second knife from his left boot. No one had taught him this trick, but he had learned it was effective. Roelstra hissed in annoyance and charged him, just as Rohan had hoped. Still balanced on one knee, he swayed to one side and thrust the blade up and around to catch Roelstra’s knife hand. A stumble, a clumsy turn, a gasp of shock that he had been wounded—and Roelstra was suddenly faced with an adversary now on his feet and poised for combat, smiling at him.
“I have my own plans for you,” Rohan said, “so I’ll do myself the favor of ignoring this incident—officially. I wouldn’t want to spoil the Rialla with a funeral for its finish.”
Roelstra switched the knife from right hand to left. “I’ve been planning yours for a long time now, princeling. Whether it comes now, by my hand, or later with a Merida knife, matters not at all.”
They circled each other again until Rohan feinted to the left and made a quick move to the right, sneaking in past Roelstra’s guard to slice crosswise across the first wound. His other hand caught and twisted Roelstra’s left hand.
“Drop it,” Rohan said quietly. “Drop it or I’ll break your wrist.” He tightened his grip for emphasis and held his knife-point to the man’s throat.
Roelstra’s eyes flashed, his free hand moving toward Rohan’s arm. The tip of his blade pricked Rohan’s skin. “You wouldn’t dare kill me,” he grated.
“If you’re so sure of that, then cut me.”
The High Prince’s knife glittered to the carpet.
Rohan let him go and plucked up the dagger. “If you bind that well and wear long sleeves, no one will ask awkward questions,” he advised, hiding his regret that Roelstra had not given him the excuse to kill him. He glanced at the entryway of the tent, where Urival stood guard with a satisfied smile on his face. “Untie the boy,” he told the faradhi, and himself went to Sioned. “Can you stand up?” he asked gently, and she lifted her hands, hidden until now in the folds of her skirt. He sucked in an angry breath as he saw the ropes, and slit them with his knife. There were others around her ankles; he cut those, too. Then he put both knives into his belt and cupped her pale cheek in his palm for a moment. “It’s all right, Sioned.”
She nodded. “I know.”
He helped her to her feet, an arm around her waist. Together they faced Roelstra, who was holding his bleeding arm.
“I’ll keep your blade as a souvenir,” Rohan said. “I suggest you save mine, as well, when you find it. A reminder that I could have killed you.” He smiled.
“Should I be grateful that you did not?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. Walvis, are you all right?”
“Yes, my lord.” The squire came to his side, straight-backed and proud. Rohan felt new fury as he saw the bruises swelling the boy’s wrists and darkening his throat. “I’m sorry I didn’t protect my lady better.”
“I know you did all you could.”
“Get out of my tent,” Roelstra ordered.
“Shut up,” Rohan told him. “And listen to me very carefully, High Prince. Officially, this never happened. I am a prince first and a man second—a concept you could never comprehend, so don’t bother to try. But I swear to you that though the prince may ignore this, the man will never forget it.”
Roelstra laughed, not very convincingly. “The princeling doesn’t know how to be a man!”
Rohan continued as if he had not been interrupted. “If, during the next three years covered by our treaties, you renege on a single item or a single man of yours sets foot uninvited on my lands, I’ll know about it—and I’ll leave you to guess what action I’ll take. If you so much as think an incorrect thought in my direction, I’ll know about that, too. As for the Merida—I’ll deal with them myself. But if a single arrow or sword or morsel of bread in their possession is supplied by you, I’ll not only know about it, but I’ll make sure every other prince knows about it as well. Your own proposal will come back to haunt you, Roelstra. And then try to keep your throne for the son you’ll never have.”
“Large words for a little prince.”
“Believe them. There’s just one other thing.” He held Sioned closer. “If you touch my wife again, I will kill you.”
He waited just long enough to see shock and fury break like a storm