Princess Avenger - Brightcastle Saga Book 1 (5 page)

Alecia
followed, dismayed that she had given the squire hope that they
could be more than friends. He was a dear chap and easy to be with,
when he wasn’t mooning around after her. She did not love him;
moreover, she was destined for a marriage of convenience, though
she longed to make a love match. Ramón deserved someone who could
love him. She spurred her horse after her companion.

Alecia’s mount slid to
a halt in front of the palace stables, the gray mare half rearing
at the abrupt change from gallop to standstill. She flashed Ramón a
triumphant grin as he arrived moments later, pulling his horse up
short of the flustered stableboy.

“You cheated,”
Ramón said. “I had to close the gate.”

“It is my
prerogative,” Alecia said, laughing. The exhilaration of the race
and her victory made her feel as if she could float away. She flung
herself off the horse and handed the reins to the boy, who stood
frowning. “We are sorry to have startled you, Billy,” she said,
handing him a silver penny.

The boy’s eyes
lit up. “It was nothing, Princess.” The penny disappeared with
lightning speed into his pocket.

“What brings
you to the palace stables, Billy?” Alecia said. “Do you not serve
in the smithy?”

“I did,
Princess, but Captain Anton has taken me under his wing, so to
speak.” Billy adopted a worshipful expression. “He said I could
care for his horse and he would train me in weapons.”

Alecia frowned
and looked at Ramón, whose face wore a scowl at the mention of Vard
Anton. Her joyful mood vanished behind a dark cloud.

A deep voice
sounded from behind them. “It’ll be hard for me to keep my promise
to the boy if he’s trampled beneath the hooves of your horses.”

Alecia turned
to find Captain Anton, resplendent in gray tunic and black
leggings, lounging against a rain barrel. She swept her hair
forward so it fell in soft waves against her cheeks and folded her
cape over her arm. She shoved her bow and quiver at Ramón.

“I fear it is
time for luncheon,” she said. “If you will excuse me, I am expected
at table.” She tried to walk past but the captain’s arm flashed out
and blocked her way. The odour of musk combined with something else
she couldn’t name distracted her.

“I wish to
know how you left the castle this morning without my seeing you,”
the captain asked, his voice low and angry. “Your father was
worried, though somewhat reassured when he discovered that the
squire had taken two horses from the stable.” He looked towards
Ramón who shuffled his feet.

Alecia’s
longbow fell from the squire’s arms and clattered on the stone of
the stable yard.

Vard Anton’s
gaze snapped back to Alecia. “Is it your aim to make me appear
incompetent, Princess?”

Alecia glared
at the squire’s clumsiness and Ramón dropped the quiver in his
attempt to retrieve her bow. She turned back to the captain,
peering up at him through the strands of her hair. “I assure you it
is not,” she said. “Now let me pass.”

His eyes
narrowed and his voice dropped to a whisper she could barely hear
over her thudding heart. “I’ve been given a task and I mean to see
it through. No harm will come to you while you’re in my care and I
intend to see that you
are
in
my care.”

His blistering
glare trapped her. She could not look away. Were his eyes even more
gilded than usual? The scene around them receded until it was only
Alecia, Vard Anton and this battle of wills. She felt herself slip
under his dominion, his stormy golden gaze gentling her defiance
like the firm hands of a trainer on the shoulder of a fractious
filly. Finally she could stand it no longer and dropped her gaze.
Damn, but that smarted!

His arm moved
and she heard him cross the staging area. Alecia exhaled slowly,
turning to find Ramón by her side.

“Are you well,
Princess?” he said quietly. “What did he say?”

“Nothing,
Ramón,” Alecia said, “I will just have to be more careful. Now
hurry, Father will be waiting.”

Alecia’s heart and
thoughts raced as she stalked to her room. She splashed cool water
from a stone basin onto her cheeks but no amount of washing could
banish the embarrassing scene. That she should capitulate with just
a look, albeit a long and smouldering look…He hadn’t even touched
her, thank the Goddess! She shook the memory of their meeting from
her head and donned a pale gray dress with pearl buttons up the
bodice and white lace at the high neck and cuffs. Her fingers shook
as she pulled her hair back in a simple twist and brushed some
blush across her cheeks.

