Page 61 of The Mercenary

“I’m not sure what you mean,” she said softly, keenly aware of the innkeeper’s gaze on them both.

“Until I deem it safe—”

“I should remain in my room. Alone. Staring at the door and waiting for my savior to walk through?”

“Sabine—”

“Did we not have this same discussion yesterday morn? Will we repeat it each day until you leave?”

His eyes flashed, but Sabine was not daunted. Sad, aye. Devastated too. But not daunted.

“You are most anxious for me to do so, it seems?”

She had no answer to that. Of course she did not wish for him to go. She had asked him to stay, had she not?

“I’m no longer hungry.”

Turning away from him, Sabine marched through the hall and out into the cool morning mist. She’d brought a cloak today as the weather had begun to turn. It seemed summer was suddenly quite over.

Fitting.

“Sabine?”

Praying for strength, she faced him. Ignored the tic in his jaw. The way his tongue stuck out for the briefest of moments and licked his lips. Ignored, or tried to, the tug on her heart.

“Aye?”

“Stand behind me.”

She raised her chin. “Never.”

Did he not know her at all? Had he not listened all those times she’d spoken about her role in their relationship? In the rebellion? Stand behind him?

“I beg you, stand behind me.”

She would not. Though . . . why would he ask her to do so?

Sabine found herself being hauled to that very spot as if she were a sack of grain. How dare he . . .

Only then did she hear the riders approaching. Peering around her husband, she saw Noreham’s men approaching as if their need was urgent. How had no one known they were coming? Still holding her in place, Guy was preparing to draw his sword when one of the men stopped him.

“Desist,” he boomed. “We are here only to request your presence at the behest of our lord.”

“Our presence?” Guy asked, clearly stalling.

The man who’d spoken looked at her then. “Nay. Yours alone.”

She knew what Guy would do before he said a word. Already shaking her head, she continued to do so even as he spoke softly in her ear.

“Go to Roger and stay there. If I am not back by morning, flee.”

“No. I am coming—”

“No, you are not. Go.”

He intended to sacrifice himself.

Sabine shook her head. “I will not.”