grabbed her by the upper arms and pulled her to him, kissing her again, only this time it was longer and hotter. When he pulled away, he had to take a deep breath because the woman was making his head swim.

"No questions," he said. "Settle in for the night, and I will return."

Athdara's head was swimming, too. She nodded, dumbly, and he slipped back out into the rainy night. She followed him to the door, only to be pushed out of the way when Marina threw the bolt. Outside, the thunder was rolling, and lightning lit up the sky, but all Athdara could think about was the bounty hunter on her tail and Tay as he went to meet with some trainers at Exford Castle. She knew, without a doubt, that the meeting was about her. God help her, she hoped Lord Exmoor didn't regret agreeing to help her, not after hearing there was a bounty hunter on their doorstep. Perhaps Tay was going to figure out just how to get rid of him. She could only pray that was the case.

"What's in the pot?"

Marina's voice caught her attention, and Athdara turned to see the woman peering into the boiling water. Pushing her nerves aside, she went over to the hearth.

"An old coverlet I found," she said. "Let's fish it out of there and dry it. Otherwise, I have nothing to sleep on this night."

Marina looked around the barren chamber. "I would say you are fortunate to have anything to sleep on this night," she said. "What about me? Am I sleeping on the floor?"

Athdara shook her head. "You can sleep with me," she said. "I had the stable servants stuff hay into the mattress, so at least it will be soft. But tomorrow, we should go about finding you your own bed. And mayhap fix some chairs so there is something to sit in. This cottage is so barren, anything will help."

Marina was still looking around. "We can fix this place up nicely," she said. Then she eyed Athdara strangely. "Are you really a duke's daughter?"

"Are you really a merchant's daughter?"

Marina snorted. "I am a different creature of God's creation," she said. "But you… you've been through much strife."

"More than you know."

"Mayhap you'll tell me sometime."

Athdara picked up a chair leg that was part of the chair she'd brought back from the pile of rubbish outside. She stuck it into the pot and pulled out the boiled coverlet.

"I will," she said. "When the time is right. At the moment, my story has not yet ended. That is a fearsome burden to bear."

Marina had little doubt, but she didn't press. She quickly fashioned a drying rack for the coverlet out of the two good chairs in the room, and together, she and Athdara strung the coverlet across it. The fire was giving off a good deal of heat, and the coverlet would dry in no time.

Meanwhile, there were a thousand things to do in order to make the cottage comfortable, and they got busy with what tools they had. It kept their minds off the bounty hunter and the uncertainty. The only thing that interrupted them was Bowen and a servant bringing back the meal Tay had ordered. After spreading it out over the dusty floor, Athdara and Marina ate bread and cheese, stewed fruit, and boiled beef until they could eat no more.

When Tay returned to collect his rain cloak and weapons, he found them both asleep on the floor, full of hot food and, for the first time in a long time, perhaps a little momentary peace.

But the peace, after the meeting he'd just come from, was a bit premature.

It was only going to get worse.