The Rogue Knight by Brandon Mull Page A

He resolved to be more honest. Making up weird answers had gotten him nowhere.
    The woman leaned forward and spoke in hushed tones. “I suspect the Rogue Knight might be the exiled Duke of Laramy.”
    â€œWow,” Cole said. “I have no idea what that means.”
    â€œShould I speak slower?” she teased.
    â€œI don’t know any of those people.”
    She blinked. “Surely you’ve heard of the Rogue Knight?”
    â€œI haven’t,” Cole said. “This is my first visit to Elloweer.”
    She patted her hands together delightedly. “In truth?”
    â€œYeah. This is my first time in a confidence lounge.”
    â€œI hardly believe you, but let’s pretend. I’m Vixen. Where do you come from, Mr. Mysterious?”
    â€œSambria.”
    â€œDistant parts of Sambria, if you haven’t heard of the Rogue Knight.”
    â€œFar from Carthage,” Cole said. “Who is this knight?”
    â€œThat is the question,” she said. “His identity is a matter of much debate. The Rogue Knight became champion of a small community east of here. He has an insatiable urge for dueling and a knack for winning. He started with minor towns, but he has moved on to great cities. None of this sounds familiar?”
    â€œNo,” Cole said. He wondered if what she was talking about had anything to do with the info they needed to help find Honor. It definitely didn’t seem connected to Dalton or Jenna. He was tempted to cut her off and ask what he really wanted to know, but she seemed excited about this topic, so maybe if he let her discuss it, she would eventually get to something he cared about.
    â€œThe Rogue Knight shows no interest in settling down to enjoy the spoils of his victories. Six knights now follow him. Some say seven. They live like vagabonds. When the Rogue Knight unseats a champion, he sacks the alderman and grants all taxes to the common people of the town. No officials or nobility get a copper bit. Over a short span, the Rogue Knight has become quite the man of the people. As you might expect, his list of enemies grows quite long.”
    â€œShouldn’t he be called the Rogue Champion?” Cole asked.
    â€œOne could make that argument,” Vixen said. “But none of the lords or champions of Elloweer wish to bestow that honor upon him. He does not behave like a champion. They say he robs travelers. Some cities have declared him an outlaw. He is wreaking havoc with our government.”
    â€œYou don’t like him?”
    â€œI would give my right arm to meet him,” she gushed immediately. “My opinions have not yet crystallized. I burn with curiosity. I agree with our nobility that the man is a scoundrel, but you must admit there is something horribly romantic about such boldness.”
    Cole thought it sounded like the Rogue Knight had a groupie. “You know who he is?”
    â€œNobody has seen him without his armor,” Vixen said. “His helmet conceals his face. But he could be the Duke of Laramy. It fits. The duke was a vocal advocate of the common people, and he often flouted convention. They say he died, but what if that was a ruse to conceal his new identity?”
    â€œSo it’s a theory,” Cole said.
    â€œAt the very least,” she replied. “At best it is a brilliant deduction. The Duke of Laramy was notoriously handsome.”
    â€œAre there other theories?”
    â€œDozens. But here I am overflowing with gossip without asking after Sambria.”
    â€œCarnag fell.”
    â€œAs we well know,” Vixen replied. “The slayer of the fiend remains unannounced.”
    â€œI heard some legionnaires helped.”
    She waved away the information like it was a bothersome fly. “Are you really so devoid of knowledge? Don’t you know something juicy? Then we could truly talk.”
    Cole leaned toward her and lowered his voice. “I heard that Declan, the