Knight's End (The Knight Trilogy) by Jami Montgomery Page A

hoping to save a damsel, I suppose. I followed him, saw the Rogue leave the room across the hall, and chased him until I lost him. Talbot, of course, wouldn’t take the blame and placed his actions upon my shoulders . Which led to me being sentenced to hang. Well, that and the fact that I was…less than cordial to the king when reprimanded me . So, I ran.”
    Jade didn’t speak when he was finished with his story. She didn’t have the heart to tell him what she was thinking. Instead, she switched topics.
    “Richie seems to really like you. Is he your brother?”
    Aston laughed aloud at Jade’s question. “No, no. He’s not family. Not by blood, anyway. He needed someone to look up to, someone to take care of him. I just happened to be the firs t one who was willing to do so. Can I ask you something?”
    Jade nodded but didn’t look up.
    “Who are you?”
    “I already told you. My name is Jade,” she answered, staring straight ahead to avoid Aston’s searching eyes.
    “Don’t give me that. You know that’s not what I was asking.”
    Jade shook her head, refusing to answer. When she looked up again, Aston was pulling Sterling to a stop. They were in a clearing, but they weren’t alone. A small cabin sat in front of them and, as soon as they arrived, a plump little woman came rushing out of the house. Aston climbed down from Sterling and the woman ran into his arms, sobbing.
    “Aston Smith, I should beat you for scaring us like that! What were you thinking!?” she cried. Aston smiled, rubbing the woman’s back, while Jade looked on in confusion.
    A tall, burly man stepped from the cabin next, walking towards Aston with a frown on his face. “I tol d you to wait,” he said.
    Aston only shook his head. “I’m sorry, Delgrab. You know why I couldn’t stay.”
    Delgrab nodded. “Why are you back?” Aston turned his head to the side and Delgrab looked at Jade for the first time. “Who’s she?”
    “Her name is Jade. That’s all I know,” Aston said.
    Jade blushed; it sounded so awful when he said it like that, but it was the truth. That was all he knew about her. She dismounted and strode toward the man, determined not to look as nervous as she felt. She held a hand out to Delgrab, who grasped it and kissed it while she curtsied. “It’s a pleasure,” she said.
    Delgrab nodded. “The pleasure is mine, I’m sure.”
    A sharp smack resounded from beside them, and Jade jumped, turning to look at Aston. The plump little woman was holding her left hand with her right, storming away towards the cabin. Aston’s head was turned to the side, his cheek red, but he was smiling.
    Delgrab winced. “She was really mad,” he offered.
    Aston nodded, laughed, and went after the woman.
    Jade looked back at Delgrab. “What was that about?” she asked him.
    The man turned to her and grimaced before offering Jade his arm, which she acc epted, and directing her toward the house. He grabbed Sterling’s reins and those of the white stallion in his other hand. “You should go inside and make sure Alys doesn’t kill him.” Jade’s eyes widened, and Delgrab laughed. “She wouldn’t really kill him…I think. But, to be on the safe side…”
    Delgrab withdrew his arm from Jade’s and headed around the cabin. Jade stayed where she was for a moment , looking in the direction the man had disappeared in before following Aston inside .
    Aston sat at a small wooden table with the woman named Alys across from him. They were speaking in low voices when Jade approached. Aston looked up at her and, for the first time, she really noticed him.
    Alys had obviously allowed him use of Delgrab’s razor. His clean-shaven skin was tanned and perfect, no trace of scars or battle wounds. His eyes were dark blue, just a shade lighter than they had been when she’d seen him in the forest the night before. His shaggy hair was dust colored, not quite blonde, but not quite brown. He smiled at her, revealing rows of perfect white teeth