The Heir

by Suzanna Lynn

Luana turned to face the Princess. “Have you no compassion for anyone, Isla? The girl was only doing as she was bid.”

  “Look who’s gained her courage!” Isla smiled slyly. “You’ve forgotten your courtesies, my dear, you should address your betters by their proper titles.” She shoved her way past Luana as she entered the room without invitation.

  Luana was not amused, nor was she in a mood to play games. “What is it that you need?”

  “I have come to say my goodbyes, of course.” Isla turned around to face Luana. “My family and I are to travel back to Mirstone in the morning.”

  Luana had to admit she had looked forward to this day. Yet now that it is here, and I know the Princess’s intensions, I dread it. If only I could keep her here long enough to allow Baylin’s return.

  Isla seemed to be reading Luana’s thoughts. “Sorry to see me go, are we? Don’t worry, I will make sure to take good care of Baylin when I arrive.”

  “I’m sure that is your plan,” Luana hissed through clamped teeth. “Whether he will have you or not is another story entirely.”

  Her anger seemed to please Isla. The Princess looked down at Luana’s swollen belly. “Looks like I won’t have to wait too much longer to cast you out of the castle.”

  Luana glared at the Princess. “You forget something very important.”

  “Really?” Isla raised an eyebrow in amusement. “And what would that be?”

  “Baylin has never agreed to marry you,” Luana said with a smile on her face.

  The Princess sneered at Luana. “A formality. It is all but decided by our fathers. It’s what’s best for the Kingdoms.”

  A loud burst of laughter escaped Luana’s lips at Isla’s words.

  “What?” Isla barked. “What about this do you find at all funny?”

  “I realized how delusional you are. Nothing that involves you could possibly be good for anyone, and certainly not the Kingdom.” Luana smirked, knowing she was getting under the Princess’s skin.

  It was obvious that the Princess was infuriated. Luana imagined if you provoked a dragon enough, it would share the same expression.

  Luana knew she was pushing Isla, but she no longer cared.

  In her anger, the Princess pulled her hand back and swung at the young bed wife in an attempt to slap her, but Luana was ready for it as she reached out clamping down on the Princess’s arm, stopping her mid-swing.

  When Luana’s hand wrapped around the Princess’s wrist, something strange occurred. Luana saw something—a brief glimpse, something she didn’t understand.

  She saw Isla with flames behind her as a forest burned, then an image of a hooded figure chanting over a tattered old book. There was a quick flash of Queen Valasca in mourning clothes, and finally a glimpse of Lord Cadman holding a crying baby.

  Upon seeing Cadman’s face, Luana released Isla’s arm. What was that?

  Luana looked up at the Princess and, judging by her expression and behavior, Isla was not aware of what Luana had experienced.

  Isla clenched her teeth together and glared at Luana. “Well, little bed wife, you have gained some courage, haven’t you? That’s all right. You keep thinking Prince Baylin will be yours. This arrangement was made by Lord Cadman long before you were ever in Baylin’s thoughts.”

  “Lord Cadman?” Luana’s brow furrowed as she tried to understand what the Princess was implying.

  Isla gave a malicious grin. “Yes, you know him, certainly. He is who you have to thank for this little… arrangement.”

  Luana felt sick. Anything that Cadman was a part of was vile, foul and twisted. “Why would Lord Cadman care who Prince Baylin was to marry? He only ever cares about his own gain.”

  Isla smirked, poking Luana’s shoulder with her finger. “That’s exactly right! You’re much smarter than you look, little girl.”

  Luana’s thoughts swam in a cloudy haze as she tried to figure out how Isla and Baylin’s abominable uncle were on the same side. Why would Cadman need Isla to marry Baylin? It doesn’t make sense. He wants the Kingdom for himself. Isla would simply be another obstacle for him.

  Isla cupped Luana’s chin roughly, disrupting her thoughts. “Look at you. Like a child trying to figure out a riddle. Truly adorable. Too bad you won’t figure out the answer until after you’ve been cast out of Baylin’s life for good.”

  Luana kept her mouth shut. Isla wanted her to continue fighting, and she would not give her the satisfaction.

