Evander did not flinch. “I choose neither.”
Hunter’s brow creased. “That’s nae an option.”
“Nevertheless.”
“Nay, nay, daenae yeneverthelessme, Evander. If ye stay here, I will kill ye. Yer only choice is to defend yerself, so draw yer sword.”
Evander held Hunter’s gaze for a long moment. He sensed the crowd holding its breath. A few soldiers had gathered, sweating, but held back, not wanting to interrupt. One brave soul tried to step forward, but Hunter stopped him in his tracks with one sharp, livid look.
The message was clear: their Laird would be the one to deal with Evander.
Slowly, Evander dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword. Slowly, he pulled the blade free. Hunter’s eyes glittered. His stance widened, preparing for battle. His grip on the hilt tightened. His shoulders lowered, core tightening, feet shifting.
Hunter was a good fighter; Evander knew that. It would be a hard-won battle. The only possible ending was blood and death.
Well, perhaps nae the only possible ending.
Evander held out his sword at arm’s length, out to the side. Fixing his gaze on Hunter’s face, he let it go.
The sword clattered and clanged across the uneven cobblestones, coming to rest with its shiny silver point submerged in a muddy puddle. Gasps rippled through the crowd, everybody craning their necks to get a good look at the weapon.
Hunter’s eyes widened. A muscle in his jaw pulsed, probably in annoyance.
“What are ye doing?” he hissed. “Pick it up. Pick it up now.”
“Nay,” Evander answered simply.
“Yemustpick it up. I willnae kill an unarmed man. This is a duel. We are having a duel, ye and I.”
“Nae exactly.Yeare trying to duel with me. It’s nae the same.”
With a hiss of fury, Hunter stepped forward, sword still poised. The point now rested against the center of Evander’s chest. Evander could feel the pinprick sharpness of it. If he glanced down, he could see the stormy skies reflected in the polished-glass shine of the blade. As he watched, a single, fat drop fell, splattering across the metal and blurring the reflection.
More drops followed, landing heavy and cold on the top of his head, on his shoulders, and trickling down his collar. They fell on Hunter too, rapidly dampening his dark hair.
This time, nobody from the crowd left despite the bad weather. They hunched over, pulling up their hoods and squinting against the worsening rain, focused on the scene before them. The cobbles rapidly grew dark and slick, new puddles forming. The rain, a shivering susurrus, filled the silence. Nobody was talking.
“Pick. Up. Yer. Sword,” Hunter hissed through gritted teeth. “If nae, I will have to kill ye. Do ye think I willnae?”
“I daenae ken what I think,” Evander responded, honestly enough. “But I’ve told ye why I am here. I must speak to Skye. Please, let me speak to her. It… It matters. She can send me away if she likes, and if she sends me away, I’ll go at once. I’ll nae complain. No arguing. I’ll leave, and I’ll never come back. I’ll arrange the annulment. I’ll?—”
“Ye havenae already begun to arrange the annulment?” Hunter burst out. “Oh, ye are a selfish bastard, are ye nae? Listen to me now. I’ll nae let ye speak to her. I willnae let ye hurt her again. So, this is yer final chance.Leave.”
He leaned forward, just a little. Just a few inches, but it was enough for the razor-sharp point of the sword to dig into Evander’s skin. The pain increased, sharp and focused. Warmth slid down from where the point pierced his skin, and he knew without looking that it was blood.
It would take little effort for Hunter to finish it all and push forward, driving his sword all the way through Evander’s chest. The blade was sharp enough, and he was strong enough. There’d be no real resistance.
Evander kept his arms by his sides and met Hunter’s gaze squarely.
“I willnae leave, Hunter,” he answered calmly. “I must speak to her. I must see her.”
Hunter blinked, surprise flashing in his eyes.
He really thought I was going to give in.
“Very well, then,” he said, shifting his stance. “Ye leave me no choice, Evander. I will have to kill ye.”
A panicked voice rang out through the tensely silent courtyard.
“Hunter, nay! Wait!”
