When Richie pulled away, his eyes wide in expectancy of her answer, Jade thought for a moment. She knew about Aston, about why he was searching for the Rogue. Would it hurt for the boy to know she was a princess? In answer to Richie’s question, she nodded. His smile returned and he hugged her, wrapping his grimy arms around her neck and squeezing gently.
“Help him be free,” he whispered, before scampering off to Aston’s side. “I brought you Edward ‘cause I thought you might need him,” he told Aston. Aston nodded and ruffled the boy’s hair. After a quick goodbye and a heartfelt hug, Richie left Jade and Aston in silence.
Jade watched Aston fiddling with the horses, tugging on their reins and checking their saddles. She could tell he wanted to ask her something.
Finally, he turned. “So…I guess you don’t have any questions I can’t answer now.”
“You’re a runaway knight.”
A quick nod from Aston confirmed. “You’re really intent on coming with me?” he asked. When Jade nodded, he pointed her to the white stallion. “Up you go, then. We have a quick stop to make along the way.” At Jade’s questioning look, he said, “We need to get you some clothes. And a bath.”
Jade scoffed and turned away from Aston. He smiled and climbed on Sterling’s back, tucking the envelope from Richie into his satchel to read later.
“There is nothing like returning to a place
that remains unchanged to find
the ways in which you yourself
have altered”.
- Nelson Mandela –
Ten
The trees were thickly packed together in this part of the forest, barely allowing room for their horses to walk through. Over head, birds sang in the highest branches of pine and cypress, saluting the morning. Quiet, melodic tinkling could be heard from the water running through a nearby brook. The sun shone lightly through the canopy of tree limbs, making small, well-lit patches between the dark shadows of low-hanging branches. Across the path, various flowers wound and flowed. Pink, red, yellow, and white decorated the thick grass of the forest floor. A light wind pulled at Jade’s hair, gently whipping it into her face before pushing it back again.
She tried not to stare at Aston’s back on their ride to…wherever he was taking her. He hadn’t said much to her since their exchange that morning, and she feared he was still angry. She hadn’t meant to act so spoiled; as a princess, it was almost second nature. Deciding it had been quiet long enough, Jade urged her stallion forward so that she was riding next to Aston instead of behind him.
Aston spared a glance in her direction before putting his eyes forward again. “Yes?”
“Oh..um..” Jade hadn’t expected him to say something first. She was still trying to think of a topic for conversation. “I was just…wondering…um… why did you run away?”
“I thought Richie explained everything to you,” Aston said, glancing at her again.
Jade blushed and looked down. “He did, sort of. I just wanted to hear it from you, I guess.”
Aston sighed, but relented. Jade wished she could see into his mind and figure out what he was thinking. “I worked for King Donn in Fridel. I’ve been a knight for three years. Well, I guess I had been a knight. I don’t think I can use the title anymore.” At this, a frown graced Aston’s features, but he shook it off and continued. “I’ve never failed a mission and some of the other men hated me for it. They said I was too kind-hearted. It never bothered me. I didn’t realize how much Prince Talbot hated me, though.”
“Why do you think the prince hated you?” Jade asked, her curiosity peaking. She wanted to know everything about the man beside her.
“He’s the one who lied to King Donn and told him I was the one who failed in my duties.” When she continued to stare at him, Aston sighed. “Talbot and I were sent to Adion to stop The Rogue Royal from murdering Duke Aeron.” Jade stiffened; Aston didn’t seem to notice. “A woman screamed while we were sneaking into the palace and Talbot took off, hoping to save a damsel, I suppose. I followed him, saw the Rogue leave the room across the hall, and chased him until I lost him. Talbot, of course, wouldn’t take the blame and placed his actions upon my shoulders. Which led to me being sentenced to hang. Well, that and the fact that I was…less than cordial to the king when reprimanded me. So, I ran.”
Jade didn’t speak when he was finished with his story. She didn’t have the heart to tell him what she was thinking. Instead, she switched topics.
