by Jeanne Hardt
Her raised voice brought Kendor flying across the room to her side. He unsheathed his weapon and stood ready to defend her.
“What is this?” Callum bellowed, pointing at the weapon. “Would you have your man drive his sword through my chest, simply because I am executing my right to take what is duly mine?”
Angeline raised her head high. “Until my child is born, I will rule. I am more than capable.”
Callum heartily laughed. “You are a woman! It is not your place to sit on the high throne. Who do you believe yourself to be? The foretold savior?”
His words stabbed deep, yet she would not reveal herself and what she knew to be true. “Yes, I am a woman. One who is with child and in mourning. As your wife stated earlier, now is not the time to discuss such important issues. But know this…my guards will be close, wherever you might be. Make no attempt to remove this throne from its place on the dais. If you do, I will see it as an act of thievery and instruct them to render appropriate punishment.”
“Are you threatening me?” Callum stood and faced her, leaving mere inches between them.
“No more so than you have challenged me.”
He scowled and took his wife by the arm. “We will leave you to mourn. But I assure you, when the other kings arrive in Basilia, we will hold council. Our laws will be upheld.” Mumbling, he hurriedly escorted Leda from the great hall.
As soon as they were out of view, Angeline released a long breath and sat on the high throne. She firmly gripped the arms. No one would take it from her.
Kendor knelt at her feet. “My queen, had you asked it of me, I would have run him through.”
She laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “You proved your loyalty by coming to my aid at the first sign of trouble. I pray no blood need be shed, but I fear our battle has just begun.”
“The people of Basilia will stand behind you. Of that, I have no doubt. My men have often spoken of the arrogance of King Callum and how much he has coveted the high throne. No one in our lands will wish to be governed by him.” His gaze traveled from the large throne to the smaller, then back again. “This magnificent structure has been in this very spot for generations. I will guard it with my life.”
“It may be a mere symbol of the position of the one who sits upon it, but its majesty alone speaks with great volume and authority.” She glanced around the room to make certain no eyes were on them. Once she felt confident of their privacy, she lifted her hand from his shoulder and caressed his cheek. “You ease my heart, Kendor. I know not what I would do without your support.”
His eyes closed and he tipped his head into her touch. When he seemed to be drifting into pleasant thoughts, his lids opened wide and he stared at her. “Forgive me. I have lost my good sense. I should not delight in your touch.”
“If anyone must ask forgiveness, it is I. I cannot deny, I am drawn to you. And yet, I know it is unwise.”
“You are hurting, my queen. Oftentimes, we reach out to others when in pain.”
She shut her eyes and nodded. “Perhaps so.” When she reopened them, she peered deeply into his. Their connection could not be denied or dismissed as simple grief, and she could tell it troubled him. His brows wove in concern.
She pushed herself up from the throne. “Will you escort me to my chamber? I fear I am still dreadfully weak and do not wish to stumble on my way there.”
He gestured to the seat. “What of the throne? Am I not to guard it?”
“Enlist one of your finest men to keep watch over it. Better yet, instruct two sentries to stand near the dais at all times. You can serve me greater in other capacities.”
“My queen?” His eyes questioned her, and she was quite confident she knew where his thoughts rested.
For the first time since she had entered the great hall, she allowed herself a slim smile. “In counsel. I trust you more than anyone to keep me abreast of all that is being discussed in the realm. You, dear Kendor, are my eyes and ears.”
He bowed his head, then stood erect. “It is my honor. Wait but a moment and I will return with two of my men. Then, I will gladly help you to your room.”
“Serve me well, and I will see to it you are knighted. Would that please you?”
“It is the finest of rewards for a man such as I.” He bowed fully, and when he arose, a smile protruded through his thick beard. “I will not be long.”
She leisurely leaned back in her glorious throne and watched him leave. He almost strutted from the room.
The man may have loyally served the Basilian royal family for more than a decade, but she doubted anyone before her had mastered the man as she had so skillfully done.
