Rowena Through the Wall: Expanded Edition (31 page)

"Amen. But I'll read that again when you're done."

I studied Kendra for a moment. She looked different. Younger, somehow. Then I got it.

"You've taken out your eyebrow ring."

"The piercings too. I thought maybe it turned Richard off." She snapped the book shut. "How did last night go?"

I wasn't sure how much to say. I was having trouble deciphering what was a dream and what had actually taken place.

"I don't remember much, except a lot of candles and two odd men. Friends of Cedric. They seemed nice enough."

I didn't tell her I'd been drugged again.

"How about you?"

She shrugged. "Nothing good. Richard is avoiding me as much as he can."

"That must make it pretty hard for him to be your bodyguard."

"Yeah." Her eyebrows drew together. "Sucks big time."

"Change is coming soon. You'll see. Nothing seems to last for long around here. Look at all that has happened."

Cedric appeared in the doorway. "Kendra, some privacy."

Nobody ever said please around here.

Kendra bounced up. "Meet you at the stables, Row."

I waited for Cedric to enter. He did so with hesitation. This was the first time I had seen him since the ceremony last night.

Or at least the first time I could remember.

"How are you this morning? How are you feeling?"

I met his eyes. "A little weary. But I'm fine."

With fire in his eyes, he gazed down at me. "You were magnificent last night. Everything I had dreamed of. I could not have asked for a more equal or courageous bride."

"Equal?"

"You have a pride in you that is like any man's. You never falter."

I can falter with the best of them, but this was probably not the time to bring that up.

"You made me proud."

A sudden, inexplicable power drew me to him. I tried as hard as I could to resist, but it was useless. I would have melted into him, but for a call from the hall.

I recognized Henry, a trusted, middle-aged archer.

"Sire," he said from the doorway. "There are two men from Sargonia at the gates. They are asking for parlez."

"Who?" Cedric demanded.

"The brother of the king and his cousin."

"Are their troops within sight?"

"No, Sire. I came from the parapet. It is only the two of them."

"Interesting." Cedric nodded. "Let them in."

I followed them to the front steps.

Outside, Thane and Logan were dismounting.

"Hail, Cedric. I come in peace." Thane looked resplendent in the purple and silver colors of his house. He bowed deeply to me. "M'lady, it is good to see you looking so well."

I grinned, ridiculously joyful. To my dismay, his face reflected none of my pleasure. Hurt, I turned to Logan. His expression was grim and uncomfortable.

Kendra rushed up behind me and gasped.

"State your business," Cedric demanded.

"I do not intend to avenge my brother's death. From what I have been told, it was a fa
ir fight. He drew first, made the first swing, and―" His mouth twisted. "Perhaps you have done me a personal favor. I would not be ascending to the throne otherwise."

Cedric crossed his arms and nodded.

"I wish to speak to my brother's widow, the queen."

"
The queen," Cedric said with a sneer.

"She remains the queen until my coronation. That is the law."

How odd. I was a queen without a king or castle. What did that mean exactly? And even more important, what would it mean for the child I carried?

"As queen," Thane said, "she will be required for the coronation ceremonies in three days hence. As earl, you are expected there, along with your house. You will need to arrive the day before. I anticipate that you will keep Rowena well guarded at all times. We will reserve a separate wing of the castle for your retinue. You may guard it with your own men."

"That seems fair," Cedric admitted.

I sensed he was excited at the prospect of more drama.

Thane took a deep breath. "There are some matters I wish to discuss with the queen. Matters of royal burial."

Oh God…

We were all uncomfortable, yet I had to admire Thane's cleverness. He may not have had the imposing physical presence of his brother, but he had a way of speaking that commanded a quiet authority.

"May we use your great hall?" he asked. "Allow us some privacy, but remain within sight, if you wish.

Cedric could hardly refuse. "And Logan?"

"Logan wishes to speak with Richard. He will remain outside."

That was a surprise.

Kendra squeezed my hand.

"Come then," Cedric said.

He stepped aside as Thane climbed the steps and entered the castle. Then he signaled me to follow.

Thane strode to the far end of the table and pointed at the chair across from him. Obedient, I sat down and fought to ignore the wild thumping of my heart.

Cedric guarded the door, a scowl on his face.

"I have already taken care of the burial arrangements," Thane said in a quiet voice. "I am not here about that."

My heart leapt. "I didn't think so."

"I could not get through his defenses before now. Has he made your union legal?

I couldn't meet his eyes.

"I thought as much. The man is not a fool. I would have acted just as swiftly." He gazed at me with steadfast blue eyes. "Rowena, I will not challenge him. I know he uses the dark arts and it would not go well for me. But should you come to find that you can separate yourself from this house in body and spirit, know that you have my full protection. Anytime, anywhere, you may call on me."

His eyes drifted to my stomach. "I would raise your child as my own. You must know how I feel about you."

I looked him straight in the eyes. "Must I?"

"I treasure our time spent together in Scottsdale. I have thought of little else since. I have only one regret from that day."

"Regret?"

"That I did not lie with you on th
at bed when I had the chance," he whispered.

I was rocked to the core of my existence.

"Were you free, I would marry you now―this hour. If God and the future don't allow that ceremony, then still know that you have a place in my heart. Have I made myself c
lear?"

