Rowena Through the Wall: Expanded Edition (13 page)

Wolf?

"I acted rashly commanding you to marry Ivan," he added. "I should have waited, knowing what the others might do." He sighed. "We could have saved a lot of trouble if I'd thought that through. Sargon should have had his chance at the start. It was his right, as king."

"I know you were acting in my best interests, Grandfather. Don't blame yourself for this."

"Oh, but I do. It is a bitter alliance now, with you a carnal prize. How I have failed you."

So that was how they saw me―as a carnal prize.

This annoyed me, but I also saw the irony. Here I was, a modern woman shocked that I had been with three men in such a short time, yet my own kin seemed to think this was perfectly understandable. Maybe it was
, under the circumstances. They didn't blame me for my actions, nor think that I should feel shame.

Values were different here.

But a prize?

Gareth had never thought of me that way. As much as it distressed me, I knew that Sargon saw me as more than a prize to be won. I was the future of this world.

"Grandfather, I am not fragile," I assured him. "I don't faint at the sight of a naked man. Never fear. I come from a long line of strong women."

I averted my eyes. Best he not see my fear.

"Good girl," he said, his voice stronger. "My pride in you grows and grows. Now brace yourself, my dear. I have more bad news."

My heart sank. "What?"

"Tonight is for grieving. The king allows us that. But tomorrow there will be a celebration, a feast. You must prepare yourself and behave with poise and deference." He paused a moment, searching for the right words. "You must respond to his call."

I nodded, not trusting my voice. How could I remain with a man who insisted on complete control of me?

I sensed discomfort in the room. "There's something more?"

Richard cleared his throat. "Jon rode away with Ivan this afternoon."

"No," I cried, sitting on the bed.

"We are a house divided," Grandfather said, a tear rolling down his wrinkled cheek.

When I left the room, I said to Logan, "Can we visit my horse?"

He shook his head and gave an uncomfortable grimace. "I've been given orders to keep you inside the castle at night. You can go to the royal chambers or return to your old room, if you want."

"Can you give me a tour of the castle instead? I'd love to see the kitchens and the public rooms."

He brightened. "And I could take you to my aunt's wardrobe, so you can choose more clothing."

"Let's do that first." Perhaps new garments would cheer me up.

We climbed the third floor stairs and walked a short distance to another room like mine. It appeared to be unoccupied. There was a full-length mirror at one end and a wardrobe beside it.

"Look here," Logan said. He opened the doors.

"Yes!" I clapped my hands.

There were at least ten dresses―simple day dresses in cotton and wool, and at least three stunning dinner gowns in silks and velvets.

My eyes went immediately to a sapphire silk with blue fox trim on the cuffs and hem. The neckline plunged to a deep U in f
ront and the waist was high. It would suit me well.

"Turn around," I said. "I'll try this on."

Logan spun around and I whipped off my rose dress. The sapphire gown popped over my head. It seemed to be made for me, minus the few extra inches on the bottom.

"What do you think?"

Logan turned around, his face growing beet red. "You're beautiful."

I gazed past him and realized the reason for his blushing. A mirror had been right in front of him while I changed, reflecting my every motion.

I blushed. "Help me carry these to my wardrobe."

"Your old room?"

I couldn't bear to return to the room I had shared with Ivan.

"No, the royal suite."

He breathed in relief. "Allow me, m'lady." He swept the dresses into his arms and proceeded through the doorway.

When we finished delivering the dresses, Logan went to my old room and gathered my belongings.

"Thank you," I said when he returned. "Have a good evening."

"You too."

I suspected he'd resume his position outside the door.

For the next two hours, I played dress-up with my new clothes. The two moons were high when I finally settled down to sleep.

Sargon came in late that night. If he was surprised to see me in his bed, he didn't say so. I feigned sleep as he slid beneath the covers beside me. Thankfully, he fell asleep within minutes.

In the morning, he was gone when I woke up.

Chapter 15

Logan came for me after breakfast. Sargon had summoned me to the great hall. I dre
ssed carefully in the new rose day dress―well, new to me anyway―and lost no time making my way to the hall entrance. I stood there in awe for a minute, looking around. The ceiling had to be three stories high and there were four mammoth tables in the room.

Sargon gestured to me. "Ah, Rowena, come here."

He sat at the end of the center table, about ten men flanking him on either side. I recognized a few from the feast at Huel. Most stared, but a few men frowned. This didn't seem a place for me.

"Maybe I should leave," I murmured.

Sargon shook his head. "Come."

Thane gave me an encouraging smile and Rhys nodded once.

Reluctant, I made my way toward Sargon, facing him at a respectable distance.

"We were discussing strategy," he said, his eyes blazing. "I am wondering if you might like to give your opinion on our situation."

A collective gasp emitted from the table. Someone guffawed.

"Silence!" Sargon snapped. "You must hear this. I think it will surprise you. The lady has studied Tacitus." He smiled.

What a sneaky bastard! He was setting me another test. And a tough one.

"Do you have a map?" I said.

He frowned, perplexed. "Map?"

Oh rats! I tried to recall when the first European maps had been created. Not yet in Land's End, it seemed.

I approached the head table, which was already set for dinner.

"Here, I'll demonstrate. Help me clear these plates and spoons to one side."

