Of Lords and Commoners: Book 1 (Lords and Commoners Series)

by Lynne Hill-Clark

  “Stop!” I ran to stand between Elijah and Riddick.

  “What are you doing?” Elijah voice was incredulous.

  “He’s helping us. He saved me.”

  Riddick threw his sword down and put his arms up in surrender.

  Elijah relaxed his shoulders a bit and we both assessed the scene. Elizabeth stood with a man lying at her feet. He was not moving. Her arm was badly injured. I ripped a piece of cloth from the sleeve of my tunic. She flinched and moaned with pain as I wrapped the cloth around the large open wound on her arm.

  Elijah was tending to Chadwick, the new recruit. He did not look to be faring well. Elizabeth and I joined Elijah by Chadwick. I tried to bind some of his wounds to stop the bleeding but soon we heard Chadwick’s heart stop beating. I stood and buried my head in Elijah’s chest. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders.

  “He was too young; he had not been trained to fight. This is my fault,” I moaned.

  “No, it is not your fault,” Elijah whispered. He tapped me on the back to get my attention. I looked to his face and followed his gaze. He stared at Riddick, who was down on one knee in front of us.

  Chapter 64 London 1262 A.D

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Riddick said. “From this day forward, I pledge myself to the service of the High Court of Elders, My Lord.”

  I’m sure my mouth was hanging open. Elijah and I looked at each other. I gave him a shrug, indicating that I had no idea what to do. Elijah stood even taller and stepped away from me.

  “Unfortunately, your fate is not up to me. However, we will speak on your behalf to the Court. After all, you did save us.”

  Riddick bowed his head as a sign of respect. I’m sure my mouth was still agape in amazement.

  A moan of pain came from one of Riddick’s men. “Take him prisoner,” Elijah said. Elizabeth pointed her sword at the wounded vampire. He slowly got to his feet, holding his hands up.

  There was one order of business to attend to before leaving the battle scene — the human whom Chadwick had fed from. He was still alive and would wake only to find himself in the middle of this massacre. I picked him up. “We should get him out of here.” The blood from the wound on his neck smelled sweet and it made my throat ache. I held my breath the best I could.

  Elijah moved to pick Chadwick’s body up, as he would be buried in the cemetery outside Lord Alexandru’s castle. However, Riddick offered to carry him. Elijah reluctantly let him. I laid the human in the grass of a small hill several hundred lengths away from the fight. We headed back to the castle.

  We took Chadwick to the dungeon, where his body would be prepared for burial. I kissed Chadwick’s forehead.

  “I’m sorry, Chadwick,” I whispered. Elizabeth put her hand on my shoulder. I placed my arm carefully around her, being conscious of her wounded arm. “How are you faring?”

  “Hopefully, I look better than you.” She gave me a weak smile.

  I tried to smile back but a sharp pain reminded me of my wounded jaw. I gently placed my hand to my cheek. Ouch. It was swollen; my face felt as if it were twice as large as it ought to be. Surely there was a well-developed bruise covering most of my cheek from the blows it received.

  “Let us get the politics over with,” Elijah sounded tired. With that we marched the prisoner, and Riddick — who willingly went with us — to the Great Hall. Once again, guards surrounded us when we entered the hall, only this time there were more. Security had been increased since the first attack.

  “My dear, what on earth has happened now?” Lord Alexandru appeared at my side.

  “Send for my father,” Elijah demanded.

  Alexandru nodded to Hector, who was off at once. “Is everyone well?”

  “The three of us will be fine, My Lord,” I said, indicating Elijah, Elizabeth and myself. “Chadwick did not survive.”

  “And did these men attack you?” Alexandru asked.

  “No, this man saved us.” I gestured to Riddick.

  Alexandru eyed Riddick. “Send them to the holding chambers to await Lord Chastellain and the rest of the Court.”