I flushed, then nodded. Sweet heaven, Thane
loved
me.

I realized something. I loved him too.

But we could do nothing with Cedric watching us.

"How beautiful you are," Thane murmured. "We would do so well together, you and me. With you at my side, we could bring in a new era of learning to this land. Imagine. A place where culture and high thought would take equal place with physical pursuits."

Tears filled my eyes. It was wonderful to hear the hope in his voice. But would knowing how he felt about me only make things worse? I tried to imagine lying with Cedric, while loving Thane in my heart.

We said nothing for a long moment.

"Take good care of yourself, Rowena. I will wait for your arrival in two days." He smiled and stood. "Save time for a game of chess with me."

"God bless you, Thane. You are the best man I know."

A spark lit in his eyes. I don't know what he would have done had Cedric not picked that time to stride up behind me.

Thane cleared his throat. "Cedric, I have a chest of things for Rowena at the castle. They come from Sargon's estate. She may collect it at the coronation."

Again, I admired Thane's strategy. Here was another good way to ensure that we attended the ceremonies.

Outside, I watched Thane settle in his saddle. As he bid farewell, I recklessly cried out, "King's pawn to e4."

His eyes lit up and he grinned. "Noted, m'lady."

Thane left with Logan, who gave Kendra a pleading look over his shoulder as they galloped away. I watched as they rode out the gates and through the fields unt
il they were out of sight. With them, the sun disappeared behind a dark cloud.

"What was that all about?" Cedric asked, his voice deceptive in its calmness.

"A game we played.
Chess.
I'll teach you if you like."

He frowned. "I don't―"

"Cedric?" Jon said, r
ushing to his side.

While Cedric was distracted, it occurred to me that Grandfather had napped through the whole scene. Man, he would be angry.

Leaving Cedric, I searched for Kendra. I found her in her bedroom, distraught.

"Oh God, Row, it's too awful."

With her spiky black hair growing out into a tapered bob and her tear-filled gray eyes, she looked heartbreaking.

"What did Logan say to Richard?" I asked.

"I wasn't close enough to hear. I only know what Richard told me after." She glanced looked down at her hands, her voice quivering. "Logan said he would gladly die in battle tomorrow if he thought he would never get to see or touch me again. He said if he had to share me with anyone, he would choose Richard. He said that he would never challenge Richard, his one true friend. He would never kill Richard under any circumstances."

I reached for her hand. "Logan is a decent man."

"He asked Richard to treat me well. He assumed we were already sleeping together." She let out a sob. "I don't know why Richard didn't say anything."

"But Logan
does
want you back?"

Kendra nodded. "He told Richard he was sorry, but that when he had the opportunity to take me back, he would. He was giving fair warning." Tears streamed down her cheeks.

I squeezed her hand. "What did Richard say?"

"He didn't say anything. He embraced Logan."

Good Lord. It was almost too painful to imagine. Two friends, both good men, loving the same woman. Not wanting to hurt each other. I could almost hear the male duet from The Pearl-Fishers opera playing in my head.

"Richard told you all this."

"Yes," she said.

"You have two good men in your life, Kendra. How lucky you are."

"I never thought about it that way. I guess I am." She blew her nose in a handkerchief. "What did Thane want? A duel?"

I sighed. "No, he won't challenge Cedric. He couldn't win. We're to be at his coronation in three day's time. Funny how we keep bouncing back and forth between these two castles."

"Yeah, hilarious."

"You know, sweetie, you should be feeling better now. Logan has given Richard his okay."

"Maybe he won't be so shy now."

"And you're a smart girl. You can figure out why Richard didn't correct him about the sleeping together."

"I guess. He wanted Logan to think it was a done deal."

Kendra wiped her eyes with her sleeve and attempted a smile.

"Did Richard say anything about what was going on back at Castle Sargon?" I asked.

"He said most of the men are still there. They couldn't get through Cedric's defenses until this morning, so they had some kind of council of war and then couldn't agree on what to do. Oh, and they've postponed the tournament until after the coronation."

"That makes sense," I said.

Though the war council bothered me, I hoped our return to Sargonia wasn't some sort of a trap. Thane was a man of his word, but he wasn't the only one involved. Besides, he wasn't king yet.

I was worried for him. A lot could happen in three days.

Chapter 32

A formal schedule of the tournament activities and coronation ceremonies arrived the next day. With it came a message for me. The messenger managed to get past Cedric and present a note to Richard. He, in turn, gave it to Kendra, who hauled me into her bedroom.

The note read:
King's pawn to e5.

"What does that mean?" Kendra asked.

"It means he has accepted my chess challenge."

Sometimes the smallest things could bring happiness.

"And how are things with you, Kendra?"

"Good," she said, blushing. "Great."

"You took Richard through the paces?"

Kendra grinned. "You could put it that way. He's still shy. And he's so afraid of hurting me."

"That's a good thing. Believe me."

My shoulder was still a mess. Until it healed completely, I would never be free of the haunting memories.

"So what's the schedule for the next few days?" she asked.

"We leave tomorrow morning, which means we'd better pack. There are trials going on right now for the tournament. These will determine who makes it to the finals in each category. They end tomorrow."