Ever the Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1)(9)

“The guards are not optional,” Lord Jamis says as he crosses to his desk and rolls out a map. “The kingdom’s fiefdoms are not as heavily manned now that the lords have sent their best men to the border. Travel alone would be dangerous. And there’s a chance the hunt may take you over the border. You’ll need Captain Omar and his men for protection.”

“Shaerdan?” I ask, unable to hide my disbelief that Cohen would flee Malam without the king’s consent. He’d be marked as a traitor. Punishment would be torture until he begged for the mercy of the noose. Then again, he’s already accused of murdering the king’s bounty hunter. What would it matter if he became a traitor as well?

Tomas, the wiry fox-like guard, stiffened when I mentioned Shaerdan. I wonder if he’s more concerned about the imminent war or the country’s dark magic. He catches me watching him and glowers.

The captain approaches Lord Jamis and looks over the map. His finger punches a spot on the parchment. “We’ll leave tomorrow at first light. See that our tracker is outfitted to draw less attention.”

Lord Jamis eyes my tangled hair, my soiled skirt, and nods in agreement.

“Maybe the scrant will clean up enough for tasting.” Off to my right side, Tomas leers.

Leif doesn’t react, but my limbs go rigid. Tomas’s comment promises unwanted attention that would lead to his death and then mine for murdering the vile man when he dared touch me. Behind Lord Jamis, Cohen’s dagger taunts me from the desktop. It could mean my escape. No longer restrained by manacles, I could easily maneuver around the high lord and swipe it. If I put it to the fox’s throat, I could use the diversion to get out of this room. Sprint down the castle halls. Reach the stairwell. But then how would I get past the guards at the gate?

Regardless, I cannot stomach using the blade that ended Papa’s life.

Forgetting that plan, I make a note to avoid Tomas as the guards follow Captain Omar out of the study. Another option of escape will present itself. At least, I hope it will.

“A bath and clothing will be brought to the dungeon,” Lord Jamis tells me.

I tear my eyes from Cohen’s dagger. “I haven’t agreed to go.”

A confused frown settles over his mouth.

It makes sense that someone in my position, facing death, would agree to his offer, but he doesn’t understand that I’ve already lost everything. Or maybe he does and thinks vengeance is enough to sway my decision. It should be.

“You want me to agree to tracking down my father’s killer.” It sounds wrong, so wrong to say. “For what? My life for his? What life do I have to return to? The king has my land and my home, so there’s nowhere for me to go. Without shelter for winter, I’ll be dead anyway. That is, if the captain or his men don’t kill me first.”

“The captain requested to go as part of the agreement, to ensure you fulfill your end of this bargain. You have nothing to fear if you uphold your end of the deal.” Lord Jamis moves behind his desk and stares at me almost sympathetically. “And the other guards will do you no harm. Trust me.”

I’ve never had the luxury of trusting anyone besides my father and Cohen. Though clearly trust has done little for me, seeing as how one of the men I put my faith in is dead and the other an accused murderer. I’m certainly not going to start trusting anyone else now.

When I give no response, he leans forward, elbows on the desk. “Perhaps there’s more I could offer as an incentive.” He is quieter than before, and the drop in his pitch becomes more ardent, drawing me in. “By law, you cannot inherit your father’s land because you were born outside of a legal marriage. But if you find Mackay, I’ll grant you ownership of the land and cottage.”

Another truth.

I suck in a breath, shocked that I’ve been able to push him into offering so much. “Impossible. You cannot make that happen.”

His smile graces the space above his trimmed ebony beard as he spreads his arms, pressing his hands flat on the desk in a way that widens his shoulders. “I have the power to decide a hunter’s bounty. As high lord, I oversee King Aodren’s lands. If your cottage is what you want, then I can give that to you.”

I’ll be able to keep everything Papa left, not just the dagger. I would have a home. Papa’s home. My home.

My life and my land for Cohen—?the offer sickens me as much as it thrills me.

Can I really hunt down my only friend? But that’s just it. He isn’t my friend.

“The country has been disgraced by Saul’s murder. And you’ve lost a father,” he says, drawing my attention back to Papa. “It may be an unexpected payout, but as you said, you’ll have no home to which to return. The land is nothing to the king. Mend Malam’s pride and get justice for your father, and the cottage will be yours when you return.”

Papa was all I had left. My decision is for him. I press my hand to the pain beneath my sternum.

“I’ll go.”



My washed hair is braided and tucked beneath a boy’s cap, which the captain provided, along with trousers and a tunic. Captain Omar informed me I’d be traveling as a boy to draw less notice. Fine with me. Trousers are more comfortable than skirts and, in this aspect, being small-breasted has its benefits.

“Shackle her,” the captain tells Tomas as he enters my cell.