Page 36 of The Champion

She didn’t know if the Saracen was after her or not, nor did she pause long enough to find out.

She had only one thought in her mind...escape.

Rounding the corner of the castle, she caught sight of Stryder with Kit and the monk.

Rowena headed straight for them, and it wasn’t until she had launched herself at Stryder that she dared look behind her.

Stryder stumbled sideways as someone propelled herself into his arms. Expecting it to be one of his many admirers, he couldn’t have been more stunned to find Rowena there.

“Again, Rowena, we must stop meeting this way,” he teased her.

Her eyes were wide and panic-filled which immediately squelched his humor. “Is something amiss?”

“A Saracen,” she gasped. “In the orchard.”

His blood went cold at her words. Handing her over to his brother, he and Christian ran to check out the area.

Rowena watched the men run off while she struggled to control her pounding heart.

“Shh.” Kit took her by the hand and led her off to sit on a bench near the water well. “Catch your breath.”

She was ever grateful for her friend’s consideration as her heart still pounded and her limbs shook. That was the most terrifying moment of her life. “Thank you, Kit.”

He went to get her a cool sip of the water from the well while she watched the area where the other two men had vanished.

“Drink it slowly,” he warned as he handed it to her.

Again, she thanked him.

“So, what did you see?” he asked after she had caught her breath.

“It was a man dressed in black, Arabian robes. He had eyes like a demon and he moved like lightning. I’m still not sure he was quite human.”

Kit’s gaze showed he felt as much concern about this as she did.

“He must be the one who killed Cyril,” she whispered. “But where could such a man hide?”

“People like that are always where you least expect them.”

Perhaps that was true...

She looked past Kit’s shoulder to see Stryder and his friend returning.

Stryder approached her with a grim look. “We saw no one there.”

Rowena didn’t like the sound of that. “He must have run off when he saw me.”

The monk nodded. “I think it best that I leave and⁠—"

“Nay, Christian,” Stryder said to the monk. “He’s out to kill off our members. The last thing I want is you traveling alone.”

Christian scoffed. “It would take more than a mere assassin to kill me, and well you know it.”

“It’s a chance I won’t take,” Stryder said emphatically. “Try to leave and I will shoot you in your leg with a bolt.”

Christian looked offended. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me.”