by Beth Mikell
Chapter 4
Sir Robert of Chevington and his knight, James, stood in a cloister of Gray Legion knights some distance away. For three days, they had waited, hoping to draw Adara out of HieLach Keep once Decimus had not returned. To their surprise, she had not ventured outside. Not until the interfering Imperial Elite arrived and escorted her out.
“Well, that was not how I imagined things would go,” Sir Robert said, watching his niece, his eyes narrowing on the small gathering below.
James snorted rudely. “Really? Was it the Imperial band of idiots that threw you? Or were you just hoping the red hair witch would walk right into our open arms?”
The old man drew up his wide girth and flipped his knight a meaningful stare. “Do not be a bastard, James. It is only a minor setback.”
Still huffing, he gave Sir Robert a caustic glare. “Every time we make a plan to move on HieLach, we run into a ‘minor setback’ as you so eloquently described. I am beginning to think this is all a huge waste of time.”
He turned to face his knight. “You are welcome to go down and take your chances,” he offered in an acidic tone. “I am sure they will accommodate you in the fight you are ready for.”
James grunted. “And lose more knights? Forget it. Our reinforcements will arrive in a few days’ time, and then I suggest we take HieLach by force, kill the witch and her sickly father, and then finish everything once and for all.”
A low heave emitted from behind them. They both turned around as two knights brought a bound, beaten, and gagged Decimus in front of them. He was forced to his knees. Sir Robert flicked his wrist and one knight ungagged the knight.
“See anything you missed?” James moved to the side to allow Decimus a view of Lady Adara and the Imperial Elite together.
Decimus was quiet a moment, then he looked up at his captors. “Seems you are outmatched, otherwise you would have killed them already. Must not have enough knights, eh?” He spat on the ground. “You will never get your hands on her, you piece of filth.”
Sir Robert drew closer to Decimus, his patience wearing thin. “What shall we do with you? You know, if I were you, I would not bite the hand that holds your life.”
The older knight chuckled. “Good thing you are not me, or you would be dead by now. Make no mistake, when this is over, and if they don’t run you through,” he said, nodding the direction of the Elite. “Then I will.”
Sir Robert glared, his eyes reflecting crazed-anger. “Tell me where the bolthole exit is located.”
“Rot in hell!” the knight seethed between clenched teeth. “I will tell you nothing.”
Sir Robert shrugged. “As you wish.” He flicked his wrist again. A knight stepped up and hit the back of Decimus’s skull with the hilt of his broadsword. The HieLach knight slid to the ground in an unconscious heap. Two knights dragged him away, hefting his large, muscled body over a horse.
“Back to Chevington Manor, James. We can organize all our plans from there and after the new recruits arrive, we will take HieLach and finally have everything—control of the borderlands.”
Chapter 5
After returning to HieLach, Adara went to her room without a word to anyone. Her main objective was to clear her head from the stress of not finding Decimus and her own despair choked her. Drilled within her mind from youth, she had to remain strong, unyielding, and faithful to her role.
Everything depended on one thing: safety.
Without Decimus meant, no strong knight to hold the dogs at bay, and nothing to hold back the army staring her in the face. Not even the deception of her father withering away on his deathbed prevented that. The facts were lined up for her in utmost order: face her lies or die by her deception.
Adara shed her armor, donning a gown of soft linen in deep red, nearly matching her hair with wide triangular sleeves and a demi train. The gold encrusted embroidery flared at the sleeves and skirt of her gown. Instead of her weapons belt, she wrapped a girdle around her trim waist, something forgotten in her usual dress. She decided to wear something more traditional with the Elite present, finding comfort in their presence. She released the braid coiled at the top of her head, winding it around her neck—its weight against her throat a small consolation.
