So, I walked. And walked. And waited for him to give me answers.
“You thought I was a bandit,” he said after several moments of silence. “Because of the attacks?”
“Yeah,” I answered, hoping the guttural growling I heard was my hungry stomach and not some horrifying monster lurking in the shadows waiting for the perfect time to strike. “They’ve looted the towns around Bremloc for the past few months before venturing closer to the capital. Maddox—” I snapped my mouth shut as my throat got tight. “Um, I mean, some of the knights think someone is behind it all. Like it’s leading to something bigger.”
“It is. Well, partly. Money is certainly the motivation of some.”
I stumbled. “So youareone of them.”
“No, I’m not,” Rowan answered. Realizing he’d grabbed my waist to keep me from falling, he jerked his hand away and used it to push my shoulder again in an unspoken demand to keep moving. So I did. “I’ve been traveling from town to town for a while and happened upon a group of men in a small tavern. One drank too much ale and let a few things slip.”
“Things like what?”
“How all of this started,” he said. “Someone met with the leader of a gang of bandits and told him to spread word amongst his ranks, as well as to other groups, about an opportunity to earn more coin than any of them would ever dream of having. All they needed to do was stir up turmoil in the lands around the capital before invading the kingdom.”
“Why?”
“To create a diversion,” Rowan said. “A sleight of hand, you could say. Draw attention to Point A in order to leave Point B wide open.”
I mulled over his words. “So their goal is to be noticed. To be as loud and violent as possible to draw attention while someone else does something sneaky behind the scenes? But who? And what?”
“Many of the bandits weren’t privy to that information, and rightly so. The more people who know, the bigger chance the plan would be compromised.” Rowan leapt up and snagged an apple from a low-hanging branch. He wiped it on his shirt before offering it to me.
“Nope. I’m good. I’ve eaten one demonic apple too many.”
“Suit yourself.” He took a bite. “It would’ve helped disguise your scent. And I bet you smell awfully tasty to the demon that’s been stalking us for the past half hour.”
“What? Give me that apple.” I rushed to his side.
Rowan chuckled before handing me the fruit. I took a bite and shifted my gaze around as I chewed. Hopefully it worked its magic and soon.
“Fortunately for me,” he continued, “the drunkard in the tavern heard of the real plan behind everything from one of the mercenaries hired for the job. News then spread to several of the bandits, and many branched off from the main group in hopes of earning even more coin than what was already promised to them. That’s when I decided to try my hand at it. One thing led to another, and here we are now. The end.”
“No, notthe end. I still have too many questions.”
“What a surprise.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass. What’s the real plan?” Another question poked at my brain. “You said earliersomeoneapproached the bandit leader and started all of this. Who?”
Rowan smiled. “A servant from the palace. Or so I heard.”
“Palace?”
“From the kingdom of Haran.”
I paused mid-bite.
“Finally, some recognition in those emerald eyes of yours,” Rowan said. “These bandit attacks were orchestrated by the kingdom Bremloc is at war with. Haran sent bandits and mercenaries to your kingdom. As for the real reason behind all of this?” He reached out and gripped the side of my neck. “You.”
The processing center in my brain broke. I stared at him, struggling to understand a word. I was also acutely aware of how warm his palm was against my neck. “Me? But why? What did I ever do to the kingdom of Haran?”
How did anyone from Haran even know about me? None of this shit made a lick of sense.
“Ah, I’m sure it’s nothing personal,” Rowan responded, veering on mocking. “Everyone thinks you’re a goddamn saint. Kindhearted, poised, well-spoken, and all of that. A true man of the people. But unfortunately for you, little treasure, your bloodline is rooted in a decades long conflict. Capturing you would give Haran the advantage in said conflict and turn the tides in the war. You would be at King Silas’ mercy, and your father would have no choice but to agree to his demands or risk you losing your head.”
Suddenly, understanding slammed into me. “Wait.” A laugh bubbled up in my chest. Not that any of this was funny. No, not at all. It was just so freaking absurd I couldn’t even believe it. “Who do you think I am, Rowan?”
He frowned. “What kind of question is that?”