  Riddick was reluctant — not wanting to be locked up. I gave him a reassuring nod and he went willingly with the other prisoner. Elijah, Elizabeth and I went to clean ourselves and to heal.

  Mary had been in her and Elizabeth’s room. She tended to Elizabeth’s wounds straightaway. “You are trouble, aren’t you?” Mary chastised me.

  “I’m beginning to think so.” My voice was full of despair.

  Elijah clasped my arm and gestured with his head for me to leave with him. I looked to Elizabeth as if for approval. I had to know that she was well or would be soon.

  She nodded for me to go.

  Elijah and I headed to my room alone. He sat on Mary’s old bed. I started pacing.

  “Tell me about this Riddick fellow,” he asked.

  “He is a wretched man — rude, uncouth, selfish.” I smiled at Elijah, well my swollen cheek only allowed for a half smile. “And those are the pleasant things I can think to say about him.”

  He took my hand to stop my nervous pacing. I sat on my bed across from him.

  He gently rubbed his thumb down my injured cheek. “How are you faring?”

  I put my head down and shook it. What was bothering me was on the surface, about to break free. I removed his hand from my face and held it. I looked into his eyes. “We can’t lose you. As the heir to the throne of the Court, you are too important. You being with me tonight put you in danger.”

  “I’m no more important than anyone else,” he protested. “Besides, you saved me tonight.”

  I put my head down again; it was not until Elijah had been in real danger that I fully realized how much he meant to me.

  “I can’t lose you.” I amended my previous statement.

  He moved to sit beside me and put his arm around me. “Now we are making progress,” he whispered.

  I laid my head on his shoulder.

  “Someday you will be mine.”

  We sat like that for some time.

  “We should get some rest before Father arrives,” he said.

  Chapter 65 London 1262 A.D

  I woke to my jaw tingling and itching. I had to rub it to try to make the uncomfortable sensation stop. Elijah was smiling at me from Mary’s bed. “It looks better.”

  I moved to the looking glass at our washbasin. My cheek was a ghastly yellow color but no longer swollen. The bruise was mostly healed.

  Being more clearheaded after the brief rest, it dawned on me to ask, “Why do you think Riddick saved us?”

  “I’m not sure. His motives are likely to spy on us … or he is here for you. I don’t know which reason is worse.”

  Elijah left to wash and change in his chambers.

  We met in the Great Hall. It was not long after we arrived that Elijah’s father and his entourage surged in.

  Lord Chastellain went straight to Elijah wrapping his arms around him. “How are you?” he whispered.

  “I’m well, Father.”

  I had never seen the lord in this state. He was not one to show affection. An all out embrace was not something I thought he was capable of. He loved his son more than anything. This lessened my hatred of the lord, even if only a bit. Why couldn’t things be simple? If people were either good or evil and nothing in between, then at least it would be easier to truly loathe someone.

  Lord Chastellain shot me a hard stare. It said that he thought I was nothing but trouble.

  I did not disagree. I felt responsible for putting everyone in danger and for Chadwick’s death. I had chosen to help Elijah rather than Chadwick. I should have gone to Chadwick instead, knowing he would not be able to defend himself. I was also the reason we were under attack in the first place.

  “Now tell me — what of these prisoners?” the lord demanded.

  Elijah motioned for me to speak, as the story was mine to tell. Once again I found myself explaining the situation to the Court.

&nb
sp; “One of the prisoners is named Riddick. He is … was Ramdasha’s right-hand man. The other captive I do not know.” I proceeded to tell them how Riddick had been the one to free me from Ramdasha’s clutches and how he had fought with us, even killing Ramdasha’s men.

  “What do you know of this man … Riddick?” Chastellain asked.

  “He is self-serving. He only cares about power and status, not politics as such.”

  “So you believe he is not here as a spy for Ramdasha but rather to gain power.”

  “I am not sure, My Lord but he is an asset to whichever side he is on. He is an excellent fighter and trainer. If we can buy his loyalty, then this will greatly harm Ramdasha.”