She took a moment to wash her hands and splashed cool water over her face. The ruse of the last six months only suffocated her more with each breath. Reaching for a cloth, she blotted the excess water from her face. She knew what she needed to confess, and the words she needed to say formed in her mind—the burden of them heavy and painful. If she were going to align her trust with anyone, she would start with Lord Darrius and his Elite knights.
Finished, she swung open the bedchamber door and came face to face with Rowan. She gasped. He leaned against the doorway, eyeing her with lazy regard.
Adara’s face flamed. “What are—what are you doing here?” She was thrown off balance again by his close proximity.
Rowan looked purely sexual, relaxing so carelessly against the entrance. She took one-step back from the sheer force of his presence. His long, dark hair, though tied back, made him impossibly handsome with light brown eyes and a shadowy beard that hid just enough of the dimples on either side of his cheeks. The absolute size of his body dwarfed her, making her feel incredibly small in comparison. Next to him, she felt like an elf.
He smiled, causing the dimples in his face to appear. “Not to worry, kitten. I am not here to steal yer virtue. In fact, I will not even come into yer chamber, unless you invite me,” he said with suggestive meaning.
She drew a nervous hand up to her throat, yet he continued, “No one seemed to notice when you disappeared, my lady, but I did. I wanted to make sure you were all right. I know you were deeply troubled by not finding Decimus, no matter how much you tried to hide it, lass.”
Adara’s stomach tightened in response to his gentle words. No one had ever cared where she went so long as it pertained to HieLach, and the care of her responsibilities. Rowan unnerved her and he was a definite threat to her in womanly ways. God, she had to get rid of him before he danced around with her emotions more than he had.
She stared him down. “Thank you, Rowan. That is very kind of you to say, but everything will be fine,” she said, lying through her teeth. Who was she befouling? She was in a deep trouble.
He chuckled at her words. “Is that what you think? Or is that what you have been trained to say, my lady? From where I stand, you are sliding down a slippery mountain with no plan.”
“I am sure it seems so at the moment, but…” she trailed off, rattled by his accurate assessment of the situation and how his gaze seemed to stare into her soul, seeing beyond the lies she tried to hide.
His mouth curved into a smile, pronouncing his dimples even more. “But? Why can you not admit you are at an impasse and that you need help?”
Adara tried to swallow, but her throat was too dry—her lies too great. “Asking for help has not ever been an option for me,” she admitted.
He straightened from his relaxed stance in the doorway. “Then, perhaps, you need to consider aid, my lady. You cannot fight the Gray Legion yerself and I will not walk away and leave you alone,” he said with firmness.
She lifted her chin. “I never said I would refuse your offer. I said I was not used to asking. There is a difference,” she said with clear distinction, not meaning to overstate the obvious, but Rowan sent her heart thudding rapidly against her ribs.
His chest rumbled with laughter. “Kitten, but you know how to split a hair, do you not?”
A fleeting smile appeared on Adara’s face as she tried to think of something to say to him.
“You should do that more often,” he rasped.
She frowned at his sudden change in timbre. His voice was rich like velvet, dropping low and seductive. She shifted on her feet, feeling flustered. “What?”
“Smile.”
He rattled her nerves, and no matter where she looked on his body, she felt flush with heat and t
he room spun around her. Adara was saved from replying as Cylah appeared beside Rowan. The female knight’s expression was anything but friendly as she eyed him with disdain.
“My lady, is everything all right?” She flipped Rowan a hard look, but he only winked at her.
Adara took a step toward them, freed from unease with Cylah present. “Shall we take refreshment?” She moved passed Rowan, yet a thrilling shiver tingled up her arm as she brushed by him. She could have sworn she heard him inhale sharply, but cowardly, she could not meet his eyes for fear of being right.
As the three entered the great hall, they found the Imperial Elite refreshing themselves with a little food and wine. Elegantly, Adara moved to sit at the head of the table as a servant arranged a plate and goblet in front of her, yet she was anything but hungry.
Colin sat to her left and gave her a polite smile. “My lady, this may not be a good time, but I think I must say it,” he began, adjusting his position.
She raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“Due to the fact that Decimus is still missing, I would like to leave several Imperial Elite knights at HieLach until his return.”
Adara flashed a look toward Rowan, who had yet to sit at the table. He stood off to one side, watching her as if waiting for her refusal. His expression remained taunt without movement. She knew everything was planned, but to her amazement she was not the least bit annoyed. No, quite the contrary. She knew the odds were not in her favor to maintain peace at HieLach without protection, so the offer of help from the Imperial Elite came with a pleasant hope.
She inclined her head to the side, thinking carefully. “It is certain that without Decimus, HieLach is in danger. His presence alone prevented much mischievousness from the Gray Legion.”
Colin smiled. “I am happy you accept, my lady. But there is one last piece of business I must conclude before leaving.”
“Yes?” she asked.
“Lord Darrius was adamant that we speak with Lord Samuel before continuing on our journey,” Colin stated.
All the color drained from her face. Slowly, Adara rose from her chair and walked to the fireplace, though the heat of the fire did not warm her chilled body. She knew she could not continue the secret of her father’s death any longer, especially from the Imperial Elite she had grown to trust. Of course, she was mindful of the weight of her deception until it gagged her spirit. But she knew the truth would be her ally.
“My lady?” Rowan prompted.
Adara faced the Imperial Elite, who still waited with anxious expressions. Drawing a deep breath from six months of pain, she began her confession. “My father cannot speak to you.”
Cylah took a step toward Adara. “My lady!”
The Lady of HieLach threw up a hand to stay her knight. “It is all right, Cylah.” Taking another breath, she let it out slowly. “The situation has, shall we say, reached an impasse,” she said, looking to Rowan. He held her gaze without flinching. Somehow, she felt strength reflected in his gaze, and his unspoken presence stabilized the sinking inertia that had become her daily existence.
“May I ask what has happened, Lady Adara?” Colin inquired.
If she could get through her next few words without a tear, everything would be fine. Even after her father’s death, she had to pretend he still lived, not grieving—just burying her pain for the sake of safety and duty. It was time to end that. “What I mean to say is… my father died six months ago.”
A stunned silence and shocked expressions rippled over each man in the room, but Rowan was the first to react.
“Why the ruse? Why the deception, my lady?” he asked gently.
Adara looked away from him, bringing up her cold hands, rubbing them together. “My father was not only generous and kind, but aware of the dangers his only surviving child would face after his death, especially living within the borderlands. On his deathbed, he made me promise not to tell anyone he died. His illusive presence in the keep kept many would be suitors away and for a time, the Gray Legion from sieging us. Decimus was… my father’s friend and faithful knight,” she said, tears burning and threatening to fall. “He buried my father secretly and protected HieLach.” She turned away from everyone’s intense stare, overwhelmed by the pity reflected in their eyes. Her pain was great, and she thought she might break in half.
She drew upon self-strength to quiet the nerves shaking her body. Hurriedly, she wiped away her tears with her hand, taking a deep breath and released it slowly. “Without Decimus, I fear that HieLach will fall to those that wish to conquer my father’s home,” Adara concluded, turning back to the group of knights and sought Rowan’s gaze. She was startled by the intensity of his eyes.
“Indeed, my lady,” he said softly. “We are heartfelt sorry for yer loss. As you can see, it is more than imperative that we help you—now more than ever.”
She breathed deep, fortifying her emotions. “Aye, I agree. But on two conditions.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“First, the secret of my father’s death must remain in effect until the problem with the Gray Legion is solved. Secondly, the Imperial knights staying within the keep must not appear as knights, but rather, inhabitants of HieLach. I cannot risk the chance that King John believes English knights reside here. It could be viewed as a mark of territory and snub against him. There is no sense stirring a smoldering fire,” Adara explained.
Before the Elite could respond, a small child with golden red hair and a bright blue dress ran into the great hall, her nurse trailing behind her.
