Uncertainty reflected in his eyes when she handed the long strip of cloth to him. She didn’t bother trying to cover her breasts. She found herself enjoying his discomfort and was flattered that he was trying not to stare at her breasts.
“What do you want me to do?” he asked, taking the cloth.
“You need to wrap my breasts and bind them tightly so I look more like a boy.”
“Doesn’t that hurt?”
“It’s not the most comfortable. But it’s necessary.”
Caen gingerly slipped the cloth across her nipples and wrapped it around her back. He stared at the scar on her back. He ran a finger over it. She hunched her shoulders. “I’m sorry that he did this to you. He will suffer for this.”
“He will. Believe me.”
Cautiously he leaned closer and gently kissed the scar. Chill bumps ran along her spine and down her arms.
Dawn closed her eyes. Tears heated them. Excitement ran through her. Her stomach felt odd again.
Caen took the cloth and brought it across her back once a second time. He tucked the end between her shoulder blades and continued to wrap around a second time.
“Tighter,” she said.
“It’s not tight enough?”
Dawn shook her head. “No. You really must bind my breasts tightly or the cloth will slip off.”
Caen pulled the cloth band tighter. “I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“I wasn’t apologizing about that.”
“Oh?” Dawn turned to glance at him over her shoulder. She stared at his lips, awaiting his reply. “Then what?”
“For all the things I had accused you about with Sarey. Damn, I need to apologize to her, too.”
She laughed softly and shook her head.
“You think it’s funny?” he asked, with laughter rising in his voice.
“Sarey and I both thought it was silly. We laughed about it between ourselves.”
Caen finished tightening the restraint and pulled the end through to hold it in place. “I imagine you did. I made myself out to be quite foolish. There, it’s tied now.”
Dawn lifted her arms and twisted side to side to make certain it wouldn’t come loose. She turned and faced him. She looked into his eyes. A gentle smile curled her lips.
Caen stepped closer without breaking eye contact. His hands cupped her elbows as he stared down at her. “All this time, my queen was with me.”
With a slight shrug, she grinned.
“When we get to Woodnog, we need to keep you hidden and safe.”
Her eyes narrowed. She shook her head.
“I . . . I just don’t understand something.”
“What?”
“When I stopped Balo from striking you with the whip, why didn’t you just reveal then that you were Lady Dawn?”
“I couldn’t.”
Caen’s brow formed a stern frown. “And why put yourself into harm’s way?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were injured and allowed yourself to become a lowly squire. You could have been hurt worse. Training can be dangerous.”
“Not as deadly as war.”
“Dawn, no. That’s why your father chose us. We’re your protectors. We will fight for your rightful place to be on the throne.”
“No. I wanted you to teach me how to use weapons because I will lead the front into war.”
Caen shook his head. “You cannot sacrifice yourself.”
Dawn’s voice deepened. “This is my war! I listened as they killed my mother. I will see Waxxon die. He and those who serve him will serve justice. My justice.”
“Dawn . . .”
“Sir Caen,” Dawn said. “You cannot change my mind on this, nor do you have the authority to do so.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” He reached and touched a strand of her crudely cut hair. “All of your hair . . . I remember seeing you in the Royal Banquet Hall. Your long flowing hair . . .”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, and she looked down. He placed a finger beneath her chin and lifted until she looked in his eyes again. She smiled. He wiped tears off her cheeks. Her eyes searched his.
“I hope you don’t find this inappropriate,” he said, leaning down.
Caen kissed her. His arms wrapped around her narrow waist, and he pulled her closer.
When she kissed back, a flood of emotions rushed through her. It felt right in so many ways. He nibbled at her lower lip. She didn’t want to stop, but suddenly her hands pressed against his chest, and she gently pushed him back.
“We can’t,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. I want to. Believe me, I do. I’ve thought about you nightly since we met. About us. This. The possibilities. But with all that’s at stake . . . if we lose ourselves to our emotions, neither of us will stay mentally sharp. It’s like I told Sarey. I didn’t want you to know because once you discovered who I truly am, you’d lose your focus in the tasks at hand because you’d be too worried about my protection.”
