It felt as if he’d slapped her. She only lacked those things because he’d prevented her from obtaining them. Even though he needed her to live the lie, he’d drawn the line at her having any sort of military training. Apparently, playing with swords was fine so long as she wasn’t in any real combat situation. Unbelievable.
“Prince Gordon is the commander of our army and he wants you to go, so you will go. However, I have already spoken to one of my men. I’ve put him in charge. That’s final.”
“Fine.” How was she supposed to do what Ackley wanted her to with her friends hovering around all the time? Curling her fingers, she made two fists, trying to rein in her temper. “Thank you for allowing me to have input on the matter.”
“I don’t appreciate your sarcastic tone.” Duke Ellington took a deep breath and reclined in his chair, his eyes focusing on the ceiling. “You’ll be traveling with five hundred strangers. I need to know you’ll be taken care of and protected. You can’t fault your father for that.”
No, she supposed she couldn’t. “Why did you tell them?” Would her friends treat her differently now since they knew the truth? Could they even still be friends?
“They can’t protect you and your secret if they don’t know what it is they’re protecting.”
She nodded. Once she completed Prince Ackley’s bidding and returned home with the pardon and revised deed, her true status would be revealed and everyone would learn the truth. Her friends had just found out a little sooner. “Is there anything else?” She still needed to procure a few more supplies for the trip.
“No,” he replied. “You may go.”
Reid stood and left the room, her feet carrying her of their own accord while her mind tried to make sense of the drastic turn her life had taken. She found herself outside, behind the stables, where people were gathering supplies for the trip. Many of the soldiers had already arrived and were assembled in the pasture. So much had changed since she’d turned eighteen. And she wasn’t prepared for any of it.
“There you are,” Ackley said, coming to stand alongside her. “My brother wishes to see you.”
“Does Prince Gordon know about me?” Reid asked, wondering if he’d figured it out or if Ackley had told him.
Ackley shrugged. “Let’s go.”
It felt strange to have people beyond her immediate family know her secret. Reid followed the prince to the south side of the stables where a few tents had been erected.
“I thought you were staying in our castle.” And that was why she’d had to sleep in the servants’ quarters.
“Just that first night,” he replied. “Gordon wants to organize the soldiers as they arrive.” He stopped before the largest tent. “Wait here.” He ducked inside.
What did Gordon want to speak to Reid about? The warm air brought beads of sweat to her forehead. She rolled her sleeves up, trying to cool off.
A minute later, Ackley exited. He carried the swords she’d used when fighting Knox. “Follow me.”
“I thought you said your brother wanted to see me?”
He headed around to the other side of the tent, Reid in tow. “He does. He wants to see you spar.”
It confirmed her suspicions that their need for her had something to do with her ability to fight with swords. They stopped a dozen or so feet away from a makeshift sparring area. Three pairs of men grappled with one another while a handful of other men watched, cheering them on.
“Who will I be fighting?” she asked as she extended her hand for her swords.
Ackley held them out of her reach. “You’ll be using your fists first. Gordon’s orders. And I’m not sure who your opponent will be.”
Her attention drifted to the six sparring men. She’d probably fight one of them. Each was at least twice as wide and weighed considerably more than she did. A pair stopped when one man conceded the match to the other. The pair stood off to the side, watching the last two groups. One man flipped his opponent to the ground, pinning him down until he tapped out. With the victor decided, those two men stood off to the side while the last pair continued to fight.
The men circled one another, both shirtless, covered with sweat, and ready to pounce. Reid wondered how long they’d been going at it. The man on the right lunged, the muscles in his back flexing as he did so. His opponent dodged the strike, then countered with one of his own. He sidestepped the punch, twisted, and then kicked the guy’s legs out from under him. The man landed on the ground and rolled, jumping to his feet.
“Brother,” Ackley called.
Both men stopped fighting, and the one on the right pivoted toward them. It was Gordon. Reid blinked. She hadn’t realized she’d been watching one of the princes spar. Shirtless.
“You wanted to see Lord Reid,” Ackley said in a raised voice. To her, he mumbled, “He’ll be mad I interrupted his match, but those two could be at it for hours and I don’t have all day.”
Gordon wiped his sweaty arm across his face as he hurried over, his match forgotten.
Reid had seen plenty of shirtless men. Obviously. But they’d been boys she’d grown up with. Gordon was different. Her face heated up as he stopped before her, his chest heaving up and down from physical exertion.
“You can fight my opponent,” Gordon said, grabbing his shirt off the ground and pulling it over his head.
“You want me to fight him?” She pointed at the hulk of a man who loomed thirty feet away. “Without a weapon?” He appeared to be in his late twenties, his legs were the size of tree trunks, and his arms bulged with more muscles than Reid had in her entire body.
Both Gordon and Ackley stared at her as if they hadn’t suggested something crazy.