Perhaps she should have allowed him to run King Callum through, so she could be done with the nuisance of the man and advance herself one step further to her destiny. But, a death in that manner would only enrage his people toward Basilia. If she intended to fulfill her plan to its finest outcome, Oros and Thanwine needed to be the two kingdoms with grievances against each other.
With Denali’s help, she had mastered the perfect plot.
Soon, all would be in order.
Chapter 4
Even atop her mare, Carmela did what she could to stretch and ease the discomfort in her lower back. She had slept poorly on the hard ground, and her body was now paying the consequences.
Tesher rode slightly ahead of her, slumped over as he had been since revealing all his horrid deeds. He looked more uncomfortable than she felt, yet she had no desire to talk to him at present. Nothing could be said to resolve their situation, and for now, she preferred keeping to her own thoughts.
Upon hearing other travelers, she and Tesher had made several quick departures from the road. He had insisted they refrain from encountering anyone. Of course, she eventually hoped to see her brothers’ carriage from Thanwine, but did not expect it for several days. The messenger with the news of Frederick’s death had set out not much sooner than she and Tesher. They could very well arrive in Thanwine before her brothers had finished all their preparations for traveling to Basilia.
Many of her thoughts dwelled on what she would say to them in regard to Angeline. She had to carefully mind her words.
A short while ago, she and Tesher passed the road leading to Issa. Because of the realm’s popularity, they came upon more and more people headed in that direction.
A man on horseback approached.
Tesher’s body went rigid, and it seemed he once again intended to speed his horse from the pathway. Carmela saw no need.
She clicked to her mare to increase her pace and moved to his side. “Tesher, let us remain on the road. All this darting about seems unnecessary. No one from Basilia has sought us out. The travelers we have encountered have come from the opposite direction and are likely on their way to Issa. We are of no concern to them.”
He swallowed hard. “How can you be certain?”
“Certainty cannot be attained for most anything at present, yet I can almost guarantee the man coming toward us will not even speak. However, if you hasten from the road now, the action will prompt suspicion.”
He sluggishly nodded, then flipped the hood of his cloak up onto his head as if attempting to hide.
They rode at a steady pace, and when the rider passed them, he merely nodded and kept going.
When they had gone some distance from him, she turned to Tesher. “You see? No one is looking for you, so you must stop behaving as a criminal.”
“I am a criminal. Any moment, I suspect someone to come upon us and request that I go back with them to Basilia. But I cannot. I do not wish to be anywhere near Angeline—or her healer, for that matter.”
“She will not send someone for you. I know my sister well. You have served your purpose and she is done with you.”
He frowned and shook his head. “You misunderstand. It is not a Basilian guard I fear. By now, my parents will have returned to Basilia. If they learn we have fled to Thanwine, Father will be furious and will send so
meone for me. I can only imagine what Angeline told him as to the reason for my departure.”
“My sister will weave whatever tale best suits her.” Carmela dug into her pocket for one of the apples she had picked, then quietly ate it.
They had fled Basilia so quickly, she had been afforded little opportunity to gather food. They had only a scant amount of bread and a few pieces of dried meat. Regardless, neither of them had appetites, so it scarcely mattered.
“I do not know how you are able to eat.” Tesher frowned. “Perhaps I will forego food altogether and wither away to nothingness. It would be best for everyone.”
Unable to help herself, she rolled her eyes. “I definitely do not care for this aspect of your behavior. You are acting as you did the evening of Angeline and Frederick’s wedding—wallowing in self-pity like a spoiled boy who did not get his way. At least then, I attributed a large portion of your sniveling to the amount of wine you consumed.”
“This is nothing like that night! How many times must I tell you? I am a murderer, forever condemned!”
She held up a single hand. “Say no more. It is best we remain silent.”
He mumbled something she could not discern.
“What did you say, Tesher?”
