The Rogue Knight (14 page)

“Is this why people shoot the messenger?” Cole asked.

“Sometimes,” Skye said. “It would take some very impressive investigating for anyone to connect the messenger to us.”

“Doesn't this Hunter guy have a pretty scary reputation?” Cole asked.

“The Hunter is one of the best,” Skye said, sighing venomously. “We definitely don't want to tangle with him. I hope he's not who took Verilan.”

“Do we take off on our own?” Cole wondered.

Skye furrowed her brow. “That would look very suspicious to Monroe, Konley, and the others. It would introduce many new dangers. I'll talk it over with Joe when we stop.”

“What do we do for now?” Cole asked, suddenly feeling confined by the coach.

Skye patted Mira's shoulder. “Hope for those miracles.”

C
HAPTER

 14 

THE ROGUE KNIGHT

A
fter a lengthy discussion, Joe and Skye decided to take their chances with the caravan rather than make a scene by leaving. Mira approved the verdict, and so the journey continued much as it had started, but with an increase of backward glances.

Cole spent a lot of time watching the empty road behind the caravan. He wasn't sure if he would see legionnaires, or city guardsmen, or Enforcers on strange mounts, but he didn't want enemies to sneak up on the caravan unnoticed.

As Cole's group directed their attention to the rear, day by day, Konley and his men became more alert about the road ahead. Seven nights into their journey, while gathering firewood, Cole noticed Konley addressing his men. Keeping his eyes averted, Cole moved within earshot of their campfire.

“These next two days will be the most vital,” Konley said, pounding a fist into his palm for emphasis. “The robberies have all happened close to Merriston, so we'll either meet the Rogue Knight tonight, tomorrow, or the day after. After that we'll be in the capital. I want no less than three men on patrol at all hours.”

“Think he'll show?” one of the guardsmen asked.

“Honestly?” Konley said, rocking back on his heels. “I expect he'll see not just Monroe with his five mercenaries, but also a knight and seven uniformed guardsmen, and he'll hang back to await easier prey. But if the scoundrel makes an appearance, I want to be ready.”

Cole moved out of hearing as Konley began making specific assignments for the guardsmen. If they were two days out from Merriston, that meant he and his friends were two days from a clean getaway. Once they left the caravan, their trail would become much colder for anyone in pursuit.

The next morning, less than an hour after the caravan started rolling, ten riders cantered down the road toward them, all wearing suits of armor. While four riders stayed on the road to force the wagon train to stop, the other six trotted into the field beside the road and came about to address the travelers. One of the knights was the size of a child and rode a sturdy pony rather than a horse. The rest were imposing forms on powerful steeds. Even the mounts wore armor.

The knight at the front was the biggest of the group and rode an enormous horse. His elaborate armor gleamed in the sunlight. A sheathed broadsword was strapped across his back. A pair of antlers sprouted from his polished helmet.

Cole's stomach twisted into knots. No way could their luck be this bad with everything else they had to deal with. But this had to be him—the man everyone had been so afraid they'd meet on the road to Merriston.

The Rogue Knight.

“That's him, isn't it?” Cole asked, fear shooting through him. “That's the Rogue Knight.”

“Has to be,” Jace said, a slight tremor in his voice. “What other bandits are going to ambush a caravan wearing full armor?”

Cole got chills just looking at the group. “How can they move weighed down by all that metal? They look bulletproof. Not an inch of skin is showing.”

“They must be strong,” Twitch said. “The horses too.”

“Why antlers?” Cole asked.

“A guy like that can wear whatever he wants,” Jace replied.

Along the front half of the caravan, Monroe and his mercenaries lined up on their horses, blocking access to the wagons. Konley and his five mounted guardsmen took up positions between the knights and Lucinda's stately coach, with two more driving her vehicle.

“Greetings, good travelers,” the knight called out in a booming voice, somewhat muffled by his helmet.

“Why have you halted my caravan?” Monroe asked.

“A fair question,” the knight replied. “I am the champion known across the land as the Rogue Knight.”

Even though the confirmation was no surprise to Cole, he still felt a jolt hearing the words aloud. Champions of mighty cities were plotting against this man. People for miles around spoke about him in fear, and now here he was, roughly a hundred feet away.

“According to the established order,” the Rogue Knight continued, “I have issued a challenge to Rustin Sage, champion of Merriston, which the coward refuses to acknowledge. To pressure the craven into doing his duty, I am relieving those who travel to and from Merriston of their riches. On the day that Rustin faces me as prescribed by law, all the goods will be returned.”

“You mean to rob us?” Monroe verified.

“Correct. I am taking the valuables that Rustin should protect. I will not spend a copper ringer of the spoils. All will be returned with interest after the duel.”

“This is going to get ugly,” Twitch murmured.

“And we have front row seats,” Jace said.

“What if we're not just the audience?” Cole asked, his insides tense. What could they do if violence came their way? Their Jumping Swords wouldn't work here. Neither would the golden rope.

“Check out the tiny knight,” Jace said. “If a fight breaks out, I call him.”

The joke didn't do much to relax Cole—the thought of an actual fight here was terrifying.

“I have a wagonload of furs and specialty items,” a merchant called, his voice breaking a little. “They represent most of my wealth. Taking them would ruin me.”

