Never If Not Now - Madeline Hunter Page 0,33

in order to collect them.”

Sir Hugo’s face reddened. “Lies!”

Zander ignored him. “It is the truth, I swear to you.”

Sir Hugo grew agitated. He looked worried. “There is more that I did not say before. A new cause.”

“What is that?” Lord Yves asked.

“I have good reason to believe he has dishonored my daughter, and thereby me and my family.”

Zander gritted his teeth. The devil take the man. He had just ruined his own daughter for the chance to fight this combat.

Lord Yves’s heavily lidded gaze swung slowly to Zander. He looked right into Zander’s eyes. Zander returned a steady gaze of his own, but he doubted Lord Yves concluded he was innocent.

Lord Yves turned to Sir Hugo. “You witnessed this?”

“No, but—”

“Others did?”

Hugo shook his head.

“I have decreed that the reason for combat à l'outrance must be announced. I will not have a woman’s name stained on nothing more than a father’s suspicions. That cause is rejected.”

Hugo huffed and frowned and got red again.

“As for the other, you each have a story and I am not the man to choose which is true. I will permit the combat à l'outrance on that cause, Sir Hugo.”

Beaming with satisfaction, Sir Hugo left the solar. Zander glared at Lord Yves. “You as good as signed a death warrant. He is unable to compete.”

“You mean that leg? He won’t be using it much.”

“It isn’t just that.”

“Ah, you assume his age will defeat him. You think he is too old.”

Far too old. Zander swallowed the response. Lord Yves was of similar age to Sir Hugo. His host probably would not take well to arguments that knights lost their prowess once they passed five and thirty.

“There is one other combat à l'outrance so far. They will all take place late this afternoon after the other combats are done. The priest will come to you before they start.”

Zander stormed from the solar. Now he had to figure out how to win, but still not kill his opponent in a fight to the death.

“You’ve an ugly scowl on your face,” Angus observed as soon as Zander entered his tent on the field.

“I’ve got an uglier one in my soul.” He wanted to kick something, like the useless Harold, who still lay asleep on his pallet. He resorted to a firm nudge instead. “Get up. Take the bladders and fill them with water. Then go to the paddock and groom my destrier.”

Harold ran out, watching as he passed for a blow that might be coming.

Zander crossed his arms, still furious.

“What happened?” Angus asked.

“That fool Sir Hugo asked for combat à l'outrance.”

“Is he looking to die? Some knights when they get older—"

“I think he believes he can win.”

“Unlikely.”

“Unlikely? Impossible.”

Angus tilted his head. “No need to tempt fate by saying impossible. Unlikely is good enough. Makes me sad for the woman who was here when you were wounded. His daughter, wasn’t it? What will become of her if he dies?”

“I will take care of her.” It came out too fast, too sure. Angus gave him a quizzical look. “Not that she will allow it if I kill her father. That is very unlikely.”

“Impossible.” Angus smiled as he threw the word back.

“Only heaven knows when Hugo last practiced at arms. When he was younger he was a fine warrior. Even when I became a squire. Now, besides his bad leg and vision, maybe even his sword arm is weak. I am going to tell the priest that and ask him to remind Hugo that taking one’s own life is a serious sin.”

“He’s not planning on doing that. He’s planning on killing you. You and I both know he will die, but that’s not the same as falling on his sword.”

No, it wasn’t. Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

He strode over to where the Scot’s arms lay. He lifted the shoulder plate. “Can this engraving be removed by the forge?”

“Shouldn’t take long. Why would you want to do that? The decoration makes it much more valuable.”

He wanted to do that so it would not be recognizable.

Elinor folded the silk veil into a little pile. Almost weightless, it did not take up much space. Nor did it wrinkle, she had learned while she sewed it. Small wonder that silk was prized.

She had seen her father return from somewhere early in the morning, as soon as she had risen. Now he had gone to watch the combats again. She tidied up the tent and began planning how to pack everything for the journey back home. She would be