by Barb Hendee
One day, Kai surprised me by coming home for lunch and saying, “I still owe you an afternoon ride.”
He was right. With everything that had happened, I’d been so needed at the keep, we never had gone out for the ride we’d planned. That seemed a long time ago now.
“What about your father?” I asked.
“He’ll be fine. Betty and Miriam can look after him.”
Excitement took hold. He had a horse saddled for me, and we rode out the gates. The day was fine, and the sun shone down. Kai took me south to the apple orchards. I could see his pride in the neat long rows of trees and the ripening fruit. For the first time, I felt the breadth of being a part of this estate, and I realized how small my world had become back at the keep.
“I should like to do this more,” I said. “Perhaps I can come with you some days to meet the people who work the land?”
A part of me wondered how he would respond.
But he nodded instantly. “Of course. I’d like that too. I promise that many of our people live better than the ones in Volodane Village. I should like you to meet them.”
In that moment, I loved him more than ever before. He wanted me to be a true part of his world.
A few days later, Jarrod began walking on his own. But this brought a different set of troubles. Now that he was healing, he reached a period of fresh mourning for Rolf.
At dinner one night, Kai asked, “Will we do anything to take revenge?”
I’d written to my father on the matter, but received no answer as of yet.
“Not openly,” Jarrod answered. “I don’t think we can.” He was dour that evening. “There’s a gathering in Partheney at the end of summer, and I’d hoped to bring Rolf, but now . . . now, we’ll have to wait.”
“What for what?” Sebastian asked.
Jarrod glanced at Kai, but said nothing. The mere motion of his eyes made me nervous. In his plans for the family’s future, did he think to replace Rolf with Kai as a political figure? I wasn’t sure Kai would agree.
The next day, a letter arrived for me. I hoped it was from my father—with an answer regarding actions being taken against Allemond Monvílle—but I didn’t recognize the handwriting. I broke the seal and read:
My Dear Megan,
While I’d only recently heard of your marriage, I just this week learned of the death of your new brother. I send my deepest condolences. Allemond Monvílle is devastated by the tragedy, and he is still uncertain how the dispute broke out between his men and the Volodanes’.
Please take this invitation in the spirit with which it is meant.
Lord Henri and I are having a house gathering the week after next. I know you are in mourning, but Volodane Hall might seem a lonely place right now for you, Kai, Lord Jarrod, and Sebastian. Please do come and join us if you feel you can be comforted by companionship.
With warm regards,
Violette Cornett
I read the letter several times. Clearly, even after Rolf’s death, the Cornetts believed the Volodane star might be on the rise. Violette was a friend of my parents, but she did not know me well enough to express such concern.
I wasn’t sure how to interpret the invitation or some of the implied subtext.
Finally, I took it to Jarrod.
He read it and looked up. “So Monvílle is passing off the attack as a mysterious ‘dispute’ breaking out amongst our guards . . . with Rolf somehow caught in the middle?”
“It would seem so.”
He shook his head angrily and read the note again. “How many nobles will attend this gathering?”
“Probably a good number.”
“Then we should accept. Kai needs to take his place among them, to become familiar with them. It’s a start.”
“And Sebastian too.”
His eyes were shifting back and forth as he thought. “Mmmmm? He can be useful at times, but he pleases himself and no one else. Most of the time, he’s no good to me.”
I thought this an unfair assessment of his now eldest son, but I said nothing.
“What if the Monvílles are there?” I asked.
“What of it?”
“Kai will attack Allemond on sight. You know he will.”
Jarrod frowned as if this had never occurred to him. “I’ll speak to him.”
Chapter 18
The next week was a blur of activity as Miriam and I spent hours each day sewing new clothes for everyone, and I made packing lists.
Jarrod continued healing, but he walked slightly bent and ran out of breath quickly. I knew this both frustrated and worried him. What if he was never the same? I think he’d always taken his strength and health for granted. He nearly had a fit when he saw the gifts I’d had loaded into a wagon: casks of wine, fine tea, and early apples from the Volodane orchard.
“It’s expected,” I explained. “We can’t arrive empty-handed.”
Finally, the day of our departure arrived.
The Cornetts’ estate was to the east of ours. We left in the morning with the expectation of arriving that same evening. Kai was unhappy at having been forced into this visit—thankfully, his ire was aimed at his father and not me—but his protests were more silent than verbal.
Sebastian relished the idea.
At my insistence, Jarrod rode up on the wagon’s bench beside the driver, but he didn’t argue much. I knew he’d never last the day on a horse.
Kai rode with the guards, and I rode beside Miriam, with Sebastian directly behind us. As Jarrod had gauged, we arrived in the early evening.
Even in the fading light, I could see the Cornetts’ manor was large and exquisite, with a white-painted stucco façade and a stylish black front door. At the sight of it, Kai shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. He hated being put on display and forced to make small talk with nobles.
Upon dismounting, we were met by several servants and shown inside the manor. A tall woman in a starched white apron approached us in the entryway.
