Page 71 of The King's Man 3

He answers, staring hard at the king, who hasn’t so much as flickered. Almost like he expected this. “Now that everything is under control, we have scores to settle.”

“Is it not enough your men have been saved?”

He tries to shake me off, but I wrap myself around his arm. He looks at me and jerks his arm so I fall inwards, face to his face. He bares a toothy grin. “Feisty too. You’ll be fun.”

I don’t let his schmoozing shake me off. I grit my teeth and hold on. “Do you have no honour?”

“He has the good will of the townspeople. It’s not enough to pay for decades of neglect.” He looks over at the king. “If the gates open and you get away, they’ll be relieved for a few weeks, but then they’ll see nothing else has changed. Our stores will keep being taken for the benefit of the royal city, leaving us scraping by for food, for herbal supplies, for medicinal help. The magistrates who abandoned us will return to their costly homes and their wasteful consumption. All on the backs of us.”

Quin keeps his gaze evenly on Bastion, lets him continue, “You see this sword as a threat. I see it as our fight for salvation.”

“What will killing him help?” I cry.

Bastion laughs tightly. “The bounty for handing him over will keep the entire town afloat for at least a year.”

“Money? Money’s all you want?” I release him and step back. “If you get the same amount, will you let him go?”

Bastion lowers his sword, looking at me.

“I can give you that money.”

He prowls closer, the tip of his sword dragging along the floor.

My stomach knots, but I force a calm smile. “Enough to make sure you won’t need to touch him.”

His fingers lift my chin, and my pulse races with a mix of fury and unease. “You’re a pretty face. I’ll have more fun taking it from you.”

I grab his wrist, my grip firm despite my shaking fingers. “You won’t. Not because I’m pretty, or a healer, but because you’re better than this.”

For a moment, his grin falters, something genuine flickering in his eyes. He steps back with a bark of laughter, and I exhale sharply, my shoulders dropping. Quin’s gaze lingers on me, unreadable, but my chest tightens under its weight.

“When I give you the bounty money, you will let him go.”

Quin quietly observes this scene, his gaze shifting from me to Bastion, awaiting his response.

Bastion huffs out a laugh. “You really are his man. Fine. I agree. Give me the money, and I won’t waste any more time with him.”

From my cloak, I pull out the purse Megaera returned to me.

Quin leans forward to take it, his gaze pinning Bastion in place. “You raised a sword against me, and I let you. Because I know the weight you carry for your people.”

Bastion opens his mouth, but Quin cuts him off. “Don’t mistake my leniency for weakness. I could leave this town tomorrow, but I choose to stay because I understand the people here need support. Accept my offer, and ensure your people are cared for.”

Silence stretches between them, heavy and charged, before Bastion sheathes his sword. “What offer?”

Quin picks up a few sheets of paper from his desk. Magic leaks from his hand, pulling blood from his finger and staining it into a pattern at the bottom of each sheet. When he’s done, he hands them over.

Bastion reads the first sheet, his brow furrowing. As he flips to the next, his movements slow, his expression shifting from suspicion to disbelief.

“Do you mean it?” he asks, voice rough.

Quin’s tone is steady. “I certainly won’t allow the previous magistrates to return to their posts. You’ve proven your sincerity.”

Bastion clutches the papers like they’re a lifeline, his eyes darting between Quin and me. “You’re either a fool or braver than I thought.”

Quin inclines his head. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“This document is enough?”

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