Gulping, Reid stretched one arm across her chest, trying to loosen up as she walked toward the man, assessing the situation. If he ripped her cap off, she’d tied her hair at the base of her neck in the style some of the young men wore these days. She’d secured her breasts with fabric, so it should be fine. And it wasn’t like this match would last long since she was out of her league. Stopping five feet away from him, she surveyed her opponent. He was a solid twelve inches taller than her, and he weighed a good hundred and fifty pounds more. Yup, definitely out of her league. Her goal was to survive and not to be crushed. Winning or even doing well wasn’t an option.
The man raised his eyebrows. “What do you want?” he asked, slightly out of breath. He picked his shirt up off the ground. Instead of putting it on, he wiped his sweaty face before tossing it off to the side.
“They want to see us fight.”
He laughed, his stomach shaking up and down as he did so. “I usually don’t fight children,” he said, folding his arms across his chest and straightening to his full height.
“And I usually don’t fight pigheaded idiots. But Prince Gordon told me to come over here and fight you, so here I am.” This man obviously had no idea Duke Ellington was her father. Otherwise, he’d be treating her with a shred of respect.
The man chuckled. “Fine. I’ll try not to hurt you.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” Too bad she couldn’t concede the match before it started, but Gordon would be furious if she did. He wanted to see her fight, so fight she would. Knox had drilled it into her not to back down from a challenge. Yet, Harlan always argued that fighting solved nothing. He much preferred verbal sparring to anything physical. She shook her head, trying to clear it. “What’s your name?”
“Ox.” His arms hung loosely at his sides, his fingers moving, ready to strike. He threw a punch.
Having expected it, Reid had ample time to duck and kick his knee before righting herself and moving out of punching range. When he lunged for her again, she stepped to the side, spun, and elbowed him in the back. Not that she did much damage—or any damage at all—but at least she’d gotten in two hits. With such a large opponent, she had to use her light weight and speed to her advantage—which mostly consisted of evasive dodging.
Ox’s sweaty body odor made Reid want t
o gag. Turning her head, she quickly sucked in a breath of fresh air. She continued to bounce on her feet, watching for the next sign of an attack. His weight shifted, and she suspected he was going to try to kick her. Not knowing how high he could kick, she decided ducking wasn’t an option. Twisting, she came in close to him. When his right leg was in the air, she shoved him, trying to knock him off balance. He stood firm, grabbing her around the waist and tossing her to the ground as if she were a toy doll.
As she remained stretched out on the ground, Ox hovering nearby, she tried to work through the sharp stinging of her back and chest. It was no use. She forced her hand in the air, conceding the match.
Gordon and Ackley neared. She could only hear bits and pieces of their conversation.
“Yes, I know her size works against her,” Ackley mumbled. “But that is precisely why I need her. She just has to be able to hold her own.”
“I get that, and I can tell she’s been trained. But I’m not sure she’s worth the risk.”
“At least let her use her swords before you make up your mind. Have you ever seen a woman wield a sword before?”
“Fine. Hurry it up. I need to change and meet with the officers.”
Ackley appeared above her. “Get up.”
Reid blinked. The pain was starting to lessen. Slowly, she sat up. When everything stopped spinning, she stood. Ackley handed her two swords.
“Who am I fighting this time?” With the swords, she should be able to last a little longer.
“Me.” His eyes twinkled with excitement, reminding her of Knox. While Ackley wasn’t anywhere near as large as her last opponent, he was a prince. Therefore, he was probably well trained. He stood about four feet in front of Reid, not holding a weapon.
She adjusted her hands on the hilts, feeling the smooth handles against her palms and the familiar weight of the swords. A calm filled her—she was ready to fight.
Ackley took a step closer, and his hand shot out. Parrying his arm with her left sword, she struck him in the side with her right. He was faster than she’d expected, his movements quick and precise. He twisted and kicked. Reid automatically ducked and struck his leg. He’d expected it, so he hit her arm, trying to get her to drop her sword. Years of training had taught her to hold onto her swords as if her life depended on it. She rolled before jumping to her feet.
Ackley came at her, throwing punch after punch. She blocked each one, but he was forcing her backward as he did. Sensing a trap, she started moving to the side. A smile spread across his face. Since she’d mostly been on the defensive, she decided to switch things up and go on the offensive. Turning, she struck with her left sword, knowing he’d easily block it. When he moved to do so, she used her right sword to hit his side.
A second before the sword struck him, he winked. “I think we’ve shown him enough.” He stopped, raising a brow at Gordon. “Well?” he asked, not even winded.
Gordon came over to Reid. “How long have you been using those swords?”
“Since I was seven.” She tried to make it sound like she wasn’t gasping for air.
“Very well.” Gordon stared hard at his brother. “She falls under your jurisdiction. Are we clear?”
“Perfectly.” Ackley bowed his head. “But remember, she’s a he. At least for now.”
Gordon shook his head before walking away.
