by Randi Darren
The king smiled at that and nodded.
“May I ask the king to please answer me honestly? It isn’t that I do not think the king would ever lie, as his personage is nothing but premiere, but with such a weighty subject as surrender… could I impose on you to answer my questions with absolute honesty?” Alex asked, deciding to see if he could use this to his advantage.
“How d—”
“Shut up,” the king said, waving a hand at the man who had started to shout at Alex. “For the sake of expediency, I shall do so. I have heard of the directness and logical nature of the count. I think this will appeal to him.”
Placing his hand to the pin at his collar, the king smiled at Alex. “I do swear to answer your questions honestly and fully, until you leave my presence.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Alex said, bowing his head deeply to the king. “First… why did you attack Duke Gaelis? And where is the duke?”
“His wife’s family holds a number of titles in vassalage to me. I’m here on her behalf. As for the duke… well…” The king pointed his left hand off to one side.
Following the hand, Alex saw the bloodied and slack face of the duke.
His head sat atop a pedestal, resting on a rotten cloth that looked torn from a bag of wheat.
It was only his head there, however.
Somehow, the man looked even more horrid in death than he had in life.
“I see. Thank you for your frank answer,” Alex said. He was having a hard time not simply raging at the man. Though he had no proof, he knew beyond a doubt that this man—the king himself—had caused Alex heartache, pain, and fear.
“Is your goal to conquer, King Harold?” Alex asked.
“Yes,” the king said with a grin.
“Did you have people attempt to kidnap my family, ending up with one of my wives being maimed and another killed?” Alex asked, unable to stop himself.
The king stared hard at Alex, his mouth a flat line. He didn’t say anything.
Not a word was spoken.
Everyone at the table looked absolutely shocked.
Except the king, who said nothing.
For there was nothing he could say. He couldn’t lie on his oath, and if he said anything, it’d have to confirm the question.
Slowly, everyone turned to look at the king, realization setting in.
That he couldn’t answer, because it would only confirm Alex’s accusation.
“You… you had one of my wives murdered in her home,” Alex said. “I seek retribution from you. You acted dishonorably and sent men into my home to harm me and mine. You are directly responsible for a death of nobility.
“I claim her for myself, as one vassal of the empire to another. A life for a life. I claim her life to be given to me.”
Lifting his arm, Alex pointed at the young woman next to the king. The one he assumed was his daughter.
“Now see here,” the king said, leaning forward, his face turning a bright red. “I’ll—”
“Or we can go to the emperor,” Alex said. “You, me, and your daughter can all go to the emperor. Where we can present evidence to him and swear our truths into the open for him to pick apart.”
The king looked at Alex as if he were the ugliest speck of shit he’d ever seen.
No one wanted to go to their liege lord to have their minds picked through.
Least of all the emperor.
It would remove the king from the field, but not his generals. It would also unfortunately remove Alex from the field.
While Alex wouldn’t mind having his head picked apart by the emperor, since he had protection, he didn’t feel like it would be worthwhile to Regina for him to go missing.
“I can’t just give her to you,” the king said, easing back into his throne. “That simply isn’t possible.”
“And yet you must, or we go to the emperor,” Alex said, glaring with absolute hatred at the king. “Where he’ll want to know how you were able to make such an order possible on my family.”
With a click, the king’s mouth snapped shut.
Lifting her chin, the woman Alex assumed to be the king’s daughter cleared her throat.
“Perhaps a trial at arms amongst a chosen knight?” asked the woman. “I think that would be a fair middle ground in this situation for the time being. The winner would retain possession of me.”
“If I submit to a trial of arms, rather than forcing the issue to the emperor here and now, what would I get for it?” Alex asked. Realistically, this would be a better option for him than going to the emperor, but he didn’t want them to know that.
“I would of course be yours if you won,” said the woman. “And my father would accept that without the ability to have a say in it.
“And if my father wins the trial at arms, you will take your army and go home.”
Oh ho? She’s more cunning than I thought. How much am I willing to risk for vengeance?
She probably thinks it’s not likely.
“I want more. Because that’s not offering me much more than what I would get if I just took this to the emperor’s justice,” Alex said. “Especially with what you’re asking me to wager. Would the king pack up and go home if I won?”
“Of course not,” the king immediately said.
“And what do you suggest?” the princess asked.
Let’s… wipe him out. Wipe out Glint. Wipe his family out.
Crush every single speck of him there is. Spill the blood of his line into the dirt.
“If I win… I want you, Princess. Your hand in marriage and three times your dowry, and all the things that would go with it, including possessions and titles,” Alex said. He actually knew for a fact that dowry numbers were assigned by the empire, and that the father’s rank dictated that dowry. “Paid immediately, of course. And just a word of warning. If I win… I’m going to mount you, right here, on this table. In front of your father, these generals, and my people.
“So that there is no mistake we’ve consummated the marriage. There is no going back. Because that’s what I want. Your hand in marriage without the possibility of backing out. There will be no denying that if you’re pregnant, it’s my child, and there will be no quibbling over your status.”
