Page 56 of His Noble Savior

“We’re with you.” George interlinked his hand with Resh’s.

“So am I,” said Nathan. “We’ll make them pay for what they’ve done.”

“I’ll send a knight to scout the south,” Richard said. “When she finds the orcs, we’ll launch an attack on their camp and put an end to them.”

“I don’t want you to put yourselves at risk for my revenge,”Lilian said.

“You’re family,” George said, and warmth filled Richard’s chest. “I don’t take it kindly when a horde of savages hurts one of ours.”

“Then I’ll ride with you. I’m not going to let you endanger yourselves while I stand by.”

“Are you sure you want to face them?” Richard asked. “I want you safe. We have the numbers to do it without you. There’s five of us plus the castle guards. I can pull knights from the south, and if I sent a letter to House Aranin, I bet Cordelia would be thrilled to join us.”

Cordelia was James and Henry’s younger sister. She’d shown exceptional capability with the sword, the kind of skill that only emerged once in a generation. James was reining her in because she was young, but Richard had seen the eagerness in her eyes. Cordelia would leap at the opportunity to join an orc hunt.

“I’m sure,” Lilian said. “This is my fight more than it is yours.”

It was decided. In theory, there could’ve been a trial, but since Ellesmere was in Richard’s jurisdiction, he, as the local lord, was the judge of any case brought before him. And he’d seen enough. He’d seen Lilian run from the orcs, had seen his wounds and heard his testimony. That was all he needed to proceed with execution. No need to make Lilian relive the worst months of his life in a formal hearing where he’d have to face his abusers and listen to their lies. Richard would never put him through that.

That night, Richard drafted missives to his knights at the front, James, and King Malorn to liberate troops to put down the orcs who’d taken Lilian. Normally, Richard chose forgiveness over violence, but for Lilian, he’d raze kingdoms. If Lilian wanted his debt paid in blood, it would be. He was the gentlest being Richard knew, but there was a reason why humans never crossed a fae. Wronging them was dangerous, a lesson those orcswould soon learn.

The scout Richard had sent south returned, reporting that the six orcs hadn’t moved from the camp where they’d held Lilian. They were lying in wait to seize a man from Ellesmere. Richard seethed at their brazenness.

On the day of the attack, the Autumn Court forces and Cordelia joined them at Somerdale Castle. Together, they rode south, the House Dalton banner streaming in the wind, Richard and Lilian at the head of the train. It was an unseasonably cool day, the stiff breeze chilling their faces, clouds racing over the sky above.

A quarter mile before Ellesmere, they met with a contingent of knights called back from the front. Richard drove the troops into a joint formation and turned to face the man he loved. Lilian sat on his own horse, a choice they’d made for tactical reasons, but Richard loved the confidence and independence Lilian had gained in recent weeks. Holding his head high, his slender body gracefully controlling the gelding, he was a far cry from the frightened young man who’d run into Richard’s arms. His unlikely friendship with Ogharod had given him visible self-assuredness.

“We’re reading to charge,” Richard told him.

Lilian’s lips thinned into a tight line, and he gave a nod. He spun his horse to face the other riders and address them. “Today, the orcs will pay for what they did,” Lilian said. “You have my gratitude for helping me exact due vengeance.”

Richard led the assault, tearing forward on his steed, the knights on his heels. Hooves thundered through the valley, sending dirt and tufts of grass flying left and right. The riders charged toward the grove, Lilian galloping to the side, keeping his distance from the encampment. For now.

They surrounded the camp with raised swords, the noise of two dozen riders drawing out the orcs. Confusion furrowed theorcs’ brows as they found themselves outnumbered four to one. Their eyes, wide with surprise, flew to a place past Richard, to where Lilian was sitting high on his horse.

Richard surged forward, and in a heartbeat, he was in the thick of it, driving his blade into the beasts that had violated the love of his life. Around him, all hell broke loose. Lilian raced onto the field.

Ogharod’s participation was as fierce as Richard and Lilian’s; he was slashing at orcs every which way. Blood flowed, drenching the battlefield red.

When it was done, Richard jumped off his horse. He pulled a knife from the sheath on his hip and cut off the skull-adorned belt of his kill. With his clothes stained crimson, Richard trudged toward Lilian, carrying the belt like a trophy, dropping it at his feet.

“This is what I’ll do to any man who lays hand on you,” Richard said. “These orcs will never hurt anyone again.”

“And I can finally move on. My heart is light. All because of you. I owe you my greatest debt.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Richard said, clasping Lilian’s hand where it curled around the hilt of his sword. “You’ve come so far.”

In the following days, a new lightness swung in Lilian’s steps. Soon, he and Richard traveled to James and Raziel’s wedding, which took place at the church in Castlehill town. Light streamed in from the tall windows, hitting the marble floor and the stucco sprawling across the walls. At the back of the chancel hung a painting of the Lady in a golden dress, a crown of stars on her head, the crescent of the moon at her feet.

James’s siblings and cousins, along with their partners, filled the elegantly carved wooden seats lining the sides of the chancel. Noble and royal guests attended the ceremony from the gallery while the lower nobility populated the pews in the church’snave. The elves hadn’t sent representatives, and Richard wasn’t surprised. The Lady had given James and Raziel her blessing, but the elves, while they couldn’t prosecute them without fearing the literal wrath of God, weren’t happy with a marriage that went against their law. The human priestess who’d conduct the ceremony had no such qualms, and neither did the faerie courts. The Spring Court, of course, was notably absent, but Prince Elior of the Summer Court joined the human nobles in the gallery.

Ogharod, who hadn’t been raised in the church of the Lady but believed in a pantheon of gods, attended the ceremony from a hidden position in the sacristy. Nathan had introduced him to their cousins of House Aranin and the priestess, and after some explanation, they were happy to have him present, though everyone, including Ogharod, thought it was best if the human guests didn’t see him. It’d cause a panic.

As the last guests arrived, the organ set in, its bright and regal music reverberating through the air. The scent of burning incense filled the church, the fragrant smoke wafting through the pews.

Heralded by a procession of altar boys and girls, the priestess stepped through the portal at the back of the church. The young acolytes proceeded along the aisle and lined the altar, watching the priestess climb the steps to the chancel.

The organ music swelled, and after a minute, James and Raziel appeared at the entrance. They were radiant. James was dressed in all white, while Raziel wore a light blue ensemble and had twisted his hair into an elegant braid. They’d pinned lilies to their jackets, and matching lion rings graced their fingers. With bright smiles on their faces, they walked down the aisle, holding hands.

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