Page 107 of The Champion

Kit nodded. “I was hiding the knife behind my back so that you couldn’t see it. You were so trusting of me as I stood there in debate, while my soul begged me to go ahead and kill you.”

“Yet, you refrained.”

“Aye. Because when I asked you what you were dreaming of you told me how much you regretted not saving me and I knew it for the truth. Your pain was too genuine to be feigned. I realized my masters had been playing with my mind, lying to me. I hadn’t seen you in years. You owed me, as Christopher, nothing at all and yet you reached out to me when no one ever had. God knows there are far too few men like you in this world. I couldn’t bring myself to kill you, even if it meant my dying in your place.”

Stryder frowned at his words. “What do you mean?”

Kit let out a deep, tired breath. “I was given two years to fulfill my bargain, and my time has since passed. I was told to either kill all of you or they would kill me.”

“No one has tried to kill you?”

“Not until today. It seems my masters have grown tired of dealing with us all and have sent in a new group to dispatch us.”

“How so?”

“Elizabeth was one of us,” he said wearily. “It appears she must have found Kalb al 'Akrab after all and confronted him. I know she didn’t finish all the names on her list, and she still had time to complete her mission. There was no other reason for her to die, and I know she didn’t drown. It’s just too coincidental.” Kit gave him a sheepish stare. “She was the one who framed you for Roger’s murder.”

“And Cyril’s? Why did you frame me for that one?”

“That was an unfortunate accident. The witness must have glimpsed me and thought, in the dark, that I was you. After all, how could Christopher de Montgomerie fell a knight of Cyril’s skill?”

Stryder took a deep breath to quell his conflicting emotions. He was angry at Kit and fate for what had happened, and he felt guilty for leaving his brother behind. Most of all, he felt sick that he had failed so many people so needlessly.

“Elizabeth thought she was doing me a favor by convicting you,” Kit said morbidly before he started away from Stryder. “I shall pack my things and leave your company.”

“What do you mean, leave?”

Kit paused to look back at him. “What else is there for me? You don’t want something like me in your company.”

Stryder’s temper broke. “What happened to you was never your fault. I was there, remember? I know the truth of what happened.”

Something akin to relief flashed in Kit’s eyes. There was still a wall between them, but he could feel Kit’s resistance to him faltering.

He was reaching his brother.

Stryder patted Kit on the back, then urged him toward the kitchen where Rowena had escaped to. “Come, we needs gather everyone together and find a solution to this.”

Kit stopped mid stride. “Will you tell them who I am?”

“Nay. Your secret is safe with me, little brother.”

Kit nodded gratefully as he followed along.

They found Rowena in the kitchen with a rolling pin held in her hands as if ready to do battle.

Stryder smiled at the sight of her there. She was truly lovely, but never more so than whenever she was holding her ground against anyone who threatened her.

She lowered her weapon. “Is the danger over?”

“Yea. Kit saved both our lives.”

Kit shook his head in denial. “All I did was warn you.”

Rowena smiled at his brother, then laid a quick, chaste kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Kit.”

Kit looked terribly embarrassed as he put Stryder between them.

From the kitchens, they made their way to Swan’s tent. The same blue and gold as Stryder’s, the inside was similar except it lacked a desk and had a smaller bed. The small group of his men was gathered there. Zenobia, Swan, Val, Nassir, and Christian, whose arm was bandaged.