Tace looked at Kace, then back to the leader of the horsemen with a smirk.

"They're lying," Kace got out before his captor clamped a hand over his mouth.

"If you're lying," Tace said, "then I'd rather not give up the girl because you wouldn't be taking her back to the palace."

"What business is that of yours? You have no right to the girl."

"You don't either, if you're lying about it."

"And if your friend is the one who's lying?"

"He doesn't lie."

"You wouldn't want to lose such a trustworthy companion, would you?" The leader held his sword to Kace's neck.

"Then I'd have no reason to stay here and listen to you, would I? You kill him, you lose your only advantage."

The leader scoffed at this.

"We still have all the advantage, boy. What, you and your flimsy shack, and two frightened girls who will hinder you before helping you. We have weapons, boy, and horses that can trample your house to pieces."

"I beg to differ on a few points," Tace gave the captain a cocked grin. "The first -I'm a few hundred years old, so I'm the one who should be calling you 'boy'."

"That makes no difference." The man sheathed his sword in one swift motion, as if trying to impress the onlookers.

"Not in size, but in experience. Second, there are more than just two scared girls in the cottage, which brings me to my third point -the house isn't as flimsy as it looks. And your weapons won't do much good if we can dodge the horses that you seem permanently attached to."

"What's the point of this jabber?" the leader said, a bit less confidently but still putting on a good show. "Show your weapon and fight, surrender, or die."

"I'm afraid I'm not going to do any of that. I want to know why you want the princess."

"Oh, that's easy enough." Kace's guard had taken his hand away from the captive's mouth, but quickly returned it as soon as the prisoner spoke.

"I'm pretty sure that you're staging a coup." Tace smiled condescendingly. "If you expect me to help with that, you're wrong."

The leader glared at him, then jerked his head at Kace.

"Kill him."

Kace's hands were bound, and the rope was tied to a horse. The horsemen were, however, mistaken in thinking that such precautions would hold him. Kace's elbow jerked back into his guard's face. The soldier let go of him, and Kace threw the rope off and sprinted across the clearing until he was next to Tace.

"I had a knife in my pocket and cut the ropes." His eyes twinkled. "Security was a bit lax."

"Well, sir," Tace turned to the captain with a raised an eyebrow. "Looks like we're a bit more even."

"And you'll be 'even' with the ground by sundown," the soldier growled.

"We'll see." Tace grinned. "Are you waiting for something?"

"No!"

"Then look behind you."

The captain rolled his eyes.

"You're not going to fool me with that one."

Tace shrugged.

"You're the one who's going to be fighting alone. Come on then. Kyndran," he called into the house, "feel free to lend a hand with your bow. Danid, keep an eye on the ladies if somehow this dear sir wins the fight."

The captain glanced quickly over his shoulder, then started and looked again.

Every horse had an empty saddle.