His frown deepened. “I knew you would despise me for this.”
“Despise you? Ugh!” She tightened her grip on the saddle horn and pinched her eyes shut. “Why did I ever allow myself to love you?” she whispered, then snapped her head in his direction. “Perhaps we should turn our horses around and venture to Issa? I can leave you there to drown yourself in their fine wine!”
His handsome features formed into the ugliest of scowls, but she cared not. If he continued to behave like a child, she wanted nothing more to do with him.
His eyes pinched into slits. “If Issa were not so close to Basilia, I would see your suggestion as a worthy idea.” He tossed his head. “However, it is too near Angeline’s watchful eye. Besides, the Basilian guards are sent there for pleasure, and if they were to discover me there—”
“They would not care!” She stared at him to drive her point. “Their tongues might wag about the Orosian prince whom they had seen cavorting with young women in Issa, but if anything, they would likely have more respect for you in doing so.”
His head drew back. “What makes you believe I would cavort with women?”
“Is that not what all men do in Issa? Aside from drink?”
For the first time in a great while, Tesher sat fully tall in his saddle. “I am a prince, and I am not permitted to entwine with any woman, other than my betrothed. Which—unless you have chosen to forget—happens to be you. You may think me childish, yet I am bound by our laws. I will remain chaste until our wedding day.”
Finally, he sounded more like himself, and it pleased her. Whether or not he was a murderer, her heart firmly held onto love for him.
She jutted her chin. “Your wait will be quite lengthy.”
Their eyes locked and his expression saddened. Without saying a word in response, he lightly nodded.
It may have been cruel to say what she was thinking, but it came out of her before she had thought it through. Regardless, it was true. Not only was he too young to marry, she had yet to decide his worthiness.
Oddly, it had little to do with his admission to poisoning King Frederick. Tesher’s manipulation of her and lying about his feelings stung far more.
Had Tesher taken the time to realize Carmela’s fine qualities long ago, he would not be in this predicament. Though suffering and constantly chastising himself for his wretched deeds, he could not keep his eyes off her or his mind from pondering how their life together could have been.
She had fashioned her long black hair in a single braid down her back, just as she had the day of Angeline’s wedding. He recalled Carmela being dressed in a fine gold gown that night. It had fit her form perfectly and revealed her womanly figure—which was sadly covered up now by her heavy riding gown and cloak.
Truth allowed him to see through different eyes. Angeline’s beauty paled in comparison to Carmela’s. Of course, Angeline’s actions alone made her ugly.
Until today, Carmela had never uttered one unkind word to him, and yet he had been so captivated by Angeline, he had been unaware of Carmela’s goodness. Beauty alone was meaningless without a heart to complement it.
He held no blame toward her for being angry with him. He deserved even greater wrath. The very thing he expected from his parents.
Carmela increased her horse’s pace and rode ahead of him, sitting high on the animal’s back. She moved well with every pounding hoof beat, as if she and the mare were one.
Every thought he had of her was respectable. Still, what must she be thinking of him?
He easily hated himself, but it seemed to infuriate her to have him do so. How he should behave was another matter. How was one expected to act after committing murder?
Far ahead of them, dense clouds gathered. If rain came, traveling would become even more miserable. And if it grew into a downpour, they would need to find shelter to wait out the storm. Maybe fate would treat him kindly and set the clouds drifting in another direction.
“Tesher!” Carmela looked back over her shoulder. “A carriage is coming!”
He tapped his heels against his horse’s sides and got it moving fast enough to join her. Two horses pulled the ornate carriage and moved at a steady pace toward them.
Carmela craned her neck. “It is Thanwinian. I can see the royal banner.” She cocked her head to one side. “Surely, it cannot be my brothers. It is much too soon.”
Tesher’s throat dried. “If it is, what will you tell them?”
She shrugged. “I have not fully decided.”
He was not eased.
The carriage slowed. He and Carmela brought their own horses to a halt and waited.