Caen smiled. “You really have felt that way about me?”
“Almost from the day we met.”
“But you’re a princess.”
“So?” Her nose crinkled as her brow furrowed. “Does love limit itself to titles?”
“No.”
“I suppose it’s difficult for you to express more than your shock in discovering I’m not a young man.”
Caen nodded. “That was unexpected. I’m surprised that you’d still hold interest in me after I threatened to leave you in Esgrove.”
Dawn stood silent for several moments. “It was the only time I ever wanted to strangle you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. But we cannot seek more between us until after we regain Hoffnung. We need to keep our focus.”
“My Lady,” Caen said softly. “Knowing you’re alive has instilled within me a greater urge to fight for Hoffnung than ever before. Of course, I will always have your safety at heart, but once the people of Aetheaon know that you’re alive, armies will emerge to kill this worm, Waxxon.”
“We can only pray they will rise to our aid. But until then, you mustn’t reveal who I truly am.”
Caen pulled her close again. His body shook all over. That’s when she realized that his clothes were still soaked.
She took his hands and stepped closer to the fire. “You should undress and lay your clothes near the fire so they can dry by morning. We can pull our bed mats together so we’ll stay warm throughout the night.”
Caen began undressing while Dawn pulled their beds closer to the fire. After he was down to his undergarments, she lay on her cot and patted his mat that was positioned beside hers.
Once Caen lay down, she lay with her back toward him. He tossed the two thin blankets over the two of them.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a long while,” Dawn said.
“What’s that?”
“Would you wrap your arm around me and hold me?”
“You’ve really wanted this?”
Dawn nodded.
Scooting closer toward her, Caen draped his arm over her. She wrapped her arm around his and pulled him snuggly against her bound chest. She smiled and fell asleep.
Chapter Sixty-four
Part III: Hell Hath No Fury . . .
“Sir Caen! The sun has risen! Get yourself up, lad!”
Caen wrapped his arm tighter around Dawn.
Dawn’s eyes flicked wide open. Two men were on horseback, looking down with broad grins on their faces at her and Caen. She didn’t recall ever seeing these two knights before. Both wore Dragon Knight armor.
One was dark-skinned with thick long black hair and a coarse beard. The other’s hair and beard were like silken gold, beautiful and almost glowed in the morning’s first light. His complexion was fair, his eyes sapphire blue, and a hint of mischief danced inside those piercing eyes.
Dawn elbowed Caen slightly in the ribs
. Caen opened his eyes, squinted, and then he rubbed them before glancing up at the two knights.
“Well, lookie here, Corwin,” the knight with the golden hair and beard said. “This is why I don’t fancy myself having a squire. Lonely tensions grow a bit risky after long journeys.”
Corwin shook his head. His dark locks shook, and he laughed heartily. “Seems Sir Caen has gotten a bit too cozy with this one. Hard to come by the lassies out in the wilderness, eh, Yarrow?”
“Indeed. What’s the Dragon Knight Order coming to?” Yarrow replied, running his hand through his golden beard. “Didn’t know that part of a squire’s duties was . . .”
Dawn sat up and frowned with fury. She gritted her teeth. Pulling her knees to her chest, she hugged them from the early chill. The campfire was white ash and no longer held any heat.
Fog rose above the cold lake. Several owls hooted from the thick firs. A skylark and dove passed overhead and found branches to perch near the trail.
“Oh, come off it,” Caen said, rising. “It’s not what it appears to be.”
When Caen let the blanket fall, he had forgotten that all he was wearing was his loincloth. His pale legs almost glowed whiter than a ghost.
Yarrow and Corwin gave one another side-glances with raised eyebrows. They couldn’t suppress their widening grins.
