Page 37 of The Champion

The look that passed between them said that Christian didn’t really doubt Stryder after all.

“Now then…” Stryder faceding her. “Tell me of this man you saw. What did he look like?”

“He was garbed all in black and I saw very little of his form. He was too well-robed.”

“Did he see you?” Christian asked.

“Aye.”

All three men cursed.

Rowena swallowed nervously as she realized why. “He’ll be coming for me, won’t he?”

“Most likely,” Christian said.

Stryder shoved at his friend. “Don’t upset her anymore.”

“Would you have me lie?”

“Aye.” Stryder turned back to her. “One of us will have to guard you.”

She looked back and forth between Stryder, Kit and Christian. Kit, while handsome and tall, wasn’t the sort to wield a sword. Neither was the monk.

As for Lord Stryder...

“I can hire someone to guard me.”

Stryder shook his head. “Never trust a hired man. If they’ll serve you for one price, they’ll gladly serve another for a higher one.”

Kit narrowed his gaze on her. “Come to think of it. Why are you without an escort?”

What was he thinking? “Because I’m on the castle’s grounds. sThere shouldn’t be any danger within the walls.”

Kit curled his lip. “Your uncle gives you entirely too much freedom.”

Rowena stiffened at Kit’s tone. Never before had her friend spoken in such a manner to her.

Even Stryder looked surprised.

“What’s done is done,” Stryder said. “Our concern now is making sure our only witness remains alive to help us hunt down our killer.”

Christian nodded in agreement. “You guard her and I’ll notify your men what’shappening. We’ll do a search for our Saracen. He can’t be too far away. Rather, I’m thinking he must be hiding amongst us.”

“How so?” Kit asked. “Saracens are forbidden to wear our clothes.”

Stryder gave his brother a fierce frown. “How do you know that?”

Kit gave him a droll stare. “Everyone knows that.”

Ignoring the sarcasm, Christian stepped forward. “We’ll search the countryside. If there’s a camp, we’ll find him.”

Stryder looked skeptical. “They vanish into the deserts for days on end with nothing more than a knife to feed and protect themselves, and you think to find one in the trees?”

Christian looked smug. “If he’s there, I will find him.”

“Don’t take long.”

Christian inclined his head, then left.