The Commander's Desire (21 page)

The door opened and he deliberately relaxed
his body posture. Elwytha exited, but her cold eyes froze his
heart.

Anger arose then. Finally, the warrior
surfaced and determination steeled his heart. Enough of the
defeated thoughts. He would clear his name. He would fight to win,
because the battle was far from over. He would try yet again…and
again…to make this thing work between them.

* * * * *

Elwytha extended the rolled scroll to her
betrothed with narrowed eyes. “You will wish to read it? And the
Prince, too, of course.”

The Commander unrolled it and scanned it
quickly. “It will suffice,” he granted, rolling it up again.

“
I’m so glad to please you.
Pray, may I leave anon?”

He gazed at her for a long moment, as if
trying to decide his answer.

She glared. “Or must I remain at your beck
and call?”

“
Elwytha.” He moved closer,
but she refused to back up. She held her ground, staring at him
coldly. To her dismay, he closed the distance. Only a spare foot
separated his massive body from hers.

“
Pray, what do you wish
now?” she demanded, heart pounding fast.

To her alarm, his warm hands
closed around hers. His eyes held hers. “Peace,
ceisdein
,” he said. A demand, and a
request. “I would have peace between us.”

Elwytha’s breaths came quicker at his close
presence…at his touch. The memory of their kiss in the chapel
seared her mind. What was wrong with her? He had killed Thor! Two
proofs secured this fact. Then why did she feel doubt? With
difficulty, she forced out, “I feel only war in my heart.”

“
Do you? ...Because you
think I killed your brother. I did
not
,” he growled harshly, between his
teeth.

“
You have yet to prove it.”
She tugged free. Why did part of her want to believe him? How could
she believe a heathen, enemy warrior? She could not!

“
I will prove my honor,
Elwytha.”

“
Until then, I do not wish
to partake of your presence.”

“
Nay. Seven days remain
until our marriage. I will spend them with you.”

Dismayed, Elwytha’s lips trembled. “Why won’t
you leave me be?” she cried out. “I’ve promised to marry you. What
more do you want?”

“
I want you, Elwytha. All of
you.” The fearsome face stared down at her, tempered only by the
intelligence in his eyes.

Her heart thumped suffocatingly hard in her
chest. He wanted her heart and soul, too—not just her body. She
felt further dismay…and fear, that he might gain it. “You will not
have me, Commander.” Verily, he would have no part of her. She
would not marry him. She would leave seven days hence and never see
him again. “I would go outdoors anon.”

He watched her for another moment, and then
nodded. “I will ask your brother to send a reply with my
horseman.”

Elwytha took her leave. Soon they would know
the identity of the witness. Soon she would know the Commander’s
guilt or innocence.

But for now she would seek escape routes to
flee her wedding. If she knew the Commander at all, escape would
not be easy. As well, he might pursue her after she left the castle
walls. She shivered at the thought—truthfully, at the thought she
might want him to catch her.

Horrified, her slippered feet flew down the
halls. Nay. Soon she would know the truth of the Commander’s
heinous crime. Then these ridiculous thoughts and feelings would
die an equally brutal, vicious death. She prayed for the truth to
come soon. Before it was too late.

* * * * *

Elwytha spent the morning scouring the castle
grounds. Of course, she pretended to walk casually, as if taking
the air. But her sharp eyes scanned ever bulwark, every tower. She
climbed the highest reaches of the castle and eyed the moat
surrounding it. Not deep, she determined. If worse came to worst
she could swim to safety. Not her first choice, to be sure.

One thing became clear as she headed to the
kitchen for lunch. To escape, the drawbridge had to be lowered.

Carefully, she thought through her plan,
chewing on the crusty bread Mary provided. Richard would sound his
horn, indicating she was to kill the Commander. That thought
shivered revulsion and horror through her. Even if she found proof
of his guilt, could she battle and kill him? She feared not.

In any case, Richard would blow his horn, and
the Prince would order the drawbridge lowered so her brother could
enter the castle grounds. Instead, she would have Sir Duke saddled
and ready, and she’d gallop to freedom, shouting for her brother to
follow.