“Richie seems to really like you. Is he your brother?”
Aston laughed aloud at Jade’s question. “No, no. He’s not family. Not by blood, anyway. He needed someone to look up to, someone to take care of him. I just happened to be the first one who was willing to do so. Can I ask you something?”
Jade nodded but didn’t look up.
“Who are you?”
“I already told you. My name is Jade,” she answered, staring straight ahead to avoid Aston’s searching eyes.
“Don’t give me that. You know that’s not what I was asking.”
Jade shook her head, refusing to answer. When she looked up again, Aston was pulling Sterling to a stop. They were in a clearing, but they weren’t alone. A small cabin sat in front of them and, as soon as they arrived, a plump little woman came rushing out of the house. Aston climbed down from Sterling and the woman ran into his arms, sobbing.
“Aston Smith, I should beat you for scaring us like that! What were you thinking!?” she cried. Aston smiled, rubbing the woman’s back, while Jade looked on in confusion.
A tall, burly man stepped from the cabin next, walking towards Aston with a frown on his face. “I told you to wait,” he said.
Aston only shook his head. “I’m sorry, Delgrab. You know why I couldn’t stay.”
Delgrab nodded. “Why are you back?” Aston turned his head to the side and Delgrab looked at Jade for the first time. “Who’s she?”
“Her name is Jade. That’s all I know,” Aston said.
Jade blushed; it sounded so awful when he said it like that, but it was the truth. That was all he knew about her. She dismounted and strode toward the man, determined not to look as nervous as she felt. She held a hand out to Delgrab, who grasped it and kissed it while she curtsied. “It’s a pleasure,” she said.
Delgrab nodded. “The pleasure is mine, I’m sure.”
A sharp smack resounded from beside them, and Jade jumped, turning to look at Aston. The plump little woman was holding her left hand with her right, storming away towards the cabin. Aston’s head was turned to the side, his cheek red, but he was smiling.
Delgrab winced. “She was really mad,” he offered.
Aston nodded, laughed, and went after the woman.
Jade looked back at Delgrab. “What was that about?” she asked him.
The man turned to her and grimaced before offering Jade his arm, which she accepted, and directing her toward the house. He grabbed Sterling’s reins and those of the white stallion in his other hand. “You should go inside and make sure Alys doesn’t kill him.” Jade’s eyes widened, and Delgrab laughed. “She wouldn’t really kill him…I think. But, to be on the safe side…”
Delgrab withdrew his arm from Jade’s and headed around the cabin. Jade stayed where she was for a moment, looking in the direction the man had disappeared in before following Aston inside.
Aston sat at a small wooden table with the woman named Alys across from him. They were speaking in low voices when Jade approached. Aston looked up at her and, for the first time, she really noticed him.
Alys had obviously allowed him use of Delgrab’s razor. His clean-shaven skin was tanned and perfect, no trace of scars or battle wounds. His eyes were dark blue, just a shade lighter than they had been when she’d seen him in the forest the night before. His shaggy hair was dust colored, not quite blonde, but not quite brown. He smiled at her, revealing rows of perfect white teeth and she felt her heart flutter in her chest. It was only when he said her name questioningly that she
realized he had been talking to her.
“I’m sorry…what?” she asked, feeling ignorant.
“I said, Alys is going to take some measurements from you so she can make you a dress. Is that alright?” Aston asked again.
Jade shook her head. “No more dresses.” At Aston’s puzzled glance, she elaborated. “They get in the way in the woods. If I’m right, I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time riding. Breeches and a tunic would be nice, though,” she finished. Alys grunted but agreed, grabbing Jade by the arm and dragging her into a back room for privacy.
**
Shortly after the door closed behind Alys and Jade, Delgrab came inside. He sat at the table across from Aston, folding his arms on the tabletop.
“Who is she?” he asked again.
Aston shook his head. “I honestly have no idea, Delgrab. I went back to Fridel to talk to Richie and she just appeared in the middle of the forest, in the middle of the night, no less. She plopped herself down beside me and went to sleep. She hasn’t left me alone since.”
