Allegra's Dream (Avador Book 4, a Books We Love Fantasy Romance) (17 page)

Silence reigned in the room, the only sound the king’s heavy breathing.

The prisoners had escaped. How had this happened? Rowan worried. And of all times, why had it happened now?

“Repeat what you just told me,” the king said in a voice deep with menace.

The man–apparently the jailer–held his hands in supplication. “The prisoners have escaped. Sir, I don’t know how it happened. They were all locked–“

”You stupid fool! You stupid, blundering fool! I’ll have you flogged for this!”

“Sir, I don’t know how–“

”I did it,” Allegra said quietly. “I released the prisoners.”

What was going on here? Rowan wondered. Why would she do such a thing?

Slowly, the jailer backed away, soon gone from the hall and no doubt from the castle. The king’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping, his full gaze on Allegra. “You-released-the-prisoners.” He glared at her. “Please tell me I misunderstood you.”

“You heard me correctly. I freed the prisoners.”

“Murderers! Rapists! You let them loose?”

She shook her head. “Innocent men, for the most part, jailed only because they protested your rule.”

“Traitors! Treasonous men who deserved their punishment.” He glared long and fully at her, but she didn’t flinch. “You bitch! You interfering fool!”

Oh, no. You don’t talk to Allegra like that, or you’ll answer to me.

Mindless of Rowan’s presence, the king never took his eyes form her. “I should have you flogged.”

Never! I won’t permit it!

“Just let me go,” Allegra said. “Let me return to Avador, for I no longer wish to marry you. I can no longer abide your presence.”

“Oh, no, not after all I did to attain the throne, all the people I had to ki–, you will remain in Fomoria, and you will marry me.”

Rowan looked from Allegra to the king, sensing there was more than was immediately apparent, more than just her release of the prisoners. For now, he refused to intervene, not until he learned the reason for Allegra’s discontent. But he would not permit her to suffer any harm.

The food forgotten and growing cold, Allegra turned to him. “Please take me back with you. If you only knew the truth–“

”This is not his business.”

“Then I will make it his business,” she said. “You see, the prisoners–“

”Shut your godforsaken mouth! He’s not interested in Fomorian matters.”

“Oh, but I am.” His patience at an end, he addressed the king. “Just in the short time since my arrival–barely an hour–I sense that all is not well in your country. I suspect the princess’s unhappiness may be justified.”

Arnou scowled. “I repeat, this is not your business.”

“Anything that involves the princess, I have made my business. She was my ward in Avador, didn’t she tell you? And though she no longer resides in Avador, her concerns are mine.”

Arnou looked from Allegra to him. “And just what is she to you, besides being your former ward?”

“She is the woman I–“

”I love him!” Allegra blurted. “And I have no desire to marry you.” She looked at Rowan and smiled. Her expression mingled joy with relief, but love above all.

Arnou nodded in grim response. “Oh, but you will marry me. I am the king, and my word is law. There is nothing that this–this Minister of State can say or do that will prevent our wedding.”

“Let her go,” Rowan said, “for I love her very much.” He caught Allegra’s look of pure happiness, and his heart turned over with love for her. “Why wed a woman who doesn’t want you, whose marriage to you will bring her grief? Grant her the happiness she deserves and–“

”This isn’t a marriage between two ignorant peasants we are referring to,” Arnou said. “We are speaking of a royal union. No one said anything about happiness.”

“Oh, and I have no say about it?” Pink spots bloomed on her cheeks. “I am neither your wife nor your ward. You can’t make me marry you.”

“I repeat. Release her. I’ll take her back to Avador with me.”

“She’s not going anywhere. She is staying here.” He faced Rowan defiantly. “You want her? Then fight for her.”

“Come now, Your Majesty. Let’s not be so melodramatic. Only let me take her back to Avador with me.”

Arnou laughed. “What a coward!” He threw an amused glance at her. “You want to go with this coward? He knows he can’t defeat me.”

“Not a coward,” Rowan replied, “ for I am a skilled swordsman. But I see no reason for such drastic measures when it would be far simpler to grant the princess her wish.”

Arnou’s look held pure contempt. “Besides being a coward, he’s dull-minded. No matter how many times I say something, he doesn’t understand.”

“Very well.” Rowan scraped his chair back and stood. “We will fight for her.”

“No, Rowan, don’t! If anything should happen to you–“

”Poor lady.” Arnou sneered. “See how afraid she is for you.”

“Please, sweetheart.” His looked projected all the love and tenderness he felt for her. “Be quiet and don’t interfere.”

She nodded and stepped aside, her mouth twisted in anguish.

Rowan caught sight of the servants who had gathered around the corner of the great hall, no doubt anticipating a spectacle.

Arnou snapped his fingers at the servants.  “Clear the table and chairs.” They rushed forward and folded the trestle table, then moved the table and chairs against the wall.  He snapped his fingers again. “Go fetch the steward and tell him to bring my sword.”

Within minutes, the steward arrived, a look of puzzled inquiry on his face, but he said nothing. He handed the sword to Arnou.

Rowan looked to Allegra and mouthed the words, “I love you.” Silently, she repeated his words.

“To the death!” Arnou cried, brandishing his sword.

“No! First one to draw blood,” Rowan replied. “I didn’t make this journey to your country to kill you.”

“Hah! You are a coward.”

Tired of refuting the insult, he ignored the king’s remark and drew his sword from its scabbard.

They each moved back ten steps, then faced and saluted each other.

“Montague,” the king instructed the steward, “drop a coin and we shall begin. It won’t take me long to kill this weakling.” He glared at Rowan. “And this duel will be to the death.”

First blood. But Rowan kept silent.

