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He cocked one eyebrow.
“The babies who slept in their cradles as you butchered them.”
He rubbed his chin. “Babies? I’ve never had a contract on a baby. I suppose there’s a first time for everything. It would have to be a very dangerous baby.”
“You dare to joke about such a thing? After you slew the entire royal house of Rheged?” I demanded.
Draven tilted his head back and laughed. “Oh, so that’s what you’re referring to.”
I stared. Was this a common reaction from an assassin?
“You killed women and children,” I said slowly. “I know the whole story.”
“Did I?” He tilted his head. “Well, if you know the story then I suppose I must have.”
I felt irked. “Unless there is another version.”
I watched him take a slow sip of tea. “I doubt you’d care to hear it. After all, you know the whole story already.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Fine. So what now? Why did you come to work for my brother? Nothing better to do than play guide to a princess on a ludicrous mission to fetch an object that probably doesn’t even exist?”
“Oh, it exists.” Another sip.
“Strange that you’d go from the supposedly deadliest assassin on the continent to–what? Royal Guard captain? My brother’s errand boy?” I was trying to stir his pique, to rile him. To my frustration, it didn’t seem to be working.
He met my eyes. “I’m exactly where I want to be doing exactly what I need to be.”
Somehow I knew he wasn’t referring to sipping tea or even sharing a tent with a sweaty, fevered princess.
“You want something,” I said sharply. “You’re not simply doing Arthur’s bidding out of loyalty or the goodness of your heart.”
“Very good. And?”
I thought as hard as I could. My conclusions did not reassure me. “The sword. You think it's real.”
“Excaliburisreal. I don’t think so. I know so.”
“So what if it is? How does our fetching it for Arthur... Oh.”
“Oh?”
I was worse off than I’d thought.
“You’re not bringing it to Arthur.” My voice was small. “You want it for yourself.”
Draven put his hands behind his head and grinned. “Something like that. Very good, Princess.”
“You wanted Whitehorn out of the way all along,” I complained.
“The man was an insufferable toad. I didn’t see us traveling together all the way to our destination, no. But when he had the gall to gag you and try to abduct you, well...”
“Butyou’reabducting me,” I said, my temper rising. “I shouldn’t be surprised if you decided to gag me if I say something you dislike. You’re no different than Whitehorn really, are you?”
“To my recollection, I’ve never gagged a woman,” Draven said, looking thoughtful.
“To your recollection!”
“At least, not one who didn’t wish to be gagged.” He shot me a roguish smile and I felt my heart speed up a notch.
