Realm of Knights

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “Well, no. But women shouldn’t be out alone.”

  Instead of arguing with him about that pigheaded comment, she changed the subject. “Why are you here? Are you spying on me?”

  “I was searching for you, and Idina suggested I try that tavern.” He eyed the building they’d just vacated. “I’ve never been in there before.”

  “Do you need to speak with me about something?”

  He kicked the toe of his boot on the ground. “I’m leaving tomorrow morning to return to Lake Folme.” His eyebrows scrunched together. “It’s hard to talk to you when you have that cap on.”

  Because her hair was hidden and she looked like a man? Fury and disappointment filled her.

  “It hides your eyes,” he said, his voice low and rumbly. “And your eyes are your most revealing feature.”

  Dumbfounded, she didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t realized he’d noticed that much.

  “Listen, Reid, I’m sorry about last night. I overstepped my place by allowing my emotions to take hold of me.” His brown eyes shone with intense sincerity, making Reid’s breath catch. “I wish…I just wish things were different. Anyway, that’s all I came to say. I didn’t want to leave without apologizing.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “I also wish things were different.” Her eyes welled with tears. She blinked, forcing the tears away. “We can still be friends, though, can’t we?”

  “I’ve asked myself that question many times.” He studied the tavern, as if the answer were written on the building. “I’d like to be friends with you, but I’m not sure that’s possible. Or that it’s fair to…my future wife.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I have to go.” Without waiting for her to respond, he strode away.

  Watching his retreating figure, Reid silently bid him farewell. Too many emotions were swirling within her, and she couldn’t process them all. She shoved them aside, deciding to deal with them later. When Gordon was no longer in sight, she went back into the tavern where she found Harlan still sitting at the table nursing a drink. “Meet me tomorrow at midday,” she said. “One mile due east from the city’s gate.”

  “It’s time?”

  She nodded.

  “I’ll go find Knox.” Harlan finished off his drink.

  “I need you to be there no matter what.”

  “You can count on me.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The following morning, Reid stood next to the window in her bedchamber, watching Gordon ride away from the castle, his horse kicking up dust. Now that both Ackley and Gordon were gone, it was time for her to leave as well.

  Someone knocked on her door. “Lady Reid?” the princess called from the hallway.

  Reid had no idea what to tell Idina since Eldon had sworn Reid to secrecy. Sighing, she went over and opened the door.

  “Going somewhere?” the princess asked, eyeing Reid’s pants and cap.

  “I’m headed to the city.” Not a complete lie. She had to go through the city in order to exit it.

  “Would you like to join me for breakfast? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever, and I miss my friend.”

  While Reid wouldn’t mind talking with Idina and having a meal before she left, there wasn’t enough time to change into a dress, eat, talk, change back into pants, and make it to the meeting place by midday.

  “I’d love to,” Reid said. “But I have a few other things I need to do. Let’s have breakfast another morning.”

  Idina smiled. “Why do I feel like you’re trying to get rid of me?”

  “Because you’re smart, intuitive, and right.”

  Shaking her head, the princess said, “Very well. But I will take you up on that offer. I’ll see you later, Lady Reid.” She grinned before strolling down the hallway.

  Once ten minutes had passed, Reid grabbed her traveling bag and opened the door, peeking into the hallway. It was empty. She hurried to the servants’ passageways, then took the stairs to the bottom level of the castle. A few servants rushed by, but no one paid her any attention.

  Using the side door, Reid exited the castle, making her way past the barracks to the wall. The sentries on duty waved her through without issue. In the city, she made some unnecessary turns and backtracked a couple of times to be sure no one was following her. Not encountering any problems, she headed toward the city wall.

  At the main gate, dozens of people were coming and going. Joining the throng exiting the city, Reid made her way past the wall and headed east. The farther she got from the city, the better she felt. As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, which was strange considering the task before her.

  The forest loomed about a mile away. When Reid reached the safety of the trees, she leaned against the trunk of a towering pine, hiding in the cool shade. From there, she watched the main gate, looking for her friends. Most people headed north since the road went that way. A few turned east, but no one came in her direction.

  Twenty minutes later, two figures approached. Reid turned and headed farther into the cover of the trees so no one would see them together. Once she’d traveled fifty feet, she waited for her friends to catch up.

  “No one’s following us,” Knox said by way of greeting.

  “Good. Let’s go.”

  “Where exactly are we going?” Harlan asked.

  “I’ll tell you later.” When she was certain no one lurked nearby.

  They set out, cutting through the forest and heading east toward the county of Bridger. When the sun set and it became too dark to travel, they stopped for the night. Harlan made a fire, and Knox cooked supper.

  Reid sat on the ground, legs crossed, staring into the flames. Since the princes had barged into her life, it felt like she’d been spinning out of control with no idea how to stop. Growing up, when she pretended to be a man, she understood the world around her and the parameters she functioned in. Now, it seemed as if she stumbled around without knowing which way was up. Man or woman? Friend or lover? Honest or untrustworthy?

  “I think we’ve waited long enough,” Harlan said, pulling Reid from her thoughts. “Tell us what’s going on.”