When the carriage came to a full stop, the driver dipped his head. “Princess Carmela. Your appearance here is unexpected.” The old man cautiously eyed Tesher, then returned his gaze to Carmela. “Are you traveling of your own accord?”
“Yes, Perrin,” she said with a laugh. “Are my brothers within?”
The man opened his mouth to answer, but the carriage door unfastened simultaneously, and when the passenger emerged, Tesher nearly vomited.
He looked away, praying the man would not recognize him.
“Cousin Darius?” Carmela dismounted and walked toward him. “What brings you from Thanwine?”
He let out an odd laugh. “Many things, and yet why are you traveling? On horseback nonetheless? And who is that with you? A chaperone?”
Tesher wanted to shrivel. The last time he had seen Darius, the man had delivered Angeline’s letter proclaiming her love for him. Her false words still haunted his memory. No doubt, Darius was part of her ploy.
Carmela pulled her shoulders back. “He is no chaperone. He is my betrothed, Prince Tesher of Oros.”
Tesher took a large breath, dismounted and went to her side, then respectfully bowed his head. “Good day, Darius.”
“Good day?” Darius bellowed. “For you perhaps, being that you keep company with my fine cousin. However, it is certainly not a celebrated day in Basilia. Surely, you are aware of King Frederick’s death? So, why, in God’s name, are you not in Basilia?”
Carmela linked her arm into Tesher’s. “I have a very good reason.” She cuddled into him as if trying to prove her point. “Yes, we know of the king’s passing. Angeline is wrought with grief, and I feared she would try to reclaim my beloved. Perhaps it was selfish of me, but I begged Tesher to leave and accompany me home to Thanwine.” She leaned toward Darius. “You know of my sister’s dislike for me. I will not have her attempting to take what is rightfully mine.”
Every word Carmela uttered tumbled through Tesher’s brain. This was not the story he had expected in the least, but he most assuredly appreciated it. He kept his lips sealed and watched Darius’ reaction.
The man’s brows wove, then his head drew back and he let out a laugh. “Yes, your sister would do such a thing. She hates to be alone, and she did have her eyes on your young prince not long ago.”
Carmela tightened her grasp. “How did you hear of Frederick’s passing?”
“A messenger stopped our carriage a half-day’s ride from here. He is on his way to Thanwine to deliver the news to your brothers. I left Thanwine by request of Queen Angeline. She asked that I bring her maid, Shireen, to Basilia.”
Carmela peered toward the carriage. “Shireen is within?”
“Yes. And quite anxious to arrive in Basilia. The road has been long, and I fear she has not found my company appealing.” He rubbed his beard. “You were foolish to venture out on horseback. Soon, you will reach the mountains, and we have recently had an abundant snowfall. I insist you take the carriage and allow Shireen and myself to ride your horses to Basilia.” He shifted his eyes to Tesher, then licked his lips. “You might find riding within the carriage more pleasurable.”
Tesher understood exactly what the man implied, yet appreciated the offer nonetheless. Still, what would he tell Angeline about them?
“Our horses belong to the royal house of Basilia,” Carmela said, “and we knew not how we would return them. Your suggestion appeals to me, but are you certain Shireen can ride?”
The girl’s head popped from the open doorway. “If it will readily place me in Basilia, I will gladly ride.” She lifted her long skirt and stepped from the carriage and onto the ground. “I did not know the journey would take so many days.” Wide-eyed, she gazed across the landscape. “I have never been out of Thanwine.”
Darius crossed his arms and frowned. “Though a servant, the girl is delicate.” He grunted. “She did not do well sleeping in the carriage and has complained endlessly. I will be glad to be rid of her.”
Shireen walked toward them tall and proud—like a woman of status, rather than a servant. She looked directly at Carmela. “Your cousin snores and has issues with digestion. Not only have my ears been offended, he reeks. Being enclosed with him in that carriage has not been pleasant.”