“My lord and lady and the other guests are dressing for dinner. I’ll show you to your rooms.” She paused and looked to me. “Is it acceptable for you and Lord Kai to share?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
After this, we were shown to our various rooms where we changed into evening attire. Then we were shown back downstairs.
As we walked toward the back of the manor, I saw a large archway leading to a great dining chamber, and my stomach clenched. I could only make guesses as why we’d been invited, and I had little idea what awaited us.
Tonight, I wore a red velvet gown and Helena’s diamond pendant.
As I entered the dining hall on Kai’s arm, numerous heads turned. I judged there to be about forty people and focused my attention entirely on the smiling woman walking toward me.
“Megan, my dear,” Lady Violette said, kissing both my cheeks.
She was beautiful, tiny and pale with black hair.
Her warm welcome felt sincere. I almost believed Violette was glad to see me and that we’d been friends before tonight.
She turned to Jarrod. “Please accept our sympathies for your loss.”
He nodded as if unsure how to respond.
“I do hope you know you are among friends here,” she went on. “Lord Henri and I should have invited you to visit long before now. It took Megan’s marriage to your Kai to jog us into action, and I apologize.”
“You needn’t apologize,” Sebastian answered. “We’ve not invited you to visit us either.”
Taking in the sight of him, she smiled coyly and said, “Goodness, where have you been hiding?”
“As a tragic prisoner in our keep.” He smiled back.
I could see right away that those two were kindred spirits. She took his arm and led him into the room. We followed.
Holding Kai’s arm, I could fee
l his tension. The next few moments were a blur of greetings or introductions. I knew most everyone by name and face. My parents were not in attendance.
I couldn’t help scanning the room to see everyone who’d been invited.
Lord Henri saw us and came over. He greeted Jarrod first and then turned to Kai. “So glad you’re here. Did you bring your sword?”
“Yes.”
These two actually seemed to know each other. As they fell into conversation, I decided to use the moment to slip over to Violette, where she was chatting away with Sebastian.
“Are the Monvílles here?” I asked her quietly.
She shook her head. “No, my dear. It’s the oddest thing too. Lady Rosamund was the one who prompted me to invite you . . . of course I should have thought to do so on my own. I could tell she’s fond of you and that she felt such pain over Rolf’s death. They’d planned to be here, and then two days ago, I received a note with their excuses. Lord Allemond feels he cannot spare the time with the pending harvest. I’ve never known him to be so concerned so early in the season.”
I nodded and glanced at Sebastian. He appeared to be absorbing Violette’s words as well. Lady Rosamund had arranged for our invitation, and then the Monvílles decided to stay away? Did they fear reprisal? If so, why would Rosamund have us invited in the first place? It made no sense.
Looking over, I saw that Lord Henri had abandoned Kai and Jarrod, so I hurried back.
A few moments later, I introduced them both to Viscount Bretagne and his son, Richard. From memory, I believed these two men were less proud than some of the others, and my instincts were not wrong. Soon all four men were engaged in conversation—even Kai.
Lord Henri called us to dinner, and I was glad to sit and eat.
I was tired from the long day’s ride and nearly winced when Lady Violette announced dancing after dinner. But it turned out to be a blessing, as I learned my husband rather enjoyed dancing, and the two of us were able to pass the rest of the evening in no one’s company but our own, lost in the music and each other on the dance floor.
Finally, people began to drift away, and I felt it late enough to say our good nights.
With great relief, I finally found myself in bed beneath a down comforter and wrapped in Kai’s arms.
“Was the night so awful?” I asked.
“No, but if Father seeks to place me on the Council of Nobles, he has a disappointment coming.”
“Has he said anything to you?”
“He doesn’t have to. I can see his mind working.”
“What will you do if he asks?”
“I’ll tell him no. I’d do almost anything for him. I’d die for him, but I’ve no mind for ruling matters of state. That was Rolf. I’m happy to spend the rest of my life riding our own lands, married to you, and raising our children. That’s all I want.”
This was the first time I’d heard him speak of children. Closing my eyes, I saw us in the apple orchard as a family, with a girl and a boy playing beside us. Still, this happy image faded when I thought on how Jarrod would react to Kai’s refusal. The crisis was coming, and Kai would have to weather it as best he could.
“Lord Henri has organized some matches for tomorrow,” Kai said. “And when he asked me, I told him I’d fight.”
All other thoughts left my head. I sat up.
“Matches? Fighting?”
“You know. It won’t be anything like a full tournament. Just a few matches for sport.”
I stared at him.
“Megan,” he said. “You do know what a tournament is?”
“Yes, of course, but men get injured in tournaments, even killed. What have you agreed to?”
I was terrified, and to my consternation, he pulled me back down against his chest. “It’s nothing. Lord Henri just wants a few matches for amusement’s sake, so his guests can make bets. We’ll probably fight to only second or third blood, and no one’s managed to cut me in years.”
I tried to get my head around this. Matches for amusement? So that Lord Henri’s guests could place bets?
