Page 23 of The Tempest
“I’m Scots,” he said. “Maude is my mother.”
“But you said that you are not a pirate.”
He shook his head. “I am not.”
“What are you?”
“A highly skilled knight,” he said. “I’m also a trainer at the Blackchurch Guild.”
“What is the Blackchurch Guild?”
“An advanced school for warriors,” he said. “We train some of the most elite fighters in the world.”
“Where is Blackchurch?”
“Devon.”
“Is that where I am?”
“Do ye not know where ye are?”
She shook her head. “I do not,” she admitted. “They would never tell me, and after we left Scotland, I lost track. I thought we might be in Wales.”
Now he was starting to understand why the woman was so belligerent. Kept in the dark about her whereabouts, treated like a criminal… He couldn’t honestly say he wouldn’t have reacted in the same fashion. As much as he felt some sympathy for her, that was usually something he kept well hidden. Payne’s dark secret was that he tended to be quite empathetic when it came to women in particular, and it was something he wasn’t proud of. He considered it a weakness, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel empathy for Astria’s plight.
“Ye’re in Devon, yer grace,” he said. “Ye came by way of the Bristol Channel, I’m guessing. Now that ye know where ye are, may I offer tae help ye?”
“Whatkindof help?”
He gestured at her. “Ye look as if ye could use a bath,” he said. “I could find ye some clean clothing, I think. If ye swear tae me ye’ll not try tae escape, I can arrange for yer comfort.”
The suggestion seemed to perk her up a little. “A bath?” she said.
“Aye.”
She thought on that, but not for long. Soon enough, she was nodding quickly. “Aye,” she said. “I would like that.”
“I’ll not tie ye back up if ye promise not tae run.”
“I promise.”
“I’ll even find a comfortable bed for ye.”
Astria nodded so much that Payne was certain her head was going to bob right off her neck. It was the most enthusiasm, and even joy, that he’d seen since he first met her. He was fairly certain it was genuine, but he couldn’t be sure. He extended a hand to her, encouraging her to come with him, but this was the moment of truth. Either she was willing to trust him or she wasn’t. This was the instance that would define if he could trust her in return.
Trulytrust her.
As she hesitantly came toward him, he gently grasped her arm and lowered his voice.
“If ye are lying tae me in any way, then know this,” he muttered. “I’ll never trust ye again. Ye’ll lose the only ally ye have in this entire situation, so dunna be stupid. Dunna give me a reason tae regret this moment.”
She looked at him sharply as if wanting to snap at him, but the words died on her tongue. He wasn’t threatening her. He was simply stating a fact.
Something told Astria not to test him.
Perhaps just this once, she wouldn’t.
With his iron grip on her arm, she allowed him to lead her out into the cool, damp night.
