The Ransom Knight Read Online Free Page A

valley below. “The lord of rocks and pine trees, is that it? Little wonder he needs to take hostages. I cannot imagine rocks and pine trees pay much in the way of rents.”
    Atalia blinked, and then let out a little laugh, as if against her will. “I suppose not.” She stared at him for a moment, her right hand opening and closing. The woman looked…strained, and after a moment Mazael realized that she was terrified. She was putting up a brave front, but he saw a muscle twitching near her eye. “So. Lord Malden sent you to deliver Sir Edmund’s ransom?” 
    “He did,” said Mazael. 
    “You came alone?” said Atalia, craning her neck to look at the hilltop behind them.
    “I came with an appropriate escort,” said Mazael. “The hills of the Stormvales are a dangerous place to travel alone.”
    “This is true,” said Atalia. 
    “Especially of late,” said Mazael.
    “Yes,” said Atalia, meeting his gaze without blinking. 
    “What with the murderous phantom warriors and all,” said Mazael. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” 
    The muscle near her eye started twitching harder. “One hears rumors.”
    “One does, I imagine,” said Mazael. “One rumor says that Sir Traeger was digging around in Castle Highstone, and found something…unpleasant. Something that might call up phantoms?” 
    “What sort of phantoms?” said Atalia. “Ghost stories are common.”
    “The sort of phantoms,” said Mazael, “that are actually creatures summoned from the spirit world.”
    “How did you know that?” said Atalia. 
    “Perhaps I’m well-read,” said Mazael.
    “A lord’s household knight?” said Atalia. “If you can spell your own name, I shall be amazed.” 
    “I’m a surprising sort of fellow,” said Mazael. An idea occurred to him. “You, though, are utterly predictable.”
    She scowled at him. “What is that supposed to mean?” 
    “His lordship Traeger Highstone is a brigand,” said Mazael. “Which would make you…what, his concubine? His whore?” He snapped his fingers. “A local village girl, is that it? Thought you would seduce the great Lord Traeger and ride him to fame and fortune? Instead he’s sending you out to talk to armed men because he’s too cowardly to do it himself…”
    “Enough!” said Atalia, her black eyes blazing with fury. “Do you think I would take a wretch like Traeger into my bed? I am no whore, as you shall learn!” She lifted her right hand, the fingers spread, and the air began to ripple and blur around it.
    “No,” said Mazael. “But you are a wizard, aren’t you?”
    She blinked and looked at her hand with chagrin. 
    “No, not quite,” said Mazael. “You’re an apprentice wizard.” Something else occurred to him. “A failed apprentice.”
    “Shut up,” said Atalia. 
    “A failed apprentice of one Brother Trocend Castleson,” said Mazael. 
    Atalia flinched. “How did you know that?” 
    “I don’t know,” said Mazael. “I’m just an unlettered rustic knight, ignorant and rough...”
    “Oh, shut up,” said Atalia. She blinked several times. “Trocend is with you, isn’t he?”
    Mazael grinned. He had knocked her off balance, but she had recovered quickly. A clever woman, and one with magical skills. That made her dangerous. 
    “He is,” said Mazael.
    “Damn it,” said Atalia. “I was hoping Malden would send someone else.” She took a deep breath. “Well, let’s get this over with, Sir Mazael.”
    “Very well,” said Mazael, offering her his arm. 
    She blinked at his arm and laughed. “Seriously?”
    “Well,” said Mazael, “even rustic, unlettered knights can display courtesy from time to time.”
    “As you say, Sir Mazael,” said Atalia, threading her arm through his. “I suppose this also allows you to know the instant I cast a spell?”
    “Such a suspicious mind you have,” said Mazael, and she laughed again. 
    He led her from the bridge, keeping an eye out for more