Elwytha smiled. Yes, it was a good plan.
However, saddling Sir Duke and arriving at the drawbridge at the
same time that her brother arrived might prove difficult. No,
instead, she might need to leave her beloved horse behind, dash
across the bridge and leap upon Richard’s steed. Then they’d flee
to safety.

Elwytha sopped up the last of the soup.
Either way, she would escape the Commander and her wedding. Wasn’t
that her goal? To be freed of him forever? He wreaked too much
disturbance in her soul. Once she fled his presence, finally she’d
be able to think clearly again.

“
You’re awful quiet of a
day, miss,” Mary said, chopping vegetables at the huge
table.

Elwytha started. “I’m sorry, Mary. I
was…thinking.”

“
About your wedding, no
doubt.” The older woman smiled, with a twinkle in her eyes. “That I
can understand right enough.”

A blush warmed Elwytha’s cheeks. “Are you
sure you don’t need help with the feast? I still need to talk to
Hagma about the decorations. I’m thinking we should gather up the
leaves and flowers the day before? What do you think?”

“
Yes.” The cook nodded
comfortably. “Friday would be a good day.”

Elwytha frowned. “Friday? But the wedding is
on Monday.”

Mary blinked. “But the Commander spoke with
me this very morning. Saturday, he said.”

Saturday? Instant fury fulminated in Elwytha.
She sprang to her feet. “I’m sure it’s only a misunderstanding.
I’ll speak to him anon.”

“
Let me know, lass. I’ll
need a few days to prepare.”

“
I’ll tell you this
afternoon,” Elwytha promised. “Don’t worry.”

Seething, she exited. Her betrothed should
certainly worry. She’d blister his ears with rage. How dare he
change the wedding day? He’d agreed to Monday. She’d told Richard
Monday. What was he thinking? Did he suspect her plans to bolt? Did
he intend to plot in advance to thwart all her moves?

Elwytha had worked up quite a steam of rage
when a helmeted guard unexpectedly stepped before her. “The Prince
would speak to you.”

Elwytha glared, hands on her hips, at the
gray mustached man. Could this be Mary’s husband Henry, she
wondered in a flash. But never mind. “I must speak to the
Commander,” she denied. “Tell his royalness I will attend him
later.” She tried to move around him.

The older man blocked her way, lance out.
“I’m sorry, miss, but his highness said now.”

Of course he had. Further fury gathered in
her bosom. She heaved great breaths, trying to get a grip on her
temper. What could that vile, game playing Prince want now? “Lead
on,” she said through gritted teeth, and stamped after him to the
throne room.

The man led her in, then bowed deeply before
the Prince, who for once sat upright on his padded throne. “Your
highness…Princess Elwytha.” The guard backed away, and Elwytha
stepped forward. She made no move to curtsey.

“
You summoned me, your
imperial highness?” She didn’t bother to hide her anger or
scorn.

“
No curtseys today,
Princess?” The Prince regarded her from on high, for she made no
move to ascend the royal steps.

“
You wish no deceit. I would
give you no false adulation.”

“
You tread dangerous ground,
Princess.”

“
Are you more royal than I?
Nay. A curtsey is a gesture of respect. You have lost all of
mine.”

He relaxed a little, crossing his legs.
“Because of my threat to hang your head upon my flagpole?”

Elwytha glared, not speaking.

“
Your Commander took me to
task for that thoughtless remark.”

Elwytha felt a start of surprise. “He
did?”

“
Would it help if I
apologized?”

She felt further surprise. “You would
apologize to me?”

“
I wish peace. Commit no
treachery within my palace, Elwytha, and all will be well between
us.”

This didn’t sound like an apology to Elwytha.
She bowed her head in an equally disingenuous manner. “Your warning
is heeded. However, your humble apology evades me.”

He smiled then, obviously pleased with
himself. “You need not fear me, Princess. I leave you in the
Commander’s capable hands. Should you commit treachery, he will
mete out your punishment.”