  Chastellain rubbed his forehead with his thumb and pointer finger. “A hired assassin — that is risky.”

  I nodded in agreement. It was definitely a risk to trust Riddick but it was a risk I was willing to take after what I had seen tonight. He had saved me at least twice over and it was my turn to try to save him.

  “Bring forth the prisoners,” Chastellain boomed.

  I jumped. I didn’t know if I would ever get used to his commanding voice.

  In no time, Riddick and the other man were on their knees with heads bowed in front of Lord Chastellain. Elijah and I stood on either side of his father.

  The lord opened his mouth to speak but I spoke first. “Riddick?”

  He looked up at me.

  “Why did you save us tonight?”

  “Because I want to pledge my loyalty to the High Court of Elders.” He spoke with confidence and slowly turned his gaze to Lord Chastellain.

  Chastellain studied Riddick for a long moment, then turned to the other man. “And what do you have to say for yourself?”

  “I too pledge my loyalty to the High Court of Elders.”

  “How can we be sure that you are not here as spies for Ramdasha?” Chastellain demanded.

  Yet it was I who spoke up. “My Lord, it is highly unlikely that Ramdasha would sacrifice so many of his best men in order to get spies into the Court. He could have done that with far fewer of his own casualties and I doubt he would send Riddick to spy. He needs Riddick to train his army.”

  The lord narrowed his eyes. I was speaking too much for his liking. He turned to Riddick. “Why did Ramdasha send you?”

  “He sent nine of his best men to kill the Lady Vallachia after the first two imbeciles failed. The Lady of the Court is correct. We were not sent as spies, only assassins. What Ramdasha did not know was that I never wanted her dead. He does not know that it was I who had set her free from his dungeon. I did not want to come on this mission but he sent me because I am his best and he thought I would succeed.”

  Elijah and his father exchanged raised eyebrows. Riddick knew he had said enough about me and that it was not entirely helping his case. He tried another approach. “I have intelligence that would be of use to you. I know Ramdasha’s plans. I can help train your armies as well. Ramdasha’s forces were greatly damaged tonight. He lost many of his top men.”

  Lord Chastellain seemed to be satisfied with this, so Riddick and the other prisoner were sworn in as new allies to the High Court of Elders. I was glad to at least begin to repay Riddick for saving me — twice.

  “My son, it is time for you to return to Denmark,” Chastellain said.

  Elijah looked at me with concern.

  “I will return with you,” I said.

  Elijah let out a sigh of relief. I knew that he wanted to protect me but I felt the same way. I wanted to protect him and in order to accomplish this, I needed to be with him.

  “Please, My Lord, I wish to serve you in Denmark as well.” Riddick bowed to his new ruler.

  Chastellain narrowed his eyes and once again studied Riddick. “Because it is the seat of power for the vampire world, or because Lady Vallachia is returning with us?”

  “Because it is the seat of power, My Lord.” This was the smart thing to say and it was undoubtedly true, or at least part of his reason for wanting to be in Denmark.

  “Very well. It will be better for me to keep an eye on you until I know I can trust you,” Lord Chastellain replied.

  “Thank you, My Lord,” Riddick said.

  The lord moved in close to Riddick and whispered in his ear, “You will do well to leave her alone.”

  The threat was clear. The lord was acting like a jealous lover, a role I found appalling. On the other hand, I hoped Riddick would leave me alone, as he was equally disgusting.

  “Of course, My Lord,” Riddick said.

  “The other new recruit will stay here under the lordship of Alexandru,” Chastellain announced.

  Alexandru did not look pleased, so the lord continued, “It will be better to separate them and you will watch over him until he has proven his loyalty.”

  Lord Alexandru nodded agreement.

  I headed to my room to gather a handful of belongings to take to Denmark. When I left my room, Lord Chastellain was waiting like a statue for me outside my door.

  “What does this Riddick fellow mean to you?”

