The Robber Knight's Love (The Robber Knight Saga #2)(164)
He stopped, apparently fearing he might have said too much, still not quite sure he would not be harmed. Bowing silently, he retreated towards the door. But when there were no shouts of “After him!” or “Throw him in the Dungeon!”, he apparently deemed it safe enough to turn towards Ayla one last time. She clearly saw the pity in his eyes.
“I…I hope you don't take this wrongly, Milady. I just feel honor-bound to tell you. Last time the Margrave sent an army against you, he came for acquisition. This time, he comes for revenge. And he comes himself, with everything he has—which does not include mercy.”
“Then what shall I do?” Ayla asked, her voice quivering. She could have slapped herself the moment she said it. What kind of noble was she, asking advice from the enemy's herald?
The big man shrugged and looked away, his eyes pained.
“Pray,” he suggested. Then, with a final, hurried bow, he turned and fled the hall.
Ayla sat on her father's chair, petrified. Fear gripped her heart and would not let go. She had believed everything was over. She had believed that, after all their struggles, they were finally safe. How naive she had been! She didn't deserve to lead her people. She would only lead them to death and destruction.
Beside her, Burchard cursed. Ayla didn't even think about chastising him for it.
“That maggot-ridden haggard! The curses of all witches down on him!”
On her other side, Reuben said nothing. And suddenly, Ayla remembered something. She turned her head to face him.
“You knew, didn't you?” she asked, for some reason with a weak smile on her face. “You knew this was going to happen. That's why you didn't want the people to start working on rebuilding the village.”
He shrugged. “I suspected. I thought it would be better to wait, to be sure.”
“And you didn't say anything?” Burchard exploded. “Are you mad, or just a traitor, you loggerheaded lout?”
“Why should I have said anything when I might have been mistaken?” Reuben enquired calmly.
“Because…because we could have prepared! We could have done all kinds of things! We could have started repairing the castle, training the men…”
Burchard's voice trailed off slowly.
“Exactly.” Reuben nodded.
“You have already begun preparing,” Ayla realized with a whisper, leaning sideways until her head rested against Reuben's side. It felt wonderfully solid and warm. The thought of being torn from him forever…no! She couldn't allow herself to think like that.
“Yes, Milady.”
“But what use is it?” she whispered. “If the threat is truly as great as the herald says it is, if this army will be so much stronger than the one before…”
“Oh, it will be stronger. I have no doubt.”
“Then why?” Ayla shook her head, not ashamed of the tear that was running down her left cheek. She should be stronger! She should fight! “Why should we even try? How could we possibly have a chance?”
Slowly, Reuben stepped from her side. She wanted to clutch at him, to hold him close, but he didn’t move away. Instead, he stepped around the chair until he faced her. Although the chair stood on a raised platform, he was still slightly taller standing than she was sitting. He regarded her, and in his gray eyes, she saw no fear, no despair. Only a fierce, steely glint. And beneath them gleamed his familiar smile, more beautiful and deadly than ever.
“How could you have a chance, Milady?” he repeated. “Well, I'll tell you how. You have a chance because you have two things at your disposal which you did not have the last time the Margrave issued a challenge.”
“And these would be?” Burchard asked, suspiciously.
“The first is time to prepare,” Reuben replied, still only looking at Ayla. Her tears had somehow, miraculously, stopped flowing. The fire in his eyes seeped into her, warming her. “To assemble his banners, the Margrave needs time. We can use that time to our advantage.”
“Time alone won't win us battles,” Burchard said scornfully.
Reuben gave a thoughtful nod, as if he had truly considered this and found it a valid argument. “True. That is where the second thing comes in.”
“And that is?” Ayla asked, in a low but steady voice. “What is this thing of breathtaking power that will win us battles against impossible odds?”
Reuben raised his hands, laced his fingers, and slowly began to crack his knuckles. The noise made Burchard flinch and echoed throughout the hall.
“Why, Milady,” he said, his devilish smile as wide as it could get. “Me, of course.”
THE END
of
THE ROBBER KNIGHT’S LOVE
The adventures of Reuben and Ayla will continue in the third volume of the Robber Knight Saga, The Robber Knight’s Secret.
Now follows an insight into Reuben’s mysterious past.
THE FALL OF SIR REUBEN, PART TWO
Part one is available in the special edition of the first volume of the Robber Knight Saga, The Robber Knight.
Old Bottoms and Fresh Faces
The four towers of the Royal Palace of Palermo loomed high above Reuben as he approached the stairs to the entrance. The doorway stood open, and laughter and music could be heard from inside—strange, foreign tones, which, to Reuben's ears, sounded discordant and yet sweet, like the whistling of the wind which plays no melody yet still seems to call to you.