She joined
Ramón outside the dining hall and they entered together. The prince
was already there, seated at the head of the table and staring at
the red wine in his crystal glass. He often had a glass in his hand
these days.

“Hello,
Father,” Alecia said with a small curtsy.

Ramón swept a
deep bow. “Prince Zialni,” he said, his voice a deal short of calm
and assured.

The prince
looked up at them and Alecia’s heart sank. Her father was as angry
as she had ever seen him. “You think me soft, Alecia,” he said.
“You think you can run around causing trouble wherever you please
and I will turn a blind eye?”

She
stiffened. Had her father discovered her part in the death of the
mercenary?
No!
Surely he
was just angry about this morning. “I do not try to cause trouble,
Father.”

“And you,
Squire Ramón,” the prince said, “should know better. Were you aware
that I had placed the Princess’s safety into the hands of Captain
Anton?”

“Yes, Your
Highness,” Ramón said. “I did not think --”

“You never
think,” Prince Zialni’s voice cracked like a whip. “Arrangements
have changed. You will no longer escort the Princess as you once
did. Do I make myself clear?”

Ramón went red
but whether from anger or embarrassment Alecia could not tell. The
squire cleared his throat. “I understand perfectly, Your
Highness.”

“You may eat
with us. Be seated.”

Alecia smiled
at Ramón as he helped her to a chair opposite the prince at the end
of the table. The squire waited for Prince Zialni to sit and took a
seat halfway along on Alecia’s left. She kept her eyes downcast,
still frightened that her father had discovered her secrets. They
ate in silence. Each second that passed tightened the band around
Alecia’s stomach. The faint scrape of metal utensils on china
tormented her. Just when she could stand it no more, Ramón placed
his knife and spoon on his plate, asked to be excused and left the
room. The squire was one of the few people she could talk to in the
castle. He was like a brother, even if he didn’t see it that way.
She didn’t want to see less of him, especially if it meant more of
the captain’s unnerving company.

The prince
wiped his mouth on his napkin and cleared his throat. “Captain
Anton went looking for you this morning but found you not in your
room.”

“Does he spy
on me then?”

“He is
watching over you, on my orders. If you leave the castle, you are
to be in his company. If you are in the castle, you will let him
know where you are at all times. For now, you may roam freely
within these walls. If there is a repeat of this morning, when only
Squire Ramón knew where you were, you will be confined to your
chambers.”

“I would be a
virtual prisoner.” Alecia’s hands clutched the table edge. “What is
next? The dungeon?”

“I will do
whatever is required to ensure your safety. We must take steps to
find you a husband so that you can give me a grandson to continue
the Zialni line. He will be king one day.”

“Even more
good news,” Alecia said, sarcasm thick in her tone.

“You have
always known that an arranged union would be your lot, Alecia. Do
not behave as though this is a punishment. We have responsibilities
the common folk do not.”

“
I am
well aware of
my
responsibilities,” she said. How could he talk about
responsibilities when he sent mercenaries to collect taxes and
innocent men died?

“What do you
imply?” the prince said.

Alecia
remained silent, berating herself for the outburst. If her father
suspected the way she felt about the treatment of his people, she
might fall under suspicion. Then the good people of Brightcastle
would have no champion.

Prince Zialni
stood. “You will give the kingdom an heir, and within the next year
if I have my way.”

“I do not even
have a husband yet.”

“I have
someone in mind. It is a matter of making the marriage offer
attractive.”

“And when will
you inform me of the identity of my husband-to-be?” Alecia
asked.

“When he has
agreed to the union.”

Alecia rose,
drawing the shreds of her dignity about her as best she could. “So,
I will be the last to know. Do you not care for my happiness?”

The prince
raised his chin but his eyes didn’t quite meet hers. “I care,
Alecia, but will do whatever I must to ensure our family’s claim to
the throne of Thorius. Your feelings are secondary in the
matter.”