Yarrow said, “Seeing how you’re dressed and this . . . um, interesting sleeping arrangement here, what is it supposed to appear to be, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Dawn scrambled to her feet, grabbed Caen’s leggings and clothes that had dried by the fire, and hurried toward him. She shoved them against Caen’s chest. “Here, get dressed,” she whispered firmly.
“So squire, is Sir Caen here treating you right?” Corwin asked with a quick wink. Laughter gleamed in his dark eyes, but he didn’t allow himself to bellow out.
“The squire is a woman,” Caen said, pulling up his leggings.
“Caen!” Dawn said, frowning. Fury returned to her icy stare.
Yarrow chuckled. “Bit early to be drinking or perhaps you haven’t slept off last night’s flasks? If that be a woman, she’s the homeliest lady I’ve ever seen.”
Angered, Caen grabbed his chestpiece. “Is that any way to speak to your Queen?”
“Ca-en!” her hands formed into fists.
“Queen, you say?” Yarrow asked, glancing toward Corwin. “Riiiight.”
The two Dragon Skull Knights burst into fits of laughter, almost falling off their mounts. Tears formed in their eyes as they finally calmed themselves.
“She is the daughter of King Erik and Queen Taube, the rightful heir to the throne of Hoffnung and the sole reason that we have been scouring Aetheaon to find her. She is Lady Dawn.”
Dawn stormed toward Caen with her fists up.
Caen shook his head. “Dawn, tell them!”
“I swore you to secrecy!” she exclaimed.
“Not from the Order you haven’t. We’re the ones that are to protect the throne of Hoffnung! Tell them!”
Yarrow cleared his throat and looked at Caen. “You’re absolutely serious about this, aren’t you?”
Caen nodded.
“I take it that she’s given you proof?” Corwin asked, running a hand through his coarse black beard.
“She has.”
Yarrow suddenly looked at Dawn with stern seriousness. “Is what he says the truth?”
Dawn lowered her fists to her sides. Her jaws tightened. “Yes.”
“What is your proof, dear Lady?” Corwin asked. “I don’t mean to be overly skeptical of your claim, but there are always opportunists during war.”
“So you don’t take my word for her claim?” Caen asked.
Corwin shrugged. He causally waved a hand toward Dawn. “You were sleeping with her. It’s easy, if not common, for a woman to place a guise over a man after a good night in the sack and several strong drinks. How do I know you were at your keenest senses last night?”
Caen frowned and opened his mouth to speak.
“No, Caen,” Dawn said. “He has valid points.”
As she had done with Caen, she explained to Yarrow and Corwin what had forced her into hiding and her lineage.
“Bedded a princess?” Yarrow asked, giving Caen a wink.
Dawn rushed at him, grabbed his arm, and yanked him from the saddle. He dropped hard to the ground. Yarrow stared up at her, bewildered.
“For your information,” she said, “I have not lost my virtue. I was drowning in the lake last night and Caen jumped in and rescued me. That’s why his clothes were drying near the fire. Such accusations toward me will not gain my favor, even if my father chose you as one of his knights.”
Yarrow glanced at Caen. Caen gave a solemn nod and then an amused smile curled his lips.
“My apologies, Your Highness.” He stood, brushed himself off, and then bowed before her.
Corwin grinned at Caen. “She’s spirited, which is exactly what the citizens of Hoffnung need with a new queen after losing Queen Taube.”
“That she is,” Yarrow said with a red face. He looked apologetically at Dawn. “You’re a lot more powerful than what you appear to be, young queen. But I should also note, you don’t speak like a mere peasant. It’s obvious you’re highly educated.”
After Caen finished dressing, he rolled up the beds and tied them to the back of the saddles.
“What brings you out to Lake Glasslyn?” Corwin asked.
Caen replied, “I heard people talking in Ironwood about two Dragon Skull Knights they had passed near the lake. I came to find you.”
“And how long do you two plan to keep our queen disguised as a squire?” Yarrow asked.
“It ends today,” Caen said, “since I found out last night.”
“Last night?” Corwin asked.
Caen nodded.
Corwin glanced to Dawn. “How did she keep you from finding out?”
