Page 6 of Till Kingdom Come

I fidgeted a little nervously. “I’m sure I meant no offense by them.”

“Then say so. Apologize,” Bracca replied in a soft growl, his gaze steady on my face.

“I didn’t mean to be insulting. I’m sorry.”

“Hmm.”

Was that all I was going to get in reply? Apparently so, because Ellien rushed to fill in the silence. “You aren’t reconsidering your trade, are you, sir? Killian is well worth consideration, He’s a knight in training—and already a champion.”

Was Ellien bringing me up as histrade?No, it couldn’t be. I stared at him in dawning horror.

Bracca raised one eyebrow. “A champion? Pray tell me, a champion of what?”

“I believe he means in the tournaments. I’ve won many events,” I said, interrupting. If this discussion was about me, then I had things to say. “But what’s this all about?”

“Which events have you won?” Bracca asked and I had the strangest feeling he was playing with me like a cat with a mouse he just caught.

“Mostly in sparring, because I’m not really a knight yet, but I love jousting and all types of fighting , and I’m very good with a sword. Perhaps you just don’t understand how noblemen do things. Perhaps you and I could fight, and we could wager on my freedom as the outcome.”

That earned me a raised eyebrow, along with a look of something bordering on anger, but I kept going. “If I am to be the trade, as I’m coming to understand,” I glared over at Ellien. “Then it would be the honorable, chivalrous thing to do—to allow me to win my freedom with my sword.”

“Honorable? Chivalrous? The mortal ‘knights’ I’ve encountered are anything but that. They’re criminals, who roam about the countryside, spoiling for a fight and accosting private citizens going about their lawful business.”

My mouth fell open in shock. “That’s absolutely not true.”

He leaned in closer. “It absolutely is. Are you calling me a liar?”

“No, of course not. But-but you’re wrong. Knights aren’t criminals at all. They put onmock fights as sport. Sometimes, it’s in honor ofcoronations, marriages, and births—anything the nobles want to celebrate. Even recent conquests or treaties. Other times tournaments are held for no particular reason at all, but simply for entertainment.”

“Entertainment?” he asked in a sneering voice.

“Yes. Or challenges. Sometimes war games.”

“Pray tell me, what does a boy like you know about war?”

“Perhaps nothing yet, but I hope to. One day. Tournaments are popular and people love to watch them. There is the joust, which is a duel with lances between two knights. It’s very exciting. And then there’s themeleethat involves groups of fighters.And of course—thepas d'armes.”

“Ah, yes. I happen to be personally familiar with that last one.”

“You are? Then you know that a group of knights will stake out a well-traveled spot, like a bridge or city gate, and let it be known that any other knights who wish to pass must first fight or be disgraced. If they choose not to fight, they must hand over their spurs as a sign of their cowardice. It’s a good way for knights to keep their military skills sharp, and to win fame, honor, and prizes. There certainly is nothingcriminalabout it.”

“Yes, I imagine it’s also a good way for the ‘knightly’thievesto steal the property of others. Like you and your friends did with me.”

My jaw dropped with shock. “What? Me? And my friends? Why, what do you mean?”

“I mean you and your friends are brigands and outlaws who steal from passersby. Along with your knights and squires, who are even more obnoxious than other mortals, which I do admit is quite an accomplishment. In reality, you’re little more than highwaymen and robbers, harassing unsuspecting travelers and assaulting them with unprovoked aggression. There’s little of good sense and absolutely no honor in any of this. You and your friends stopped me and my father at a bridge to steal two pounds from us along with my spurs. Such disrespect and dishonor should be answered for. And you’re going to answer for it.”

I was shocked at what he said, because I remembered the occasion well. But that man—the one who had pulled me up on his horse—had not been this prince. Or had it?

“My God, were you—were you in disguise?”

“Yes. I’m sure you remember.”

“B-but I explained it to you, and I told you we weren’t thieves.”

“As you proceeded to steal from me.”

“I’m not a thief!”

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