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We had already settled in for the night. I had taken the first bath in the bathing chamber and dressed, and then he had taken a turn. It was perfectly companionable and easy as if we had been traveling together for weeks. I wanted to think that a murderer would be vile and rude, but he wasn’t. On the contrary, he was disturbingly pleasant to be around.
It was too dark to see his reaction, but I could imagine him lifting a brow and his lips raising slightly on one side of his mouth with a hint of amusement. The fact that I could picture his reaction in my mind told me weneededto part ways.
“How do you know I don’t have business in Demora?”
I had not thought of that. “Do you?”
“Perhaps.”
Great.“I don’t know if it’ll look good for my reputation to enter with…you.”
He chuckled. “Oh, the fair maiden is concerned about her reputation, is she?”
“Of course I am.”Not.
“I don’t believe that for a second. You don’t seem like the type to give a rat’s ass about your reputation.”
“You don’t know me at all.” I cared about the reputation of my family business, but I didn’t give a damn about my own. He was not wrong. But he didn’t need to know that. The less the man knew about me, the better.
“That is true. I don’t. But you are too wild and independent to care what others think.”
“Maybe I don’t care because I’m married to a wealthy merchant who gives me all the freedom I please while he frequently travels.”
He chuckled again. “Oh, Autumn, what a story you weave.”
I didn’t bother to correct him. Instead, “How do you know my name?”
“I was planning on murdering you.”
“Don’t remind me.”
He snickered. “Would it make you feel better if you knew my name?”
Yes. “No. I don’t want to know anything about you.”
“Sleep then, Autumn. We shall deliver your weapons to the nobles tomorrow.”
“I don’t want your help.”
“I know, but your journey may worsen once you enter the Demora castle.”
“I seriously doubt that,” I mocked.
“You, fair maiden, underestimate the royals. You'll also need to come up with a new name for yourself. If you wish to stay alive, these royals cannot know you. Queen Amira will hear about this, especially in connection with me. I could concoct a story to suffice, but if you just use a different name and introduce yourself as anyonebutthe bladesmith’s daughter, that would be for the best for everyone.”
I groaned. I hadn’t thought of that. If the huntsman didn’t plan on killing me, he’d need a good reason for the queen that he failed her orders. I didn’t understand why she wanted me dead, but I should listen to his request if he truly wished to keep his end of our bargain. It may even be valuable to see the Count’s reaction to the weapons, pretending not to be the one who helped craft them.
Icouldfabricate a story.
My mind spun, but when the huntsman insisted I sleep again—as if he knew my mind was a storm—I tried. He was disturbingly perceptive, which I suppose as a murderer, you needed to anticipate what your target thought. The idea should have sparked fear in me, but it didn’t. After dealing with lawless brigands and demon wolves, murderers were just another malevolent soul.
When the huntsman grumbled for me to sleep again, it was like his words held magic, and the baritone of his voice pushed me into slumber.
Polished Weapons
“My Lord, I have—”
Hastings waved a hand at the guard. “Now you, I know.”
