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Hoppler leaned into Sangton’s face. “Now step back, you bloody maggot.”
Hoppler rounded to the front of Sangton, the pistol moving from Sangton’s temple to the middle of his forehead. He glanced over his shoulder at Rune, inclining his head. “Rune.”
The carriage door squeaked open and Elle’s foot creaked onto the carriage step behind Rune.
“Get back in the carriage, Elle.” Rune hissed the words in a low rumble meant only for her.
“Rune, who is this man? Do you know him?” Her foot didn’t leave the step.
Rune nodded, not turning around to her, his eyes pinned on Hoppler.
Hoppler looked back to Sangton, cocking his head to the side. “Mr. Sangton here owes me a nice fat pile of coin, don’t you, Mr. Sangton?”
Sangton nodded, swallowing hard.
“Looks like you got yourself into some trouble in the nether region, good sir.” Hoppler chuckled to himself. “I would have just killed you, but that seems way more inventive—way more Rune.”
A burst of rage flashed across Sangton’s face.
The tip of Hoppler’s pistol dug harder into Sangton’s forehead, shoving him a step backward. “You know what happens to people who owe me money and then displease me, don’t you, Mr. Sangton?”
A deep breath into his lungs and Rune stepped forward. If Hoppler was going to happen—and there was no stopping it now—then he was sure as hell going to make certain Elle was safe no matter what came next.
Rune aligned himself next to Hoppler, staring at Sangton. “You ever—ever come within a furlough of Elle again, and you will answer to me, and if not to me, then to him.” Rune pointed with his thumb to Hoppler next to him.
“But—” Sangton whined, his face turning ashen.
“Agreed?” Rune looked to Hoppler.
Hoppler’s steel blue eyes met his look. Mirth. Agreement. Indebtedness. So much more passing between them than the simple question.
Hoppler nodded. “Agreed. No one touches Lady Raplan.”
Rune’s eyebrows lifted. “No one?”
Hoppler shook his head with a slight smirk. “No one. If she’s harmed by anyone, Sangton’s neck is on the line. I’m positive he’s now going to make certain no ill befalls her.”
Satisfied, Rune’s stare swung to Sangton. “I imagine your carriage is just off the grounds since you surely didn’t ride here. Where were you headed to, Lord Sangton?”
His face still pale, he pointed to the east. “To Kallen Castle.”
“And then?”
Sangton scratched the side of his face, his hand shaking. “Back to the mainland.”
“Good.”
Hoppler lifted his pistol away from Sangton’s forehead. “Be gone with you, then, you toad.”
Sangton spun, limping away as fast as his injury would allow, not daring to look back at them.
The springs of the carriage behind him squeaked. Rune spun about, but Elle was already rushing toward them, fear in her eyes. “Rune, who is this man?”
“He’s no one of con—”
“Hoppler’s my name, my lady.” Hoppler bowed as though they were in the middle of a ballroom.
She jerked to a stop, her boots skidding on the gravel of the drive, her stare flitting back and forth between Rune and Hoppler.