  The Princess smiled in amusement, assuming that she had gotten the better of the little bed wife. She turned and walked to the door, Luana following close behind. She turned to face Luana. “You try to be so strong, bed wife, but in the end, power, title, wealth… that is what strength is. Those are things you will never have.”

  Princess Isla was in the hallway when Luana turned to her. “And you have forgotten that Baylin will eventually see you for the evil snake you are. Even a hundred years of marriage to you will not compare to the year he has spent with me.”

  The Princess’s face screwed up and she attempted to retort, but Luana cut her off quickly as she pointed a finger in her face. “There may come a time when he’s forced to allow you to hold his hand, but rest assured, you will never hold his heart. That belongs to me, and me alone!”

  Before the Princess could process the words, Luana slammed the door in her face.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Prince Baylin’s plan had worked. Scouts brought back reports the troll hordes nesting in the mountains on the outskirts of Mirstone had been almost completely destroyed. The elf maid had been correct with her gifted magic; the fire burned hot and only traveled up the mountain. Many of the trolls were burned in the raging fires. Still more were struck down by the army awaiting them at the foot of the mountain. The bulk of the battle had not lasted long, only a day and half the night. The trolls had no choice. They could burn or flee. Those who did manage to survive by escaping into the caves on the mountainside were gradually being sought out by Prince Baylin’s men.

  Two weeks after the battle, smoke continued to curl from the blackened corpses of ashen trees and trolls alike. Baylin and his men kept a watchful eye on the mountain for any activity from the remaining trolls. Though most of the men felt it was time to abandon the mountain and celebrate their victory, Baylin knew the battle had been won too easily. The number of dead trolls did not compare to the amount forced up into the mountain pass when Baylin and his men arrived in Mirstone.

  The Prince rose before dawn. He found little time to sleep, and when he did, his dreams were filled of violence and death. He longed for the days when he slept all night with Luana in his arms. He wanted more than anything to return to Grasmere and be with Luana while she carried his child, but he could not abandon Mirstone without assurance the trolls had been banished.

  He stood up from the bed and pulled on a pair of black trousers to cover his nakedness. Making his way across the tent, he lit a couple of candles on the long table that he and his men used for planning strategy and discussing battle plans. The candles fanned soft orange light against the papers strewn across the table. He sat down near where the candlelight was brightest and began studying the maps of the area, yet again. He had spent more time than he could count going over the maps. There must be a hidden pass somewhere. The Prince was certain that many trolls had somehow escaped both fire and sword. If only I could find out where they escaped; how they escaped.

  Then he remembered the second gift from the elf. The herbs. He reached into the false bottom drawer, slipping the panel out of the way to retrieve the leaf-wrapped bundle. Baylin walked over to the fire and stirred the sleepy embers to life, throwing in a few logs to feed the flames. He poured some water in a cast-iron kettle and dropped the herbs inside. He then set it over the heat, allowing it to warm the mixture inside. Let’s hope the elf maid knows what she’s doing. I need to know the truth so I can protect the Kingdoms.

  Once the kettle was hot, he poured the contents into a cup and downe
d them in three large gulps. He looked from the cup to his maps. Show me the truth. Help me protect my Kingdom. As he studied the maps, his eyes began to weigh heavy. The dim light and loss of sleep made his eyes flutter as they struggled to stay open. Before he knew it, sleep had taken him and he began to dream.

  He was in his bedchamber in Grasmere. The sun shone through the window and threw a blanket of gold over the room. Baylin felt the comfort of his soft bed beneath him and the warmth of Luana’s body snug against his own. The sensation of their naked bodies touching aroused him.

  He reached out and placed a hand on Luana’s hip. She stirred sleepily and turned to him, smiling.

  Baylin ran his hand across her waist and laid it against her slender stomach. His eyes flashed from her stomach to her face as panic took hold. “Our child, where is…”

  “Shh.” Luana placed a finger gently against his lips to quiet him. “Your son is healthy and fine. Would you like to meet him?”

  Baylin’s face lit up in a wide grin as he sat up in the bed. “A son? I have a son?”