“Bring your grievance to Rustin Sage,” the Rogue Knight replied. “Your wagons are mine for now. The drivers must remain to help me transport them, then they will be released with the horses. The passenger coaches and other horses may remain to bear you to your destinations. Each individual will be allowed to retain any money equal to or less than two silver ringers. I don't want to leave you destitute. I won't take your clothes or shoes, unless the attire is merchandise heading to market. But I'll keep the rest—ringaroles, jewelry, promissory notes, deeds, and the like.”

“And if we won't hand it over?” Monroe asked firmly.

“Do not mistake my courtesy for weakness,” the Rogue Knight said. “I do not wish to harm anyone, but any who choose to resist me will die swiftly.”

“The worst of their armor is much better than Konley's,” Jace muttered beside Cole. “And those horses are incredible.”

Monroe glanced at his soldiers. “All right, boys. Time to earn your wages.”

Four of the five private soldiers spurred their horses forward. One dismounted and produced a longbow.

Konley pointed to three of his guardsmen and gestured toward the fight. They charged forward with the mercenaries.

The Rogue Knight drew his sword. One of his companions hefted a flanged mace, another held up a battle-ax, a third clutched a spear, and a fourth revealed a chain with a spiked ball at the end. The small knight drew a little sword.

Cole winced as the knights rode forward to meet the attack of the mercenaries and the guardsmen. A tumult of devastating impacts filled the air. The knight with the spear shattered a wooden shield, and a mercenary flipped backward off his horse to tumble ruinously. The knight with the flanged mace clubbed a guardsman with a blow to the chest that folded him grotesquely. Swords clashed, bones crunched, hooves thundered, blood splashed, men yelled, and horses screamed. Clods of dirt spewed into the air.

Within moments, only the six knights remained on horseback. An arrow sparked against the Rogue Knight's breastplate, bouncing away harmlessly. The Rogue Knight nodded toward the mercenary with the longbow, and the tiny knight raced off in that direction.

At the approach of the small knight, the mercenary tossed aside his bow and drew a sword. When the undersized knight drew near, the little guy sprang from his pony at full gallop, skewered the bowman as they collided, then landed in a clangorous roll.

“You still want to fight the little guy?” Cole asked Jace.

Of the four mercenaries and three guardsmen on the ground, two of the private soldiers got up, panting, bleeding, but with weapons in hand. The Rogue Knight nodded to the knight with the battle-ax, who dismounted and approached the two mercenaries with the implacable confidence of the grim reaper. Cole didn't want to look but couldn't resist.

One of the mercenaries leaped forward and swung his sword. The knight caught the blade in his mailed hand and cut him down with a vicious swipe. The other mercenary backed away, his sword falling from trembling hands.

“Kneel and surrender,” the ax-wielding knight demanded in deep tones.

The man gave a wretched glance at Monroe and then dropped to his knees.

“Is this the end of your resistance?” the Rogue Knight inquired loudly.

Monroe looked down the line of wagons to Konley. “What say you, sir knight?”

Raising his visor, Konley cleared his throat. “I challenge you, Rogue Knight, to single combat.”

The offer surprised Cole. Based on everything he had seen, he doubted Konley had much chance against the antlered knight.

“Who are you to challenge me?” the Rogue Knight responded.

“I am Konley, second knight to Henrick Stroop, champion of Carthage.”

“Where is Henrick?” the Rogue Knight asked. “His challenge I would heed. ‘Rogue Knight' may be my title, but I am the champion of nine fair towns and three noble cities. It is not within your rights to challenge me, but any of my eight and a half knights would gladly engage you should you so desire.”

“Eight and a half?” Konley repeated.

“Eight full-size knights, and Minimus, the Halfknight, who just slew the archer.”

The small knight was back on his feet. “Let me have him, sire,” the little knight begged, his tinny voice in a fairly high register.

“I'm not going to grapple with underlings,” Konley said. “In the eyes of the realm you are an outlaw harassing travelers. Your thievery has forfeited any protections a true champion would enjoy. Perhaps you fear to face me.”

Cole shared a glance with Jace.
He's so dead,
Jace mouthed.

“I know of you, Konley,” the Rogue Knight said. “I have made a study of all the champions and their knights. You were once champion of Rudberg.”

“That's right,” Konley said.

“You gained that position when the former champion stepped down,” the Rogue Knight continued.

“I was his first knight,” Konley said.

“You inherited your championship,” the Rogue Knight said. “Why are you not still champion of Rudberg?”

“Henrick offered me a place among his knights,” Konley said. “I stepped down.”

“Why surrender your championship to serve another?” the Rogue Knight asked, walking his horse toward him.

“Rudberg is a minor town,” Konley said. “Knighthood under Henrick was a better position.”

“It was a matter of wanting a better position?” the Rogue Knight asked.

“Yes.”

“Then why not take the championship from Henrick? Would that not have been nobler?”

“The risk seemed unnecessary.”

The Rogue Knight was drawing near to him. “You confuse me, Konley. Shouldn't a champion feel ashamed to forgo his position for reasons other than retirement? Did you feel any reservations about abandoning a championship you did not win through combat in order to serve another?”