Page 8 of Lord of the Castle
I jerked at the low rumble of Lord Cedric’s.
My hand went to my throat, and I gasped for I hadn’t seen him, leaning up against a wooden post, his staff by his side as he watched me. Today he wore black with flourishes of light blue, and that color made him appear less fearsome. The sunlight softened his scar, but all the same, my heart fluttered at the sight of him.
“I did not see you there,” I said, rather self-consciously, very aware of the way the peach colored dress I wore hugged my curves. “Of course I stayed.”
He shrugged. “You could have fled in the night. It has happened before.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, determined to ignore the way he made me tremble with need. I wanted to gain answers once and for all. “You told me no one leaves the castle without your permission. Where else would I go? Besides, you have my weapons.”
Lord Cedric limped toward me, leaning on his staff. “Your weapons are that important to you?”
Was he joking? “I’m a shield-maiden,” I countered. “The way of the blade is my life.”
“Is that so?” He paused in front of a bush and plucked a white rose. “And what would you be willing to risk for the return of your blades?”
I raised an eyebrow. “What are you offering?”
Lifting the white rose to his nose, he sniffed it before tucking it into the pocket of his shirt. Catching my eye, he gestured to the benches. “Sit with me, Mistress Mariel. Perhaps we can come to an agreement.”
The babbling fountain and the distant chirping of birds were the only sounds as I followed down the garden path. The path continued on the other side of the patio, and green vines twisted away, leading up into the mountainside which the castle sat against. And then there was the evil forest. I shivered as I sat and tried not to stare as Lord Cedric slowly limped up and sat down across from me.
“I was forward last night,” he began, mischief stirring in those dark eyes. “I hope we can start over.”
I bit my lower lip, for I’d been the rude one last night. I had tried to kill him, after all. I closed my fingers into fists and swallowed. “I would like that.”
“Good. Now this is the part where I say I hope you enjoy your accommodations, but you and I both know that’s not what you care about. I will be honest with you, since you would like your weapons back, and I need to protect my village.”
“Village?” I interrupted. “What village? All I’ve seen is this castle.”
His eyes laughed at me. “It is down the road, an hours' ride by horse. I have many in my stables should you choose to ride with me.”
He leaned forward as he said the last few words, and I realized he was asking, daring me to go riding with him.
I twisted my fingers together in my lap. “Yes, I will ride with you,” I said, unsure what else to say.
His eyes darkened. “Excellent, we shall go tomorrow. I shall enjoy showing you my small kingdom… If you will allow me the liberty of calling this small town a kingdom. But the festival of Samhain draws near, when the spirits of the forest come alive—”
“Are you teasing me?” I interrupted, stopping just short of rolling my eyes. The tales I’d heard of the forest and the superstitions of the villagers came back to my mind. This was pure nonsense, wasn’t it?
The light in Cedric’s eyes faded. When he spoke, his voice was low but deadly serious. “I can assure you, Mariel, this is no joke nor a tale meant to spread fear. The spirits of the forest are real. Very real. During the Festival of Samhain, the barrier between the enchanted wildwood and my village is thin. The dark creatures of the wood sneak out to cause chaos, and if it were just chaos, I would not mind, but they also prey on the living. Using their tricks, they tempt those who are weak minded to succumb to them. If they do not get enough blood, they attack. If you are willing, I’d ask your help to hold back the spirits of the wildwood before they overtake the castle and the village.”
I gaped at him. He was mad! Stark raving mad. There were no such things as spirits. . .
No sooner than I thought those words, I heard whispers.
She doesn’t believe him. Does she?
Bah. The fool. She’ll be surprised.
And easy to take advantage of.
Hush, she looks ashen.
Think she can hear us?
No one has before. Other than...
Hush!