“You miserable—” The king stopped mid-sentence and then slammed his hand against the arm of his throne. “Fine, I agree to it. I’m going to have you strung up as soon as I conquer your miserable kingdom. Then I’ll have the rest of your family put down like the dogs they are.”
“I agree then, and accept your challenge,” Alex said, then turned to Eleanor. She was his only knight. “What’s your best weapon?”
“Currently, my best weapon proficiency is the longsword,” Eleanor said, her helmeted head turning toward Alex.
“Grand. This is my chosen knight. She is knighted per the legalities of Imperial law,” Alex said, laying a hand on Eleanor’s forearm and his other hand on his pin. “And the weapon is a longsword.”
“Fine, to the death then,” the king said, getting up and turning to a heavily armored and armed man nearby.
Alex turned to Six with a smile.
“Go win me a new bride, Six. I’m telling you to win, to kill him, and come back to me,” Alex said. “And I’ll be beyond disappointed if you don’t do what I told you to.”
There was a soft huff from Eleanor’s helmet. It sounded like her breath catching.
“I’ll do what you’ve told me, my Masterful Lord Husband Alex,” Eleanor said in a rush.
“Perfect. You’re a peach,” Alex said.
And here we go.
Chapter 26
Eleanor and the king’s champion were being peeled out of their armor. Carla and Nannie were well versed in this, and they seemed to be pulling Eleanor out of her equipment rather quickly.
The king was speaking with his champion, and he looked to be rather angry.
Alex walked over to the princess, who was standing nearby. It felt like the king was unsure of himse
lf, and Alex thought this would be a good opportunity to speak to the man’s daughter.
“Princess, you do realize if this goes before the emperor, you could avoid this,” Alex said.
The princess stared hard at him for several seconds before looking at the champions again.
“My name is Saoirse, not Princess, and yes, I’m aware,” she said.
“Your father would probably spend some time in the emperor’s jail if found guilty, I’d be paid a hefty sum, and we’d all go our separate ways,” Alex said. He wanted to make sure he abided by his own set of rules. That the princess knew this wasn’t her only option.
“We both know he’s guilty,” murmured Saoirse. “And if my father has any hope of his campaign succeeding, he must be here.”
“A fair sentiment,” Alex said. “Though I do hope you remember that when you’re looking up at me as I mount you on that desk. In full view of your father and his generals. Your feet dangling in the air. Because that’s what’s going to happen when my champion wins.”
Saoirse sniffed and shook her head.
“It isn’t, and I do hope you remember this when you’re looking down at me after my father hangs you,” Saoirse said. “You were interesting at least.”
Saying nothing more, the princess walked away and went to stand with her father’s generals.
Alex chuckled to himself and walked back to the rest of his Numbered.
“You seem awfully confident, baby,” Rebekah said, sliding into Alex’s side and wrapping an arm around his hips.
“Master seems overwhelmingly confident,” Riley said as she pushed up into Alex’s other side, her arm going around him and her hand resting on Rebekah.
Grimacing, Alex ended up feeling like he had to put his arms around the two women. Lest his arms hang down behind them, his hands right around where their butts were.
“Don’t worry,” Rebekah said softly. “We’re just making sure to give our enemies something to talk about later. The bigger we build up Count Inferno’s reputation, the better.”
“Yes. If Master is more like the rumors, then the other rumors must be true as well,” Riley said.
Sounds like something Valeria and Sylvia would cook up. More so than you two.
Glancing over his shoulder, he found Valeria and Sylvia writing something down on a piece of paper.
“Marriage contract, baby,” Rebekah said, as if knowing what he’d ask. “You’ll need to sign it, and we’ll have the king sign it as you’re claiming his daughter.
“I never knew you were such an exhibitionist, though. We should explore that a little later.”
Sighing, Alex didn’t respond.
Soon enough, Eleanor and the champion of the king were standing across from one another, both of their swords held up in front of them.
The man was a little taller than Eleanor, but also considerably bulkier.
“Let’s have this farce over with so I can move on,” King Glint said angrily. “And just to be sure you know how much this is costing you, I’m going to take some of my anger out on your duchess.”
Alex turned his head to stare flatly at the king. There was no mistaking the tone he’d taken.
I’m going to have Coffin kill every single person in your family when she gets back.
Every. Single. One.
Till only your daughter remains. Your titles will pass to her, and my child. And when you die, I’m going to have your corpse interred at the bottom of a private outhouse.
I’ll enjoy shitting on your corpse for years.
“Remember you said that,” Alex said. “When your whole world collapses. Remember it was you who started this private war between us.
“When your daughter is pregnant with my child, your line ended, and your kingdom crumbling beneath you, remember it was you who did this. History will remember you, I’ll make sure of that, as the king who failed and squandered it all away in a personal war with Count Inferno.”
Before King Glint could say anything, his champion roared and moved forward, his longsword flicking out at Eleanor.
As calm as a still lake, Eleanor parried the strike to one side, and her sword tip whistled around in a counterattack.
