going with me.”
Her breath caught in her throat. This unexpected confession pushed her closer to hysteria. She should hate everything about him—but he had played her protector and spared her family. He was taking her away from the only world she’d ever known. Godless heathen. And if she surrendered, everything she had hoped for in life and considered special, including honor, would surely be lost.
“Your brother parted easily with you, if I swore to leave this castle standing and spare the lives of his men. It was an astute decision on his part, but a clear indication of where his loyalties lie—with himself. We greatly outnumber your men.”
Why did he speak of this now? “But . . .” She struggled with her thoughts. “. . . I saw how many bodies littered this hall and the courtyard. Not all were my father’s guards.”
“Aye,” he said. “Many died, even some of my own soldiers.”
“And my sister, Ophelia, was she part of your unconscionable bargain?” She shuddered.
He stood in a warrior-like stance, with his barrel chest pushed out and his nostrils flared. His face darkened. “Her death changed everything.”
Noelle found some consolation in the fact that she had ruffled his emotions so easily. Not made of stone. Maybe he wasn’t dumb as dirt after all.
“I am not the type of man that condones the unnecessary killing of women and children. Despite what you assume, my men are held to higher standards than most. Above all things, I strive to be a fair man. There are limits to my violence, and my patience .”
She hung on those last words and shut her eyes to avoid his penetrating stare. But his face was forever imprinted in her mind. She felt her most intimate feelings were on display for him alone to judge. “I don’t care if I’m a pawn in your twisted game. But my sister’s death is only further proof of why your kind should be wiped off the face of the earth—annihilated for the crimes you commit. Have you no shame?” Before she could even think, she reached up and slapped him so hard she left a perfect outline of her tiny hand on his cheek. “When did you find the time to barter for me as part of your plunder?”
He looked at her with amazement.
Randvior folded his hands over his stomach and sucked in a breath. She guessed his first reaction should be to beat her senseless for striking him.
“I did not offer those terms late this morning.”
“When then?” she demanded.
“Minutes after I saw you in the hall . . .”
Why didn’t she remember seeing him amongst the fighters? Surely a man of his impressive stature, whether helmeted or not, would have attracted her attention. Letting the sequence of events play out in her mind, she recalled the red-haired mongrel that had attacked her.
Realization.
Her jaw dropped.
Someonehad repelled him. A man she had assumed was one of her father’s conscripts.
“You?” she asked severely. “You shielded me so I could escape?” She never meant to say it out loud. “ You defended me?” It slipped out sounding more like an angry accusation than gratitude. Bewildered, she stepped back.
“The day is fast approaching when you will see things with more clarity.”
Something scarily infinite sounded in what he said. And he didn’t deny her assertion. Or confirm it. All sense abandoned her and she categorically denied the existence of any obligation to him. Sharp pain in her chest made her wince and she felt suddenly lightheaded. If only she had eaten more before drinking a full serving of wine.
The look on his face changed to grave concern. Before Noelle could guess why, he swept her off her feet. She flailed weakly in protest as darkness closed in. Don’t take me aboard your ship , she wanted to say, but the words never came. The last thing she remembered seeing was his eyes.
Chapter 5
Mutual Respect
Randvior firmly believed Noelle’s fainting spell to be a ruse to buy time for her father’s men to launch a rebellion.
Her breath caught in her throat. This unexpected confession pushed her closer to hysteria. She should hate everything about him—but he had played her protector and spared her family. He was taking her away from the only world she’d ever known. Godless heathen. And if she surrendered, everything she had hoped for in life and considered special, including honor, would surely be lost.
“Your brother parted easily with you, if I swore to leave this castle standing and spare the lives of his men. It was an astute decision on his part, but a clear indication of where his loyalties lie—with himself. We greatly outnumber your men.”
Why did he speak of this now? “But . . .” She struggled with her thoughts. “. . . I saw how many bodies littered this hall and the courtyard. Not all were my father’s guards.”
“Aye,” he said. “Many died, even some of my own soldiers.”
“And my sister, Ophelia, was she part of your unconscionable bargain?” She shuddered.
He stood in a warrior-like stance, with his barrel chest pushed out and his nostrils flared. His face darkened. “Her death changed everything.”
Noelle found some consolation in the fact that she had ruffled his emotions so easily. Not made of stone. Maybe he wasn’t dumb as dirt after all.
“I am not the type of man that condones the unnecessary killing of women and children. Despite what you assume, my men are held to higher standards than most. Above all things, I strive to be a fair man. There are limits to my violence, and my patience .”
She hung on those last words and shut her eyes to avoid his penetrating stare. But his face was forever imprinted in her mind. She felt her most intimate feelings were on display for him alone to judge. “I don’t care if I’m a pawn in your twisted game. But my sister’s death is only further proof of why your kind should be wiped off the face of the earth—annihilated for the crimes you commit. Have you no shame?” Before she could even think, she reached up and slapped him so hard she left a perfect outline of her tiny hand on his cheek. “When did you find the time to barter for me as part of your plunder?”
He looked at her with amazement.
Randvior folded his hands over his stomach and sucked in a breath. She guessed his first reaction should be to beat her senseless for striking him.
“I did not offer those terms late this morning.”
“When then?” she demanded.
“Minutes after I saw you in the hall . . .”
Why didn’t she remember seeing him amongst the fighters? Surely a man of his impressive stature, whether helmeted or not, would have attracted her attention. Letting the sequence of events play out in her mind, she recalled the red-haired mongrel that had attacked her.
Realization.
Her jaw dropped.
Someonehad repelled him. A man she had assumed was one of her father’s conscripts.
“You?” she asked severely. “You shielded me so I could escape?” She never meant to say it out loud. “ You defended me?” It slipped out sounding more like an angry accusation than gratitude. Bewildered, she stepped back.
“The day is fast approaching when you will see things with more clarity.”
Something scarily infinite sounded in what he said. And he didn’t deny her assertion. Or confirm it. All sense abandoned her and she categorically denied the existence of any obligation to him. Sharp pain in her chest made her wince and she felt suddenly lightheaded. If only she had eaten more before drinking a full serving of wine.
The look on his face changed to grave concern. Before Noelle could guess why, he swept her off her feet. She flailed weakly in protest as darkness closed in. Don’t take me aboard your ship , she wanted to say, but the words never came. The last thing she remembered seeing was his eyes.
Chapter 5
Mutual Respect
Randvior firmly believed Noelle’s fainting spell to be a ruse to buy time for her father’s men to launch a rebellion.
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