Page 64 of Sword of Desire
Ackley reacted before he even realized what he was doing. He lifted his short sword, blocking the strike. Their swords clanked. Lyle came around to Ackley’s side of the desk, his sword moving rapidly in short, precise movements. Ackley had no time to think, only to block each blow as it came. Twisting, he rolled over the desk, getting away from the windows. Lyle grunted and came at him. When he got close enough, he spun and kicked. Ackley barely had time to step to the side, avoiding the strike. Ackley countered with one of his own, and Lyle deftly moved out of the way.
They were evenly matched.
Ackley wanted his sword, but he didn’t want to stand there fighting for an hour to try and get it.
Lyle backed off. “What do you want?” He wiped his arm across his face.
“Owen on the throne where he belongs.” Ackley noticed Lyle’s boots—he was in an attack stance. Ackley kept his sword raised, ready to parry any blows coming his way.
“What did Owen give you for your help?” Lyle demanded. “He doesn’t have any money. Did he say you could have Harley?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Some men can be so fooled by beauty.”
“Owen didn’t give or promise me anything.”
“Since you’re not from Melenia, you probably don’t understand how incompetent the late king was. Squandering money, not ensuring his people had food. I plan to help my people. I will be a good ruler. So why are you fighting against me? Why try and put a man on the throne who doesn’t know how to lead?”
All good questions. “Because life doesn’t work that way. You can’t get rid of someone—especially a monarch—just because you disagree with him.”
“What if he’s killing his own people?”
“You must be speaking about yourself.” Ackley ducked, the sword narrowly missing his head. When he righted himself, he pressed forward, going on the offensive instead of the defensive. “What’s pathetic,” Ackley said, pushing Lyle back toward the bookshelf, “is that you don’t even love her.” He wanted to steer the conversation back to Harley.
Lyle chuckled. “She’s a means to an end. Always has been, always will be.” He twisted and moved to the other side of the desk, putting a buffer between them once again.
Ackley stood there, his chest heaving, as he considered his options. When he’d played that game of War with Harley, she told him that sometimes the point wasn’t to beat your opponent. That it was more about strategy and avoiding an all-out war. Did he truly trust Harley to do what needed to be done for her kingdom? He did. He knew she would put Melenia, including Owen and Idina, above herself. She’d told him she had a plan, and he believed in her.
Ackley made his move. “You know Harley isn’t here in the castle, don’t you?”
Something flashed in Lyle’s eyes, indicating that he hadn’t been aware Harley left.
Raising a single eyebrow, Ackley forced a sly smile on his lips. “Didn’t it occur to you that I’m a distraction so she could get away?”
Lyle’s eyes narrowed. “Where would she go?”
Ackley’s smile grew wider, this one genuine when he finally realized what Harley intended to do. “You haven’t figured it out yet? You shouldn’t underestimate Harley.” She was a genius and deserved to be a full-fledged Knight. He leaned his head to the side, stretching his neck, preparing to go another round.
“It seems we’re at an impasse.” Lyle sheathed Ackley’s sword.
“I don’t see how that’s the case.” Ackley couldn’t let his guard down, despite what Lyle wanted him to do.
“It seems I’ve lost my wife, and you’ve lost your army.” His eyes gleamed with mischief.
Ackley hadn’t lost his army. He knew exactly where it was and what his soldiers were doing. He’d instructed Morton to break them into smaller groups of fifty, like before, so they could travel quickly. Then he sent them into Russek, telling them to stay near the border, as they made their way north. While they traveled, Gytha was going to meet with Kerdan’s man and seek permission for their passage.
The air shifted, and Ackley felt someone approach from behind him. He refused to turn his back to Lyle. He widened his stance.
Lyle leaned on his desk. “I’ll make you a deal. You tell me where Harley is, and I’ll tell you where I diverted your army to.”
Trusting that Harley wanted Lyle to go after her, Ackley pretended to mull over it before answering, “Losger.”
Lyle’s brows raised in surprise. Then he lifted his hand and waved.
When Ackley spun to face his oncoming attacker, something slammed into the back of his head, knocking him to the floor.
“Excellent job, Lady Mayle,” Lyle said. “You’ve proven you can be trusted.”
Ackley was about to groan when Lady Mayle knelt next to him. “Let me make sure he’s knocked out.” She placed her hand on his face, tilting it toward her.
He kept his eyes closed and his breathing slow and steady.
