by Auryn Hadley
He wasn't quite as happy when Connall kissed her before she mounted her horse to leave. When she explained the sweet words he'd whispered in her ear, it made it better, but only marginally so. The kiss had been Connall's excuse to tell her he'd be willing to rush the wedding if necessary. Then Leyli assured Tristan that Connall kissed just like most lords, with tight and boring lips.
Gregori found ways to bring that up each day for their trip home. When the rains came, Leyli hid in the carriage with Estelle and Astrid, but Tristan rode through it. There just wasn't enough room for all of them. They were almost to Oberhame when suddenly, the procession stopped, but the sound of the rain on the roof muffled what her guards were saying.
Curious, Astrid pulled aside a curtain, then gasped. "Ley?"
"Yeah?"
The girl swallowed audibly. "Tris' just pulled his sword."
"Shit," Leyli hissed, scrambling for the shelf behind her seat. "Grab something, both of you," she ordered.
Estelle pushed herself into the corner, giving the girls space to move. Astrid tossed a short dagger into her lap, keeping a longer one for herself. Neither woman had enough training to do more than poke someone, but it was better than being helpless. Leyli, however, had a proper guard's sword. With her ears straining, she waited to hear something. She just needed a hint of what was going on outside.
Then Tristan raised his voice. "You have no claim over this road!"
Over the splattering water, Leyli could hear a man respond, but she had no idea what he said.
Tristan laughed, but it was the sound of a gladiator, not her Secor. The hint of panic was too close to the surface, threatening to become something feral. "Under whose authority?"
The answer was clear enough. "The Domn of Lanmont!" Evidently the man had come a lot closer.
"He doesn't rule Norihame," Tristan nearly spit.
"Yet," the man sneered.
Then a wet thunk preceded a horse grunting. Not even the weather could drown out that sound. Leyli knew it too well. A sword cutting through flesh was something she could never forget. A split second later, men began to scream orders, but not all of them spoke the same language. Leyli had to get out there!
Yanking at the door, she managed to free the latch and rush out, right into the back of a man. His sword was raised, threatening her driver. On the other side, someone swung at Temotio. She caught the flash of red and knew that diplomacy was long gone.
"Drop it," she demanded, pressing the tip of her blade between the man's shoulders.
He chuckled and tried to turn, expecting a defenseless princess. Unfortunately, he had the wrong girl. The moment his arm tensed, she thrust, feeling his skin part and the tip slip over bone. Her opponent screamed. Pulling her weapon free of his body, she finally saw his face. From the dark skin to the teardrop shaped eyes, everything about him looked Rhian. He dropped to his knees.
"What do you want?" she demanded, speaking his native language. Her accent was horrible, but she'd had to learn the words as a girl.
Pawing at the wound in his back, he babbled, "The Princess, we're just supposed to find the Princess!" His words were in the same language.
"Yeah? Well you found me. What do you want?"
The Rhian froze. "No. He said you'd be..." Then the man shut his mouth and glanced behind her.
That was all the warning she needed. Spinning, Leyli tilted her weapon to deflect a sword, and felt the impact all the way to her shoulder. The man was huge, dark, and enraged, looking like a nightmare straight from the arena.
"Leyli!" Tristan yelled.
She didn't dare look. This wasn't the kind of fighter she could take her eyes off of, but the first man was moving. She could hear the mud as he tried to stand. Two to one were very bad odds, and she needed to do something about that. Shifting to the side, her mind whirled. She needed to find her men. She had to get beside them, not pinned away on her own. She also had to keep Tristan's mom and sister safe. In other words, she had to become the Wolf.
Growling under her breath, she spun, dancing away from the large man, and hacked at the one still halfway on his knees. Her sword cut through soft skin, a bit too low to be his neck, but it would do. She saw him grab at the wound, then ran. Beside her, the carriage was jerking fitfully as the horses tried to do anything but stand. All around her, mounted soldiers hacked at each other. Hers wore black, the others were a motley collection of reds and browns. It made it easy to find a target.
"Tristan," she called out, trying to locate him.
