Page 56 of The Threadbare Queen

Luc moved faster.

The tip of his own sword rested under Hurst’s chin before he’d managed to get a grip on his pommel.

“Tell your soldiers to dismount.” Luc kept his tone even.

“You misunderstood me—”

One of Massi’s arrows arced up and landed with a thud beside Hurst’s horse’s front hooves.

The horse blew out a breath and pawed the ground, and the edge of Luc’s sword nicked the delicate skin beneath Hurst’s chin.

A thin line of blood welled up.

The Jatan lieutenant’s eyes wheeled a little in his head as he tried to see where the arrow had come from.

“We have archers, we have soldiers, we have you surrounded and we are unhappy at what we have found here. Tell your soldiers to dismount.”

Hurst didn’t have to tell them anything. All nine of them, five men and four women, slid off their horses, hands up, swords and bows still in their scabbards.

“Take their weapons and their horses,” Luc called to Marcus.

The village councillor jogged over with a couple of villagers to obey.

“Kill them all,” the woman screamed from the corner of the field. “I want them dead.”

Everyone went still.

“Her son’s body lies behind you,” Luc said. “She has a right to want vengeance. These are not combatants. There was no honor or even logic in killing anyone here.”

Hurst closed his eyes and grimaced. “He attacked us.”

“What with, a stick?” Luc let the full contempt he felt for Hurst to come through in his tone. “So given your armor, your weapons, and the number of soldiers you had around you, is he dead because of your lack of control or your blood lust?”

One of Hurst’s soldiers actually gasped and Hurst’s eyes snapped open.

He looked at Luc as if he would like to kill him by any means possible.

Marcus and the handful of villagers had reached them, and two of them led the horses away, including the carts, while Marcus and the rest collected bows, arrows, swords and knives.

When they had everything except Hurst’s gear, Luc flicked a sidelong look at Revek.

“With pleasure,” Rev said. He didn’t need Luc to spell it out. He dismounted, moved to Hurst and unstrapped his scabbard, tossing it, with the sword still inside, to Marcus. He patted Hurst down, collecting two knives, and then stepped back, his own sword out. “Off the horse.”

Hurst glared at Luc, who withdrew his own sword so the lieutenant could slide off his saddle.

When he was on the ground, Marcus sent a young girl to collect the reins and lead the horse away.

“It doesn’t make up for the two lives lost, but it’s some compensation,” Luc said.

Marcus nodded. “What’ll you do with them?” He tilted his head toward the Jatan.

“As I said, I need to speak to their commanding officer. They can lead me to him.”

Marcus hesitated. “Be careful. And thank you. I am happy that I never have to see the Queen’s Herald again.”

“Let’s go.” Revek gestured with an arm, and Hurst and his soldiers started walking through the mud of the field back to the lane. Revek swung back onto his horse and stopped close to Luc.

“That one wants you dead,” he murmured, eyes on Hurst’s stiff back.

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