by Jody Hedlund
I pressed my lips to Emmeline’s forehead. “You are sure you want to do this?” I asked her quietly.
“No matter what you told me that day in the tower, I wasn’t planning to let you leave without me.”
“No matter what I said, I wouldn’t have been able to leave you behind.”
“Then you would have kidnapped me a second time?” Her eyes twinkled with a challenge.
“Most definitely.”
“If you’d been able to catch me.”
I bent into her ear. “I told you I never lose, that I always win, didn’t I?”
She laughed, and I captured her lips and laughter in another kiss. This one sweet and soft with the promise of many more to come.
Chapter
28
Emmeline
I stood next to Rex on the forecastle of the ship and watched Warwick’s shoreline draw near. The wind whipped the sails above us and wrested my hair loose from the elegant knot my maidservant had styled earlier in preparation for our arrival.
We would disembark in the small coastal town of Grayson and then travel upriver to the larger capital city of Kensington. Two of Rex’s men would ride ahead and spread the news of his coming as the new king.
Rex was rigid, studying the land with his usual keen gaze. I did likewise, taking in the forested shoreline with its steep cliffs and rocky crags.
We’d spent large portions of the journey meeting with his loyal followers and planning how we could begin to restore prosperity to Warwick. Most of the industries had either failed or were in decline. The land was depleted of resources and infertile. And the people were bitter and suffering. We were arriving at a dark and uncertain place.
Through all of the planning, we’d reminded ourselves changes would take time, energy, and an enormous amount of hard work in order to bring about the healing the land and people needed. The task ahead was daunting. But we were their faithful servants, and together we would set out to accomplish the rebuilding with the courage God had given us.
Once again, Adelaide had shown her great wisdom by giving Rex this mission. From Mercia, she would have had a difficult time bringing about the changes Warwick needed. The kingdom likely would have continued to languish. But since Rex had already established goodwill among the people of Warwick, they’d more easily accept him as king along with the changes he needed to institute. And of course, our marriage ensured his alliance with Adelaide.
My good-byes with my sisters had been tearful. We’d only just been reunited and were separating again. I would miss them, yet I knew we were each using our gifts to bring about peace to the land such as it hadn’t known in a long time. The people of Mercia had welcomed Adelaide as their new queen, especially as word of her wisdom and her mercy toward Rex had spread.
As the royal physician, Maribel had made her first order of business that of helping all the nuns who’d been hurt and displaced by King Ethelwulf. She’d begun the process of rebuilding the convents in the Highlands and Iron Hills, making sure the nuns and friends she’d had while growing up were restored to their positions.
We’d learned that Sister Katherine, the nun who’d been so instrumental in saving us as infants, had taken refuge in her final days among a small band of nuns who’d been hiding in ruins in West Moorland. She’d died peacefully in her sleep the same day she’d received news that Adelaide had entered Delsworth and had been crowned queen.
Although Sister Katherine had gone to great lengths in seeking out Adelaide and Maribel and encouraging them to accomplish their duties, she’d apparently never made any attempt to find me. Had she somehow known my destiny was intertwined with Rex’s? That he must be the one to find me instead of her?
Whatever the case, my sisters and I had each played our parts to fulfill the ancient prophecy. We’d learned like Solomon and other wise kings that real treasure is found in God’s gifts rather than in chests of gold. We prayed future generations would read our account and understand the same truth. But we also realized that over time, greed might raise its ugly head and wreak havoc on the land, bringing about the need for another wise young ruler to rise up and fulfill the ancient prophecy once more.
Adelaide had burned my drawing of the labyrinth and then hidden the original map pieces in three different places throughout the kingdom, putting cryptic clues to their whereabouts within the shanks of the keys as before. She and her descendants would remain keepers of the keys. And we could only pray that once again the legend of the treasure, its keys, and the labyrinth would become more fable than reality.
“Who would have guessed this is where we’d end up,” my father said from beside Rex, his arm around my mother. Attired in his black chain mail and all his weapons, he looked nearly as fierce and warlike as Rex.
“I never would have imagined it,” my mother replied quietly. Before leaving, I’d done everything I could to discover what had become of both Mother’s and Father’s families in those early days of King Ethelwulf’s purge. We’d learned every member of Mother’s family had been brutally murdered, just as she’d suspected.
However, Father’s family had received his message in time and had been able to survive by living under false identities. We hadn’t needed to search too hard to find his brothers and sisters alive and well with families of their own. Although his mother had since passed away, she’d apparently been proud of Father for how brave he’d been to save the princesses.