At the drop of a coin, the duel began. The king lunged at him, but Rowan quickly parried and followed with a riposte. Keeping a firm grip on his sword, he attacked and parried, all the while watching the king’s foot movements.

Ah, this king is a skilled fencer, Rowan thought, but perhaps too perfect, too predictable. The duel continued for long moments, he parrying the king’s attacks and attacking whenever he saw an opening. Despite the coolness in the great hall, sweat drenched his clothes and soaked his hair. He feinted an attack; the king lunged forward while he stepped back.

From the corner of his eye, he saw the servants who had gathered outside the hall. Yet he continually kept his gaze on the king, on his arm movements and footsteps. He thought he saw a pattern in the king’s method, but he wasn’t sure.

Each time Arnou attacked, Rowan parried, hoping to wear down the king. He launched his own attack, but the king swayed back. Yet it seemed to him that the king was tiring.

The king leaped and lunged, the sword barely missing his arm. That was close, too close. “Almost got you there,” Arnou boasted. “Why not give up now?”

“Because I’m not done with you.”

The duel stretched on for long moments as time lost all meaning. Through it all, he tried to anticipate the king’s movements. The swords clashed and hissed, he and the king deftly moving throughout the hall.

Finally, he saw a pattern. The king stomped his foot once when he feinted at attack and twice when he followed through. He launched his own attack, which Arnou frantically parried. Rowan grinned with confidence. He had him now. He attacked, drawing blood from the king’s arm.

“Enough!” Rowan cried. “Let’s end this now.”

“No! I said to the death!”

“To the death!” Knife in hand, a strange man rushed from the crowd. He headed for the king and plunged the knife through the king’s chest.

A stunned look captured the king’s face, then he toppled to the floor.

And a shocked silence fell over the great hall.

Chapter Twenty-one

Throughout the duel, Allegra prayed as she had never prayed before. Keep Rowan safe. Oh, please keep him safe. Just once, her gaze strayed to the servants who gawked outside the great hall. Who was that man among them–the former steward? No, that couldn’t be. Surely she was imagining things. Why would he return to the castle, where he would be recaptured and suffer punishment?  Certainly he must be miles away.

She was thankful Elsa was away from the castle, visiting a friend for a few days. The dear woman wouldn’t have been able to bear this drama.

The hiss and clang of weapons drew her attention back to the duel. She realized all that was at stake. If Rowan won, the king would live but endure humiliation from the people and be furious because of his shame. What would he do then? Take his anger out on her? Vow revenge against Rowan?

And if Arnou won? Ah, that possibility didn’t bear consideration. How can I live without the man I love?

Then it happened! Rowan’s sword struck Arnou’s arm, drawing blood. Oh, thank you, thank you!  Now the duel would end.

“Surrender!” Rowan cried. “We will fight no more.”

But Arnou wouldn’t concede. “To the death!”

Then everything happened so quickly, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“To the death!” Knife in hand, a man broke through the crowd–yes, he was the former steward–and rushed toward the king. He plunged the knife through Arnou’s chest. Looking stunned, the king stared at his assailant, then fell to the floor. Blood poured from his chest and trickled onto the floor.

And a shocked silence fell over the great hall.

She looked at Rowan, his face revealing his bewilderment. “Why did you do that?” he cried. “You murdered him in cold blood.” He knelt by the fallen king and felt his pulse, then looked up at her and shook his head.

Why? Why had the former steward returned to the castle and committed such a foolish but deadly act?

“I’ll explain shortly,” he said as he dropped the knife to the floor. 

A hubbub of noises erupted in the hall, shouts, cries and moans from the servants. The assailant remained, looking supremely satisfied.

The shock behind her, Allegra shuddered. She had never before seen a man killed, and certainly not with a stab to the heart. Her skin turned hot, then cold. Swallowing convulsively, she feared she’d be sick, but she fought for control. She couldn’t show weakness in front of the servants.

Mixed feelings churned inside her. She caught Rowan’s eye and shrugged, silently indicating she had no idea of the murderer’s motives. She had wanted to be free of Arnou, but not like this, never like this. She raised her arms for attention. “Quiet! Quiet, everyone!” She addressed two burly male servants who stood in front of the crowd. “Royce and Philip, remove the king’s body and take him to one of the empty apartments. He can be prepared for burial later.  And you, Marguerite,” she said to one of the maids. “Clean up the blood here and return the knife to the kitchen.”

“Yes, madam.”

She glared at the assassin. “You stay here. I need a few answers from you.” She caught Rowan’s attention. “Make sure this man stays.”

“Don’t worry, madam. I’m not going anywhere.”

After the king’s body was removed, she gestured to Rowan and the assassin. “Let’s move away from here.” She led them to the end of the hall, away from any servants who lingered. Complete darkness had fallen, the rushlights giving little illumination. She focused her attention on the steward, but he spoke first.

“You, madam, you’re the lady who–“

”Yes, who freed you from the dungeon. What a mistake! Should have kept you there. And, by the way, I am Princess Allegra.,” she said, ignoring his look of surprise. “Now, sir, tell me your name. You have much explaining to do.” She glanced Rowan’s way. “He served as steward under my father. This was after I was taken hostage.”

“So you’ve never met him before?” asked Rowan.

“Earlier, but I’ll tell you about that another time. You still haven’t told me your name,” she said to the man.

“Oliver, madam.”

“What is the meaning of this assassination? How could you so such a thing, especially after your escape from prison? I thought you surely would have left, far from the castle.”

“Madam, that man I killed was an imposter. Most assuredly he was not Prince Arnou,”

“What? What are you saying?”

“Madam, most likely he bribed his retainers to support him. Together, they raised an army around him to defeat the war faction.”

She exchanged glances with Rowan and saw a puzzled expression on his face, a look that surely mirrored hers. “How do you know this?”