“Adara! Adara!” Kayden exclaimed, running to the lady of the keep, throwing her arms around her waist.
All the knights looked at one another and the child questioningly. Their frowns and shock were obvious.
“I am sorry, my lady,” Taryn said, pushing her toffee colored braid behind her back.
Adara only shook her head at the nurse, reaching to caress her niece’s cheek. “What is it, Kayden?”
“Even though Decimus has not returned, may Taryn and I go to the garden, please? I promise we will not stay long,” Kayden’s luminous blue eyes were the image of her deceased mother’s.
A male voice cleared his throat, and Adara looked up. She recognized the young blond haired knight from the time she spent at Blackstone Castle.
“Excuse me, Lady Adara,” he said. “I will escort the ladies, if you like.”
“Simon, is it?” she asked, meeting his gaze.
He bowed slightly. “Aye, forgive me, my lady. I am at your service.”
Adara nodded her head in permission. “Very well,” she said, glancing down at her niece. “Go for a little while, Kayden, but not too long,” she said, waiting until they left before giving another explanation. “That was my niece. My brother and his wife died when she was but an infant. Unfortunately, she loves the outdoors, but for safety, I can rarely allow her to go out for no more than a few minutes at a time, especially with Decimus missing. It is a miserable way for a child to grow up, but alas, I am her only family, unless of course, you include Sir Robert of Chevington, my uncle. That, of course, would be debatable,” she said bitterly.
*.*.*.*
Rowan’s eyes narrowed on Adara’s scornful comment, knowing Sir Robert could be an obnoxious boor, but the king seemed to trust him. He even wanted to marry Lady Brenna to him once upon a time, but that was before Darrius changed the nature of the mission and married her instead.
“Why would you say that, Lady Adara? King Henry has found no fault with him thus far,” Rowan said, wanting to make a clear distinction.
Adara flashed a tight smile. “Is that a fact? I am entertained by the idea of my uncle being faultless. I have rarely seen anything in him to make him blameless. He is one to be watched, I can assure you.”
He looked at Colin, silently communicating the prospect of investigation. “May I ask why you believe so?” He pressed further, not sure why the explanation was important, but her voice drew him to ask more.
She
brought up her arms and folded them. “‘Tis odd how a man of near destitution suddenly makes his coin grow like rain drops with no exact head for business. Granted, he was my mother’s brother, but indeed not clever. When I questioned him on the topic he said, ‘I should contain my enthusiasm with embroidery.’ His rudeness has no bounds for those he is not out to impress. It is a fact you would be wise to remember. I suspect he has done some dubious things, but of course, that is only speculation on my part. Frankly, I have other matters to attend. I have no proof other than his oily countenance and demeanor as reference.”
Colin smirked. “We will look into that, Lady Adara, but for now, some of us must bid you farewell,” he said, giving Rowan a hard look.
*.*.*.*
Adara watched the Imperial Elite knights empty the great hall, and she strode over to the window to watch them, though she could not hear what they were saying.
“Was it wise to tell them the truth, my lady.” Cylah came to stand beside her mistress.
She drew in a deep, calming breath. “Only time will tell. I could not continue down a deceptive path, not when Lord Darrius has been a man of honor. I actually feel a great burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”
“I hope you are right, my lady,” the female knight murmured.
Chapter 6
Adara went to her father’s solar, intending to work on keep affairs, but the books did not hold her attention. She wandered to the window, wrapping her hands around each elbow, looking out upon HieLach. This was her home. Her responsibility. But for all its possibilities, she only saw despair and heartache. What was once her home had turned into a pit of abuse with homeless dwellers and no hope for their future. The people only survived on day to day. What kind of life was she offering them? Though Adara never voiced her concern or turmoil to anyone, she still felt the emptiness with much impatience. She carried the weight of it like a queen and the top was just as lonely.
