FOREVER KNIGHTS: #15 Insatiable Beasts

Norris found The Raven’s chamber down the hall. Giving it a light knock before turning the key on the outside of the door to enter. Giving the guard a meaningful nod to let him know it was a condoned visit. When Norris cracked the door, he found the dark-haired beauty armed with a vase she held over her head. Ready to project at the door.

He put his hands up. “Hold! Hold. I come peacefully.”

“Define peacefully.” Her eyes narrowed. But she lowered the vase minutely.

Norris swallowed and stepped in to push the door closed behind him. Giving it a light tap, resulted in the key turning in the lock behind him.

“You’re his friend.”

“I am. And that’s why I’ve come.”

“I’m not interested in anything he’d have to say.”

“I think you’ve made that abundantly clear. But why not?” Norris sidled sideways to sit in a chair near the window. Lowering his girth slowly before plopping onto the groaning bit of wood.

“I simply am not.” She tossed the vase onto the bed and gave him her back to walk to the window slit. Standing before it with her arms crossed.

“He has to do it.”

“That man doesn’t have to do anything. I assure you, he’s told me so on numerous occasions.”

“He has to do this, or we’ll all three be fugitives from this realm.”

“A fugitive from Dread Country? I can imagine a worse fate.”

“True. You’ve already been a fugitive. While I confess, I’m afraid to be one.” He rubbed his stomach. Straining against the buttons of his over-tunic. “I fear I’m not very fast. Nor very rough. And I wouldn’t run well. Nor would I do well in the locklatch.”

She quirked a brow and gave him a look over her shoulder.

“Oh, I’ve seen a look similar to that afore…It makes me wonder. Did you develop it from him or he from you?” He circled around to see her face as she focused back on the window slit. “You two must have truly been two peas in a pod once.”

“Perhaps once.”

“Tell me?”

“I’ve no wish to talk about it times long gone.” She waved her fingers over her shoulder dismissively. Voice dead. And he knew it was masking immense pain.

“He has a big heart, you know.”

She shot him a look but said nothing.

“Please think it over? He has to do it. And it’ll be hard on him.”

“Oh, yes.” She said coldly. “He’s never fantasized about beating me before.”

“I doubt it’ll be a beating.”

“He won’t touch me atall!” She shrieked. Rounding to face him. Fists clenched. Beautiful and angry.

Norris was taken by how beautiful the young woman was. High cheekbones framing those bright green eyes which were encircled with rich black lashes. Making her striking despite the seasoned ache in her eyes.

She looked more a Lord’s daughter than a common thief.

“You fear his hand?”

“He won’t!”

“How did you end up a Highwayman?” He changed the subject to catch her off-guard.

“If I wished to discuss trivialities, I would’ve answered the King’s hundred questions.” She said acidly.

“He questioned you?”

“Yes. He made it clear he was interested in making me suffer dire consequences for having robbed him.”

“Please don’t tell him that.”

“Mardichi? Why?” She overlapped her arms to cup her elbows soothingly. Assessing him with an intelligent gaze.

“Because he seems to be quite protective of you. I fear he’d rally and fight that King Jonis dared to have you questioned.”

She paused thoughtfully. “Tell him. I won’t see him, and he will not touch me or he’ll have dire consequences.”

“I fear threatening him would be taken more as a challenge.”

“It’s possible you’re right.” She mulled it over. “Tell him I hope he looks forward to putting hand to the mother of his deceased child. That ought to motivate him to cause a scene that might get us out of this ordeal.”

“And get him killed!” Norris whooshed a horrified breath.

“That’s none of my affair.”

“Is that truly how you feel?”

She relented. Arms falling. “You know as well as I they could never so much as nick his arm. They’d never get close enough.”

“You do know your man.”

Her teeth grated and she flashed him a look filled with venom.

Norris lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m going, I’m going!”

He knocked on the door. Calling to identify himself as coming out.

Her soft voice reached him. “Tell him I’m no longer his wife. No longer the woman he knew.”