The Robber Knight's Love (The Robber Knight Saga #2)(136)

What in God’s name…?

“Reuben,” she demanded, marching forward to stand beside him, “what is going on here?”

“Ah, Milady.” Smirking, Reuben gave a little bow. Then he turned to the soldiers again, with a proud look in his eyes. “I'm glad you have seen fit to visit us. Everything is coming along wonderfull, don't you think?”

“Well, I can't really say, because I still don't know what exactly is happening here!”

“Isn't it obvious? We are training.”

“We?” inquired Ayla, looking at Reuben, who, unlike everybody else in the courtyard, leisurely leaned against a barrel, not moving a muscle.

“Of course,” Reuben said, not getting her meaning. “These fellows were quite lax at the beginning, but it is amazing what a little discipline will do. You there!”

Ayla jumped back as Reuben suddenly turned his voice into a deafening roar that could be heard across the entire courtyard. His shout seemed to be directed at a man who had just entered the gate. Ayla frowned. The gate? But hadn't the portcullis been inoperable? Now, it seemed to be perfectly fine. It was raised for the man to enter, and then immediately closed again.

“Report!” Reuben yelled, his voice slightly, but not very much, lower. The soldier came running over and stopped abruptly about five feet from them, bowing first to Ayla, then to Reuben.

“Greetings, Milady. Greetings, Sir Reuben. All has been done as you wished, Sir Reuben, Sir.”

“The scouts?” the red knight growled.

“Are out searching the country in all directions. One has been sent to the village and one to the enemy camp. Men stand ready to retrieve them from danger if they do not return at the set time. A party to plunder the enemy camp of any useful weapons and items is being assembled as we speak, Sir!”

“You have done passable work. You may now join the archery practice. Stay an hour longer than the others. Just because I had an errand for you does not mean I can afford for you to be a worse archer.”

“Yes, Sir Reuben! Thank you, Sir Reuben! It is my greatest honor to serve, Lady Ayla!”

Bowing two more times, he turned on the spot and ran off towards the archery range. Ayla looked after him, open-mouthed.

“Beautiful, don't you think?” Reuben asked as he proudly watched the soldier snatching up a bow and arrow, sneaking an anxious glance over his shoulder at his new commander.

“Um, yes, I'm sure…but don't you think this is a bit harsh?” Ayla indicated. “After all, we've won the feud. It's peacetime.”

“The best time to prepare for a war is when there isn't one going on,” Reuben declared. “When there is, you're often too busy fighting.”

“Yes, but maybe…”

“What?”

Maybe you should do what I say because I'm the mistress of this castle.

But then again, she had put him in charge of defense, and he probably knew what he was doing. She would give it two weeks, she decided. If none of her men had collapsed from exhaustion by then, it was probably all right.

“Nothing,” she said brightly. “Carry on. Just one more thing…”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to come on a ride with me later? I have to survey the damage outside the castle.”

Plus, that would give her men at least a small rest break. While he was gone, he couldn’t hound them.

He smiled his most ravishing smile and indicated a bow. “It would be my pleasure, Milady. As soon as my patrols have returned and assured me that the enemy camp is empty and all of Luntberg is completely safe.”

“Wonderful.” Once again, a warm feeling rose in Ayla's heart. “It has been far too long since I have ridden Eleanor.”

“The same goes for me and Satan.”

The warm feeling disappeared in a puff of sulfur. Ayla scowled. “Are you going to rename him or not?” she demanded.

His smile widening into a devilishly handsome grin, Reuben shook his head. “Not ever.”

“You will! I'll make you, you'll see. I'll think of something.”

“I shall look forward to it, Milady.”

Turning, Ayla went back the way she had come. She made sure that Reuben was out of hearing range before she allowed the giggle that had been building up inside her to burst forth. Somehow, suddenly, the fact that his horse was named after the lord of the pit and king of demons didn't seem like such a horrible thing after all. Not if he smiled at her like that.

As she stepped into the inner courtyard again, both guards bowed deeply.

“Did you find everything you wished for, Milady?” they asked in unison, eyes straight.

“Yes, I did, thank you.”

“There's no need to thank us, Milady. It is the greatest honor for us unworthy worms to serve…”

“Don't worry,” Ayla interrupted them with a mild smile. “Sir Reuben is busy hounding the others. He can't hear you.”

The guards halted.

“Really?” The left one asked hopefully, raising his gaze to meet her eyes. Before that, he had been looking deferentially at the ground.

“Really,” she assured him.

“Oh, thank God!” He slumped against the wall behind him, wiping sweat from his face. “You don't know how it's been, Milady! Always thinking he's behind you, and just when you don't, he's suddenly there and starts shouting in your ear 'Stand straight!' and 'Eyes Front!' and what else he comes up with! It's been hell on earth, Milady, let me tell you!”