Delgrab laughed and shook his head. “She sounds like a handful. What are you going to do with her?”
The knight shrugged, looking back at the room where the two women had disappeared. “I don’t know, Delgrab. I can’t just abandon her. She’d never make it on her own. Plus, she knows too much about me and now she knows this place. If she turns on me and leaves, you and I will both be in trouble.”
Delgrab nodded in agreement. Alys and Jade took that moment to reenter. Aston turned to look at Jade and found himself staring.
He’d never seen a woman in men’s clothing before; seeing Jade, he wondered why more women didn’t wear them. She was slim in the waist and curvy everywhere else; the pants and blouse showed off her slim figured more than any dress ever could. The white shirt was tucked into the pants, tightening the top over her chest and stomach. Her brown breeches fit snug on her hips and flowed loosely around her legs before tightening right above her ankles, showing off the black riding boots she’d been wearing under her dress.
“Will this work okay?” Jade asked. Unable to speak, Aston nodded.
“Are those mine?” Delgrab grumbled. Alys and Jade glanced at each other before laughing. Aston joined in; Delgrab was the only one who found nothing funny about a woman wearing his clothes.
“Oh, sweetheart, you’re just mad because she looks better in them than you do,” Alys teased, patting her husband on the cheek before heading into the kitchen. Jade followed, unsure of what else to do.
“Alys?” she asked once the two women were alone. Alys looked up at her, her approval for Jade to continue. “Has Aston always been so….serious?”
Alys looked somber for a moment before going back to her cooking, answering without looking at Jade. “He used to be more fun, more free. King Donn has made him live a rough life, and that no good son of his hasn’t helped either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some of the women in town used to talk, dear, passing around information they’d heard from their husbands. They’d say King Donn sent Aston on missions hoping he would fail. Talbot never liked Aston, so Donn always hoped he would mess up and condemn himself. This last offense was just what he’d been waiting for. I don’t understand politics, dear. Aston is the most kind and helpful person I know, aside from my Del. I don’t know why anyone would ever want to hurt him.”
“I know what you mean,” Jade said, her mind somewhere else. She wondered if her father knew about King Donn’s methods. Why make a man a knight, only to want him to fail?
“Speaking of hurting him, I won’t allow it,” Alys said. Jade looked up at the woman, stunned. “I love that man as much as I love Delgrab, and I won’t stand to see anyone hurting him. I let King Donn do it because there was nothing I could do to stop it. Keep that in mind.”
Jade could tell by the look on Alys’ face that she was completely serious. The knife she had been chopping vegetables with suddenly looked a lot more dangerous. Swallowing thickly, Jade nodded. Alys smiled at her and went back to cooking; Jade wondered just what she’d gotten herself into.
**
Alys and Delgrab insisted Jade and Aston spend the night. It surprised Jade when Aston agreed; she’d suspected he would want to leave as soon as possible, before King Donn’s soldiers came knocking on Delgrab’s door. Aston, however, didn’t seem worried.
After a fulfilling dinner, the four adjourned to the cabin’s living area, Delgrab and Alys on the handcrafted couch, Aston and Jade in chairs on the opposite side of the room. Delgrab had lit a fire and Alys had given Jade a blanket to ward off the night’s chill.
“Where will you two go now?” Delgrab asked. Jade turned to Aston for an answer.
“We have reason to believe that the Rogue will be going after the king of Northsbury. That’s where we will go.” Delgrab nodded.
Alys frowned. “You’re going after that dangerous murderer? Are you out of your mind, Aston? Bringing a lady on such a mission…”
“It’s fine, Lady Alys,” Jade said, rushing to make sure the woman wouldn’t hit Aston again. “He told me before what he planned to do, and I agreed to help him. I made a promise to,” she said, looking at Aston. He smiled at her, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He was thinking about his past again, she presumed. His eyes were dark with worry, and his fists were clenched on the arm of the chair he occupied.
