Page 9 of The Champion

Until she saw it...

The sword he had strapped to his lean hips.

“You’re a knight,” she said slowly, understanding now the dark side of him that she had glimpsed.

Knight. Murderer. ‘Twas synonymous, and she should have known he was one of their dreaded breed. She shouldn’t be surprised by the knowledge. Most noblemen were knights, yet a wave of bitter disappointment claimed her.

How she wished he had been born another. ‘Twas such a pity that so handsome a man would waste his time on such pointless, cruel endeavors.

“Aye, milady,” he said again in that wonderful, melodic voice. “A knight ever at your service.”

She supposed she should thank him from his quick reflexes that had kept her from falling, but then, those reflexes had only been honed so that he could kill others. Rather she should sprawl upon the floor a thousand times than one man should perish in war.

“I appreciate your service, sir,” she said, her voice carrying the full arctic impact of her mood.

She started away from him.

“Milady?”

Without thought, she paused and turned back toward him.

“Will you not give me your name?”

“Nay.”

This time when she started away from him, he actually blocked her path.

“Nay?” His eyes showing his surprise, and yet they also managed to be charming and warm. ‘Twas obvious he didn’t hear that word often from a maid’s lips.

“You have no need for my name, sir knight. I am sure there are plenty here who would gladly give you theirs, but I am not one of them.”

One corner of his mouth quirked up, displaying a single dimple in his left cheek. In spite of her best intentions, she found his devilish air....

Entertaining?

Nay, that wasn’t really the word, she found him...well... delightful, if she dare admit it. He really was too charming for words.

“Can I not claim mere curiosity, milady? After all, ‘tis not often I find an unknown woman in my arms.”

Rowena bit her bottom lip in an effort to suppress her smile, which proved a treacherous beast against her will. “There is something about you, sir, that tells me that is not true.”

His rich laughter rippled in her ears as he bestowed his full smile upon her. That smile did the strangest things to her body. It made her pulse race, her mind giddy.

“Then shall we say, ‘tis not often I find a maid in my arms who is reluctant?”

“Now that, I believe most definitely.” She took a step backward, more afraid of her sudden desire to stay with him than of his occupation.

Whatever was the matter with her? She’d never before wanted to be in the same country as such men, and now, all of a sudden, she actually wanted to take a moment to chat with this one.

She must have drank too much wine.

You haven’t had a sip, Rowena. You only just now entered the hall.

Oh, well, then it must be the excitement of the day’s events. Aye, that was it.

That must be it.

“If you’ll excuse me?”