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“But Payne is right,” Ming Tang said, looking at Amir. “If he marries her, it secures her safety. It also introduces Blackchurch into something it has never had before—a shadow of nobility. That commands respect.”

Amir considered that. “Blackchurch has respect in military circles,” he said. “Blackchurch-trained warriors are the most sought after in the world.”

“True,” Ming Tang said, “but there has always been the long-standing belief that Blackchurch is ruthless and no better than the pirates associated with it. Given that St. Abelard is attached to Blackchurch, it is something that cannot be escaped.”

“And you feel a marriage to a captured princess somehow legitimizes Blackchurch?”

“If Payne marries her to save her from being auctioned, it does,” Ming Tang said. “It gives us an added dimension we are not known for—compassion.”

“For forcing a captive into marriage?”

“For saving a captive from a terrible fate.”

There were two sides to the argument, which really wasn’t an argument as much as it was simply a discussion. Payne was fully awake by this time, listening to Amir and Ming Tang, trying to see the situation from all sides. But no matter what was said, he’d already decided what he was going to do.

No amount of discussion was going to change that.

“I realize this is a difficult situation,” he interjected. “I realize there is no simple answer. But the reality is this—if I dunna marry the lass, there is no knowing what my mother will do. She could sell her or keep her for the men’s comfort. Is that the fate ye wish for her?”

“But your mother is a woman,” Ming Tang said quietly. “Surely she would not consign the captive to a fate such as that.”

“A whore tae the men?” Payne said plainly.

“Above all, she must keep her men happy. Their contentment outweighs the life of a single woman. It has nothing tae do with her personal feelings and everything tae do with her business—a business of piracy—and in order tae ensure she has pirates who willna stage a mutiny, she’ll do what she needs tae do in order tae keep them happy. Even give them a royal whore.”

Ming Tang sighed sharply at that horrific prospect, looking at St. Denis. “And Blackchurch would be responsible,” he said to the man. “We have an opportunity to save her now. Will you truly not do what is right simply because you do not want Blackchurch involved?”

The chamber fell silent. Everyone was looking at St. Denis, including Payne, waiting for the man to make a decision one way or the other.

He was a man of principles, so of course he didn’t want to be responsible for a woman being used for sexual relief for a gang of bloodthirsty pirates.

But he also didn’t want problems with the entire country of Portugal.

“The question is whether or not the Portuguese believe we have saved her from such a fate,” he said. “If she marries Payne…”

“If she marries me, I’ll take her home if she wants tae go,” Payne said. “I’ll speak tae the king myself and tell him what happened. I will face their praise or condemnation personally, and if it is condemnation, I’ll assure them that Blackchurch had no part in my decision. But if it is praise…”

“If it is praise, you will ensure that Blackchurch takes some of the credit.”

“I will.”

It seemed like a satisfying solution. All eyes turned to St. Denis, who was still contemplating everything.

He had more opinions now, from men he trusted, but it only seemed to make a final decision more difficult.

Since Blackchurch had historically remained neutral in any given conflict, having one of their trainers marry a captive princess didn’t exactly put them in the middle of a conflict.

There was no conflict other than the fact that the woman was a captive of a pirate.

In that respect, their neutrality wasn’t in danger.

With a heavy sigh, he looked at Payne.

“Do what you need to do,” he said. “But keep me apprised of every move you make. I must know what has happened and what is going to happen. I want Blackchurch to come out of this in a heroic manner. Is that clear?”

Payne nodded. “Aye, m’laird.”

St. Denis unexpectedly grinned. “You do not have to address me as such,” he said. “We are of equal ranks now, you and I.”

“Not as long as I am a trainer, m’laird,” Payne said, a glimmer in his eye. “I will always be sworn tae ye.”

St. Denis chuckled. “Mayhap it is for the best,” he said. “A castle cannot have two kings.”

“Ye’re the only king of Blackchurch, m’laird.”

St. Denis acknowledged the show of respect with a nod. “Go, now,” he said. “Make sure Bloody Maude does not do something with this princess that we would all regret.”

Payne stood up and headed for the door. When it shut softly behind him, Amir looked at St. Denis.

“If this situation is not handled with the utmost care, it will erupt in our faces and we will be trying to mitigate it for years to come,” he said. “It could damage the chances of our graduates finding lucrative positions.”

St. Denis shook his head. “It will not,” he said confidently.

“We are still the premier training guild for warriors in the world. No one will remember a Portuguese princess who was abducted by the mother of one of our trainers because no one will ever know of the relationship between Payne and Bloody Maude. I suggest that is something we never speak of. Not even to each other where it can be overheard. Agreed?”

Amir and Ming Tang nodded, as did St. Sebastian. With the subject matter at hand settled, Amir and Ming Tang headed back to bed.

If they could even fall back asleep.

The night was cold, with a half-moon hanging in the sky, unnaturally bright. The stars above were brilliant as well, presiding over the darkened landscape, filling the heads of the sleeping with dreams.

“Payne is now an earl,” Amir said quietly as they left Exmoor’s keep and began to walk back to their homes beneath that brilliant sky. “Our big, brave, sometimes irreverent, and always entertaining Scotsman is true nobility now.”

Ming Tang smiled faintly. “He will be an excellent lord.”

“You think so?”

“And you do not?”

Amir nodded. “I do,” he said quickly. “He is suited to it, but he must learn to keep his emotions in check. I could see it in his expression that he is concerned for this princess.”

Ming Tang nodded too. “As could I,” he said. “Payne feels that he is hobbled by the fact that he feels deeply, especially when it comes to women, but I do not think that is the case. I think it gives him great capacity for understanding.”

“Some men do not want to understand. They only want to fulfill their wishes.”

“Payne is not like that.”

“Nay,” Amir said slowly, “he is not. He has the ability to make the right decision more than most, but he needs to trust himself. He has always been in the position of follower more than a leader, so he must trust himself as a leader now. The knight must become the earl… and in command of his destiny.”

Ming Tang thought on the big Scotsman who always projected a devil-may-care attitude, as if he didn’t take life very seriously at times.

But he was going to have to take it seriously now.

“Time will tell,” he said quietly.

Time would, indeed.