Did I never post this here?

[maderr]

I'm sure by this point everyone that cares has found it on fictionpress or my website. Somehow I put it up in those places but never here. Huh.

Anyway. I wrote it for my Sammikins, and for anyone that remembers Brightleaf, this is its sequel and is about Thorley's brother.

I think, way back when everyone said there Must Be a Story About Von, that I threatened to hook him up with a shrieking damsel in distress just to thwart everyone. As per usual, I am backstabbed by my muses.

Damsel in Distress

Von’s mother had often said she wished he’d been born a girl. Not because she thought it would be easier on anyone – no, his mother often and frequently said that girls had a miserable time of life – but because she had mostly come to hate men.

Not that he could completely blame her, but it did sting a bit when your mother, on some level, vehemently disliked you.

It wasn’t overt. She loved him, and didn’t even entirely hate Thorley – though Thorley felt otherwise, and with good reason – but she meant it when she said she wished her younger son had been born a girl. A daughter she could have loved fully, without reservation.

She hadn’t been happy when he’s declared his intention of following Thorley. But she hadn’t worked too hard to stop him either.

He’d never told Thorley that. Knowing his brother, the idiot would just blame himself for it.

Von raked a hand through his blue-black hair, wishing he hadn’t lost the thong to hold it back. Another reason his mother bemoaned his gender – apparently his hair and lashes and blue eyes were utterly wasted on a man.

Sighing softly at the mixed feelings thoughts of home always brought – guilt, some homesickness, mostly relief he wasn’t there – Von paused as he reached the stream that made an informal border between the land used by the village and farmers and the area where beasts became more prevalent.

It was always quiet here, and quiet he definitely needed. He and Thorley had been traveling for years; it was strange to be in one location again. Not that he minded – he’d never enjoyed watching his brother fight with anything that so much as looked at them wrong. He lifted a hand to his right upper arm, feeling the phantom pain of where a rock wyrm had bitten him.

It had rather effectively put him off wyrms for awhile. Even now, he still felt sick whenever he saw one of their nests. Like the one not too far off. A water wyrm, though – unlikely to stir from its nest unless something really pissed it off.

Sitting down, Von toyed with a stone but avoided throwing it into the stream – wyrms weren’t the only thing that might be waiting for some idiot to make it angry. He tossed it back and forth in his hands, watching but not really seeing, thoughts wandering over plans for the next few weeks.

Geoffrey and Thorley were working on building a new house; something that had room for them and all the customers that came seeking Geoffrey’s cures. Something far better than the rundown cabin Geoffrey had been making the best of.

Something that had room for a goblin who seemed to fill even the largest rooms.

And there was, of course, room for Von. But he rather thought he’d just take the abandoned cabin; give his brother and Geoffrey some room. If he was lucky, some night a stranger would come wandering in and he’d be set.

Von contemplated the possible consequences of disturbing the water and reluctantly conceded he wasn’t that stupid. Instead of being a gloomy little boy, he could go find something constructive to do and work off his strange mood that way.

His good intentions were shattered by a shriek piercing enough to put banshees to shame. Von started to cover his ears, then realized he hadn’t let go of the rock. Before he could do anything, the source of the shriek came flying over the hill to the east and streaked toward him.

The shriek only got worse the closer she got. A peasant girl of some sort – then Von saw why she was screaming.

Gremlins. Nasty little bastards, with more teeth and claws than any creature really needed. Ugly too, a weird mottled brown-green skin that always looked wet. They looked more like someone’s meal had not been agreeable than a living creature.

Von lobbed the rock in his hand at the nearer of the six gremlins, smirking when he hit dead on and the ugly thing tumbled back, balanced lost.

“Help help help help!” the girl managed to say, just barely avoiding crashing into him, hiding close behind him.

“Get back,” Von said calmly. “I can’t fight if you’re clinging to me.”

“Yes, sir!” the girl said and dashed to hide behind an old log.

Something about her accent nagged, but Von’s attention was only for the gremlins. They were ugly, and angry, but they weren’t stupid. He fought off one but in the interim the rest found a way to send him reeling back and with a loud, wet plop the neat and tidy sword fight he’d wanted turned into a chaotic mud-and-blood fight.

Von cursed loudly, colorfully and with energy when he finally killed the last one, then turned to confront the girl. She couldn’t be more than ten or so. Finally able to get a good look at her, he pegged what was off about her accent.

She was dressed in simple clothes – a long brown skirt and white blouse, both of which had seen better times. An apron, also old, and a mass of hairpins and a simple cotton ribbon to keep her hair up.

But that hair was a fine gold, rich and almost shiny-looking. There was a health to it that no peasant girl would ever achieve. It had been washed with expensive soap, not the coarse, homemade kind. Her skin too had a healthy sheen to it, and there was no worker’s tan to darken it. There were countless of other small signs. Whoever this girl was, she did a poor imitation of a peasant.

“Thank you, sir.” she said, her smile sweet.

“Always a pleasure to help a lady,” Von said, and ineffectually began to try and scrape mud from his face, clothes and sword. Muttering more curses, not particularly caring if he offended delicate ears or not, he gave up trying to scrape it off and decided to risk being eaten by something in the river. Several dunkings later he was still a mess but at least his mouth didn’t taste like mud – and he hadn’t been eaten. “Might I ask, fair damsel, what you’re doing all the way out here?”

The girl giggled at being called a ‘fair damsel,’ as he’d known she would, and beamed at him. Von wondered how often that smile and those pretty, cinnamon-colored eyes got her out of trouble. Probably a great deal, if she made a habit of playing peasant. “I wanted to go to the flower field,” the girl said. “Nobody ever lets me.”

Von glanced at the flowers in question. Butterfly roses – known in other circles as gremlin bait. “That’s probably because gremlins think those things are pretty tasty.” He frowned. “Didn’t anyone get rid of the gremlins?”

“Those nasty things?” the girl asked, pointing at the bodies that looked like little more than massive lumps of mud now.

“Yes,” Von said slowly. “Those nasty things. Those nasty things that would have eaten you along with the flowers if they’d caught you.”

“Oh,” the girl said, eyes going wide. “No wonder Kit gets so mad at me.”

Von started to clean his sword. “Who’s Kit? Better question – who are you, fair damsel?”

Her worry over almost being eaten faded immediately under the delight of being called ‘fair damsel’ again and the girl swept him a remarkably graceful curtsy. “Abigail Elizabeth Holbrook,” she said with a ring of much recitation. “A pleasure to meet you.” Then she broke from her recital smile and giggled. “Thank you for saving me, Sir Knight.”

