The Hunter's Surrender (9 page)

King Rochar stepped down from the prisoner’s box and stood in the half circle. “My lords, I have the perfect person in mind. I think she will be glad to help us sort it all out.”

Before he had a chance to elaborate, all eyes were drawn to the loud sounds from outside the chamber doors. Angry voices could be heard, followed by the thumps of something falling against the portal.

He smiled as it was flung open and Maddie stepped over the unconscious guards, a nasty looking
phason
pistol in her hand. Santara followed close behind.

“What is the meaning of this outrage?” Lord Marberry cried.

Maddie strode over to the assembly and stepped in front of the king to protect him. “It should be fairly obvious. This farce is over. We’re here for King Rochar.”

Chapter Ten

Lord Marberry took a quick pace back when she gestured at him with her weapon. Santara took up a place beside the king.

The king’s tone was affable as he turned his head to Santara. “What took you so long?”

Santara’s reply was given in the same vein. “I figured you’d have the matter well in hand.”

“I was doing all right, but I’m glad to see you both.”

“Will you two be serious?” Maddie hissed at them.

“Is this her?” Lord Roddenham called. “The woman they brought for you.”

The King nodded. “This is Maddie. She’s a bounty hunter from
The Duskrider
.”

Roddenham laughed. “Good luck, son. You’re definitely going to have your hands full with her. She’s a little spitfire.”

“She certainly is,” Rochar agreed.

“What in Joram’s name is going on here?” Maddie asked as she holstered the pistol. “I thought you were on trial. Everyone seems so happy.”

King Rochar moved beside her and took her hand. “It turns out that the council members all felt as I did. They missed the women who bore their children, were lonely for companionship and are now planning to change the law.”

Maddie frowned. “How are they going to do that? They can’t drag the women back. And where are they all? Who will find them?”

King Rochar beamed at her as Santara took up a position on her other side.

“If I’m reading things correctly, they want you to help them figure all this out, Maddie.” Santara said. “Am I right, Your Majesty?”

“That is exactly what we were discussing before you two exploded into the room. And don’t think I’m not grateful. I wasn’t really sure what the outcome of the trial was going to be.”

Maddie delighted in the way he squeezed her hand to emphasize his gratitude.

Lord Darkenfold left his council seat and joined the little group.

“This is who you have in mind to help us, isn’t it?” he asked, surveying her from top to toe.

“She’s clever and strong, with years of experience as a bounty hunter,” King Rochar said. “Plus, she’s a woman, and who better to give us a woman’s point of view and to help us retrieve the mothers of our children.”

Despite her delight with his scheme, Maddie couldn’t keep the combative tone from her voice. “Retrieve?”

King Rochar squeezed her hand again. “Sorry. I meant ‘bring them home’.”

“That’s better,” she said, pressing her lips together and nodding. Then she turned on him and poked him in the chest. “You said ‘our children’. Does that mean you’re included in that group? Do you already have children?” She hoped her tone conveyed the right amount of affront and jealousy. She certainly didn’t want him to misunderstand.

He grabbed her finger and licked the underside. “I have no children. I’m hoping to persuade you to be the mother of my children.”

She had no opportunity to dispute his statement as he leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss.

“But I’d like you to marry me first,” he continued. A dull rumble came from the group of council members.

“Marry…you?” she stammered.

He took Santara’s hand. “Actually, if Santara agrees as well, it would be ‘marry us’.”

Lord Darkenfold interrupted. “Sire, this is highly unorthodox.”

“And what we’ve been doing to women all this time isn’t?” the king quipped.

“Sire, I mean marrying Santara. He’s your consort. It just isn’t done,” Darkenfold blustered.

“He may be my consort, but I love him and mean to tie him to me if he’ll have me.”

“I would be delighted,” Santara interjected.

“But what kind of a monarchy will we have with three of you?” Darkenfold asked.

This time it was Maddie who answered. “You need to realize that this is going to be a common situation. We won’t be the only ones in a relationship of three.”

The king beamed and whispered to Maddie. “Does that mean you’re accepting my proposal?”

Maddie snorted and whispered back. “Such as it was. But yes, I’m accepting it. It was time for me to change professions anyway. I seem to have a bad habit of making enemies in my current one.” She faced Lord Darkenfold. “Many of the men here are already in relationships with other men, and you’re planning to bring the mothers of their children back, so you’re going to have to decide how this is going to work.”

Lord Darkenfold looked dumbfounded. “I never even thought of that. Some of us have children by different women. What will happen if they all want to return?”

