My Lady Jane(95)

Archer lifted an eyebrow in Edward’s direction, and Edward took the opportunity to puff out his chest. “If I regain my throne, the Pack will be pardoned, on the condition all illegal activities cease. And I will make this country safe for E?ians. I swear it on my life.”

“Right. But why do you care so much about E?ians?” Archer challenged.

“Because he is an E?ian,” Jane said.

Archer’s gaze swung appraisingly to Edward. “You? You’re an E?ian?”

“Yes.” Edward met the Pack leader’s stare. “I am.”

“What creature?”

Edward looked down at his hands. “A type of bird. Like a falcon.”

The side of Archer’s mouth curled up. “Interesting.”

“We do not make these promises lightly, Mister Archer,” Bess cut in, before the man could ask them to prove their E?ian status and they’d all have to get naked. “A pardon, food, medical supplies, coin, whatever you need: all will be made available to you.”

Archer’s eyes flashed greedily. They’d done it, Jane thought. He would agree to fight alongside them.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said after a long moment. “I just don’t believe you’re the kind of king I want to fight for.”

Edward was flabbergasted. “Why?”

“Let’s be honest.” Archer leaned back in his chair. “The kingdom wasn’t in the greatest shape before you allegedly died. Verities still hunted E?ians. The authorities were corrupt. Even a shilling isn’t worth what it used to be. You never did anything to help us then. You may be an E?ian, and you act like you’re the one in charge, but your ladies have been the ones making all the compelling arguments.” Archer gestured at the others in the tavern. “We have a decent life here. None of us want to risk our skins for someone who hasn’t proven he’s worth the effort.”

Edward took a deep breath. “How would you have me prove my worth?”

“There’s something I want,” Archer said, and Jane suspected he’d had this in mind all along, maybe even before they’d made their initial plea. “If you can deliver this item, I will join you.”

“What is it?” Bess asked.

Archer looked at Gracie. “I want Gracie to return the item she stole from me.”

After a moment of surprise, Jane and Edward both turned to Gracie.

“Well?” said Jane.

“Go jump in a river,” Gracie said to Archer. “You’re not getting it.”

“It belongs to the leader of the Pack,” he argued.

“It was Ben’s, and he’d have wanted me to have it.”

“Er, Gracie, the fate of the kingdom is at stake,” Edward murmured, but she ignored him.

“I offered you ten sovereigns for it,” Archer said. “You could buy a hundred knives with that.”

“A knife?” Edward gaped at Gracie. “The bounty was over a knife?”

“My knife.” Gracie’s hand went to the pearl-handled knife strapped to her hip. “I can’t give it up. I won’t.”

Jane thought all this fuss over a knife was a bit excessive, even if it was an attractive weapon, to be sure. But then Edward sighed and touched Gracie’s shoulder. “All right.” He turned to Archer. “There must be something else I can give you.”

Archer’s eyes went back and forth from Edward to Gracie, stopping at where Edward’s hand rested on the girl’s shoulder. He scowled. “I want the knife. There is nothing else I desire.”

“The knife is not mine to give. It’s Gracie’s,” Edward said. “But there must be something else. A task, perhaps. Something I could do for you.”

There was a heavy silence throughout the room. Finally, Archer laughed and said, “All right, then. Kill the Great White Bear of Rhyl.”

Jane scoffed. “That’s an absurd demand. The Great White Bear is a myth. I’ve read every book on the subject, and all the experts agree that the beast is nothing more than a fiction.” Legend had it that the Great White Bear was tall as the Cliffs of Dover. As wide as the English Channel. Mothers and fathers often told their children the Bear would come after them if they didn’t go to bed on time or do their chores, but that was all. An old wives’ tale. A fable.

“Oh, the bear is real, all right.” One of the men at a table pointed to a set of long scars that ran down the side of his face. Claw marks. “It doesn’t live but a few miles from here. It attacks this village regularly. Steals food. Plunders far more than the Pack does.”

Archer gave a rueful grin. “That’s my condition. Kill the bear. Take it or leave it.”

“Excuse us for a moment.” Edward gestured for Bess, Gracie, and Jane to join him in the corner. They huddled together and spoke in low voices. “What do you think?”

“The GWBR?” Jane shook her head. “I don’t believe it exists.”

“Or it does exist, and Archer’s just trying to get me killed for his own amusement,” Edward said grimly.

“Either way, it’s a diversion.” Bess frowned. “We have France to see to. A country to regain. We don’t have time for a goose chase—or a bear hunt.”

Edward nodded. “I know. But if it’s the only way to get the Pack on our side . . .”