Caen sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“How long was she your squire?” Yarrow asked.
“Nearly two months.”
Corwin cocked a brow. “And you didn’t know your squire was a lady until last night?”
Caen shook his head and swung upon his mount. “She concealed it quite well.”
Yarrow shrugged. “Honestly, the way Lady Dawn is dressed, I’d still believe her to be a young boy.”
“Fine. All of you know who I am. Let’s move on from it. Where is your destination?” Dawn asked them.
Corwin nodded and turned his horse toward the southern trail beside Glassilyn Lake. He tapped the mare’s flank to get her going. Yarrow and Caen followed, allowing Dawn to ride behind them.
“We follow the lake south until we find the main road that leads us to the City of Woodnog,” Corwin said. “After we received word that Jak and Norze were killed in Woodcrest, we sent out ravens with a message for all Dragon Skull Knights to meet in Woodnog.”
Sadness came to Caen’s eyes. “They’re dead?”
“Aye,” Yarrow said with a firm nod. “Apparently overpowered by the Vykings and killed.”
The three knights stared at one another in silence for several seconds.
“Donovan died the night of the Vyking invasion,” Caen said.
“You’re certain?”
Caen nodded. “He’d have caught up with me well before now if he were still alive. What of Lehrling and Bausch?”
“From Lehrling’s report, Bausch is dead. Lehrling is making his way to Woodnog presently. We might even join up with him along the way,” Corwin said. “So where have you been?”
“Esgrove,” Caen replied. “I was training Lady Dawn with swords and daggers, which is why I’ve missed a lot of information. No ravens arrived with word for me.”
Corwin cocked a brow. “So, Your Majesty, you’re in training?”
Dawn started to reply, but Caen interrupted. “Lady Dawn is more apt than any apprentice I’ve ever trained. She’s proficient and will prove quite deadly on the battl
efield.”
Dawn smiled at his compliment.
Corwin unsheathed his sword. “Do you mind entertaining me with a duel?”
“You’re challenging your queen?” she asked.
“No, Your Majesty. I’m challenging Sir Caen’s boastful means of training.”
Caen frowned.
Lady Dawn pulled her sword as Corwin dismounted and faced her. The wind blew and teased his black beard. His stern gaze from his dark eyes was nothing less than a man facing his most mortal enemy. For a moment her heart beat faster.
“En garde,” he called and less than a second later he was within inches of where she stood.
Dawn brought her sword up, blocking his downward swing. The blades clashed loudly. His strength forced her blade downward, causing her to retreat two steps, turn, and she immediately brought her blade toward his throat.
Corwin ducked, swore under his breath, and pivoted to step behind her; only she was no longer where he had expected her to be. She pressed the tip of her sword between his shoulder blades.
“Is that good enough, Sir Corwin?” Dawn asked, pressing the tip firmer.
Corwin lowered his blade. “Aye, milady. Sir Caen has taught you the underhandedness of a good warrior. The fact that you’re smaller and more agile benefits you in moving more swiftly than an old man like myself.”
“Coming to excuses so soon, Corwin?” Caen asked.
“Not at all. As you said, ‘She’s proficient and will prove quite deadly on the battlefield.’ You have no argument from me.” Corwin turned and faced Caen. “Well done, Dragon Knight.”
Caen gave an appreciative nod.
Dawn sheathed her sword.
“I take it, you’re like your father, young lady,” Yarrow said with a wink and a broad smile.
Tears burned her eyes. She changed the subject. “What other reports have you?”
“Well,” Corwin said, “three Dragon Skull Knights were in Legelarid. Now in Woodnog, they have reported that a female warrior and a dwarf arrived with a wagon loaded down with sacks of gold to recruit warriors in the battle to overthrow Waxxon. A couple hundred lined up.”
“A female warrior?” Caen asked.
“Yes.”
“Name?”
“Taniesse.”
Caen shook his head slowly as he mulled over the name. “Never heard of her.”
Lady Squire- Dawn's Ascension Page 48