  This rekindled my anger for him. He was always trying to control my love life. “I assure you, My Lord, he means nothing to me.” I tried to get away from him but he kept stride with me.

  “You seemed eager to save him?”

  “It was the least I could do because of all he has done for me. If it were not for him, your son and I would be dead.”

  “Regardless, you too will do well to stay away from him.”

  “That is not a problem, My Lord.” I stopped myself from adding that this was not for his sake or even Elijah’s but because I had no interest in Riddick, besides his ability to help the Court. “Now if you will excuse me, I must say goodbye to my friends.”

  Elizabeth had just woken from her healing sleep. Her arm looked to be better.

  Mary turned her back to me.

  “I am leaving for Denmark for a while. I will return as soon as I can. Mary, if you would like your room back in the meantime, please feel free.”

  She ignored me.

  Will she ever be my friend again? I thought.

  Elizabeth gave me a hug.

  “Be careful and take care of yourself,” I whispered. She should be safe without me around.

  “You too. Goodbye.” Elizabeth smiled.

  “Goodbye, Mary,” I said.

  She looked at me briefly, then turned away, saying nothing.

  I had to keep trying to regain her friendship.

  Chapter 66 Copenhagen 1262 A.D

  It was pleasant to be back in Denmark. Mari, Sonia and Aaron were all faring well. They were concerned about Elijah and me. They were also very curious about this large and intimidating new recruit we had brought with us.

  Riddick soon took over as the new combat trainer in Copenhagen. He was serious about his new role and was helping the vampires in Chastellain’s Court to become better warriors. At night he would teach us flight warfare. This was new to us and would be very helpful if we ever had to fight against Ramdasha’s army — whom Riddick had already trained in this method of warfare.

  One night I had stayed late in the training arena to practice hand-to-hand combat — this was my weakest area of fighting — when Riddick walked in. I tried to ignore him but he would not have it. He stepped in front of me, grabbed my fist, mid-punch and held it.

  “Finally, I caught you. You are a hard one to find alone,” Riddick said.

  I twisted my fist from his hand and stepped away. “There is a good reason for that.”

  “You would not avoid me, would you?”

  I glared at him and turned to leave. “Yes, I would.”

  He appeared in front of me. “Why? It is not as if you are spoken for.”

  “What would give you that impression?”

  “There has been no engagement announcement for the prince.”

  “Maybe there has.”

  “No, that kind of news would travel fast in our world. What’s the matter
? He won’t marry you?” His tone was mocking.

  He was infuriating. I sidestepped him and headed for the door. “That is none of your business. You need to leave me alone.”

  “That’s right — because we are forbidden to see each other in private.”

  “No, it is because I am not interested in your advances.”

  “You can’t tell me that a forbidden love affair does not sound appealing.”

  I stopped and my mouth fell open. He was not deterred in the least by the lord’s warning, as I had hoped. In fact, it made me all the more desirable in his twisted mind. I decided to try reason.

  “Riddick, listen to me. I do appreciate your training and all you have done for me. However, you are in a very delicate position here. You need to prove your loyalty to the Court, not anger them. The lord can be cruel. If he thought for even an instant that you had pursued me, he would have you killed — believe me, he has done it before.” Hopefully this would appeal to Riddick’s self-serving side. Surely he was motivated to save his own head.

  “As you wish, I will back off … for the time being.” He gave me a mischievous smile.

  I shook my head and tried once again to leave.

  “What is it between you and Elijah?” He sounded genuinely curious.

  “I already told you: it is no concern of yours.”

  “Then you are his mistress?”

  At least he used the word “mistress” instead of “whore,” which had been his word of choice when I had been locked up in Ramdasha’s dungeon. Surely that was the rumor about us. That should have bothered me but it did not. Let people think that, especially when it came to men such as Riddick. I did not reply. I certainly was not going to tell him that I was waiting for someone, that I did not know where he was and that I would try to find him if it was possible.