Further nerves fluttered through Elwytha at
this thought. The Commander had a reputation of brutal efficiency
on the battlefield. All of his enemies usually fell by one vicious
thrust of his sword. He could end her life just as quickly.

Faintly, she said, “I intend no treachery.”
Except to abandon her nuptials and the peace agreement. Neither a
crime worthy of the sword.

“
Good,” the Prince said.
“Then you are ready to attend your nuptials on
Saturday.”

“
Monday,” Elwytha
frowned.

“
No.” The Prince inspected a
fingernail. “I convinced the Commander that Saturday would be a far
better day.”

Temper bubbled. So the change was the
Prince’s doing. “Why would you lower yourself to interfere in my
wedding?”

He gave a small, thin lipped smile. “Does
Saturday displease you…or does it displease Richard?”

“
I would have my brother
attend my nuptials, Prince. How dare you deny me this
right?”

“
Richard may attend. But he
will be notified Friday even. If he truly desires to attend his
beloved sister’s wedding, he will arrive on time.”

Elwytha heaved an infuriated breath. “I am
not ready to wed the Commander so soon. I have much to do. I…”

“
Nay, Princess.” He flicked
dirt from beneath his fingernail. “Don’t try to fool me. All is
planned. Mayhap you wish the wedding anon, instead?”

Elwytha clenched her fists, feeling a
helpless fury. How she longed to smack the Prince’s implacable,
mocking face.

“
Then we are agreed,” he
said. “Saturday it is.”

Elwytha’s lips felt numb, for she clenched
them so tightly together. “If you have nothing further to say, I
would take my leave,” she ground out. In fact, immediately she
would pen a new letter to Richard, warning him of the change.
Somehow, she’d find a way to deliver it to him.

“
You do not appear eager for
your nuptials, Princess. Perhaps not for peace, either?”

How could she reply to this question? Elwytha
wished only to escape marrying the Commander. But by fleeing, she’d
break the fragile peace. “I do wish for peace,” she countered. “But
the price is high.”

“
Has the Commander told you
his name?” The Prince relaxed back, eyes sharp, watching her
reaction to this bewildering subject change.

“
No. But what has that got
to do with anything?” Elwytha wondered then if the Prince had taken
leave of his senses. Perhaps too much alcohol addled his brain. But
no, his eyes looked too sharp, too keenly black. She crossed her
arms and waited for him to unveil this new game he
played.

“
No? I will give you a hint,
then. In the Bible the balm of his name is referred to for the
healing of the nations.” He watched Elwytha.

She felt puzzled. “Are you suggesting his
name is prophetic?”

“
A priest told his mother he
had a vision. He gave her the Commander’s name.”

“
Verily?” Elwytha was
amazed. “He’s said nothing of it.”

“
No. But you haven’t asked,
have you?”

“
Yes. Once…” But she hadn’t
really wanted to know. Or at least, she’d told herself that. “What
is his name?”

“
Ask him.” The Prince
refused to say, which didn’t surprise her.

Elwytha returned to his earlier comments.
“What do you mean by a balm of his name? How can a balm be made of
a name?”

“
His name was a country. In
that country was a balm that the Bible suggests could heal the
nations.”

“
And you’re suggesting this
balm…the Commander…is meant to provide healing between our two
lands?”

“
The balm only heals if it
is applied to the wound.”

“
The wound between our lands
is deep, Prince,” she said grimly.

The black eyes held her own. “Are you willing
for restoration?”

“
I wish for
peace.”

“
Your marriage will provide
that peace. The future lies in your hands, Princess.”

Elwytha frowned. Much as she didn’t want to
admit it, the Prince spoke truth. If she abandoned her wedding, she
would abandon peace. More battles would commence. More death, more
hate…this was their chance, now, to end it all.

If her brother would allow it.

“
You have much knowledge,
Prince. Perhaps your idleness reaps some rewards. Mayhap you have
other pearls of wisdom to enlighten my mind?” She said this
mockingly. Really, she wanted to escape his presence and think on
what he had told her.