Von snorted and sheathed his sword, then gave an exaggerated bow. “Sir Von of the Mud Hole at your service, milady.”

“Everyone calls me Abby,” Abby said, then dissolved into giggles again. “You should come back to the house, Sir Von. How would my nurse put it?” She shifted her stance, spreading her legs and putting her hands on her hips, lips turned down in a deep frown – in danger of turning back into a grin – and said in a deep, stern voice. “After all the trouble that girl has caused, the least she can do is give you a place to clean up, some food. You come along right now and we’ll get you taken are of. Don’t you argue with me, I get enough of that from the girl.”

Throwing his head back, Von laughed until his sides began to hurt. “How can I refuse an offer like that? Very well, fair damsel, I would like a decent bath after that last battle. I might have defeated the gremlins, but I would say the mud hole won the day.” Not than anyone with sense would let him anywhere near the house where this girl lived, but he could use the pretext of agreeing to ensure she got safely home.

Giggling, Abby took his hand, oblivious to the mud and water, and led him out of the field. “Just wait until you meet Nurse. Oh! And Kit should be home soon! I’m sure he’ll yell at me, but you’ll get praised. He likes knights.” She grinned at Von like she was telling a secret.

“I see,” Von said, completely lost. “Who’s Kit?”

Abby beamed. “My big brother! He’s the best, even though he’s always growling about how I shouldn’t be allowed outside ever.” She leaned in closer and said in a low, confidential voice. “He’s just mad that I’ve fallen in love.”

“Well, that is a serious matter.” Von fought not to grin. “No brother likes to see his pretty little sister go off with another man.”

Abby sniffed. “He’s just jealous I’m in love and he’s not,” she said knowingly. She tugged Von’s hand. “Come on! I bet we can get cook to make us apple dumplings!” Dragging him along, Abby kept up a steady stream of chatter the whole time.

Von tried not to panic as they drew close enough he could really see the house they were approaching. It was massive – three stories, made from limestone, with a porch that looked like it was two or three times larger than the floor of Geoffrey’s cabin. Columns the size of small trees extended from the porch the overhanging roof. Abigail was just as wealthy as he’d feared and then some.

His trepidation over being in enemy territory was interrupted by a series of high, sharp yips as a bundle of gold came running towards them and leaped into Abby’s arms, knocking the girl down in a flurry of yips and giggles. “Off, Kaid! Off!” But she didn’t sound terribly upset about being smothered in puppy kisses. At last managing to get the puppy off and herself back on her feet, Abby picked up the wriggling bundle and presented it proudly to Von. “This is Kaid.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Von said, and let the squirming puppy lick him as it was obviously dying to do. “A trifle too familiar for a first meeting, don’t you think?”

Abby giggled and set the puppy down. “I wonder how he got out…uh-oh. That’s not Nurse.”

Von raised a brow at the woman tearing through the field toward them. Even at a distance, her face was bright red with obvious anger. “Abigail! What have I told you about sneaking off! And leaving that puppy locked up! If your brother didn’t insist we spoil you rotten I would turn you over my knee—who the devil are you, sir?” The woman was large and round, and from her dress probably a housekeeper or some other manner of high-ranking staff, with graying hair pulled up in a tight bun and gray-green eyes that looked as if they were in need of thawing. She looked at Von distastefully.

“He saved me, Jenna,” Abby said, voice losing all traces of humor, taking on a mingling of anger and fear. “I told him the least I could do was see he got a bath and meal. If not for him, gremlins would have eaten me.”

“And it would have served you right for taking off like a little strumpet who thinks she can do as she pleases!” the woman snapped. “Your mother would be ashamed of you! Get in that house this instant. I don’t want another word out of you. Get.”

Von rested his hand on Abby’s shoulder, seeing red at the way she was trying not to cry. “Milady,” he said. “The girl intended no harm. She was only after a bouquet of flowers, no doubt to give to her brother…”

“Take yourself off, ruffian!” The woman looked at him as if he was little better than the mud that still covered him. “If you were hoping for a bit of coin, you can forget it.”

“Jenna!” Abby cried. “He saved me. He’s not a r-r-ruff-ruff—.” Angrily she swiped at the tears on her face. “He’s a knight. S-stop y-yelling at him or I’ll t-tell K-Kit you were being mean again.”

Jenna did not appear bothered by the threat. “It’s exactly that attitude that makes you such a spoiled brat. Maybe being bitten by a gremlin would have taught you a thing or two. Get in that house or I’ll be telling your brother a few things myself – like how it looks for the lady of the house to be seen cavorting across the countryside with a ruffian like that.”

Von stiffened, but did not let go of Abby’s shoulder. Movement past Jenna’s shoulder caught his eye and he saw another woman running toward them, skirts pulled high so she wouldn’t trip over them. The skirts were a light blue, and she wore a simple white blouse. On her head was a tiny white cap, ill-suited to keep back the hair that was slipping free and falling around her face. “Milady,” she said as she reached them, and bent over gasping for breath. “There you are. I was worried sick.” She stopped. “Why are you crying?” Not waiting for a reply, she rounded on Jenna. “You witch! What did you say this time? She’s just a child. Go take care of the house, which is your job, and leave me to Abby, which is my job.”

“That girl is spoiled rotten—“

“And none of your concern.” The new woman had pale green eyes, as sharp as a hawk’s, and they flashed in anger.

Von suddenly wished he was back with the gremlins. Letting the women battle it out, he knelt to look at Abby. Wishing he had a kerchief, or that his hands were at least less dirty, he tenderly wiped the tears still falling down her cheeks. “I bet you look like your mom, huh?”

Abby nodded, more tears falling.

Intuition struck him. “Did she like butterfly roses?”

“Yeah,” Abby said. “There’s a painting, in the hall, with her holding them.” She wiped away her own tears. “She died when I was six. I don’t remember very well. Just the flowers.” She looked like she wanted to completely dissolve into tears, but after a moment she seemed to pull herself together.

Nearby, the two women seemed to have concluded their battle, and Von watched as Jenna stormed back to the house.

“Well, Abby,” the remaining woman said gently, amused but also reprimanding. “You certainly never let things remain dull for very long. Wherever did you go this time, poppet?”

Abby sniffed and held out what remained of her tiny bundle. “To pick flowers.”

The woman’s stern expression melted completely away as she looked at the flowers and she pulled Abby into a tight embrace. “Poppet, that field is dangerous. You should have just said, I’m sure his lordship would have arranged some guards to go with you. Silly goose.”

