The Archer (The Blood Realm Series Book 3)(6)

A clue perhaps?

“Sympathy for a man who would have violated me? Who all but threatened to have me thrown in irons if I didn’t come to his bed?” Marian’s jaw tightened. “I think not.”

The sheriff stopped several yards away, his severe gaze sliding from Marian to the body on the ground like a dragon sizing up a cave, judging whether there was room for his treasure. After a moment of silent contemplation, he approached Marian. His footsteps as he came closer were near silent, every step deliberate, careful. A predator’s gait.

“And my cousin was so fond of you too.” He halted again less than ten feet from Marian. “Do lower the weapon, Lady Marian. You’ve already killed one man today, surely that’s enough?”

“What are you doing here?”

Robin grinned. Marian’s voice was strong, no fear, no guilt. Nothing to suggest she was about to be arrested for murder—possibly hanged. Either she was planning another murder, she intended to bluff her way out, or her secret included being some manner of creature that did not fear whatever means of death the human—or mostly human—sheriff might bring to her. Whatever the reason, things were about to get interesting.

Exactly what this boring day needed.

“I was visiting with my cousin when he happened to notice you scampering about on his property. Apparently, this isn’t the first time you’ve trespassed, and Guy asked if I would mind remaining close while he confronted you, ostensibly with the desire that I should arrest you if you became obstinate.” He nudged the body with the toe of his boot. “Which it would seem you were.”

Marian’s green eyes widened and the bow sagged in her grip. “You watched the whole thing. You watched him try to put his hands on me, watched me—”

“Murder him in cold blood? Indeed, I am sorry to say I did bear witness to your rather deplorable lack of character.” He tilted his head as if in consideration. After a moment, he nodded, once. “Four hundred pounds.”

“What?”

Robin leaned closer, his pulse quickening. Marian’s voice had risen, and her bow hung all but forgotten in her grasp. Don’t lower your weapon, Marian, not when you stand so close to him.

Mac Tyre’s gaze abandoned the dead, and narrowed on the lady. He took one more step in her direction, placing his foot in the center of a particularly large stick littering the ground. Peering at her with deadened, vacant eyes, he snapped the twig with a gruesome crack.

“Yes, four hundred pounds. A fair eric for my cousin, I think. After all, the poor man was without wife or child. I will have to take on the responsibility of his lands, and it will take a great deal of time, and effort, and gold to hire the help that will be needed. Four hundred pounds is appropriate.”

“I…”

Marian pressed her lips together, nostrils flaring. Her fingers flexed around her bow, giving Robin hope that she’d raise the weapon and put the same arrow in the sheriff that had killed his cousin. What a story that would make. Cousins slain by the same arrow, barely a breath apart. Felled by my mystery woman.

She huffed out a breath, her shoulders falling as if some great stone had been laid on them. “I will have the money for you in a year’s time.”

Robin deflated against the trunk of the tree. Not much fun in that. Disappointed, he turned with every intention of waltzing right out of the picture. There was little point in sticking around if she was going to give up so easily. If she had an otherworldly nature, she obviously had no intention of showing it now. And his interest was fading…fast.#p#分页标题#e#

“No. You will have the money for me tomorrow. Or I will lay claim to your land as compensation.”

“Tomorrow! You know blasted well I can’t have that kind of money by tomorrow.”

That’s more like it.

Robin resumed his previous stance behind the trunk just in time to watch the sheriff snatch the arrow from Marian’s hand, the movement so quick even Robin nearly missed it. She hissed and scuttled back a few steps, glaring at the sheriff as he held the arrow up between them, its bloody tip gleaming in the light.

“You have murdered my cousin. Pay the eric or have your lands seized when you are thrown in prison. I do not care which path you choose, for in the end, they both lead to my ownership of these lands—his and yours. Throw your life away in the process if you wish, but do make your decision quickly so we can both be on about our day.”

Marian curled her nails into her palms as if fighting the desire to scratch out the sheriff’s eyes. Robin held his breath, anticipation leaking adrenaline into his blood stream as he stared at her fingertips for some sign of claws, or perhaps the faint glow of a spell.