Alecia stared
at her father. Where was the man who had tucked his little daughter
into bed and taken her for pony rides? He had been the father who
would always protect her, who could do no wrong. She fought tears,
determined not to let him see how much he had hurt her. “I will be
in my chambers,” she said.

“Alecia,”
Prince Zialni said, “do not disobey me.” The words carried a
definite threat. She swept her father a curtsy and left, slamming
the door behind her.

Alecia
returned to her room, schooling her steps to those of a princess,
concentrating on her poise so that she could control the hurt and
frustration building inside her. Once in her room she stood before
the tapestry of Izebel, her shoulders slumped as she blinked away
tears. Her heart told her to flee but her mind argued. It was too
soon to disappear again. She had to be crafty. Already Captain
Anton might have searched her chambers and found the hidden
passage. Though he would hesitate to cross her threshold, he would
not rest until he had puzzled out her means of eluding him.

The escape
route must be protected at all costs. Nothing her father had said
at luncheon suggested that the secret passage had been discovered,
but what if he and the captain already schemed to catch her out so
that they could lock her up? No! She would not believe her father
capable of that. What to do? She paced the thick blue and gold
carpet of her sitting room. Should she continue her plan of revenge
against the mercenaries? Could she? Circumstances had altered
dramatically since yesterday. She was now tied to Vard Anton, at
least during daylight hours. Perhaps at night he would be less
vigilant?

A tight band
of fear clamped her chest at the thought of creeping about at night
in the town, tracking down and disposing of armed mercenaries. She
told herself it was just like the secret passage, only on a grander
scale. She could do it if she had to. Hetty might help. The old
woman hated the prince. At the thought of her father, Alecia’s
composure crumbled and tears burned her eyes. He had treated his
people harshly but she had never expected him to disregard her
feelings. It must be the influence of Lord Finus. The two were
thicker than thieves. White-hot anger flared in her chest, burning
the fear away. Somehow, she would expose Finus and make him pay for
his manipulation of the prince. She would find a way to avenge
Jorge’s death and stop this ridiculous arranged marriage. Alecia’s
fiery determination wavered as she faced her challenges. In that
moment, she had never felt so alone.

Sweat slid down
Vard’s chest and back as he fought off the onslaught from the
squire. They used practice swords but the weapons could still
inflict damage. A cool corner of his mind wondered at the challenge
from Squire Ramón. The younger man handled the sword better than
most but in the first moments of the match Vard had exposed serious
flaws in the squire’s technique.
Insolent pup! He thinks he can protect the
princess!
Savage anger
rose within and Vard knew he had to put an end to this now before
he lost control. Attacking with an aggressive flurry of blows, he
cracked his opponent’s defence. A savage strike to the side of the
head knocked Ramón to the dirt, out cold. Vard paused long enough
to hear the squire’s shallow breaths, to feel the thud of his
heart, then threw down his sword and stalked away.

“See to him,”
he said to the weapons master and left the practice yard.

Vard fought
his temper as he sought the refuge of the castle park. It was
really only a small wild garden but it would serve his purpose. He
needed privacy to battle his demons. Many things angered him,
including petty challenges from inferior warriors, but rage was his
real enemy; had always been. Pictures flashed into his mind
unbidden; his cousin’s body, bloodied, the flesh torn; warm muscle
ripping under his teeth; blood spurting; a fresh grave; his
father’s sad face; a weeping mother. Vard fought the surge of
energy that carried him towards transformation. If he could not
stop it, at least he could control the form. His breathing deepened
as he clutched the stone at his throat. He closed his eyes, sought
the emptiness and then began to replace it with the image…

Alecia watched from her
bedroom window as Vard Anton, naked to the waist, strode through
the entrance to the castle grounds. His right fist clenched and
unclenched while the left gripped the curious amber stone. As she
admired the hard muscles of his shoulders and stomach, a warm glow
lit her lower abdomen. She did not allow the pleasurable sensation
to take hold, pushing it aside and instead concentrating on anger.
The man below had no care for her happiness so why should she
concern herself with what might have upset him?