“It’s okay,” Abby said, and her smile returned suddenly. “This is Von, he saved me from some gremlins.” She tugged the woman toward Von. “This is Lila, my Nurse.”

Lila paled slightly at the mention of gremlins, and gave Von a grateful look. “Thank you, sir. It looks as though you had a time of it.”

Abby giggled. “They knocked him into the mud. He’s Sir Von of the Mud Hole now.”

Lips twitching, Lila nevertheless lightly slapped the top of Abby’s head. “Run ahead and have things prepared, minx.” She planted her hands on her hips, her voice turning stern. “The very least we can do is see that the man kind enough to save you from yourself is well treated.”

Von shook his head. It was time to go. “No, please. I only wanted to make sure the lady got home all right. I really should be going, my brother will be wondering—“

“Don’t argue with me; I get enough of that from a girl,” Lila said, her glare the one that nurses everywhere probably had to master before they were given a post. “Come along and we’ll fix you right up.” Turning away, obviously considering the matter settled, Lila started back toward the house. “Where does your brother reside?” She asked him as he fell into step on Abby’s other side.

Answering that question always got mixed results. “With the village healer,” he said.

Lila’s brows went up, but she didn’t get a chance to reply.

Oh!” Abby exclaimed. “Is it true he’s taken up with a goblin? I heard the chambermaids gossiping, they were soooo mad because they had designs on him.” She nodded wisely. “What are goblins like?”

Von couldn’t help laughing. “Most goblins are pretty nasty; a hundred times worse than gremlins. Always be careful around them. But my brother, the one who has indeed taken up with the healer, is a good guy. If you ever need someone to get rid of gremlins when I’m not around, just ask him.”

He dared a glance at Lila, who smiled at him. “Geoffrey helped my sister when she got sick last summer. She’d ingested some poison; we thought she’d die. I haven’t been the healer’s way in some time, but I hear he’s building a new house.”

“Yes,” Von said.

“Then I wish them well,” Lila said. “Suggest you don’t talk about it in front of Jenna.” She shook her head. “And I apologize for her behavior earlier. She…” Lila shrugged. “She was close to her ladyship. His lordship doesn’t have the heart to dismiss her.”

“That and stupid Kit can just leave whenever he wants,” Abby muttered. “Stupid brother.” She stooped to scoop up Kaid, hugging the puppy close and letting it cover her face with kisses. “Can we have apple dumplings?”

“Certainly, poppet. Didn’t I tell you to run ahead and take care of matters?”

“Oh!” Abby grinned sheepishly and then dashed toward the house, setting the puppy down to run at her heels.

When they reached the house a few minutes later, Abby was waiting impatiently for them at the kitchen table, drinking a glass of milk. “Come on, I had Pennington ready a bath for you in the guestroom – I wanted to put you in the red room, but Pennington said it was ‘improper’ and so you have the blue room instead.” She grabbed Von’s hand and dragged him away still chattering. “And cook said she’d prepare an early dinner, and then we get apple dumplings for dessert, and Kit won’t be home until late so you can meet him in the morning and Pennington said he’d send a footman to tell your brother where you are so he won’t worry.”

Von groaned at the thought of how Thorley would react to having a footman tell him where Von was and that he wouldn’t be home until tomorrow – because short of sneaking out, he didn’t see how he’d be leaving tonight. Thorley was going to harass him relentlessly.

Well, that was all right. Von knew of a mud hole perfect for revenge.

Abby led him through the house, and Von hoped he wasn’t gawking at everything – silk, velvet, gold, silver, fine woods, paintings, and tapestries. The closest he’d ever been to such splendor was catching glimpses of the lords and ladies who could afford it, seeing bits in shop windows when they visited a large town, knowing the servants who worked in houses such as these.

“Here you go,” she said with a grin. “The blue room. My room is down the opposite hallway, all the way at the end. That’s Kit’s room,” she said, and pointed to a wide set of double doors at the end of the hall. “But he’s not here yet.” She bobbed a quick curtsy, grinning all the while. “Pennington said they left clothes for you. Oh! And you can’t leave until they’ve cleaned your things. See you downstairs for dinner! It should be ready in two hours!” Then she spun around and ran down the hallway, no doubt to her own room.

Von gulped when he stepped into the blue room. He really should leave, this was completely not his world at all. Everything was in shades of blue, from the dark bedclothes and light pillows, chairs of the same dark shade, the carpet to match, a large painting of the sea, all of it accented by a warm, gold-brown wood. A fire had been lit, and before it had been prepared a large silver bathing tub.

Not certain what else to do, Von started to undress – then stopped to lock the door before continuing, cringing at the way his old, mud-soaked clothes looked on a carpet that probably cost more money than he’d earn for a year’s worth of bounties.

But some of his uncertainty faded as he slid into the bath, the hot water the most wonderful thing he’d ever felt. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had a hot bath – it was just too much work heating the water, and seldom was the inn that gave more than their worst bed to a goblin.

He could have stayed their forever, and only stirred because outside in the hall a clock chimed, reminding him he was due for dinner shortly – something he vainly wished he could avoid.

Feeling like he was a boy about to be caught playing where he shouldn’t, Von scrubbed himself clean with a soap that reminded him of how a forest smelled after it rained – earthy, clean, and fresh. When he finally climbed out of the tub, he felt better than he had for ages.

Except for the whole dinner thing, but at least it was just with Abby and probably her nurse. Taking a deep breath, drying off with the towel that had been set out, Von approached the bed where he could see clothes had been laid out.

Shirt, jacket, breeches, even boots. Everything he needed had been thought of. Von again had the distinct feeling that he was about to be caught at something, or that they would come to their senses and turn him out on his ear. He picked up the shirt, made of fine lawn, far too fine for his rough hands. Holding it up, he caught a whiff of citrus, and pressed the shirt to his nose. Like lemons, but there was also a grassy smell, like a sunlit-field. He breathed it in, loving it, and wondered if it was from the soap they used for washing clothes.

Suddenly it came to him he was standing around nude sniffing clothes, and Von shook himself and quickly dressed. The clothes were all too big, but not so bad he looked horribly unkempt or silly – at least he hoped. The boots too were overlarge, but his own were still caked with mud.

Wishing the night already over, Von braced himself and stepped out into the hall, found his way to the stairs and half-hoped he’d break his neck falling down them. A tall, stern looking man appeared in the hall as he reached the bottom, bowing briefly. “Master Von,” he said. “My name is Pennington. The dining room is this way.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Von said faintly, hands fisting at his sides. Give him beasts to fight, anything was better than pretending to be someone called ‘Master Von’ even if it was just for a few hours.