"Ley!" His voice came from the other side.
Without hesitation, she ducked under the reins, over the shaft, and right behind the horses' asses. It was a fool thing to do, but probably safer than running around in the middle of a fight. When she popped out the other side, she finally saw her partner, surrounded by a line of corpses, helping his mother out. Astrid was right behind her.
"How many?" Leyli asked.
He tossed her a smile. "Not enough. Astrid, get Mama out of sight and keep her safe." Then he raised his voice. "Gregori!"
"Sir!" The man in question spun his horse into view, his eyes scanning the road.
Just out of sight, someone was still fighting, but it wasn't frantic. Mostly it sounded like a slaughter, something Leyli knew all too well. It sounded just like a typical culling in the arena, when they'd sent debtors unarmed to face down veteran gladiators.
"Watch the women," Tristan ordered. "Ley and I are gonna clean this up. C'mon, pup."
It wasn't much of a fight. Side by side, the pair decimated anyone that got close. Unfortunately, none of them had the sense to just surrender. In minutes, the ordeal was over, and her guards had only minor wounds. Lucien, the driver, had taken a cut across his forearm when he jumped off the carriage to avoid the man Leyli had killed and into another. Armando had a bruise across his face and a split lip. Edwyn's biggest problem, besides the mud on his clothes from rolling in it to avoid a blow, was coping with the knowledge that he'd killed a few men. Temotio and Horace fared a bit better.
But they'd lost a horse. The sound Leyli had heard was Horace's mount being cut down beneath him. The gelding was mortally wounded, but not dead. Sadly, there was only one thing they could do. With a sigh, she pulled the dagger from Tristan's belt and knelt behind the poor thing's neck.
"I'm sorry, big guy," she told the animal, then cut deep into the vein at his throat.
The horse lurched, nearly throwing her off, and its deep red blood poured out, pooling with the rain and muck. Leyli just kept petting the beast until it was no longer breathing, watching its life flow away. Would she never escape the blood?
"Ley," Tristan said softly, pulling her up. "It's dead."
She sniffed, wiping at her face with the back of her arm. "I liked that horse."
"I know." He took the dagger, wiped it off on his pants, then sheathed it. "The dead men don't bother you, but the horse does?"
She had to wipe at her face again, but the weather made it impossible to be sure if her eyes were leaking or if that was just rain on her face. "We're supposed to kill each other, Tristan. They didn't ask for it! They do everything they can for us, then end up dying because we just throw them away like..." She huffed out a frustrated breath. "Like gladiators."
"Mhm." Trying to hide his chuckle, he kissed the top of her head. "Wanna tell me who these men are, and why they're speaking some foreign language?"
She flailed a hand at them dismissively. "Rhians."
"And why are Rhians on the wrong side of Oberhame, pup?"
With the fight over, her mind was finally starting to catch up. The first man had claimed authority by her cousin. The one she'd stabbed in the back had said he was supposed to find the Princess. They all spoke Rhiac, and wore typical armor for Rhian soldiers. They could be mercenaries, but they should have been better swordsmen if that were the case. These men fought more like pampered Senate guards, the kind who did nothing more than follow behind their chosen politician.
Th
e pieces could only mean one thing. Her cousin had help from outside the borders. Slowly, Leyli looked up at her partner, her blood running cold.
"Tristan, I think we need to get back to the palace."
"Yeah. Probably a good idea. Why are Rhians trying to kill you, Ley?"
She looked over the carnage. "Because they've never been able to conquer Norihame. For nearly two hundred years, they've tried, but we always manage to fight them back." She wiped her filthy hands on her soaked skirt. "I'm the only heir who could marry a Senator and breed the country into their hands. Either Palino is trying to sell me to them, or they're trying something new."
He shook his head. "Rhia doesn't do anything new. Even I know that. They pride themselves on a system that has held for centuries."
"Yeah. I know." Then she turned to address the rest of her guards. "Horace, take either Tristan's or my horse. We need to get home. At the first town, someone notify the guardsmen, but we're not stopping."
"Yes, Highness," they all replied, heading for their mounts.
