FOREVER KNIGHTS: #6 Malevolent Attentions
Not What I Thought Her

Seeing Acharius was prepared to sit all day, huge arms crossed and head propped, Chastain deflated. “Fine.”

He grinned triumphantly and let her drop to her feet.

She grunted at the sudden impact before growing angry once more. “Say what you will so I can go home! Out in the mud and dirt in a nightgown is no place for a respectable girl.”

“I’d agree! Fortunately, you’ve made it clear that is certainly not what you are…Wandering the Merwood alone be it day or night.”

“Oh!” She huffed. Spinning to face him. “I’m not the one lurking in a dingy cave!”

“I’m not hiding something by lurking out here as you implied. I can go no further than the House from my cave.”

“Whyever not?”

“I must remain near here, he nodded around them. At all times.”

“Why in Ardae, must you?” She cried.

“You’d not understand. I must protect things for my kind.”

“You’re kind?”

“For my Captain. Captain Black.”

“Captain?” Her voice was wary again. “Are you mad? You’re clearly no soldier!”

“I was once.”

“So, you say.”

“I never lie.” Contempt hardened his features.

“So, you say.”

Anger swelled in him, but he bit it down. He hadn’t given her reason to trust him thus far. It’s my own fault.

“I’ve a sacred duty.” He said softly.

“Oh, some vow you’ve made, I hazard to guess?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

“If you can’t leave the cave then how do you acquire food?”

He crossed his arms over the swell of his chest. “Now that, I had credited you with assessing out.” He sounded disappointed.

She frowned, and her brow furrowed as her mind worked. “Margaret and Agatha.” She said at length. “That is what they are doing with you.”

“What in Ardae did you think they were doing with me?” The way she’d said that made it sound very…odd.

“I thought they were dallying with you?” She said slowly

“Are you crazed!” Shock sent his jaw gaping. “Those sweet old ladies?” Horror was written over his face. “They were tiny girls when I first met them.”

“You deny it?”

“I am flabbergasted!” He gestured helplessly. “I’m trying to make reason of your insane logic.”

“It’s not insane.” She scowled.

“Nor is it logic!”

That made her angry. She nearly vibrated with rage.

“And how would they feel if they knew you kept me out in these woods until the early hours.”

His expression turned cautious.

“Oh, you worry what they’ll think of you?” She said in a slick tone. “Perhaps I shall tell them...”

He shrugged as he approached to pluck more twigs off her. “Perhaps I shan’t let you go back at all then.”

“You’re bluffing.” Her voice turned wary.

“Am I?” He lifted a brow. “Do you know me well enough to tell, My Dear.”

“No. But I can tell you care for them. And keeping me out here would cause them worry. I don’t think you want that.”

Perceptive chit. He was growing a grudging respect for this clever pain in his rear.

“You are clever.” He tweaked her nose. Making her frown deepen. “They would be overly concerned because you are so precious to them.” He sighed and relaxed his posture. “So, you will tell them nothing.”

“In exchange for you telling me everything.” She tossed down the gauntlet.

He was astounded at her boldness. “You impertinent-” He bit off something profane.

“Impertinent what, Acharius?”

“Ohhh…” He tilted his head to assess her. “You are not at all what I thought you.”

“And what was that?”

“Sweet.”

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