“Von!” Abby cheered as he appeared. “Come on, you can sit here.” She indicated the chair at the head of the table. “Since you’re the knight!” She giggled and got up from her own chair to drag him over, then climbed back into her own – slightly higher, he saw, so she could easily reach – and made a show of handing him a glass of wine. Her own glass was pale pink, no doubt a bit of wine and a great deal of water. “This is Kit’s favorite. I told them to get it for you.” She beamed.

“Thank you,” Von said, feeling more lost than ever. He had a feeling the mysterious ‘Kit’ was going to be less than pleased at his little sister giving a complete stranger a glass of his favorite wine, never mind inviting him in and treating him like an important guest. A simple meal in the kitchen would have more than sufficed. Stifling a sigh, shoving away worries he could at present do nothing about, Von smiled at her. “You look lovely, fair damsel. Finer than a Queen.”

Abby beamed at him. She truly did look lovely, already showing signs of the beautiful woman she would someday be. Her dress was pale pink, all lace and ruffles like a girl’s should be. She wore a pearl necklace and had silver combs in her hair. Like a doll. If she were his sister he’d never let her leave the house either. “Thank you, Sir Von. You look nice as a lord.”

“Thank you, fair damsel,” Von replied. He looked at his wine, then dared a sip. It was dark, somewhat sweet, and completely different from the ale and mead he’d always had. No wonder Kit was fond of it.

He wasn’t quite sure what to do when servants came in with bowls of soups and Von suddenly realized he was going to have a meal with courses. Feeling lost, he did his best to follow Abby’s lead, letting her chatter soothe and distract. Whoever the girl fancied herself in love with, he hoped that boy was smart enough to realize he should keep her thinking that way. “Where’s your nurse, fair damsel?”

“Oh, she went to have supper with the head footman.” Abby leaned in and said in a loud whisper. “They’ve been discussing things.”

Von stifled a laugh. “I see.” Obviously they weren’t worried about his doing the girl harm, unless the vile Jenna was around somewhere. He quietly ate his soup, a rich and creamy affair, just lightly flavored of fish, while Abby continued to chatter away. He wondered if it were possible for her to run out of things to say. Stories about her puppy, about her brother, her nurse, how much trouble she got into daily, weekly, how much fun it had been to be at the capital, how she’d met her true love, who was the prince and the most wonderful man ever, as marvelous as Kit even though Kit got all stuffy when she said that.

Finally she took a breath. “You’re fun, Von. Kit will like you.”

“That is certainly good to hear,” Von said. “I don’t want to know what would happen if he didn’t like me.”

”He’d throw you out,” Abby said with a laugh. “Just like he did that mean old Baron who tried to give me diamonds. Kit said he shouldn’t have done that, and that no man is ever allowed to give me jewelry no matter what unless they ask him first and the Baron didn’t.” She grinned and sipped her watered-down wine.

Von wondered with a sudden ache if this is why his mother always wanted a daughter. She was sweet, endearing, so easy to love. All he and Thorley ever did was wrestle, break things and find creative ways to do their chores. She’d hated when they turned to swords and collecting beast bounties. Would she have been kinder to them both if they’d been more like Abby? The thought stung. He scrambled for something to say, to fill the silence that suddenly fell as the soup was taken away and the next course was brought in.

Then suddenly the main door opened and Von saw little more before a flurry of pink ruffles all but flew from its seat and tackled the figure in the doorway. “Kit! You’re home! You’re home!” Abby laughed in delight as her brother swept her up and kissed her soundly, kissing him back before squirming free and latching onto his hand, dragging him into the room. “Come meet Sir Von! Are you going to eat with us?”

“Of course,” Kit replied in a warm voice, smiling fondly at his sister before finally looking toward Von.

Von scrambled to his feet, nearly knocking his chair over, and hoped he wasn’t as red as he thought he was. “I’m sorry,” he said, tripping over the words. “I think I’m in your seat.”

“Nonsense,” Kit said with a smile. “I’ve heard much about our hero of the day. There are plenty of seats.” He extended his hand. “Kristoff Holbrook. Kit, please.”

Hesitantly Von shook it. “Von Tailor.” The hand was smooth and warm, but not as soft as he’d expected a lord’s to be. For some stupid, idiotic reason he had pictured the mysterious ‘Kit’ as either a much older man or a very young one, little more than a boy himself. Both ideas, he realized now, were idiotic.

Kit was still much older than his sister. Von was twenty-four, and Kit looked to be at least a couple of years older than that. If Abby was indeed ten or so, that put them at roughly fifteen years apart. But that still meant Kit was neither a young man nor a far older one, but right in the perfect middle.

Though he hated to sound so idiotic, even just in his own head, perfect seemed the best word to describe Kit. He and Abby had only their cinnamon-colored eyes in common. Kit’s hair was a rich red-brown, cut short but with just enough length that there was a slight wave. Von caught himself wondering if it was actually curly, and mentally gave himself a slap. Kit was long of frame, on the slender side but like his hands he did not seem soft. But Von thought the most appealing part about him was the way he smiled at his sister, the way his eyes crinkled when he looked at her, the way he listened avidly to everything she said.

Abby giggled at her brother. “You left off the markee part, Kit.”

Kit’s mouth curved in amusement. “Marquis, poppet? That’s boring. How is the lamb?”

“Not as good as apple dumplings.”

“I suppose not.” Kit chuckled and murmured a quiet thanks as the servants brought him wine and food.

They appeared to have forgotten him momentarily and Von used the chance to try and gather his scattered wits. He needed to leave. Now.

“So,” Kit said, dashing his hopes that they’d forgotten about him. “It seems I am greatly in your debt.” His cinnamon eyes landed on Von. “It is no small matter to fight off gremlins, especially when they are running at you while chasing after foolish little girls.” He gave his sister a gently reprimanding look.

“I’m sorry, Kit.” Abby stared gloomily at her lamb. “I wanted to pick flowers for mama.”

“If you had waited until I got home, poppet, I would have gone with you.”

“You said ‘we’ll do it later’ and that always means never.” Abby pouted.

Kit looked chastened. “I’m sorry, poppet. Did you get any flowers?”

“No,” Abby said faintly.

“Then we’ll get more tomorrow, all right? We’ll even take Kaid along, how’s that?”

Abby brightened. “Can Von come too?” she asked eagerly. “He can fight off the mean old gremlins. You should have seen him!” She bounced in her seat, nearly knocking over her wine glass, and began to relate precisely how wonderful and amazing and knightly Von had been.