Three of the five hundred soldiers had arrived by dawn. Duke Ellington explained to Reid that the rest were from southern Ellington and would join them as they journeyed toward the border. He’d also sent messengers to the towns along the coastline, letting them know to watch the ocean for possible threats.
Reid was in the great hall, pushing the food around on her plate. She wasn’t really hungry.
“Eat,” her father chided. “You need to keep up your strength. You’ll be traveling for a solid week each way.”
“I know.” But she was too nervous to take a bite. In less than thirty minutes, she’d be leaving with hundreds of soldiers. The unknown and the possibility of adventure had her stomach in knots.
Duke Ellington leaned forward over the table. “Remember, as soon as my soldiers are stationed along the Gast River and the princes leave, you head home.”
“I know.” He’d gone over it with her dozens of times.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Kamden whined. “I’m going to be stuck here all alone.”
“I’ll still be here,” the duke said before taking a bite of his food.
“You don’t count.”
“Speaking of which,” Reid said, shoving her plate away and focusing on her sister. “Make sure you take care of Father.” If he overexerted himself, his leg might never heal.
“I will. It’s not like I’ll have anything else to do.”
“I suppose I should go.” Reid had never been away from her home or family before.
Jumping up from her chair, Kamden wrapped her arms around Reid, squeezing her. “I’ll miss you.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “Please be careful.”
“I will.” Reid released her sister.
Duke Ellington stood, addressing his daughter. “Keep your head down and blend in.” He kissed her forehead. “I have men who will take care of everything.”
Stepping away from her father, Reid nodded as she picked up her bag and bedroll. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She forced a smile, then turned to leave before the tears came.
Her father and sister shouted farewell as she exited the castle. Outside, fresh air greeted her, along with a thin fog that coated the land. Gordon was already sitting atop a black gelding barking out orders, trying to get the soldiers into formation. Ackley was nowhere to be seen.
Royce, Knox, and Harlan had gathered off to the side, apparently waiting for her. She joined them.
“You ready?” Knox asked.
Reid surveyed the hundreds of men who carried traveling bags and bedrolls, lined up in rows for as far as she could see. She’d spent her entire life pretending to be a man. What was a few more weeks? What could possibly go wrong?
“Yes, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Chapter Five
Reid had never realized how boring it was to travel. While most of the soldiers walked, the five men who held officer positions rode horses, leading the troops. Since everyone believed Reid was the duke’s son, Lord Ellington, she also rode alongside the officers on one of her father’s warhorses. In addition, the two princes and a few of the men they’d originally came with were riding. Unfortunately, Reid’s three friends had to walk with the soldiers. Since she had no one to talk to, she rode in silence, observing the landscape.
Each time they passed a town or village, more soldiers joined them. They traveled this way for over a week, stopping at night to sleep under the stars. By the time they’d gathered all five hundred soldiers, Gordon announced they would reach the Gast River in two days’ time.
When the sun set, Gordon gave the usual signal to stop for the night. They began to set up camp just outside one of the biggest towns in Ellington. Reid dismounted, then handed her horse to the soldier who oversaw the animals during the night. As she made her way through the camp, she noticed no one had started preparing supper.
She spotted her friends and headed their way. “Why isn’t anyone eating?” She dropped her bag and bedroll on the ground next to theirs.
“Most everyone is going to town,” Royce said, excitement dancing in his eyes. “I, for one, am looking forward to a drink and maybe even a game of cards.” He rubbed his hands together with anticipation.
Reid wouldn’t mind seeing what the town had to offer since she’d never been to one this size.
“We can remain here,” Harlan said. Always the voice of reason, he placed his hand on her arm. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“As long as the four of us stick together, I’ll be fine.” It wasn’t like they’d be getting drunk or brawling.
“Then let’s go before it gets too late,” Knox said.
When they reached the town, jam-packed buildings lined the dirt roads, blocking out the last of the setting sun. The place had an odd smell to it—a mixture of stale ale, baking bread, and sewage. Reid scrunched her nose as they turned onto one of the main roads that led through the center of town.
They passed bakeries, blacksmiths, fabric stores, and money houses. The streets were crowded as people hurried from one place to another. Most people kept their gazes cast downward, avoiding those they passed. Reid didn’t see many children out and about. Most of the men wore plain-colored pants and shirts with small patches and holes, dirt smeared on the fabric. Several also wore knit scarves. The few women wore simple dresses also littered with patches. Reid was about to comment on the poverty of the town when Royce stopped.
“Let’s go there,” he said, pointing at a sign that read Bread & Mead. They agreed, crossing the street to the tavern. Inside, there were several round tables, most full of patrons. A long bar stood against one wall with a narrow staircase along the back.
A serving wench sauntered over in a skirt six inches too short, her ankles on display. “There’s an empty table in the corner,” she cooed, the tops of her breasts bulging out of her tight shirt. “I’ll get you a pitcher of ale and bring it right over.” After shooting them a smile, she disappeared behind the bar.
“Looks like we’ve come to the right place,” Royce said with a smirk.
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