friend will help you. Just hold tight to my hand and be still.’
All the tension left his body at once, and the terror left his face. Still clinging to Wynter’s hand, his gaze slid past her, and the young man looked up into the sky. His dark eyes overflowed. His lips parted, and he sighed, scarlet bubbles popping on his lips. He slipped away just as Razi dropped to his knees by his side.
‘Good God,’ cried Razi, pressing his fingers to the young man’s bloody neck. ‘What happened?’
‘He tried to kill me,’ she whispered.
‘What?’ He jerked back from the Haun. ‘Why?’
‘He knew my da, Razi. I think he wanted revenge on my da.’
Across the road, the Wolves were regarding them with delight. Jean whistled to get Razi’s attention. ‘Hey,’ he called. ‘I’m no doctor, but I think he has something stuck in his throat!’
Razi gritted his teeth but did not reply. Wynter was ashamed by the tears that suddenly welled up and flowed down her face. She could not seem to release the dead man’s hands.
‘He knew my da, Razi,’ she quavered again. ‘He wanted revenge on my da. Why?’
Razi glanced behind her to where Oliver was in discussion with the Haun. ‘Come away now, darling,’ he said, his eyes scanning the road. ‘Come back to the Merron.’
‘No, listen, it wasn’t those others. It was him. It was just him. He knew Da, Razi. He knew him, I’m certain of it! And he hated him! He called him a butcher of children! Why, Razi? Why? Tell me why anyone would call my father that?’ Wynter’s voice had risen beyond her control and she still clung to the young man’s hands, her eyes blinded with tears. She felt on the dangerous edge of hysteria.
Across the road Jean called, ‘Give the girly a kiss, al-Sayyid! Kiss her all better!’
The Wolves chuckled. Oliver glared across at them, warning clear in his face, and Jean grinned at the knight, spreading his hands. ‘Only jesting,’ he laughed. ‘Lightening the mood is all!’
David Le Garou came up behind his men then, all dark grace and smiles. ‘Shut up, Jean,’ he said, and Jean instantly fell silent. ‘Need help, Sir Knight?’ called Le Garou. ‘We can dispose of something for you, perhaps?’
Oliver curled his lip. Ignoring Le Garou, he strode across to crouch in the dust by Wynter’s side. ‘Protector Lady,’ he said gently, ‘the Haun claim that it was their translator’s lunacy that led him to attack. I have to admit, he struck me always as an unstable man. The Royal Prince was ever wary of him.’
Wynter would not look the knight in his eye. Even in her present state, her anger with him was such that she could not speak to him.
He sighed. ‘Protector Lady,’ he persisted. ‘I will arrest these men and I will make certain that they pay the price for allowing this man to advance upon you. I will endeavour to exact the full extent of whatever vengeance you wish, but I must tell you, the Royal Prince needs at least one of them to make it home. No matter what happens, I’m afraid that I shall have to allow at least one of them to leave here intact.’
Wynter looked down into the Haun’s dead face. She forced herself to release his hands. ‘Let them go,’ she whispered.
Oliver faltered, surprised.
‘Let them go,’ she said again, not looking at him. ‘They were not involved.’
‘Wyn,’ said Razi softly, ‘they might have your answers. They may know the reason for this man’s—’
‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘No. I don’t want to know. Just send them away.’
‘What answers, my Lord?’ asked Oliver.
‘Just send them away!’ yelled Wynter. ‘Just send them away!’
Oliver shot to his feet and strode off. Wynter remained kneeling in the dust, shaking and unable to contain her tears.
Razi reached for her. ‘Get up now, Wyn,’ he said. ‘Come back to the tent.’
She stayed on her knees. Eventually he put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her gently to her feet. On the hill, Alberon was standing in the shelter of his tent, watching from afar. Wynter stared desolately at him until Razi turned her on her heel and guided her away from the busy road. He led her up the alley.
‘If you had been hurt,’ he whispered, ‘you know that Albi would be down here with a sword in his hand and those men would be dead.’
Wynter shook her head.
‘You know he must seem above it all, Wyn,’ insisted Razi. ‘You know