Von winced, and prevented himself from groaning by taking several generous sips of wine.

Kit chuckled, and the warm sound of it hit Von far harder than the wine. “A knight indeed,” he said, and looked with warm amusement at Von. “I am in your debt, sir knight. You’ve only to name your demands.”

“Demands?” Von echoed, hoping his voice didn’t squeak. “Please, no. I just happened to be in the field. It was an honor to help a damsel in distress.”

Abby giggled. “See, Kit? I’m a damsel!”

“You’re a brat,” he said with a wink. “Finish your lamb or no dumplings.”

“Yes, Kit.”

Kit smiled and once more turned back to Von. “You live in the village?”

“Oh!” Abby said, lamb once more forgotten. “He lives with the healer! His brother is a goblin, just like the chamber maids said!”

“Poppet,” Kit said gently but firmly. “Let the man speak for himself. Eat your lamb.”

Heaving a great sigh, Abby nevertheless obediently subsided and ate her lamb.

Rather than again ask Von about his own life, Kit began to talk about the estate, the lands surrounding it, asking details of the fight with gremlins, keeping the conversation light enough that Von began to relax a bit.

Out in the hallway, the clock chimed ten. Von laughed softly at Abby, who was all but asleep in her dish of apple dumplings.

“Come, poppet,” Kit said, standing and picking his sister up out of her chair. “Off to bed with you. Nurse is no doubt waiting in the hall for you.” He kissed her cheek. “Say good night to your rescuer and then off to bed with you.”


“Yes, Kit.” Abby wandered sleepily over to where Von sat and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “G’night, Sir Von. Thank you for saving me.”

“My pleasure, fair damsel,” Von said, lifting her hand and kissing it. “Pleasant dreams to you.”

Beaming at him, Abby demanded another kiss from her brother and then vanished out into the hallway.

Chuckling again, making Von shiver, Kit once more sat down. He motioned for a nearby server to refill their wine glasses, then with another motion dismissed him from the room. “I thank you,” he said. “Abby does not realize, but the rest of us know exactly what you did for her. It is no small matter to kill not one but several gremlins – especially as you were apparently attacked by mud as well.”

Von shook his head, and could not bring himself to look at Kit. “I’ve dealt with worse,” he said. “I’m glad I was there to save her.” He dared a look, helplessly drawn to those cinnamon eyes. “She’s wonderful, truly. It’s no wonder everyone worries over her.”

“Yes,” Kit said pensively. “She does wear a body out from worrying.” He smiled. “So you are the brother of the goblin who has taken up with our village healer. I’m afraid the minute I turn my back Abby will pester you with questions over that.” He winked as he sipped his wine.

“Only that?” Von asked with a laugh, gratified and relieved when Kit laughed with him. He blinked and fought back a sudden yawn. “I do not mind. It’s refreshing to be asked questions and not attacked with accusations.”

Kit looked at him with a smile that was more devastating than his laugh. “I’ve never met a goblin I liked, but if you are the brother and he is close to our healer, then I’d imagine I would like your brother a great deal.”

Von looked at him wordlessly, and could only manage a nod.

“But I am keeping you up; forgive me. I often prefer to work late into the night; I forget not everyone is as fond. Where did they put you?”

“What?” The meal was over? When had he started to wish it wouldn’t end? “Um…the blue room? But I really should go. You’ve already done too much. I—“

“Nonsense,” Kit said. “I won’t hear of it. You saved my sister; one paltry dinner does not come close to repaying you. I’ll escort you to your room, then.” So saying, he stood up and Von could only do the same. Gently taking Von’s elbow, he led the way slowly through the house, making idle comments about this tapestry and that painting.

Von heard none of it. This close to Kit, he could smell his cologne – a bit of lemon, mixed with a scent like a sunlit-field. He remembered the way he’d pressed his shirt to his face, breathing in the scent, and turned flushed as he realized it was a shirt that Kit had worn at some point. “Th-thank you,” he managed as they finally reached his bedroom door. “I—you do not have to do this. I was more than happy to help, and didn’t do it just for the sake of reward.”

Finger traced his cheekbone, whisper-soft and so briefly Von half thought he’d imagine it. “Of course not. But all the same you shall be rewarded. Good night, Sir Von.” Kit smiled at him, then nodded and turned away.

Von stumbled into his room and shucked out of his clothes as quickly as he could, barely remembering to fold them neatly on a chair and climbed into bed completely nude, feeling horribly vulnerable but knowing it would be far worse to sleep in something that smelled like Kit.




He woke to the sound of a woman screaming, and was halfway to the door before he realized he wasn’t dressed. Swearing, Kit threw on his breeches and shirt, not bothering to lace the latter, yanked on boots and grabbed his sword. He crashed into Kit in the hallway, reaching out reflexively for balance, his free hand landing on Kit’s waist. They stared at each other for a split second, then another scream rent the air. Jerking apart, they both raced down the hallway toward the source of the screams.

Lila came flying out into the hallway in a long nightdress, long tail of her braid flying wildly. Tears streamed down her face as she continued to scream, eyes wide with terror – then the reason for that terror came rushing out behind her.

Von acted without thought, body and mind given over to pure reflex, built by years of experience. Grabbing Lila’s arm, he yanked hard and sent her crashing into Kit, then shoved them both hard, getting them out of the way. He drew his sword and threw the sheath aside. The dark dragon-steel glinted in the flickering light of the wall sconces.

The goblin sneered at him, recognizing a fighter – a human fighter, hardly a worthy opponent. Goblins were built for fighting. They were strong, fast, and when steel wasn’t available, their claws and teeth were more than enough to get the job done. Dark skin, good for blending into dark spaces, thick and tough to provide a natural armor. Improved senses. And they liked to fight.

Unfortunately for this goblin, Von knew all their tricks. He let the goblin attack, settling for the defensive, allowing the goblin ‘toy’ with him. Thorley had assured him this trick worked with embarrassing frequency on the younger goblins – which this one was, to judge by his earrings, which numbered only four silver in one ear, the other bare.

Von braced himself as the goblin swung another blow, though it wasn’t as bad is it could have been given the confines of the hallway, and let himself fall, letting go of his sword as he hit the ground. The goblin darted toward him, sword up – Von drew his legs up and kicked him hard in the stomach, then grabbed his sword up and lunged, burying his sword deep in the goblins’ stomach, then shoved him off it, waited until the goblin was on its back and used one of its own daggers to slit his throat, finishing the job.

He didn’t waste time stopping, but left the dead goblin and ran into the room it had come out of.

