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King’s men.”
    Aedan could think of a list of the King’s men he’d like to kill himself. It was a list of one. The lout stood before him, sweating like a mating sow and giggling like a chit.
    He wondered how long it would take the Sheriff to slowly bleed to death from a gut wound.
    “I need that money,” he finally said, through gritted teeth.
    The Sheriff grunted. “Then you shouldn’t have let the man escape.” As much as he could muster it, the pig leaned over his massive gut and down near Aedan’s face. “I have a feeling you were doing a good bit of gawping at a pretty face instead of doing your duty and watching her patient.”
    At his sides, Aedan’s hands fisted of their own accord and he had to do his best at counting the stones between him and the Sheriff’s guards to keep his anger at bay.
    “Surely a ruined face like that can’t get you much in the way of pleasure, short of paying for it.” The Sheriff continued to blather, spittle spewing from his fat lips and landing on Aedan’s exposed skin. “I’m sure you had a good leer at the Lady Anne, and I’ll consider that your payment for losing the fool Scot.”
    “I’m a Scot, too,” Aedan growled.
    “Could have fooled me.” The Sheriff stood and laughed, his belly jiggling with each short burst. “Any man who would sell his soul as you have has no right claiming anywhere as home.”
    The truth of the words chilled Aedan to his very heart. While a fat, greasy bastard, the Sheriff was right. Aedan had no right to claim any loyalty, not when he took gold coins for capturing his countrymen.
    He was no Scot. He was a soulless sword. For hire.
    “So you’ve given away my bounty.”
    “That’s right.”
    “And I imagine, since you’re down here telling me this and not up with your Countess, that there’s something else you’ve got for me to do.”
    “Actually, I’m finished with the Countess for now.” The Sheriff patted his belly. “A right pleasing woman, that Countess de Cheyne. So pliant. But no, it’s her daughter I have plans for this evening. Since she is, now, mine to do with as I will.”
    Aedan counted his breaths. One. Two. Three. Don’t kill the swine. He isn’t worth your freedom. Or your sister’s. Remember Brighde. Four. Five. Six.
    “But I do have something for you. You two, help him over to the table so we can talk like men.” The Sheriff signaled to the two guards, who dragged Aedan to the chair next to one of the sleeping lords.
    As they sat, the dog scampered away, the remains of a cooked bird’s carcass dangling from its mouth. The Sheriff started picking at what was left of the leg near the sleeping lord’s hand. Aedan hoped he caught some disease from the foul dog and died a thousand deaths.
    “You.” The Sheriff pointed at one of the guards. “Get the cook up here to clean this table. And round up some men to take Lord Creighton and Lord de Montfort to their chambers. They’ll make for better hunting partners tomorrow if they sleep in their beds and not in their cups. And get this one something for his head.”
    “Yes, sir.” The two guards parted ways, one toward the open door and the kitchens, the other toward his comrades asleep at the other doors.
    The Sheriff grabbed Aedan’s arm.
    “Mark my words, son. I didn’t give your money lightly. But I need the Countess to be in good spirits for what I have in store for her, and the reward just sweetened the pot. I know you’re counting on this purse, and I have another task for you.”
    As much as Aedan’s stomach roiled at the thought of helping this man again, he knew he didn’t have a choice. He only had two more weeks before he was sworn to return to his father with one hundred pounds, and he was still short, thanks to William Campbell.
    Against his better judgment, Aedan nodded and leaned in, catching an unfortunate whiff of the Sheriff’s filth. “Whatever you have for me, I’ll take it.”
    He swallowed hard and readied himself for