With a grunt, the king’s champion fell backward, blood flowing freely down his arm. Eleanor had cut a deep, gaping wound into the man’s left shoulder.
“If this were first blood, it would be over,” Eleanor said, bringing her sword back into position. “I’m going to kill you for my Masterful Lordly Husband, then ask for a reward from him for it.”
Growling, the enemy champion seemed cowed, no longer as boisterous or aggressive.
Slowly, Eleanor began to close in on the man, sliding her feet forward rather than stepping.
Once she was in range, she put out two slow and simple thrusts. To Alex, it looked like she was feeling him out.
The man batted her sword away with more strength than was needed. Like he was trying to knock her weapon away.
Eleanor never let it happen, however, and angled her blade away from his. Each time his blade skimmed over the surface of hers.
“Do not be so angry,” Eleanor said. “I’ll honor dueling custom and take your weapons and armor to your widow.”
Nannie chuckled darkly next to him. “She listened to you, cunt.”
“So it seems,” Carla replied, laughing as well.
The champion of the king came forward with a slash. Eleanor caught it cleanly in her guard, then brought her blade up and stabbed downward, catching the man high in his thigh.
Stumbling away from Eleanor, the man pressed a hand to his thigh.
“You are very poorly trained,” Eleanor said, shaking her head. “I shall end this on the next pass.”
“She’s… very good with her sword,” Riley murmured.
“Yes,” Alex said. “She really is.”
“Don’t think I could take her,” Nannie grumbled.
“Or me,” Carla said. “She’s damn good.”
Shuffling away from her, the man looked to be reevaluating his chances.
“I surrender,” he said.
“There is no surrender; it’s to the death,” Eleanor said. “I have given my all for my Masterful Lord Husband Alex. Have you not given your all to your king?”
The man stumbled forward like he was falling and stabbed upward at Eleanor’s face.
Jerking her head to one side, Eleanor caught the other man’s blade and pushed her own forward until their guards clacked together.
Grunting, Eleanor brought her blade away from the other man’s and right into his neck.
Going down to his knees in a blubbering mess, the man let go of his sword.
He pressed both hands to his neck, trying to stem the wave of blood pouring out of the wound.
Taking a step to one side of the man, Eleanor put herself behind him.
Bringing her sword up, she took another step and brought her blade down in a sharp chop.
With a wet snick, the man’s head came free of his shoulders and hit the ground.
His headless corpse slumped forward, blood spurting from the stump of his neck.
Eleanor grabbed the dead man’s tunic and wiped her blade free of blood. Giving it a quick visual inspection, she nodded and walked back to Alex.
Dropping to her knees before him, she stared up at him.
Her eyes were fanatical, practically glowing. There was a thin red line on her cheek. Apparently, the man’s sword had come closer than Alex had thought.
“I did what you told me to,” Eleanor said in a whisper. “Now what should I do?”
Smiling at his very broken knight, Alex leaned down and cupped her face with both of his hands. He gave her a soft kiss, then patted her cheeks gently.
“Good work, Six. I want you to sheathe your sword, re-armor yourself, and then rest. You did very good,” Alex said.
“Thank you,” Eleanor said.
The rest of his Numbered quickly fell in around Eleanor and got her up to her fee
t and off to one side.
Turning to the king and the princess, Alex held up his hands in front of him.
“And so it goes. Princess, would you like to bend over to receive me as your husband, or lie down on your back on the table?” Alex said, moving over to where he’d been during the audience.
Patting the table twice, Alex smiled at her. “Your choice, of course.”
Saoirse and Glint looked absolutely shocked at what had just happened.
“I…” Saoirse started, then shook her head. Then she looked to the king. “Father…?”
Gritting his teeth, Glint stared with absolute hatred at Alex. “You dare do this? In front of me?”
“You had one of my wives killed and another maimed. I dare many things,” Alex said. “Many, many things.
“You’ll remember I warned you of this, Saoirse. I warned you that you could probably stop this. You chose this course of action. You chose this very moment.
“Now, come and receive your husband.”
Valeria laid a piece of paper down in front of Alex, along with ink and a quill.
Glancing down, Alex saw it was indeed a formal marriage contract. In fact, it looked exactly like the one he’d signed for Anna. Even down to the slight filigree work around the edges.
“Remind me to reward you and Four later at the same time. While also rewarding Six,” Alex muttered under his breath, signing the document.
Valeria gave him a sweet smile, then immediately walked over to King Glint and laid the paper down in front of him. Along with the inkwell and the quill.
Bright red, angry, and looking like he wanted to kill someone, Glint shoved Saoirse toward Alex.
“Go. You’re his,” Glint growled between his teeth. “You’re no longer my daughter.”
“Ah, I hate to be a stickler,” Alex said, wanting to make sure this point was heard. “But you’re going to award me the agreed-upon amount for the dowry, three times its value in fact. That would include her titles, as stated. She’s still very much your daughter and would be in your line of succession.”
“It’s in the marriage contract, Your Highness,” Valeria said, taking away the very same contract the king had just signed. Walking away from the king who was getting angrier by the second, Valeria gave Alex a wide smile.