Except for the mess that had been made of the bed, the overturned chair where the nurse had obviously been sitting, the room looked undisturbed. But the balcony doors were wide open, and a glance down showed that the distance to the ground wouldn’t bother a goblin at all. So there was at least one more of them. Von peered out into the dark beyond the house and wished he could see.

He turned back into the room, mind racing.

“They didn’t come in that way,” Kit said, voice so cold Von thought it a wonder the room didn’t freeze. “Lila says they came in through the hallway door. Which means someone let them into the house.”

Von drew a sharp breath, gut wrenching as he realized what Kit was saying. “No—I didn’t—“

Kit’s eyes widened. “No!” He crossed to where Von stood and gripped his shoulder. “I didn’t mean you. One of my servants.” His face tightened with pain. “Abby—we have to find her, before they—this is all my fault.” On Von’s shoulder, Kit’s grip had turned painfully tight.

Once more moving from instinct, Von closed the space between them and hugged Kit tight. “We’ll find her. Goblins took her, and obviously they’ve been paid to kidnap her.” He didn’t say ‘not kill’. “It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it is. If I hadn’t agreed to the betrothal…” He shook his head. “But that’s for later. We must find her. I have to get her back.” He made to move toward the window, and Von could picture all too well what would happen if Kit met the goblins.

He held tighter, not letting Kit move. “I’ll get her back, just wait here.”

“I can’t just stand here!” Kit said, hands moving to shove him away.

“So you’ll get yourself killed?” Von demanded, not letting go. “The goblins will laugh as they cut you to pieces, and they’ll do it in front of her just because it won’t occur to them not to. Is that what you want?”

Kit stilled, the picture of misery. “But—“

“I’ll bring her back,” Von said. “I promise.” He stared up at Kit, willing the other man to believe him.

“All right,” Kit said softly, cinnamon eyes fastened on his, and slowly his hold relaxed.

Von nodded and let go, immediately feeling cold, empty. Ignoring the feeling, ascribing it to the situation and his own stupidity, he turned to the balcony. “I’m going to see what I can find. Send someone to my brother, tell him what’s happened. No one hunts goblins better than another goblin.” He started to the window, then realized he was hardly dressed for what would no doubt be a long, difficult night. Abruptly turning the other way, he raced back to his room to dress, noticing for the first time that his own clothes had been cleaned and set out. Changing swiftly, he went back to the nursery and strode to the balcony. Drawing a deep breath, he swung down over the side and then dropped to the ground, rolling as he landed to avoid the worst of the impact.

Nearly a half hour later he’d found nothing but a scrap of lace to indicate he was on the right path, and the ‘path’ in question was nothing but a section of field half a mile or so away from the house. Von bit back a curse, frustration eating at him.

“Stupid human,” a slightly rough voice spoke up behind him.

Von nearly laughed in relief. “Took you long enough, idiot.”

“I’m so sorry for being sound asleep in the middle of the night,” Thorley replied. “If you’d told me about this sooner, I would have been awake and ready.”

“I’ll tell them to give us more warning next time,” Von said.

Thorley sniffed. “See that you do. They went this way.” One hand landed lightly on Von’s shoulder, the other pointed past it to a section of forest slightly to the right. “They’re steering clear of the main roads, probably planning to hide in the mountain. Staying close to collect ransom, no doubt.”

“Right,” Von said, and followed along as Thorley led the way. They traveled for what seemed like ages, though it couldn’t have been more than an hour or so, and it was ingrained habit that kept Von from giving voice to his worry, the knowledge that Thorley would knock him upside the head if he dared to speak. At last his brother slowed, on hand on Von’s arm gently tugging him closer. “There,” Thorley breathed in his ear. “Hiding in the mouth of a cave. Stupid of them, given it smells like wyrms but I guess with four of them that’s not a problem.”

Four goblins. Von swallowed. That would have been something of a problem on his own. “Stay here,” Thorley said. “You won’t be able to get them in the dark. I’ll call.”

If anyone else had told him ‘stay here’ Von would have been furious. But Thorley was all business in a fight. If he said something, it was simple truth, and he expected to be obeyed. Besides, Von could barely see Thorley, never mind the goblins in the cave, though he could hear Abby crying and that made waiting the hardest thing he’d ever done.

The fight, in the end, was rather anti-climatic. Mostly because the only thing worse than a pack of goblins was Thorley seriously pissed off. Though hurting a child was plenty enough to make Thorley mad, there was the fact that Von had been dragged into it which was sure to tick his brother off, and Von had no doubt that while Thorley had been in bed, he probably hadn’t been sleeping. The thought made him grin despite the grim situation. A few quick snarls in goblin speech, too fast for him to catch, were all that he heard before silence fell.

“Von!” Thorley called. “Come take care of this.”

“This?” Von said with a laugh. “It’s a child, not a ‘this’.”

“Whatever,” Thorley grumbled, helping his brother through the dark and guiding him to where Abby was huddled against the cave wall.

Von hid a smile at his brother’s discomfort and knelt in front of Abby. “Come on, fair damsel. It’s okay now.”

Abby stared at him in disbelief, then threw herself into Von’s arms and began sobbing. “I want Kit! I want to go home!”

“Going home now, fair damsel,” Von said and picked her up. She was light, but by the time they got back to the castle she wouldn’t be. Still, there was no way he’d let her walk. “Can you climb onto my back, sweet? That’ll make it easier to carry you home.”

Abby sniffled. “Uh-huh. L-l-like I did when I was little.”

“That’s right,” Von said, hoping they were thinking the same thing. Slowly Abby let go and walked around to climb on his back, arms tight around his throat until he got her to loosen them. “Read, fair damsel?”

“Yes…” Abby said softly, face buried again the back of his neck.

“Then off we go,” Von said, and followed his brother from the clearing.

By the time they reached the house he was ready to drop, adrenalin and the weight of Abby combining to make him feel little better than dead. Kit, Lila and Geoffrey were waiting for them on the front porch, which had been flooded with the light of sconces and extra lamps.

“Kit!” Abby half-cried, half-sobbed as she tumbled off Von’s back and ran into her brother’s arms, giving over to wracking sobs. “They were going to eat me!”

Beside him Von felt Thorley tense, and soothingly put a hand on his arm. Thorley shrugged it off with a grunt that he was fine.

“Are you both all right?” Geoffrey asked, tight curls a tangled mess on his head, as if he’d been interrupted or woken and had not bothered to fix it. He slid an arm around Thorley’s waist as he drew close, and the goblin settled an arm around his shoulders.

“Fine,” Thorley said. “Shouldn’t be any more problems from that lot.”

