The Rogue Knight by Brandon Mull Page B

Grand Shaper of Sambria, was chased out of hiding.”
    â€œNo!” she said. “How certain is this?”
    â€œIt’s reliable.”
    â€œSome have surmised that Declan would have passed on by now.”
    â€œHe’s alive and well. He was hiding behind the Eastern Cloudwall.”
    She gasped. “At the Brink? Absurd.”
    â€œI guess there was space back there,” Cole said. “He found a way in and built a fort. A bunch of legionnaires flushed him out.”
    â€œDeclan got away?”
    â€œNobody knows where he went. But I heard they almost had him.”
    â€œThese are indeed novel tidings,” Vixen said. “Substantial if not scandalous. Very well, I owe you something remarkable. Since we’ve visited the topic of the Rogue Knight, I will impart recent developments that are not yet public.”
    â€œOkay,” Cole said, a little disappointed that she was still focused on the knight and didn’t have anything else to reveal.
    â€œFrom a dependable source close to the matter, I hear that the Rogue Knight has challenged none other than Rustin Sage, champion of Merriston.”
    â€œWhere is that?” Cole asked.
    She chuckled as if he were kidding. “Don’t pretend ignorance of our capital. Do you wish me to believe you are a stranger or a fool?”
    â€œI really am a stranger,” Cole said. “When is the fight?”
    â€œPostponed indefinitely,” Vixen said, her voice low and excited. “Rustin refuses to acknowledge the Rogue Knight’s right to challenge him, and he has the full backing of the governor. Naturally, this is all being kept quiet. No champion wants to seem afraid to fight.”
    â€œIs he afraid?” Cole asked.
    â€œThe Rogue Knight has slain too many proven champions, including Gart the Headsman, who everyone thought would rule Cirestra unchallenged until he died or stepped down. Can you imagine if the capital’s taxes were completely dispersed among the common folk? It would cripple the government. Anarchy would result. Chaos. The cities the Rogue Knight has taken have either plunged into confusion or else have quietly ignored his edicts. I have it on good authority that the capital will use all necessary means to deny the Rogue Knight his duel.”
    â€œInteresting,” Cole said, still unsure whether the knowledge was relevant to his problems.
    Vixen whispered for the first time. Cole could barely hear her over the music. “If you’re as new as you act, be careful where you repeat those tidings. For example, Stumbler over there is one of Henrick’s knights. He would not appreciate such tales being spread. When they’re not killing one another, champions tend to stick together, especially on the matter of the Rogue Knight.”
    â€œThat guy’s a knight?” Cole asked.
    â€œHe’s much younger and stronger than he looks,” she assured him.
    â€œI guess anything is possible in here,” Cole said. “He could even be a girl.”
    â€œNot so,” Vixen corrected him. “They keep the seemings at Shady Lane true to your gender. House rules.”
    A bony old woman shuffled over to them. Cole had not seen her enter the room. One of her eyes was notably larger than the other. “We should talk, sir,” she offered.
    â€œAnd who might you be?” Vixen challenged.
    â€œNobody to worry about,” the old woman said. “Anyone here who lives on Upton Street should mind her own business.”
    Eyes darting to Cole, Vixen looked shocked. She forced a smile.
    The old woman stepped close to Cole. “Seriously, follow me.”
    Cole wasn’t sure what to do. The old woman seemed intrusive and probably dangerous. “Why me?”
    She brought her dry lips to his ear. “I’m from Arizona too.”

C HAPTER
    Â 9 
    JILL
    S o excited and curious that he could hardly keep his mouth shut, Cole followed the old woman.