“I’m glad you decided to come with us.” I bent to rub my free hand over Bede’s head and then did the same to Ruby.
Father smiled at me, which made him look more like the charcoal burner I’d grown up with than the warrior he truly was. “Eighteen years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined I’d be sailing to Warwick to live. Even a week ago, I wouldn’t have imagined it, especially that we’d be going willingly.”
I smiled in return. “I guess that means you’re no longer angry at Rex for tying you and mother up?”
“Aye. I’ll let him live . . . for today.”
“That is gallant of you,” Rex interjected. “And I shall allow you to live another day, but only because you are the best elite guard trainer I have.”
“The only elite guard trainer,” my father said wryly.
I loved that the two most important men in my life had made their peace and liked each other. Rex had asked for forgiveness for stealing me away and coercing me into marriage. He’d also apologized for the crimes King Ethelwulf had committed, especially that my father and mother had been forced to live in hiding for so many years.
To show his gratefulness to Father for his love and care for me all the years I’d been growing up, Rex had offered him the position of his closest advisor and commander of his army. But Father had decided he was more suited to being on the sidelines of the action rather than in the middle of it and had decided to train Rex’s army instead.
Rex drew me into the circle of his arm. “Are you ready for this?”
“Yes.” I was surprised by how much I meant it. Though I missed my forest home, I’d known I could never go back. But even more than that, I was different. Rex and I were both different. And stronger because of it.
I wrapped my arm around his middle and leaned into him. “As long as we’re together, I’m ready for anything.”
“Then, welcome home, my queen,” he whispered. “I cannot promise you riches or ease in the days to come. But hereafter, I can promise I will choose to love and cherish you unto death.”
“That’s all that matters,” I whispered in return before lifting my lips to his and sealing our love with a kiss.
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. She lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy teens, and five spoiled cats. Learn more at JodyHedlund.com
Young Adult Fiction from Jody Hedlund
The Lost Princesses
Always: Prequel No
vella
On the verge of dying after giving birth to twins, the queen of Mercia pleads with Lady Felicia to save her infant daughters. With the castle overrun by King Ethelwulf’s invading army, Lady Felicia vows to do whatever she can to take the newborn princesses and their three-year old sister to safety, even though it means sacrificing everything she holds dear, possibly her own life.
Evermore
Raised by a noble family, Lady Adelaide has always known she’s an orphan. Little does she realize she’s one of the lost princesses and the true heir to Mercia’s throne . . . until a visitor arrives at her family estate, reveals her birthright as queen, and thrusts her into a quest for the throne whether she’s ready or not.
Foremost
Raised in an isolated abbey, Lady Maribel desires nothing more than to become a nun and continue practicing her healing arts. She’s carefree and happy with her life…until a visitor comes to the abbey and reveals her true identity as one of the lost princesses.
Hereafter
Forced into marriage, Emmeline has one goal—to escape. But Ethelrex takes his marriage vows seriously, including his promise to love and cherish his wife, and has no intention of letting Emmeline get away. As the battle for the throne rages, will the prince be able to win the battle for Emmeline’s heart?
The Noble Knights
The Vow
Young Rosemarie finds herself drawn to Thomas, the son of the nearby baron. But just as her feelings begin to grow, a man carrying the Plague interrupts their hunting party. While in forced isolation, Rosemarie begins to contemplate her future—could it include Thomas? Could he be the perfect man to one day rule beside her and oversee her parents’ lands?
An Uncertain Choice
Due to her parents’ promise at her birth, Lady Rosemarie has been prepared to become a nun on the day she turns eighteen. Then, shortly before her birthday, a friend of her father’s enters the kingdom and proclaims her parents’ will left a second choice—if Rosemarie can marry before the eve of her eighteenth year, she will be exempt from the ancient vow.
A Daring Sacrifice
In a reverse twist on the Robin Hood story, a young medieval maiden stands up for the rights of the mistreated, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. All the while, she fights against her cruel uncle who has taken over the land that is rightfully hers.
For Love & Honor
Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?
A Loyal Heart
When Lady Olivia’s castle is besieged, she and her sister are taken captive and held for ransom by her father’s enemy, Lord Pitt. Loyalty to family means everything to Olivia. She’ll save her sister at any cost and do whatever her father asks—even if that means obeying his order to steal a sacred relic from her captor.
A Worthy Rebel
While fleeing an arranged betrothal to a heartless lord, Lady Isabelle becomes injured and lost. Rescued by a young peasant man, she hides her identity as a noblewoman for fear of reprisal from the peasants who are bitter and angry toward the nobility.
A complete list of my novels can be found at jodyhedlund.com.
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