  Removing her cap, she massaged her scalp. “I’ve been sent on an errand.”

  “Who sent you?” Harlan scooted closer to her. “One of the princes?”

  “I can’t tell you anything beyond that.”

  “Fair enough,” Knox said. “I’m just glad you had enough sense to take us with you.”

  Snide comments like that bothered Reid. Knox never would have said that if he still believed she was a man. Picking up a stick, she twirled it between her fingers. “I need to know you two are going to follow my orders and do as I say.” And not treat her like an incompetent fool. “If you can’t, we need to part ways now.”

  “Your father told us to watch over you,” Knox said.

  “That doesn’t answer my question,” she replied, tossing the stick into the fire.

  “I can,” Harlan said. “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

  “Thank you.” She gazed across the fire at Knox, waiting for his response.

  “Are you returning to Ellington when this is over?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.” As a member of the Knights, she could be sent anywhere in the kingdom. However, she didn’t want to tell him that right now. It would only upset him further.

  Knox pulled the pot off the fire, then poured the soup into three bowls. “I think your place is in Ellington.” He handed Reid her portion. “How can you just leave your home?”

  She wanted to point out that since she wasn’t a lord anymore, she didn’t have a place in Ellington. If she returned home as Lady Reid, her father would marry her off. “Right now, I’m going to do what’s asked of me until my father’s name is cleared of treason and his land is secure.”

  “Is that what this is about?” Knox snarled. “The princes are blackmailing you?”

  There was more to it than that. “My father got himself into this mess when he decid
ed to lie. I’m trying to fix it.”

  “I think Reid has been through a lot,” Harlan said. “She asked us to come because she needs us to watch her back. Let’s do that.”

  “You’re right,” Knox said. “I’m sorry. The situation is a mess all around.”

  “I agree,” Reid said. “And I’m doing the best I can.”

  “Then to answer your question, I can support you,” Knox said.

  “Thank you.” She took in Harlan and Knox, relieved not to be alone on this journey.

  The three friends entered the county of Bridger. To the south, the Modig Mountains loomed, tall and imposing. Reid consulted her map.

  “What’s that noise?” Knox asked.

  They paused to listen. It sounded like metal clinking against rocks.

  Reid studied her map again. “There are mines east of here.”

  Harlan peered over her shoulder. “Looks like they excavate some sort of precious rocks.” He removed his cap, wiping at his sweaty forehead.

  “We need to head south.” She still hadn’t told them they were traveling into Axian.

  Harlan replaced his cap. “South? Are we going to the Modig Mountains?” His high-pitched voice revealed his unease.

  “We are crossing through the mountain range.”

  Knox swore. “Into Axian?” His face turned red with fury.

  There was no point putting off the inevitable. “Yes.”

  He cursed again. “It’s too dangerous, Reid. We can’t.”

  She hadn’t allowed herself to think about the risks ahead. All she focused on was saving her family and their land. “I have to.”

  Knox took a step closer, narrowing his eyes. “Have you considered that those damned arrogant, reckless princes are sending you to your death?” His shoulders heaved up and down.

  The princes weren’t sending her—the king was. However, she couldn’t tell them that. When she didn’t respond, Knox started pacing.

  “I’m my father’s heir,” he mumbled. “If something happens to me, what’ll he do?” He studied her. “I thought if I helped you, I’d gain favor with the duke. But this? This is madness. I can’t allow you to do something so dangerous.”

  If felt as if he’d punched her in the stomach. She thought they were friends, and friends helped one another out. But he’d revealed he was only helping her to help himself. Then the second part of what he’d said registered. “Did you just tell me you can’t allow it?” Hadn’t he promised her last night he would follow her orders?

  Harlan put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to calm down before she lost her temper and did or said something she’d regret. “Take a walk. Let me talk to Knox.”

  She threw her bag on the ground before storming off.

  Why did Knox treat her like an incompetent woman who needed protection? He’d believed she was a man up until a few weeks ago, so why couldn’t he just keep thinking that? She wanted to scream. If she had known being a woman was so difficult—so stifling and infuriating—she would have kept on pretending to be a man for the rest of her life. At least then, everyone would have respected her.

  A steep drop opened less than a foot in front of Reid. She stumbled to a halt. In her fury, she hadn’t been paying attention to where she was going. Slowly backing up, she got down on her hands and knees, then edged toward the circular hole in the ground. It had to be a hundred feet in diameter. Below, men held hammers with spikes as they stood on narrow ledges chiseled into the sides. Each person had a basket tied to his waist. When he excavated a stone, he pulled it out of the wall and put it in his basket. There had to be over a hundred miners down there.

  The men seemed familiar. Squinting to get a better look, Reid studied them. Their short hair and wide shoulders reminded her of the two groups of assassins she’d previously encountered. The ones from Axian. But these men weren’t from Axian—this was the county of Bridger. She crawled backward and stood, wanting to consult her map again to be sure.

  Returning to where she’d left her friends, Reid found Harlan by himself. “Where’s Knox?”

