Page 63 of The Mercenary

Noreham started to walk, so Guy followed.

That’s when he saw them. From this vantage point, the entire Bande de Valeur camp was visible. White tent after white tent. Hundreds of men. The largest mercenary army in the world.

“Why do you believe they are here?” Noreham asked.

Guy did not hesitate.

“To fight for the king. Against his own people.”

“John says otherwise.”

Guy nearly laughed. “Does anyone believe they are here simply to ensure peace?” He looked Noreham directly in the eyes. “Do you?”

The answer was suddenly as clear as glass. Guy Lavallais might be a famous swordsman, but he was an idiot.

How could he have made such a grave mistake in judgement? Never in his life had he been so unaware, but of course, he knew the answer.

He had misread this situation with Noreham so erroneously because he was deeply in love with his wife. She’d eclipsed everything else.

Chapter 31

“Go now, my lady.”

“But—”

“Ol’ Roger never led a battle or defended a castle against a siege. But he’s lived three of your lifetimes, and he’s tellin’ you to go. Now.”

Sabine’s father had always told her that while it was a mistake to trust the wrong person, it was a much worse error to trust none at all. Though she had coin, along with the promissory note she refused to use under any circumstances since doing so would implicate both Guy and the bishop, Sabine knew no one in town other than Master Roger.

If she hoped to save the man she loved, she needed to get to the Earl of Licheford, and soon. Which meant she required help. Although it chafed her pride to admit she could not go alone, she knew it was so. Time was of the essence.

Teary-eyed and unable to form the words at first, she’d broken down nearly the moment she entered the shop. Sabine had then proceeded to tell Roger everything.

He’d immediately suggested that she hire the services of Eric the Earl.

“My father would never have trusted a man named Eric the Earl with my safety,” she mused. Most especially, she added silently, since he was a disgraced knight and not an earl at all.

“Would he trust me?” Roger pressed.

“Aye. As I do.”

“I knew Eric’s grandfather. And his father. He’d served the earl until a disagreement put them at odds.”

According to Roger, it had been quite the scandal some years ago, though none knew the circumstances behind Eric’s dismissal. One day, he’d been removed from the castle. He was never seen speaking to Noreham again. Spending his days in the field with his father and nights training for tournaments, which he still regularly won, Eric began to style himself “Eric the Earl.” It seemed a jest between him and, well, himself.

When Sabine reluctantly agreed to his suggestion, Roger left her in the shop to speak with Eric. Sure enough, he was more than willing to escort her.

But Guy had asked her to wait until morning.

She said as much to Roger.

“You admit he is likely in danger,” the older man said, insistent. “As are you, my lady. Please do not delay.”

She hesitated.

Go to Roger and stay there. If I am not back by morning, flee.

His instructions had been quite clear, and yet . . . if she had not listened to her parents, perhaps Sabine would not have been imprisoned in Holybourne Abbey.