“Trentham is dead.” Lord Irvaine lifted a gauntleted hand and pointed off to the south. “He fell in battle a fortnight past. Mendal of Ranterland is now king.”
Panic clutched my chest. Old stories of the unrest that followed a coup flooded my mind. Allegiances sifting with the wind and the death toll rising despite the end of hostilities as the disloyal were killed off and the loyal rewarded.
“My cousin, Orwin?”
“Sworn allegiance to my liege, but his sincerity is suspect. You are King Mendal’s guarantee from Orwin that he will remain faithful.”
I laughed, a bitter sound despite my efforts to quell it.
“I am a worthless pawn for that purpose. Orwin cares not for my safety. My peril will not hinder his plans a hair’s breadth.”
“Your peril is not my goal. I seek your submission.”
Before I could seek clarification, another helmeted soldier approached. This one moved like a man with a purpose. The sudden silence and tension of the men around me clearly marked his importance.
“All are accounted for, my lord, thirty-five women of marriageable age, twenty-five dwellings with potential to last the winter.”
“The lord’s hall?”
“Usable also, given time for cleaning and repair.”
Lord Irvaine nodded. “Take the quartermaster and assign wives. See to it that the men show respect and offer the women the option to purchase refusal. Give care to look up the fate of their previous mates before presenting them to the officiate for vow recording. Warn the men that I will suffer no abuse. If such is discovered, the offender shall lose his share of spoils and suffer further punishment based on the crime.”
The soldier bowed and retreated.
“By what right do you do this?” I demanded. “We are citizens of Rhynan, not cattle to be divided and claimed. These are free women not slaves.”
Lord Irvaine’s displeasure at my words was evident in his stiffened stance. I savored my small victory.
“They, you, and this land are tribute to King Mendal from your cousin, part of his measures to convince the king of his shift in allegiance.”
“You take pleasure in raping women and possessing land not your own? You are no better than the robber barons over the border. They take what they wish without compensating us. You defile the title of noble, my lord!” I spat the title into the torn earth at his feet.
Answering anger tensed his left arm as his fingers curled into a fist. I lifted my chin and awaited the blow that would reveal his true nature. Instead, he pulled his helmet from his head. Dark, sweat-matted hair plastered his head and dirt streaked down his hollowed cheeks from dark circles around his eyes. He dropped his helm to the ground at my knees. It rolled to rest against my thigh. He stepped forward and leaned down so close I smelled his sweat. I noted the lack of sour wine on his breath.
“Look in my face, Lady Solarius, and see the truth. I take no joy from this task. But I am a loyal soldier. I do as my master bids.”
His dark, haunted eyes bore into mine. Something deep inside my chest stirred. However, anger still possessed my tongue.
“I see only a monster intent on unleashing his pleasure-seeking men on a village of unarmed women and children.”
He flinched, a barely perceptible movement in his features.
“Enough.” Rising to his feet with more grace than I expected, he strode away. “Antano!” A burly man, helmetless and carrying more visible weapons than the other men in the group, answered the call.
“My lord?”
“See that she observes the operation, but doesn’t interfere. Then escort her to my quarters by nightfall.”
“Aye, my lord.” Antano approached respectfully. “This way, my lady.”
I watched Lord Irvaine stride away among his men. As I rose from the dust, I picked up the helmet. It was heavy, but well made. The leather felt worn and supple. What kind of man hid behind its surface?
I offered it to my escort.
“Nay, bring it with you, lady.” Antano loomed over me. “You can return it to him tonight. For now, we must go. He wishes for you to see how your women are treated.”
He crossed the now empty village center toward the lord’s hall, due east. I followed him, dreading the hours to come. Despite the fleeting inclination to leave it behind, I carried Lord Irvaine’s helmet with me.
Duty
is now available in print and ebook formats along with other books in the series.
White Bear
An Fairy Tale Inspirational Romance
Chapter One
Willow
I SCANNED THE LOBBY of the Diamond Mine Hotel Casino in Atlantic City with growing disquiet. Dad had promised to wait. If only we could get this whole trip behind us.
Laughter wafted from the casino. Lights and lush carpeting beckoned to those lingering in the cavernous, tiled expanse of the foyer. There should have been a sign over the archway: “Beware, those who enter here, the house always wins.”
I pulled my thoughts from the dire circumstances of my father’s financial future and returned to seek him instead.
Cubic zirconia-draped candelabras guarded the walls of the lobby. Uncomfortable silver gilt benches and frail tables huddled between them, overwhelmed by their glitter. The only other human in the room was the receptionist behind the front desk. She glowered at me as though I would palm one of the ostentatious baubles overflowing from the jeweled fruit bowls.
“Lose something, miss?”
“Yes, my father. He promised to wait for me here.”
“Perhaps he wandered into the casino to pass the time.”
Please, Lord, not that. The debt from his last excursion still smothered our lives.
The elevator chimed its arrival. I turned toward the door with inane hope before glancing at the receptionist again. “Did you see him go toward the bathrooms?”
“I just came on duty, miss, and there was no one here when I arrived.”
The elevator doors opened, and a massive security guard stepped out. Black suit, strapping shoulders, and a grim face, he looked
