THE Knight’s Hidden Princess

"Who are you?" A gruff voice suddenly stepped forward.

Heather stepped forward, shielding from view but it was not necessary. I had the hood of my cloak up and the thin veil I was wearing beneath it cast my features in a shadow. Since Reagan had decided not to help us, I just couldn't sit by and do nothing. So I did exactly what he asked, for me to handle it by myself instead of yelling at him as if my words could fix it.

The consequences be damned, I do not care if Heather signed a collateral agreement, or even enter a blood covenant with them, I was getting her children out!

"She's the lady of the house where I worked," Heather her voice trembling despite the defiance in her posture. The quiver in her tone sent a ripple of amusement through the den. I saw it in the way the men leaned back in their chairs, their dark eyes glittering as though savoring a private joke.

 "She's….She's come to pay off my debt." Heather finished.

One of the men's gaze cut to mine, "The lady of the house eh?" He said moving around to stand in front of me, "The lady of whose house?" He asked his gaze assessing me, trying to see my face.

Glaring up at him in response, I responded. "Doesn't matter what house. You need the money and I have it, so will you accept it or ask another silly question?"

"Well, well, well, seems we have one with a bit of a spunk in her lads." The man called to his colleagues who laughed as if he said something funny and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, "Name's Finch, what's yours love?"

I glared at him through the veil I wore, "Didn't anyone teach you not to address a lady of noble birth in such manner or are you just naturally an idiot?"

The man's gaze hardened for a moment and I saw his hand twitch for a minute as though a thought passed his mind. But then, he smiled and it slowly turned into a full on laughter.

"Okay, business like, I love it!" He said his voice booming with each word. Still chuckling, he moved to go and take a seat behind the table. "Though, did this bitch tell you just how much she is owing?"

My hands clenched as I felt a surge of anger at the use of the word bitch. I didn't say anything or punch him in the face like I initially wanted to, but instead I reach for the pouch and tossed it at him.

Finch grabbed it with one hand, smirking at him he held the pouch in his hands, tossing it in the air. "This doesn't sound like coins, it better not be some chump change!" He said while the rest of his goons laugh as he opened it.

I saw the way his eyes widened as he stared down at what I brought for him. His goons also stopped laughing and stared down at it, then back up at me with a look of awe, even Heather gasped out aloud. Still stunned, the man reached inside and brought out a silver bracelet that was encrusted with light blue stones, diamonds.

Finch's fingers held on to the bracelet carefully, as though it might vanish, "And…and this is payment?" He asked his voice hoarse. He turned it over in his hand, the diamond stones catching every glint of light, illuminating the hungry stares of his cohorts.

"Yes." I said while fixating him with a hard stare, "I'm positive that is worth more than all the debts combined, even interest."

Finch smiled before he narrowed his gaze at me suspiciously, "Seriously lady, who are you?"

"I told you that it doesn't matter. You requested payment and now you have it."

"And what's to stop me from taking it from you?" Finch asked smiling but there was a glint in his eyes.

I smiled at him, "You try to harm me, you will find out just exactly what household I am from and trust me_" I say taking a step towards him, "You do not want to find out!" I say allowing my tone to become cold and deadly.

Finch smiled at me, a thin dangerous curve to his lips that made his moustache to twitch ever so slightly. He leaned backwards in his seat, studying me with the intensity of his predator sizing up its prey. "You've got nerve lady, I'll give you that." He said handing the bracelet to one of the men who held on to it like it was his lifeline. "Alright, debt is cleared you are free to go."

Heather released a strangled breath of relief before she shuffled forward. "Really? I am?"

"I just said so, didn't I?"

Sniffing, Heather turned to look at me, her eyes shining with gratitude. I offered her a smile even though she couldn't see it. Smiling, Heather turned to look back at the man, "Does this mean I get to take the children too?"

Finch's smile vanished from his face as he fixed Heather with a smile. "You are pushing your luck bitch!"

"What do you mean by that?' I asked stepping forward, "I already paid_"

"For her debts, not that of the children." Finch interrupted me, his cold gaze was turning to look at mine. "Do you know how much it costs keeping children? The amount of food they eat in a day is more costly than any_"

"Costly?" I asked my voice rising with indignation. Feeling angry, I stepped forward, "You dare to demand more after taking payment in full? The bracelet I gave you covers up whatever debts she owes and I'm positive it covers the debt of others."

Finch's smirk returned, sharper this time around. "Believe me lady, I do not doubt that. The children are collateral. Feeding them, sheltering them doesn't come cheap. They've been here for a while now I'm afraid and that kind of hospitality isn't free."

"Then why take them when you cannot afford to take care of them you idiot?" I asked through clenched teeth and behind me Heather just continued sobbing. Closing my eyes, I willed myself to calm down, my mind racing as I calculated my next move. I felt Heather's arm tug on my cloak but I didn't look away from Finch's cold gaze.

"You want more payment?" I asked in a deceptively calm tone, "Then name your price!"

Finch looked me dead in the eye, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he replied. "Ten thousand gold coins each!"

"What the hell? Twenty thousand gold coins?" I couldn't help but yell at him and from my peripheral vision, I think I saw Heather crumple down to the ground. "Have you lost your gods damn mind? They are children, not fine wine!"

"They are mouths to feed and I think I've been doing a damn good job of that all things considered."

"Now you listen to me_"

"No you listen to me," Finch said all traces of amusement gone from his face, "We are done here my lady, it's time for you to leave!"

My blood boiled and I marched forward but his goons stepped forward, revealing the daggers they have concealed in their waist belts.

"So this is how it's going to be?" I murmured knowingly, "You will regret this, mark my words."

Finch scoffed, "Empty threats don't work here my lady." He retorted, "And you should be grateful I allowed you to leave with your limbs intact. Have a nice trip back and keep a lookout for bandits, we wouldn't want anything valuable to be stolen from you." He said tauntingly.

I smiled at him, nodding my head in agreement. "When the time comes, remember you chose this." I said before I turned to leave, "Come on Heather!" I ordered, my tone had a sharp bite to it but I didn't mean to.

Frustration boiled deep within me as I thought about Finch. I decided to ask nicely but that rat faced arsehole decided to screw me over. I already know what I was going to do to him though, I was getting those children back but this time, there won't be any negotiation!