“Hmph. I don’t understand you, Jade. You are beautiful and obviously high class. What were you doing in the forest in the middle of the night?” At Alys’s pointed question, Aston looked curiously at Jade.
She squirmed in her chair before answering. “I took Bella out for a ride, but…we got lost,” she lied. She needed to think of a proper lie to tell Aston, but she hoped this would work for now.
“You got lost? Child, how often do you ride in the woods?”
“Never?” Jade’s answer sounded more like a question, but she tried not to show her disappointment on her face. She knew everyone could see right through her, but she hoped they wouldn’t push.
Aston saved her. “We should get some rest,” he said, standing. Delgrab did the same, as did Jade.
Alys looked unsatisfied, but stood as well. “Will you two be sharing a bed, then?” she asked.
Jade could feel her cheeks heating up at the woman’s words. She sneaked a look at Aston, almost happy to see that the idea surprised him as much as it had her. His jaw had dropped, and his eyes were wider than normal. The blush that marred her cheeks wasn’t evident on Aston, but he was making a weird flapping motion with his mouth, almost like a fish. He was sputtering, trying to answer, but words evaded him.
Delgrab laughed. “That’ll be a no, Alys,” he answered, saving Aston the trouble of forming a coherent thought.
“I’ll take the couch,” Aston said, finally finding his voice. Though it was higher pitched than usual. Delgrab and Alys stepped away from the piece of furniture and allowed the knight room to lay down. He threw a hand across his slightly reddened face as soon as his back hit the hand-sewn cushions.
“I’ll show you to your room, dear,” Alys said, taking Jade by her elbow and leading her out of the room.
Delgrab walked to Aston’s side and slapped his friend on the shoulder, successfully removing Aston’s arm from his face. “Sorry about her…you know how she is.”
Aston sent a glare to his friend before sighing, smiling up at his friend. He knew Alys too well to hold a grudge. The woman just wanted him to be happy. The knight smiled as he watched Delgrab leave the room. He’d thought to never see his two friends again, yet here he was, six days later. His life hadn’t changed as much as he thought it had. He still had what mattered most in the world.
Friends.
“Tis not seasonable to call a man a traitor that
has an army at his heels.”
- John Selden -
Eleven
Ernst strode through Northsbury, fingering the dagger at his waist. He had one more nig
ht before his next kill called. One more night that the King of Northsbury could lie in his bed and know he was safe. He glanced around the street, taking in the cracked cobblestones, the houses that were falling apart, the starving citizens. King Roland deserved what was coming to him. No king should let his people go to waste like this. No king was above his charges.
“Ernst!”
At the sound of his name, Ernst turned and found himself gazing up into Prince Talbot’s face. “Talbot, old friend,” he said, walking forward to grasp Talbot’s hand as he jumped down from Red, and the two fell into step beside each other.
”Ernst! It’s been a while! What are you doing in Summerslade, so far away from home?” Talbot asked, holding Red’s reins and walking with Ernst. Ernst shrugged.
“Business. Pleasure. Isn’t it all the same?” he answered, his mouth turning up into a crooked smile.
Talbot grinned. “It has been,” he replied.
“What about you, Talbot? What brings you here so late in the year? You and Donn don’t normally appear around these parts until the holiday ball.”
“Oh, well, I’m here on official business. Father sent me,” Talbot replied, puffing his chest out.
“Oh? What’s so important that Donn would send his son?” Ernst asked, his brow furrowing.
Talbot leaned in close before answering. “The Rogue Royal and a runaway knight.”
Ernst raised an eyebrow. “Elaborate?”
Talbot grinned and leaned back again. “The Rogue Royal murdered Duke Aeron in Adion. Aston Smith of Fridel let the man get away by turning his attention to a woman instead of the murderer. Aston was found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hanged, but he ran. I’ve been sent to retrieve him.”
Knight's End (The Knight Trilogy) Page 7