Inside the carriage, it was a tight fit. The moisture in their clothes began to evaporate, making the air dank and muggy, but opening the shutters was worse. By the time night fell, at least they were all dry. Her guards couldn't say the same. Leyli thought about calling a stop at an inn, but Tristan vetoed that. Instead, she spent the rest of the ride home wondering what had just happened while sleeping fitfully against her Lion's shoulder.
Rhian soldiers had just attacked the Heir of Norihame. Either they were criminal mercenaries, or Rhia was planning something. But how would her cousin be involved? Unless she was giving him too little credit? Palino was a fool, but was he dumb enough to sell away his entire country for the bribes of their enemy neighbors? Sure, Norihame might have a treaty with Rhia, but that had never stopped them before. All Rhia cared about was expanding their borders. It was the only commerce that nation had.
Her eyes snapped open, staring at the sleeping faces of her friends. Rhia never did anything new. They'd built an entire culture on taking over their neighbors and growing wealthy on the spoils. They also had a habit of killing the rulers and claiming the widows. By keeping the former Queen in a position of power, they bought the loyalty of the country, bringing them into the fold. This time, it wouldn't be the ruler's wife they'd need, but his daughter.
Thankfully, they were only a day away. Riding through the night, they should read the palace by mid-day. Maybe her father would have some idea, because she could think of a few too many reasons why she should be getting very paranoid. Hopefully, this would all be a surprise to him.
Chapter 37
Sadly, while returning to the Palace meant coming home to her father, it also meant facing the realities of court. She told the King about the attack on their way home, but their wasn't much either could do. He'd heard no reports of any other Rhian invasions, so it must have been a group of criminals trying to start a new life outside the reach of Rhian laws. It was the only thing that made sense. Leyli and her men were safe, the mercenaries were all dead, and no one could verify what any of them had said in the head of battle. In other words, they still had nothing on her cousin.
And her suitors weren't ready to give up. Bretonvale found every excuse possible to spend time with Leyli. Half of the others were disgustingly transparent. Even though she'd told her father she'd decided on Moyloch, it wouldn't be official until the agreements were signed, her dowry was transferred, and their betrothal was announced. After all, the final decision was Connall's, not hers.
And then her monthly courses returned. When Leyli woke to blood on the sheets, she nearly cried. She just wanted to get the whole ordeal over. She wanted to have her cousin as far from the throne as possible, her lover at her side, and a friend to help her fix the problems she could. She wasn't really ready for a baby, but she needed an heir, and the sooner that happened, the safer her family was. It was Estelle who gave her the most comfort. She also explained the realities of childbirth, which made Leyli a bit less desperate to conceive.
One month after Leyli returned to Oberhame, Dario returned. He brought letters from Brice and Blanche. Dario had written them, and he was just as willing to read them to Astrid and Estelle. Oddly, Tristan didn't try to keep him away from his little sister.
A week later, Connall arrived in Oberhame. A month of thinking about it seemed to be what Tristan needed most, so when whispers of a carriage in the courtyard drifted through court, he encouraged Leyli to make a scene. One glance at the crest on the side assured her that it had to be him. When she ran through the halls of the palace like a maid, heads turned. When Temotio and Tristan ran to keep up, people laughed. When she met Connall outside the main stairs with a vivacious hug, he laughed like she'd never heard before.
"It was only a month," he assured her, rocking her against him.
She kissed his cheek. "A month too long."
"Mm." Then he leaned to her ear. "We getting married tomorrow or something?"
"No." She slapped his chest playfully, but kept her voice low. "Still have to make the announcement, but I'm going to kill Bretonvale."
"I see." He flicked his eyes to Tristan. "Is that all?"
"Yeah."
With her arms around his waist, she felt him deflate. Leyli's brow winkled and she shot a questioning look at him. Connall just shrugged. "Sorry, I was hoping." Then he pulled himself away and offered Tristan his hand. "Been a while, my friend. Maybe I can talk you into a game of Go later?"
"I'd love to. Maybe we can lock Temotio away with the pup this time."