Once again, King Rochar took charge. “If Maddie accepts the job, she’ll help us decide how to change the current law regarding the impregnation program and also help set up the strategy for how we’re going to go about bringing back the mothers. Some may want to return, others may not.”

“Don’t forget that their memories have been erased, so you’ll have to give them back their memories and many may need therapy or counseling, as well. The task is monumental,” Maddie said earnestly.

“As Queen of Tentalia, you will have rights and privileges, which I hope will make the task easier for you to undertake,” King Rochar replied.

Lord Marberry hurried forward. “My Lord, I must protest. You can’t take this woman as your wife. She’s not of royal blood. She’s a bounty hunter, for Joram’s sake.”

The king smiled and looked toward the council members. “My lords, did I remember to mention that Santara and I are able to share Maddie’s thoughts?”

Lord Darkenfold looked skeptical. “Your Highness, are you certain? We’ve always believed that to be the stuff of legends.”

“Ah, that’s not exactly true.” Lord Roddenham moved from his council chair, a contemplative expression on his face. “I knew your father well, Your Majesty, and he and your mother had the same connection. He was devastated when she was sent away.”

“You never mentioned that before, Roddenham,” said Lord Darkenfold.

“He didn’t want anyone to know, made me promise not to say anything and I respected his wishes. He thought it would show weakness to care for the mother of his son, but he spent his whole life wondering where she was and wishing things could have been different.” He focused on his monarch. “He would be very proud of you, to undertake what he lacked the courage to do, himself.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Maddie said to King Rochar. “I thought everyone here could do that mind reading thing.”

“Allow me to explain, Your Majesty,” Lord Roddenham said.

The king nodded in acquiescence.

“The ancient stories of Tentalia speak of rulers who could read the thoughts of their soul mates. That hasn’t happened in more recent history. Or maybe, as with the current king’s father, King Mykan, the monarchs kept that knowledge to themselves. The fact that you and the king share this bond foretells a powerful union and the rightness of it. You were meant to be together, and Santara with you.”

Lord Darkenfold took over the telling. “We had always wondered if the legends were simply that, only legends. Now we know that the stories are true, and the royal line of Tentalia will flourish.”

King Rochar took Maddie’s hand. “You were originally chosen as a good match for me, and as a woman who would bear strong sons—until that first time I slipped inside your head. I knew from that ability that we were predestined to be together. And luckily, Santara with us.”

King Rochar addressed the High Court Solicitor. “With your permission, my lord, I would like to know that I’m free to go. I have a future to plan.”

Lord Marberry waved him away with a flick of his hand. “Go, go,” he said.

“A minute, Your Majesty,” Lord Darkenfold said. “As head of the High Council, I would like to request the presence of the three of you in the council chambers at precisely nine o’clock tomorrow morning when we will begin to sort all this out.”

Maddie nodded, as did Santara at the king’s look of inquiry.

“We’ll be there,” he said to Lord Darkenfold and the council.

The head of the council bowed to the trio. “Until tomorrow.”

Maddie managed to contain her excitement until the door had closed behind them.

“That was incredible,” she said, looking up and shaking her head. She turned and wrapped her arms around King Rochar. “I can’t believe what you did, my love. Lives will be changed because of this. And hopefully for the better.”

It was then she realized that the two guards were no longer sprawled in the doorway and had been replaced by others. Even her wide smile did nothing to dispel their wary expressions.

“That entrance of yours will certainly keep people on their toes around you,” Santara said.

“They’ll certainly want to stay on your good side,” Rochar added.

Maddie’s reply was cheeky. “How about you two? Want to go back to the king’s chambers and you can see what you can do about staying on my good side?”

“Will it involve negotiations that last well into the night?” asked King Rochar.

“Most definitely,” Maddie replied.

“Will it involve lots of skin to skin contact?” Santara queried.

“I can guarantee that,” Maddie said, laughing.

“Sounds like we need to get started on this right away,” the king said as he swept her up in his arms.

“I don’t know how good my negotiating skills are,” Santara quipped as he led the way. “I may need lots of practice and support.”

“We’ve got a lifetime to hone your skills for you,” King Rochar said as the three of them set off to meet their future together.

About the Author

Although born in Ireland, Kaenar Langford now lives in rural Ontario, north of Toronto. She loves going to the big city to do research. The largest gay spa in Toronto as well as a gay, bondage bed and breakfast are two of the many places that have opened their doors to let her see inside. Kaenar is very curious. A love of romance and the exotic, as well as a decidedly off-beat sense of humor, are all entwined to produce stories that will not only seduce you, but also make you laugh.

Kaenar loves to talk to her readers and can be found at www.kaenar.com.

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