Geoffrey grimaced. “I wonder what drove them to kidnap a little girl.”

“Money,” Thorley and Von said together. “Lot’s of it,” Von continued.

“Well, yes,” Geoffrey said, looking at them both in dry amusement. “But I wonder why someone paid them to do it.”

“That would be my fault,” Kit said quietly, so he wouldn’t wake Abby, who had fallen asleep in his arms. “Let me put her to bed, then we will talk if you like. An explanation is the least of what I owe you. Lila, show them to the red salon if you don’t mind. You are welcome to join us. If you prefer to sleep, take the yellow room.”

Lila nodded. “If it’s all the same, milord, I’ll stay with Abby.”

Kit smiled. “Of course. But be sure to rest.”

“Yes, milord.” Lila motioned for the others to follow her and showed them into a room just off the main hallway, then quickly followed after Kit as he went to put his sister to bed.

Thorley grinned at his brother. “Village life not good enough for you? Have to get chummy with the lords now?”

“Shut up,” Von said with a yawn. “Or I’ll randomly pick something from Geoffrey’s table to slip into your tea.”

Geoffrey winced. “I don’t know that we need to take measures as drastic as that.”

“Yes, we do.” Von looked longingly at the short couch set beneath a window looking out across the side of the house. He wanted badly to sit down, but was afraid he’d fall asleep if he did.

Thorley muttered something in goblin speech. Von rolled his eyes and replied, grinning when his brother made a face.

Geoffrey rolled his eyes. “I think it’s a blessing I never know what you’re saying.”

Von grinned. “Let’s just say it had to do with Thorley and goats.”

“Definitely don’t want to know.”

“You’ll pay,” Thorley growled. “There are lots of things I can tell your pretty lord, just wait.”

Von felt his cheeks heat. “He isn’t my pretty lord!” he hissed. “And you’d better not say a thing.”

“If you’re going to wake me up in the middle of the night, I’m entitled to a little humiliation.”

Snorting, Von slipped back into goblin speech and told his brother exactly what he thought about the likelihood that Thorley had been sleeping, smirking when Thorley bared his teeth but otherwise subsided. Von smiled at Geoffrey. “You don’t want to know.”

“I can guess,” Geoffrey said dryly. He yawned and leaned against his lover, smiling when Thorley immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulders to tug him closer, chin dropping down to rest on Geoffrey’s head.

Silence fell for a few minutes, all try to stay awake but too tired to continue conversing. It was broken when the door opened, and Lila motioned for Von. “Abby woke up; she won’t settle down until she sees you.” Her eyes searched the room and landed on Thorley. “She said thank you, Von’s brother, and that Kit said she could see you in the morning if that’s all right.”

Thorley grunted. Beside him Geoffrey grinned. “That’s fine. Tell her welcome.”

Lila smiled gratefully and then turned to lead the way, guiding Von into what he realized, as they passed his room, was Kit’s room. The room was massive, even larger than the nursery, decorated in green, deep golds and dark woods. The bed was on a raised dais, dark green curtains drawn back to reveal Abby curled up in the center, a wobbly smile on her face as she listened to her brother. She noticed them first, and sat up as Von drew close, holding her arms out until Von leaned in and hugged her. “Thank you, Sir Von.”

“All in a night’s work, fair damsel,” Von replied, ruffling her hair. “You should get some rest.”

Abby nodded, but her smile faded into a worried frown. “Will you be here? With Kit? In case they come back?”

Von tugged on a curl. “Of course. What kind of knight would I be if I left a fair damsel on her own?”

“Good,” Abby said, and allowed her brother to tuck her in. Lila climbed into the bed to lie next to her, stroking Abby’s hair and softly singing. Kit mouthed a thank you and then led Von out of the room.

Von smiled. “I’m glad she’s all right.”

“Yes,” Kit said tiredly. He paused before the reached the stairway, staring intently at Von, nodding slightly as he seemed to reach some decision.

“What is it?” Von asked, feeling suddenly nervous.

Kit’s hands landed on his shoulders and he tugged Von close, then leaned down and Von realized what was happening a split second before Kit kissed him, mouth sliding over Von’s as easy as breathing, and Von opened to it, returned it, and wondered if it was just his foolish imagination that made him think it felt more than right, almost natural, to be kissing Kit. “Thank you,” Kit said when they finally broke apart.

“No need to thank me,” Von said, feeling suddenly cold. Hurt. Was that all the kiss had been? A thank you? Well of course, he told himself sharply. Why else would Kit kiss him? Though he’d never been thanked that way before, not by a man anyway. “Thorley was the one who did all the work.” He tried to laugh. “He’s the one you should kiss.”

“Mmm,” Kit murmured. “I will definitely thank him,” he said, “but I think I will confine my kisses to you.” He reached up, gesture almost like it was done reflexively, to cup Von’s jaw and brush his thumb over Von’s bottom lip. “But this is not something to discuss now. I should not have used it as an excuse to kiss you.” He dropped his hand, chuckling at the look on Von’s face. “Your brother and the healer are waiting for us, I believe. Shall we?”

“Sure,” Von said faintly, and hoped his legs knew what to do while his mind put itself back together. He didn’t look at his brother as they entered the red salon which was, like his own room, aptly named. He took a seat on the sofa he’d eyed before, disconcerted when Kit sat next to him.

He jerked his head up as his brother spoke to him in goblin speech, the words a strange mix of guttural, hissing and wet sounds, a language that he had often heard described as ‘evil’ sounding. To him it had always been fun, and maybe slightly mean, because they could say what they wanted and no one else in the room was the wiser.

Thorley was smirking at him.

Von hissed a reply, hurling threats when Thorley only grinned and commented at the way Von’s cheeks turned red.

He was spared further torment when Geoffrey elbowed his brother hard in the stomach – a move that would have left anyone else dead – and subsided when Geoffrey sent him a glare. “Thorley started it,” he muttered.

Geoffrey rolled his eyes. “I for one would like to get back to bed, but first I would like to know why this occurred, so if you children could behave for a few minutes.”

Thorley muttered something in goblin speech but then subsided.

Kit coughed to cover up a laugh, but quickly sobered. “A few weeks ago I took my sister with me to visit the royal palace. There was someone there I and several others wanted her to meet, though she was not told that.” He sighed. “True to her nature, my sister found the young man while they were both doing what they had been told not to and declared afterwards that they were in love.”

Von grinned, all too easily imagining exactly what Abby could have gotten in to, and how she would fancy herself in love with a boy as prone to trouble as she.