“You’ll be in no danger?”
“None at all.”
My worry seemed to affect him in a more amorous way, and he tilted my head back so he could kiss my mouth.
I began kissing him back and forgot all about tomorrow.
* * * *
Everyone slept until midday and then spent time dressing, and in the mid-afternoon we gathered in the dining hall for a casual buffet-styled meal. As the afternoon waned, Henri Cornett walked to the archway and announced, “Shall we go below and watch a few matches?”
Kai looked down at me. “It’s time.”
No matter how much he had assured me last night, I didn’t want him to do this, and yet he appeared to be looking forward to the afternoon’s events.
I tried to smile at him.
Then I was swept along with Jarrod and Sebastian and the rest of the crowd. Within moments, I found myself in a stairwell leading downward. At the bottom of the stairs, I stepped out into a large underground chamber with no windows. Torches in brackets on the walls provided flickering light.
Rows of benches had been built in a circle all around the room, and standing on the top bench, I looked down into a pit on the floor below, about forty paces in circumference.
“An arena,” Sebastian explained.
Kai left us, and I didn’t see where he went, but Sebastian and Jarrod stepped downward over the benches to find a place nearer the front.
I followed, and we took our seats with me in the middle.
All around us, people began finding seats, chattering to each other. “Who’s up first?” Sebastian asked.
“I didn’t ask,” Jarrod answered, “but they’ll save Kai for the end.”
There was a door at the back of the pit area below. That door opened and two men emerged. One of them was young Richard Bretagne and the other was a stranger, a stocky man in a leather hauberk.
Both carried swords.
“Who’s the other man?” I whispered to Sebastian.
“Probably a mercenary,” he answered. “Henri must have hired a few men for the day.”
Standing, Lord Henri called, “Second blood!”
I didn’t like this and wished the Cornetts had chosen some other form of entertainment.
Seeing my discomfort, Sebastian leaned closer. “Don’t be worried. They’ll only spar with each other, and no one aims for the face. The first man to strike a second cut on his opponent wins.”
I nodded. “Kai told me some of this last night.”
“Wait until you see him. He started competing at sixteen, and he’s never lost a match.”
He called out to Lord Henri. “Two silver pieces on Richard.”
“Done,” Henri called back.
Others around us began calling bets.
Not long after, the bout began. Richard was slender but quick. His opponent was larger, stronger, and a little slower. Richard made the first cut, but his opponent made the next two.
The small crowd cheered. It seemed most people had bet on Richard’s opponent.
“Second blood!” Henri called.
Down in the pit, Richard smiled at his opponent, and the two men shook hands. This did help me to relax. It made the event feel more like a game.
Several matches followed, all between one of the nobles and a paid fighter or soldier Henri had hired. Each fight was similar to Richard’s with a display of footwork and circling and swinging. One of the nobles won and then two of the mercenaries, but each match ended with the shaking of hands.
Sebastian lost at least five silvers. Jarrod never placed a bet.
Finally, I heard a few loud cheers and looked down to see Kai coming out the door and taking his place in the pit for the final match.
People in the
crowd were pleased. It seemed quite a few of them had already seen Kai fight.
“No one will bet against him,” Sebastian said in my ear. “This one is just for show.”
Still, I couldn’t help being nervous, and then I looked at Kai’s opponent. He was tall with long arms. His head was shaved and beads of sweat ran down his temples. It wasn’t warm down here. There was a sheen across his face, and his eyes were glazed. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.
“Something’s wrong,” I whispered to Jarrod. “You need to stop this.”
He glanced down at me. “Quiet.”
My anxiety began to grow as the two men on the floor began circling each other. This mercenary was different from the others.
“Please,” I begged Sebastian. “We need to stop this.”
“Don’t fuss,” he whispered back. “Kai will be fine.”
He was wrong. So was Jarrod.
Kai was in danger. I knew it with every breath I took, but there was only one avenue open to me, and I had hoped never to use it again. After my one reading of Lavonia, I’d wanted so much to leave that part of my life behind.
As if to entertain the crowd, Kai flipped his sword once and caught it. People applauded and cheered.
Sweat ran down the mercenary’s face, and I had no choice, not if I was to protect my husband. Focusing all my strength, I reached out for Kai’s opponent’s thoughts, and a wall of desperation hit me.
His thoughts and emotions rushed and swirled in my mind.
He was an ex-soldier who’d married, had children, and tried his hand at farming. A bad crop had forced him to borrow money at high interest. Another poor year had left him in dire straights. He and his family were about to be turned from their home to starve. Allemond Monvílle had offered to pay the entire debt and interest if he would kill Kai in the ring. This man had killed before, many times, and he’d agreed.
He believed he’d probably signed his own death warrant as well, but at least he would save his family.
I jerked away from his mind with only one thought. He was going to kill Kai.
In a flash, Kai moved fluidly inside this opponent’s guard and nicked the man’s shoulder.
The crowd cheered.