  Luana smiled and rose from the bed. She walked over to a small ornately carved wood cradle beyond the end of the bed. Baylin rose to his feet slowly as he watched Luana bend over and pick up a soft, round, rosy-cheeked baby. His heart caught in his throat as she carried the baby to him.

  “Baylin,” Luana smiled as she presented the child, “I’d like you to meet your son.”

  “My son? My son.” Baylin didn’t even try to stop the tears. He let them flow as Luana placed the cooing, wiggly bundle in his arms.

  Baylin leaned in and kissed the baby boy on the top of the head. The youngster squirmed at the touch of the Prince’s scratchy beard.

  Luana giggled. “He’s perfect, isn’t he?”

  “Yes. Perfect.” Baylin looked up at Luana through tear-filled eyes. “You both are.”

  Luana came up on the tips of her toes to kiss Baylin on the lips. She then slid the baby from his arms and placed him back in the cradle ever so gently. She turned back to her Prince and playfully pushed him until he fell back on the bed.

  Luana climbed on top of Baylin, straddling him, and leaned in to kiss him. “I’ve missed you.”

  “And I you.” Baylin ran his hands along the curve of her hips as Luana began grinding against him. Her kiss became more intense as his hands explored her soft thighs and buttocks. “Make love to me.”

  Her words stirred him. It had been so long since he had been able to gaze upon her. He wanted to show her how much he loved her. The sensation of her mounting him sent waves of pleasure over his body. As she began to push her hips back and forth, he grabbed her waist, guiding her lunges as he thrust inside her.

  Baylin gazed into her eyes and moaned as he felt himself coming close to the edge. He closed his eyes as his body began to shudder, waiting for the pleasure to come. Just as climax was upon him, Luana screamed out in terror.

  He opened his eyes, the sun’s warm rays were gone and the room had turned dark. He could feel Luana on top of him as she continued to scream, but he could not make out what was wrong.

  “Luana!” Baylin screamed, grabbing hold of her.

  The room came to light. It was night and the room was filled with thousands of candles dripping blood on the floor. Baylin’s eyes adjusted and he could see Luana before him, with a sword stuck through her, blood running down her front onto his lap. The sword was suddenly removed and Luana fell in a heap on top of him.

  “No!” Baylin screamed out in terror as he took Luana in his arms. “No! What is this?”

  Luana was on the brink of death, gasping with every breath. “I… I told you… She… Isla… Cad…”

  “Luana!” Baylin cried out as tears ran down his face. He shook her but she would not wake. Luana lay dead in his arms as he cried her name.

  Baylin heard a sinister laugh and a baby cry from behind him. He turned at the sound to find Princess Isla standing there, holding a blood-soaked sword.

  The Prince laid Luana down on the bed and turned to face Isla. “Why? Why would you do this?”

  The Princess continued to laugh but did not say a word. Anger and hatred boiled in Baylin’s veins. As he was about to lunge at her he heard the baby cry again. He turned his head to see Lord Cadman holding his son cupped in one arm and holding a dagger with the other hand.

  “My son,” Baylin pleaded. “Please do not harm him. Do what you will with me, but please don’t.”

  “Why would I harm the Heir of Grasmere?” Lord Cadman sauntered up to Baylin as though Luana had not just died in his arms. “We need him alive.”

  Baylin did not understand what was happening. Why it was happening. “We?”

  Princess Isla laughed again. Her eyes bleeding to black as a serpentine forked tongue slid out of her mouth, kissing the air with a soft hiss.

  “What is this?” Baylin asked as terror filled his thoughts. “Why do you need my son?”

  Cadman’s eyes appeared to glow crimson as he fixed his gaze on Baylin. “The heir is mine.”

  Baylin screamed out in agony as he felt the sharp pain of Cadman thrusting the dagger deep into his stomach.