“As everything unfortunately went well – more or less – the King decided to go forward with arranging a betrothal between his son and my sister.”

The words hit Von after a moment, his eyes wide. “You mean she was serious when she said she was in love with the prince. As in the crown prince?”

“Yes,” Kit said dryly. “She was perfectly serious.” He rubbed his forehead tiredly, and Von forced himself to hold still, not quite certain what he was allowed to do. One kiss didn’t make them familiar. More likely, if Kit wanted anything, it would just be a mere dalliance. “The decision did not go over well with most of the court, who thought my sister the least suited. Many were quite angry, and I worried they would threaten me…I did not actually think they would attempt harm a mere girl.” His shoulders sagged, and this time Von acted before he could stop himself, hand curling around Kit’s arm, squeezing tightly in comfort, and he wished he could do more.

Geoffrey hummed thoughtfully. “Probably intended to hold her until you ordered the betrothal broken?” He tapped his chin in thought. “Bribed the housekeeper into helping…”

“What?” Von sat up. “Jenna?”

“Yes,” Kit said flatly. “We found her dead in the kitchen shortly after you left. It looks like she let them into the house, after which they slit her throat.” He rubbed his eyes. “I knew she was unhappy with the way things have changed since my mother died, but…”

“I’m sorry,” Von said softly, wishing he could do more to offer comfort.

“I should have fired her a long time ago,” Kit said wearily. “I owe you all a great debt. I never meant to drag strangers into my problems.” His hand covered Von’s on his arm and smiled at him. “You seem to have a knack for being right where we need you.”

Thorley said something in goblin Von hissed a reply back.

Geoffrey rolled his eyes. “I apologize for their behavior, my lord. They tend to act like children when they’re together.”

“Brothers do, or so I am told. They’re not saying much – Thorley says Von’s only helping because he thinks I’m pretty, and Von is threatening to tell you about an incident involving the tavern fire.” Kit smirked.

Von turned red and made to lunge at his brother.

Geoffrey threw his head back and laughed at the expressions on their faces, looking smugly up at Thorley. “Serves you right.” He narrowed his eyes. “What’s this about the tavern fire?”

“Nothing,” Thorley said, glaring back.

“Nothing my ass,” Von said. “You’re dead.” He tried again to get up and kill his brother, but Kit had a firm hold on his arm. He jerked away from the hold and subsided, unable to so much as glance in Kit’s direction. He glared at his brother. “I’m going to skin you alive.”

Thorley bared his teeth. “Try it.”

Heaving a sigh, Geoffrey stood up and looked at that Thorley. “We’re going.”

“I’m having fun,” Thorley said.

“Fine,” Geoffrey said, voice taking on a dangerous tone. “Then you can sleep in the worm rot patch for the rest of the week. And outside for the month following.”

Thorley glared. “Fine.” Standing up, he followed Geoffrey out, tossing one last smirk over his shoulder at his brother.

“Dead,” Von muttered. “Or maybe I’ll skin him alive.” Suddenly he was painfully aware of just how quiet the room was with his brother and Geoffrey gone, and how very alone that made him and Kit. “I’m sorry,” he managed “We shouldn’t have been using goblin speech.” He bit back his questions.

Kit chuckled. “My father was a linguist; he often helped the King sort out problems between the various species – goblins especially could get complicated.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Von bit out.

The warm chuckles washed over him, making him feel even worse. He knew Kit wasn’t laughing at him, but he also knew Kit should be laughing at him. “Do you really think I’m pretty?” Kit asked teasingly.

Von wished quite suddenly that he was somewhere else. Anywhere else. He stared hard at the floor, willing it to open up and swallow him. “I’m sure plenty of people think you’re attractive.”

“I’m only the second Marquis of Westrick, you know,” Kit said, sounding almost idle. “My father was just a scribe in the palace until he was nearly thirty. He helped uncover a plot to assassinate a visiting dignitary and the king made him a Marquis as a reward. These lands used to belong to the man my father revealed as being behind the plot. The title was changed when my father took it. A few years before that, my mother had died from the wasting sickness. I was thirteen when I suddenly became the son of a Marquis.” He smiled faintly. “Two years after that my father caused further scandal when he married Abby’s mother, the daughter of a Duke. They died four years ago.” His lips twisted in a bitter smile. “So you can see why nobody wants the crown prince to marry Abby. Most believe she never should have been born – the daughter of a Marquis, the niece of a Duke, and all because a scribe was stupid enough to discover a traitor.”

“Poor Abby,” Von said. “She’s going to get tired beating up everyone that tries to harass her when she’s old enough to do so.”

Kit stared at him for a moment, then threw his head back and laughed. “I doubt it,” he said at last. “My general impression is that she will expect her noble knight to administer all necessary beatings and defend her honor.”

“Gladly,” Von said.

“Oh?” Kit asked softly. “Does that mean I don’t have to find other means by which to bribe you into staying?”

Von blinked. “Bribe me into staying?”

Kit suddenly reached out and grasped Von’s face in his hands, tugged him close, and kissed him. It was as wonderful the second time as it had been the first, and Von thought he could quite happily drown in the scent of lemon and sunshine, the hot, whiskey flavor of Kit’s mouth, the warmth of the hands that let go of his face to wrap around him, tug him close. He let his own hands reach up, lingering hesitantly on Kit’s shoulders before he finally wrapped them around his neck.

“I would like you to stay,” Kit said. “Not just because you make Abby happy. I think maybe you make me happy too, though you probably think I’m being hasty.”

Von blinked again, and tried to recover his scattered wits. “No,” he said slowly. “But I’m a bounty hunter, not a knight. If Abby is really going to someday marry the crown prince, having me around isn’t going to help at all. Especially if—“ He cut himself off, flushing, realizing suddenly that ‘if I’m your lover’ sounded rather presumptuous.

“The King doesn’t care. If he did, Abby would never have been betrothed. I’d rather have someone who knows what he’s doing help protect my sister, because she’s going to need it.” Kit looked suddenly abashed. “It isn’t fair, though, to expect you to protect her. I’m sorry, I keep forgetting we rather neatly yanked you from your own life.”

“My life consisted of killing beasts and tormenting my brother,” Von said with a crooked smile. “I’d much rather protect a damsel from distress than kill beasts, and I can always torment Thorley. If you really don’t mind having a grungy bounty hunter, I’d like to stay. To protect Abby.” He flushed and looked away. “To see if I make you happy too.”

Fingers tangled in his hair, gently turned his head up. Kit smiled faintly. “And do you think I could make you happy?”

Von smiled. “I think there’s probably a good chance.”