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before the customary calm washed over her.   “Not as much as you’ll enjoy the lesson I’m going to teach,” she replied.
    “Still so proud?” Irwin reached out to touch her face, but before his grubby fingers touched her, she seized his arm and twisted it.   “I believe you took something that belongs to me,” she stated calmly.
    His body twisted with his arm as he cried out in pain.
    “I offered to work this out before, Irwin.   But now it’s gone far beyond that.”
    “Please!” the innkeeper called.   “I want no trouble here.”
    “Give us the ring and we’ll go quietly,” Jared said, leaning forward in his chair.
    Taylor held Irwin’s hand tightly.   He squirmed in her hold.   She wanted nothing better than to beat this little rodent, to make him feel a portion of the pain she had felt.   But if Irwin gave her the ring, she would leave.   She hoped he wouldn’t do it.   She twisted his hand and he stiffened, groaning.
    The four men behind him moved forward, hesitantly.   Their glowering faces locked on Taylor.
    “I would give it to you, I swear!   But –”   Irwin yelped as she twisted his arm farther.
    “All you have to do is give us the ring.   I’m not even asking for the coin you stole from me.”
    “Take it outside!” the innkeeper hollered.
    One of Irwin’s companions smiled, revealing two rows of crooked brown teeth.   “He lost it to me.”
    She bent to Irwin’s ear.   “I’m disappointed, Irwin.   Very disappointed.”   She shoved Irwin away from her and the little man tumbled to the ground.
    Slane put his hand on her wrist.   “There’s no need for this.   The ring isn’t that important to me.   I just want to find the woman who was supposed to be wearing it.”
    “It’s important to me,” she returned hotly.   She jerked her hand free and drew her sword.
    The sound of Jared freeing his weapon echoed Taylor’s.
    “Please, no swords!” the innkeeper shouted.
    Taylor heard Slane’s muttered curse as she pointed her weapon at the burly man’s neck.   “Just give me the ring and we’ll be on our way.”
    The burly man walked toward her slowly.
    “Don’t make me use this,” she said.
    “You won’t use it,” he said, laughing.   “I have no weapon.   It is against your code to hurt me.”
    Her eyebrows rose and with a slight jerk of her wrist, she slashed his arm with the tip of her blade, drawing blood.   “You obviously have me mistaken for a knight,” she said lightly.   “Now give me the ring or I’ll run you through.”
    The wound seemed to enrage him.   He rushed at Taylor, and she had to step quickly aside to avoid his rampaging bulk.
    Jared stuck out his leg and the burly man tripped over it, his momentum propelling him forward.   As the big man flew past, Jared snatched the man’s coin pouch from his belt.   The burly man slammed straight into a table.   Mugs and trenchers went flying everywhere.
    Taylor watched Jared glance into the coin pouch.   Anxiety tensed her body.   What if the ring wasn’t there?   But Jared looked up at her and nodded.   She allowed a grin to form on her lips, but suddenly she was shoved from behind into Slane.   As their bodies collided, she caught sight of Irwin fleeing the tavern.   She pushed herself away from Slane to dash out the door after Irwin.
    “Sully, wait!” Slane called, but he had to duck the blow meant for his chin as the room erupted in fighting.
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
     
     
    “S omeone must pay for all of this!” the innkeeper shouted, spreading his hands wide to indicate the broken tables and smashed mugs and spilled food scattered over the floor.   “Look at my inn!   Who will return here to drink?”
    Slane ignored him, rubbing his cut lip.   He and Jared had made quick work of the rat-faced man’s companions.   Three of them had quickly fled; the burly man still lay unconscious on the floor.   The one hit Slane had taken on his jaw was the first,