The Black Knight held his hand out. “The sword.”
For some unknown reason, she almost complied. But one look at Jamie and she knew she couldn’t cede their best chance. She took a step toward the Black Knight.
She angled her blade straight for his throat and to her amazement, he didn’t budge or flinch. He merely stared at her with those black, soulless eyes. Calm. Patient. Like an adder waiting for its prey to come close enough for it to strike.
She paused.
Then, before she could blink, he stepped forward with an amazing speed, caught the tip of the blade between his forearms, and flipped her sword out of her hands. It arced high into the air, spinning as it fell. He caught the hilt easily in his hand, then twirled it about once before burying the blade deep in the ground beside him.
His smile was even colder than before. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to tempt the devil unless you were willing to pay his fee?”
Callie’s fingers stung from the way the hilt had been torn from her grasp, but she said nothing. In truth, she didn’t know what to respond. All she knew was that he had defeated her. No one had ever disarmed her before.
And he hadn’t even drawn his own weapon. The humiliation of it stung her deeply.
“Now, what do you think we should do with this scamp?” the knight holding Jamie asked.
“A good whipping should suffice, followed by cleaning out a cesspit or two.”
“Nay!” she shouted, but they paid her no heed.
All the knights laughed except the Black Knight. His eyes blazed furiously at the others. “Release the boy,” he said with that same calm tone.
“Come now, my lord. Can we not have a bit of fun with him?”
He turned his fearsome obsidian stare to the knight who had spoken. “My idea of amusement is disemboweling those who contradict and annoy me. What say you that you and I have a bit of fun?”
The knight paled, then instantly released Jamie. Her brother ran to her side and balled his fists into the course material of her skirt.
“Did you see what he did?” Jamie asked in a loud whisper. “Aster would die to know you let an unarmed Sassenach take your sword away.”
“Sh,” Callie said softly, holding him to her side with one arm as she faced the Black Knight.
The man’s gaze never wavered. “I think ‘tis time you return to your room, milady.”
Callie lifted her chin in a worthless form of challenge. He knew as well as she did that he had bested her.
This time.
But next time, she would find a way to beat these Englishmen, and get the two of them home where they belonged.
Holding her head as high as she could, she turned and headed back toward the castle with Jamie still clutching her skirt.
The maid held the door open for her and actually flinched as the Black Knight drew near.
He followed them back up the stairs. And even worse than the strange hot and cold feeling running through her body was the way Jamie kept glancing back at the knight with worshipful awe showing clearly on his young face.
“Tell me,” Callie said over her shoulder as she neared the top of the stairs. “Why is everyone so afraid of you?”
For the first time, she heard just a hint of bitterness in the Black Knight’s voice. “Everyone fears the devil. Don’t you?”
Callie scoffed at his words. “You are a man, sir. Not the devil.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“Truly?” His voice was edged by humor. “Are you a witch, then, to be on such familiar terms with the devil?”
