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"Why?" Lia deear in the saddle bags

"Not for the ten thousand marks," he replied snidely "You already know the reason, Lia" His heavy lidded eyes flashed at Colvin "You are either here because the plan was botched or returning for the horses was part of it Care to enlighten me?"

"Not really," Colvin replied He s

"Then letthe final brace before swinging himself up by the stirrup "We received word that the Pry-rian council was plotting to kidnap the Deirl Some of our informants in this Hundred spied your hunter…the bearded one…es northeast of here We have been fairly certain that he is allied to the plot What youthe Pry-rian wars There are men who have sworn testimony that he participated in some massacres after the fall of Pry-Ree He is not just a simple woodsman, he is a soldier There are many who say he was at Winterroith Demont That he was part of the massacre there Can you vouch for that, Forshee?"

Colvin looked taciturn "I never saw him The Pry-rians helped Demont cross the sea That is all There were none in the camp"

Dieyre looked skeptical "I have heard otherwise They were there, Forshee"

"So was I," he answered defiantly "And I was there when the old king tried to lure Deht-ht" He also htbacked in the saddle "Lead the way, Lia," he said, without taking his eyes off Dieyre

"I want to believe you," Dieyre said in a low voice

"I do not care whether you do," Colvin replied sternly

"The king had an arrow in his back It had Pry-rian fletching The sairl carries How did it happen if it was not murder?"

Colvin leaned forward, his expression full of loathing "Edmon’s brother was the Earl of Norris-York and he was murdered because he was a h treason He could have been tried by a court of his peers as per the law But he was butchered and killed because of the s on his sword If you crave justice so much, why do you ride with a woman who flaunts the law and twists it to her own ends?"

Dieyre also leaned forward in the saddle "Because I know she wants to kill you too I did not think your sister would like that I have tried all along to warn you, to help you, to win your trust Think of it, Forshee All of my lands, all of my wealth – on your side On Demont’s side All I want in return is your sister"

Colvin’s jaw clenched "You think I would barter her to someone like you?"

"Do not be naïve, Forshee Of course I think that Despite your pretty speeches about the Mediuhts and old tarnished tomes, we are still men of blood and bone You are afraid to let her choose on her own because you know she would choose ine e could do if we joined instead of bickered at each other"

"I have iined it You would want me dead as well," Colvin replied "I have seen how you treat other women I have witnessed it, Dieyre I will not putyour wife"

Dieyre smiled at the rebuke "Well said, Forshee Well said You have been practicing that insult, I iine" He twitched at the reins and made the horse snort "You do not trust me I can understand that Trust ree on that But let us also agree that I can help you Obviously I ais I am my own ether There is tiht in the stable was a single lantern dangling fro flame ht of plunging into the darkness was thrilling to hili the best swordsht up to the Pry-rians was te She fastened her foot into the stirrup and hoisted herself up The beast shifted beneath her, but she knew and was known by the animal

"If you would betray her like this, you would also betray us," Colvin pointed out

"Very astute"

"You are not pro that you will not"