  Prince Baylin woke with a jerk. As he looked around his tent, gathering his senses, he saw that the sun had risen. He could hear the sound of birds singing and the muffled rumble of men talking. It was only a dream. He was covered in a cold sweat, his heart racing from the intensity of the nightmare. He stood, trying to shake off the terror that flowed through his veins. It was only a dream. He walked to the opening of the tent and threw back the flap, letting the cool morning air kiss his skin. The sensation helped to wake his senses and calm him. I don’t understand, it was supposed to show me the truth so I could protect the Kingdom from the troll hordes. He was angry at the feeling the dream had cast over him. That ignorant elf. Her magic didn’t work. It was just a dream.

  As he stood there, soaking up the sun’s morning rays and trying to keep his body from shaking all over, a young steward ran up to him and gave a nervous bow. “Apologies, Your Grace, I must have overslept.”

  Baylin shook his head, his heart beating like a drum in his chest. “No, son, you didn’t. I rose early to go over some things.”

  “Yes, Your Grace.” The boy gave a small sigh in relief and bowed again. “Shall I prepare your breakfast?”

  Baylin nodded. “Yes, and I need some water. I’m to meet with the King this afternoon. I suppose I should be clean.”

  The boy smiled and bowed again before dashing off to do as he was told.

  Baylin returned to his tent and sat down at the table. The effects of the nightmare had begun to fade, but the images were fresh in his mind. This couldn’t possibly be the truth she spoke of. She said it would give me the knowledge I need to protect the Kingdom. Dread filled his heart at the thought. What if the trolls are not who the Kingdom needs protecting from? He felt sick at his stomach. In a few hours he was to meet with King Gideon and the rest of his family. Baylin had received word that the royal family had returned from Grasmere to resume rule of Mirstone. He had delayed meeting with them for nearly a week, but he knew he was expected to dine with them later that day in celebration for his victory.

  He shoved the maps out of the way and picked up the letter Luana had managed to get to him through his mother. The paper was worn from being opened and closed over and over again from reading it. My love, if I could only be in your arms. He read the letter again. With the dream fresh in his thoughts, the words in the letter brought tears to his eyes, but he would not let them fall.

  His steward returned with a tray of fruit, cheese and bread, and laid it out on the edge of the table so as not to crumble the maps. “Your Grace, I will return with your bath water shortly.”

  Prince Baylin nodded and pulled a hunk of bread from the loaf. He grabbed another map from the table and ate while studying it.

  By the time the steward had returned with the water, Baylin had eaten his fill. “Thank you. Please, take the tray and eat what
you like.”

  The young man smiled. “Thank you, Your Grace.” The steward hurried out of the tent, closing the flap securely behind him.

  Baylin picked up the pail of water and sat it on a small table in front of an even smaller looking glass. He peered at himself in the mirror. His face was dirty, which exaggerated the fine lines around his eyes that had begun to form too soon for his age. His hair was mangled and his beard was well on its way to being overgrown. He had started this battle as a young Prince, but the man looking back at him from the mirror looked more like his father.

  Will Luana even recognize me when I return? Baylin sighed. Can she still love this man who looks at me now?

  Baylin washed his face and began the tedious task of trimming back his beard. He then moved on to his matted hair. He cared little of what the royal family of Mirstone thought of his appearance, but he did not want to represent his father in a poor manner.

  Once he had finished, the Prince stripped off his trousers, kicking them aside. He dipped a rag in the icy cold water and began washing the dirt and sweat from his body. He hadn’t had a proper bath in months; it was one of the many luxuries he and his men had to give up when they came to battle on behalf of Mirstone.

  His thoughts kept returning to the dream and the sense of dread it had poured over him. Cadman I could believe, but Isla is no traitor to the crown. He tried his best to brush the feeling off so he could prepare for the day ahead.

  He spent the entire morning cleaning and grooming for a celebration he did not want to take part in. He had finished washing and was reaching for a clean linen cloth when he felt a warm breeze of afternoon air flow through the tent.

  He turned quickly to see a hooded handmaid standing in the open entryway. She was dressed in a simple grey dress with a brown hooded wrap hiding her face.

  The Prince opened his mouth to command her to leave when she removed the wrap to reveal her face.

  “Isla!” Baylin yelled, wrapping the cloth around his waist. “What is the meaning of this?”

  The Princess raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Oh my, Prince Baylin, I do apologize. I certainly did not mean to disturb you.”