Page 1 of Ruthless, But for Her

CHAPTER 1

Ashton

April 1272, Anglo-Scottish Border

The scout's report changed nothing. Ashton's decision was already made.

The trouble, as always, would be getting Ryker to agree.

He stood at the edge of the docks watching men move cargo. Ropes creaked. Torchlight attempted to burn through the mist and fog and failed, mostly. Mere's End before dawn, just as he liked it best. Everyone had a job to do, and not doing it could cost a day's wages.

It could cost your life.

“There you are.”

He'd been expecting the voice. Already knew what Ryker would say.

“I've thought about the plan.” Ryker fell into step beside him without invitation, which was how he did everything. “After last week's debacle, I really do think a show of force is necessary.”

Of course he did. Ryker always thought a show of force was necessary.

Ashton considered how to measure his response. He thought of invoking Leif. Urging caution was practically the man's religion, and even Ryker, who deferred to almost no one, usually yielded to their captain. But that was a card best saved.

“Well? Say something.”

If there was a man in Mere's End less patient than Ryker, Ashton didn't know him.

A dockworker passed them, his furtive glance owing to nothing in particular, or everything. That was the nature of this place. No one looked directly at anything they didn't want to be asked about later.

“Are we planning to stand here all morning? Margot was looking for you.”

“For what?”

“Wool shipment.”

Ashton said nothing. Margot always had a reason that wasn't the reason.

“It's an unmarked merchant vessel,” Ashton said. “We go in under oars, no sails. They'll know us and they'll capitulate without incident.”

Ryker was shaking his head before he finished. “You can't be sure of that. Last time we ran a quiet approach on that route, they tried to run. They recognized us and felt emboldened enough to attempt it. I still think we should have gone after them.”

He wasn't wrong about that part. But he was drawing the wrong conclusion from it.

They both knew what Leif had been thinking when he named Ryker Battle Commander. Ryker was smart and bold, and if The Einar's reputation had built over these past six months, much of it was his doing. But on this particular run, he was wrong.

“We lost our land route,” Ashton said. “Unnecessary attention from the English crown is the last thing we need right now.”

Ryker didn't disagree. That was something.

“What do you think about Leif's suggestion to increase the sea-tax rate?”

Ryker's peace offering was a signal the argument was behind them.

“I think it's worth a discussion. Sorren believes it's a good idea.” Ashton glanced at him. “What do you think?”

It was the reason he'd come down to the docks this early, not for the answer, but for this. Just in time for the sun to make its attempt at the horizon, burning the fog back in long pale strips across the water. The sea could bring the hardest men to their knees with a sight like that. He'd seen it happen. He'd felt it happen, though he would not have said so aloud.

If Ashton was moved by it, Ryker was more so. He'd taken to Leif's instruction almost immediately, a sea captain without ever quite realizing it.