Champion of the Heart by Laurel O'Donnell Page A

less noble child makes no difference to me,” he muttered.
    Jordan brought her hand around and slapped his cheek soundly. “A child is a child, noble or not. And her death is on your hands.” Jordan closed her mouth, and her lips thinned in a tight line. Maggie hadn’t been a noble, just an abandoned girl. And Jordan had loved her dearly. “That is something I will never forgive you for.” Jordan grabbed the basin and candle and whirled for the door. “I hope you rot in here.”
    The cell door slammed hard with a resounding clang, the bolt slamming back into place.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Fox gritted his teeth, listening to Jordan’s footsteps fading into the distance. Why should he care about what the herbs meant to Jordan? Why should he care what happened to anyone besides his people? Had his actions really caused the death of this girl?
    Fox cursed silently and pushed the dark, unpleasant possibilities from his mind. I can’t let myself care, he thought. These are my enemies. All of them. Every noble man, woman, and child who lives on Ruvane lands or Vaughn lands and the lands stolen from my father. Every one.
    “She’s a whirlwind,” a voice from the opposite wall said.
    Fox didn’t reply. To see Jordan standing before him looking so damned beautiful... It would have been easier if the years had turned her into an ugly wretch. At least it would have been more fair. But life wasn’t fair. He’d learned that a long time ago. He knew he made his own luck.
    And his own luck should be coming any moment now, if they stuck to the original plan and if nothing had happened to them. If no guard had recognized them...
    Fox leaned back against the cold wall, running his hands through his black hair, the chains that bound him clanking as they moved. His arm throbbed. She had made the cloth too tight. But no matter. This little venture has cost me more than I thought. The dogs have stripped me of my armor and my horse. Ah well, he thought. I will get them back.
    “At least this cell has good scenery,” the voice added. “Some of the stones are quite colorful.”
    And I did find Beau, Fox thought, as the man chained opposite him continued to let his mouth run on and on. His friend was worth all the horses and armor in the kingdom. Now they needed to escape.
    Suddenly, the sound of the bolt being drawn again filled the cell. The door swung open. For a moment, Fox was blinded by the light of a torch from the hallway. He put up a hand to protect his eyes to see who was entering.
    The doorway was suddenly blocked by the bulky shape of a large man, a man rippling with muscles.
    A grin stretched across Fox’s face. He stood up. “I was just wondering when you might show up, Pick.”
    The large man shrugged helplessly before he suddenly lurched into the cell. He landed on his knees before Fox. Four guards followed him in. One guard kicked the big man in the ribs, making the burly man grunt. “Get over there, you big ox.”
    The other guards stood alertly in the doorway, watching Pick move slowly toward the dungeon wall.
    Pick smiled at Fox as the guard clapped manacles over his wrists. “Apparently so was Vaughn.”
    The guard stepped away from Pick, joining the others at the door. “Sweet dreams,” the guard said. The other guards laughed as they left the cell, closing the door, sealing them in darkness.
    “Nice to see you, Pick,” Beau greeted.
    “I’m sure you think so,” Pick answered shortly, rubbing his side. “But I could have done without a few of these bruises.”
    “It’s kind of chilly down here,” Beau said. “I hope you brought us some blankets.”
    Pick grunted.
    “All right,” Beau said. “Now what, Fox? I don’t think this was part of your master plan, was it? Ol’ Pick here was supposed to get us out, not join us, wasn’t he?” Beau turned to look at Pick. “Not that I don’t enjoy your company, big man.”
    Fox waited until the ugly sound of the laughing guards faded into the distance