No one moved.

Then Thane stepped forward and cleared the table. I took the spoons and ran them down the center of the table and off to the right. That would be the river. I took one plate and put it at the top of the river. Another I placed to the bottom right of the river. The third went to the very left of the table, parallel to the second plate.

I went for tankards next. I put three above the highest plate, two to the right of it and another two at the very bottom of the table.

The men gathered around, watching me.

I eyed Sargon. He nodded.

"See here," I began, pointing to my makeshift map, "I've made a drawing of the layout of Land's End. It's not to scale, but it will do for now. This plate is Castle Sargon, this one Huel and this one up here Norland. These spoons represent the river. I don't know what you call it."

"River Sargon," Thane said.

I raised a mocking brow at the king. Of course.

Picking up a spoon to use as a pointer, I said, "These tankards at the top are the fortresses north of Norland. I don't know how many there are, but they ally with Norland, I am told."

"There are four still standing that we know of," Sargon said.

I pointed with the spoon. "Janus has gone to the northern allies to gather troops. His cousin has gone east to meet with the Danes."

"What?"

A rumble of noise rose around the table. I had their attention now.

"He was already preparing for war before you came to Huel, Sire."

Sargon frowned. "How do you know this?"

That's when I hesitated. "I was there when he gave the orders."

"At Norland's fortress?"

"Yes," I said, meeting his eyes. "War with Huel, not you."

Sargon smiled, but it was a grim one. "And I can easily guess why."

The testosterone in the room was growing.

I flushed and turned back to my crude map. "Cedric is somewhere down in the south. I don't know how far your island goes. These tankards represent the southern forts. Ivan will join with him there."

"Do you
know this for sure?"

I glanced at Thane. "No, but it's what I would do. He can't go to Norland. They hate each other. And Gareth would kill him on sight. Ivan wounded him last week and would have killed him if―" I didn't finish the sentence.

"You know this
is true?" Sargon asked, his mouth curled in a scowl.

"I was there," I said.

He cursed.

"So you've got Cedric, Ivan and Jon," I said, ignoring him. "Yes, Jon went with him and Cedric. They're roaring for a fight.

Castle Huel you left unattended and it is h
is by right. I expect they'll head there with the men from the south. I don't know anything about them―or how many they are."

Murmurs coursed around the table.

"Gareth will come south for sure," I said. "He promised the allies a fight and they'll have it.
But he needs time to heal. That may take a month or more. He'll want Ivan's head, I know. Will he challenge you?" I shrugged. "It depends."

"He'll know you're here," Sargon said. "He has scouts too."

"Then you have three choices, as I see it." I scanned the men. Hoo boy! Except for Thane, this was a rough crowd. "You can wait for Norland and Huel to engage in battle. Then attack when their troops are decimated. Or you can wait for Norland to attack from the north and hit him from the other side."

"And the third choice?"

I cleared my throat, nervous. "You can sit this out and negotiate with the winner. I expect you would need to release me, as terms. Honor would demand it."

The rumbling grew louder.

"What would you do?" Sargon challenged above the din.

"I would go home if I could, because I want no part of this."

Sargon barked a laugh, then turned to his men. "Now you see of what I speak." He looked as proud as if he had just hatched me himself. "We have our own Minerva, here in the flesh."

I really wished he hadn't used that word. I didn't like the feel of all those eyes on me.

"May I go now, Sire?" I asked.

He waved a hand in the air. "Yes, go."

I moved as gracefully as possible to the door. Thane and Logan followed a few steps behind. I left the hall and walked outside into the sunlight. Leaning against the outer wall, I let out a long sigh, thankful for the wall holding me up.

"You were magnificent back there," Thane said, his voice thick with emotion.

I drew a breath. "Do
you
think it would make any difference if I left?"

He was silent for a long moment. "It might be worse. I think they would be even angrier that we let you go or did not protect you."

I absorbed the warm sunlight. "I thought as much."

So there would be war. Men would get hurt―killed―and ther
e was nothing I could do about it.

Or maybe there was…

"I'd best get back," Thane said, interrupting my thoughts. "Logan, can you…?"

"I'll take her back."

Thane studied me. "I'd like to think if I were Sargon that I would act differently."

"About war?"

"About you. But I greatly fear I wouldn't." His finely shaped lips formed a brilliant smile. "Take care, brave lady."

I watched him leave through the great wooden door and disappear into the castle. A sense of loneliness swept over me. And a yearning.

For Thane.

It occurred to me that I really liked this calm and intelligent man. For the first time, I felt a surge of regret that he wasn't the older brother.

I gave myself a mental shake. Best not to think that way. Best to do what I could.

"Logan, I need my healer's bag. I left it at home. If there's going to be war, I should have all my medicines here so I can help our men when they get wounded." I lifted my chin. "Will you come with me to get it?"

"Of course," he said without hesitation. "It is a good plan."

"We'll have to ride. You've got your weapons, I see."

"I do, m'lady."

"Let's go now. We can be back before anyone notices."

"I think we should tell Sargon," Logan said.

"I wouldn't bother him now when he is working on important plans. Besides, he trusts you completely with my safety."

Logan swelled with pride. Young men and their vanity. This was almost too easy. If I hadn't been acting with such good intentions, I would have hated myself.