  “On his way home. I’m sorry.”

  She shouldered her bag. If Knox couldn’t respect her, it was better he didn’t come with them. “Let’s go another mile south before we stop for the night.” She wanted to be farther away from the mines. Tracing their route on the map, she confirmed their location. She shoved the information about the miners away for now and traveled south, Harlan right behind her.

  As Reid walked, she realized she’d been so concerned about herself and what she was going through that she hadn’t considered the sacrifices her friends were making. “Harlan, can you afford to be away from home for so long?”

  He grunted.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, although the words didn’t seem adequate.

  “Your friendship is more important to me. And your father is a good man. If the apothecary has an issue with me being sent away, Duke Ellington will take care of it.”

  Reid shot a grateful look over her shoulder at Harlan. He could have forced her to return home to her father. Instead, he’d decided to stay and support her. They’d grown up together and were friends. Even now when he knew she was a woman, he’d chosen to treat her the same as he always had and to continue their friendship. “Thank you.”

  At the base of the Modig Mountains, Reid gaped at the sight before her. “Well, I didn’t expect that.” There had to be over a thousand steps leading up to an arched pass-through in the mountains.

  “If that’s how we get into Axian, where are the soldiers?”

  She’d been wondering the same thing. They hadn’t seen a single soldier since they entered Bridger. “Let’s get started. We don’t want to cross when it’s dark.” Especially since they didn’t know what awaited them on the other side.

  Harlan scanned the surrounding area, as if looking for another way. “I hope my legs make it.”

  She laughed. He’d never been very athletic. “It appears there are places to rest along the way. I suggest we stop at each one, even if only for a few minutes. That way, we won’t overexert ourselves.” They needed to be able to walk tomorrow.

  They started climbing the stairs, being careful not to move too quickly. The steps were short and narrow, and Reid didn’t want to lose her balance. Her thighs started to burn just as she reached the first rest area. The flat platform was off to the left side of the stairs. She squatted, breathing heavily.

  Harlan collapsed next to her. “We’re not even halfway.”

  Pulling out the water pouch, she removed the lid and handed it to Harlan. “Drink. We’ll take a five-minute break before going up the next section.” It had taken them over an hour to traverse the first leg. She’d counted three more sections. “We need to reach the top before nightfall.” If she could see to the other side and make sure there weren’t any soldiers in the area, they could sleep on the final platform. The last thing she wanted to do was descend steep stairs on the Axian side in the dark.

  They continued. The next set was more difficult than the first. By the time Reid reached the second platform, her legs were shaking. “No wonder there weren’t any soldiers at the bottom,” she said as she took the water pouch from Harlan. “No one else is dumb enough to cross this way.”

  The two friends rested for about ten minutes before they completed the third leg. The sun was starting to set. “You can wait here,” Reid said. “I’ll go to the top. If there’s no one on the other side, I’ll come back down and we’ll sleep here for the night.”

  Harlan stretched out on his back, breathing heavily. “There’s not much room.”

  “I know.” If one of them rolled off the platform, there was a significant drop to the dense vegetation below. “But we don’t have any other feasible options.”

  After taking a drink, she started the last leg. It was easier without her traveling bag. However, every minute felt like an hour. Each excruciating step caused her muscles to burn. Sweat dripped down her forehead and back. Half
way there, she slid to her hands and knees and started to crawl. Her legs would be worthless tomorrow.

  At the top, she sat and let her body rest for a few minutes. Once her breathing became steadier, she examined the area. Beneath the stone archway was a bridge that extended between the mountains, the Gast River rushing a hundred feet below. The bridge appeared well-made and sturdy. The rope holding the rungs together was tight and not frayed. The sun hadn’t yet tainted the wood. Thankfully, the bridge was only twenty feet long. Not wanting to overthink it and psyche herself out, Reid approached it. She put her hands on the first wooden rung. It was thick and solid. Taking a deep breath, she inched her way forward so her knees were on it as well. Confident the bridge would hold, she started crawling. It barely swayed as she made her way across to the other side.

  Back on solid ground, she took in the breathtaking sight before her. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting the sky in a soft pink. Steps similar to what she’d just climbed extended down the mountain, about a mile long. Dense green foliage covered the land below as far as she could see, not a single city or person anywhere. Satisfied there wasn’t an army lying in wait, she traversed the bridge again, wondering who maintained it.

  Now as she faced the county of Bridger, the sight wasn’t nearly as pretty. While the mountain range had dense green plants and a few forests emerged in the distance, there were several bare hills that were mostly brown. She could see a handful of cities. Reid was struck by how dull this side of Marsden was compared to Axian.

  As she descended the steps, her knees started to ache. She had to force herself to go slowly so she wouldn’t slip and fall. The thought of sliding down on her bottom crossed her mind, but she decided against it.

  When she reached the platform, she found Harlan asleep, snoring lightly. Reid collapsed, then yanked her bag onto her lap. Rummaging around in it, she pulled out a few raw carrots and some jerky. After she finished eating, she laid down with her head on her arm, falling asleep under the starry night sky.