Page 27 of The Robber Knight
“So, Reuben. What would a merchant be doingout alone in the forest?”
Pensively, Reuben stared at the texture ofthe stone wall. What on earth was it that merchants did? Theyalways seemed to be rich when he robbed them, and trying to getricher, but how did they do it? What did they do to get all theirmoney?
“Looking for people to trade with?” hesuggested.
“Wouldn't a market be a better place forthat?” Burchard's voice undoubtedly contained traces ofsarcasm.
“Well, that was where I was heading,actually. I was going to... Frankfurt with a few bags of rarespices, when I ran into this group of mercenaries. They demandedthat I give them all my wares and become their prisoner.”
“And did you?”
“I probably would have,” Reuben said,slipping increasingly into his role. “After all, I'm just acowardly, helpless merchant. What was I to do?”
“Yes, very helpless,” said Burchard, andReuben could feel the man's gaze boring into him, examining thethick bands of muscles around his legs, arms, and torso. “And howexactly did you end up with three arrows in your back, helplessmerchant, if you didn't fight?”
“I don't really know. Suddenly I heardscreams, and these other men came charging out of the forest,attacking the mercenaries. They must have been robbers, I think.The next thing I can remember is waking up here.”
“I'm sorry, Reuben,” he heard Ayla's voice.He almost didn't recognize it, because her tone was so soft andhesitating for a change. “That must have been a terribleexperience. I... I realize the things they did to you must hurtvery badly. I'm doing my best to fix it as quickly as possible, Ipromise. I'd be quicker if he,” she shot Burchard a look, “didn'tinterrupt me all the time.”
“And that is all?” Burchard asked, not payingany attention to her.
Hmm... Reubenthought. Burchard still seemed skeptical. How to make them bothbelieve his story? How best to play his role? Well, there was oneway... “No, not really. There's one thing: you didn't by any chancefind my wares, did you?”
“No, we didn't,” Ayla said. “I'm sorry. Therobbers must have carried them off.”
Reuben sighed. “That is unfortunate. I guess,in that case, I have no choice but to demand compensation.”
“Compensation?” Now the girl's tone wassuspicious. “From whom?”
“Why, from you, of course, Milady. After all,you are the lady of these lands, are you not? As such you areresponsible for upholding law and order within your domain. May Inot expect compensation when I am wronged?”
She gasped and her hands flinched away fromhis back.
“You... you... ungrateful piece of...” shestuttered. “I just saved your life today!”
“And I'm very grateful for that,” he said, ina pleasant voice. “However, if you had done your job properly andupheld law and order in your lands, there wouldn't have been anyneed to save my life in the first place, now, would there? But, asI said, I'm very grateful. If I now receive the compensation thatis my due, I will have nothing to wish for.”
She uttered a sound that was somewherebetween a moan and a growl. It was cute, and he couldn't suppress agrin, particularly when he heard Burchard's laugh and knew that hisstrategy had worked.
“All right,” the elderly man chuckled. “Youreally are a merchant. As for your compensation...”
“...We won't throw you out of the window,”Ayla finished the sentence. “How's that for compensation?”
He dipped his head, graciously. “Mostgenerous, Milady. Exactly what I would have expected from you.”
Burchard sniggered again, and Ayla returnedto washing Reuben's back, with considerably more force thanbefore.
“Burchard,” she said, “be a good steward andgo and tell Dilli that I will be needing another bowl of water.Don't worry about what will happen while you're not here to watch.I promise I won’t kill him—for now.”
Burchard grunted and went to the door.Apparently, he was satisfied enough with Reuben's story to leavehim alone for the moment—a fact that would have pleased the knightconsiderably, were it not for Ayla's words.
I promise I won't killhim—for now.
Reuben's throat went dry because the wordswere all too close to reality for his liking. She could kill him atany moment, if she chose to. All she had to do was call her guards.In his weakened state, Reuben would not be able to resist them.
Yes, she could kill him—and she would, ifever she found out who he really was.
Angrily, he clenched his teeth together. Howcome he had almost forgotten that? How come he had felt relaxed,amused, even somewhat at home here in this castle, in this room? Hewas in the midst of his enemies! It was not like him to forgetsomething like that.
