Free The Rose and The Warrior by Karyn Monk Page B

“And that’s how you treat a wisp of a lass who is only trying to defend herself?”
    â€œI didn’t realize she was a woman—she was dressed in that ridiculous outfit and her face was completely hidden by her helmet. And besides,” he finished, “she attacked me first.”
    â€œGood gracious, Melantha, were you trying to kill this nice young man?” asked Beatrice, appalled.
    â€œWe were robbing them,” explained Melantha, “and he had managed to avoid the nets.”
    â€œHe’s a slippery one, all right,” agreed Magnus. He winked at Roarke.
    â€œBut why have you brought them here?” wondered Hagar. “You never bring prisoners home with you.”
    â€œUnfortunately, we learned that these men have been sent by MacTier to crush the Falcon and ‘his’ band,” explained Colin. “As they intended to kill us, that made releasing them somewhat problematic.”
    â€œThen it’s a bloody, agonizing death to the lot of them!” concluded Thor, ecstatic. “Stand still, you MacTier wretch!” He grunted with effort as he hoisted his sword and took a faltering step toward Roarke.
    â€œHere, now, there’ll be no killing without my consent, Thor,” said Laird MacKillon, frowning at the elder. “Cease your nonsense and let’s hear what Melantha has to say about this ransom business.”
    Thor huffed with irritation and lowered his weapon.
    â€œAs I see it,” began Melantha, “we gain far more by ransoming these warriors than we would by killing them—”
    â€œI don’t know why you would think that.” Thor eyed Eric speculatively. “A big chap like that would make a lot of bread.”
    â€œI propose that we use them to regain some of what MacTier has stolen from us,” she continued, “and show him we are a force to be reckoned with at the same time.”
    â€œBut we’re not a force to be reckoned with,” objected Laird MacKillon. “MacTier already knows that well enough.”
    â€œPerhaps we haven’t the strength to face MacTier in battle,” allowed Melantha, “but it is clear that the Falcon’s band has troubled him enough these past few months to make him feel our sting. That is why he sent these warriors to capture us.”
    â€œBut he doesn’t know the Falcon is from this clan,” pointed out Hagar. “If we ransom these nasty-looking fellows, he’ll have to know that it is we MacKillons who have captured them.”
    â€œAnd he’ll be terribly angry with us,” added Beatrice worriedly. “I’m afraid I cannot see how that will benefit us at all.”
    â€œIt will benefit us to regain that which he has stolen from us,” explained Melantha. “We will exchange these warriors for food, livestock, clothing, weapons, and gold—all things that were taken from us by the MacTiers when they attacked us last autumn.”
    Hagar regarded her doubtfully. “What if MacTier agrees to pay us this ransom, and once he has these warriors he turns around and attacks us with his army?”
    â€œThe gold must be paid in advance of the release of these prisoners,” Melantha explained. “We will use it to buy the alliance of the MacKenzies and the protection of their army.”
    â€œNot even MacTier will dare attack us again if he knows that we have such a powerful force ready to come to our aid,” said Colin.
    Laird MacKillon looked intrigued by the possibility. “An army, you say?”
    Hagar stroked his chin. “That would come to our aid whenever we need it?”
    Magnus smiled fondly at Melantha. “The lass is just like her father—always thinking.”
    â€œDoes this mean I don’t get to kill these chaps?” grumbled Thor.
    â€œIf we ask enough for these warriors, and we secure an alliance with the MacKenzies, then we need never worry about being vulnerable to