Connall grinned. "But you'll have to supply the beer. Come, show me to my rooms? I took the liberty of having the rest of my things packed and shipping this way in two weeks. I hope you haven't changed your mind, Leyli?"
"No. I think the sooner we announce this, the happier I'll be." She turned him toward the stairs, leading him to the rooms that would soon become the domain of the Prince Consort, well aware that he'd almost completely ignored Temotio.
She wondered if something had happened that she should know about. As they walked, Tristan and Connall joked, making sure that anyone they passed could hear it. While the Secor stuck close, it was Connall who walked beside her, his hand brushing hers every other step. When she giggled, he winked at her.
By dinner, the rumors were flying. Ilario was pleased. Connall had brought all of the necessary documents to hurry the proceedings. All that was left was to make a formal announcement and to post the notices. That night, she celebrated with her guards. Oddly, Temotio begged off, swearing that breakfast must not have agreed with him. When Leyli asked, he promised that he had no complaints against Connall.
Three days later, Temotio was still avoiding Leyli's future husband. Even Gregori had noticed, and Leyli had enough of it. She had to know what was wrong, so decided that if Temotio wouldn't tell her, she'd ask Connall. He'd been nothing but honest, so far.
She was halfway down the hall, Tristan at her back, when she heard the scuffle. It started with a solid thump. Someone grunted, someone else snarled under his breath, and then she heard Temotio.
"Get your hands off him!"
Leyli rushed around the corner, Tristan pulling her back, but when she saw Palino, she ignored him. Her cousin had Connall pressed against the wall, his arm across his throat. Temotio was trying to pull him off, but Connall was frozen in fear.
"What's going on?" Tristan demanded, his voice pitched to carry.
Palino relaxed just enough that Temotio could yank him back, shoving his body between Connall and his attacker. "The Domn jumped Lord Connall."
Leyli rushed to her friend's side. "You ok?"
Connall coughed, clutching at his throat. "Your timing is impeccable, Highness."
"I asked what was going on!" Tristan yelled, storming toward Palino. "Why were you assaulting another noble in the King's home?"
"Bastard tried to come on to me."
"I doubt that," Tristan growled, daring to push Palino back.
"Start your rumors somewhere else. The Princess isn't going to marry you, and discrediting her lover won't help you."
Palino smiled, like he'd just been handed the victory. "Lover? So the cunt's fucking him?"
Before Tristan could lose his temper, Leyli acted. She swung, her palm open, and hit Palino across the cheek. Unfortunately, she didn't even try to soften the blow. The Domn's head snapped to the side, and a grunt of pain slipped out.
"Bitch!"
She pointed her finger in his face. "That's why they called me the Wolf. If you assault my future husband again, I will dismiss you from court. Am I clear?"
Palino glared, his jaw clenched so hard his teeth creaked. "Yeah. I'm not done with you, Leyli."
"Bring it. If you'd been anything but an arrogant ass, I might have considered you, but I'm not that desperate."
"So you'll fuck him? The pussy that can't even match his girl with a sword?"
"Yeah." She moved between Palino and Connall. "You couldn't either, and I'd be happy to prove it."
Tristan grabbed her shoulder. "No. You will not raise live weapons against a noble, Ley."
"Oh? And what, you get to tell her what to do?" Palino laughed, the sound cruel. "Some stupid farm boy?"
"The same stupid farm boy her father put in this position." Tristan pointed down the hall. "Get out of my sight before I summon the King's guards."
Palino tensed, taking a deep breath before he shook off Temotio's grip and stormed off. None of them relaxed until he rounded the corner and was out of sight. Only then did Leyli turn back to Connall.
"You ok? What happened?"
He nodded his head, breathing deeply. "I came out of my rooms, intending to meet up with Temotio for a stolen beer in the kitchen. The Domn came around the corner heading that way." He pointed in the opposite direction Palino had gone. "When he passed, he bumped my shoulder. I said sorry, and he turned on me. Snapped something about thinking I was good enough to talk to him, then slammed me into the wall. That's when Temotio showed up."