Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
“I would be delighted, my lord.”
“Splendid.” Bellen gave me a brilliant smile.
I put my hand on his arm and stood up.
“We are leaving,” Bellen announced.
As he led me out of the office, Bellen pointed at the Knight Captain. Before the door swung closed behind us, I saw the other two knights close on Jehan like two hounds cornering a raccoon.
Outside, sunshine flooded the streets. Lord Bellen gave me another brilliant smile. The man looked overjoyed.
“Lord Bellen, that was amazing. Thank you for my rescue.”
“Don’t mention it.”
He was leading to the right, where a massive white horse waited.
“My carriage . . .” Where the hell was the Shears’ carriage?
“Won’t be necessary,” he assured me. “With your permission.”
He didn’t wait for my permission. He picked me up and lifted me onto the horse. Oh crap. The saddle was neither Western nor Eastern. It had a weird-padded bar. It was probably a war saddle, designed to keep you on the horse no matter what.
What was I supposed to do with my dress?
Screw it. I swung my leg over and sat in the saddle properly. Clover stepped forward and tugged my dress into place with a perfectly neutral expression and subtly nodded. Oh phew. I had done the right thing and dodged a social bullet.
Bellen took the horse’s reins.
“My lord, is this your warhorse?”
“Indeed.”
He started down the street. A couple of guards turned the corner, heading toward the Guard station, saw us, and gaped.
“I cannot possibly ride your warhorse.”
Rellasian knight warhorses were highly trained and prized, and they tended to be loyal only to their rider. Touching a knight’s horse without permission was taking your life in your hands.
“Of course you can. You are doing it right now. You’re so light, he barely noticed.”
“I can walk.”
“Please, my lady, I couldn’t possibly tolerate you overexerting yourself in my presence.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. “My lord . . .”
Bellen gave me another grin. “Lady Maggie, this is a proper rescue. Having bested a corrupt Knight Captain, we must now make our exit in style.”
What? “What if we made a quiet getaway instead?”
“Impossible. The Holy Order of the Defender must maintain its reputation. You have done us a great service by warning us about the danger to Dame Eliarde. It is only fair that we demonstrate to everyone that you are under our protection. Anything else would displease Lord Arvel.”
I glanced at Clover. She made big eyes at me. Right. No help there either. I just had to sit here on top of this colossal horse and try to maintain some dignity. The last time I went riding was two years ago and it was on the beach, in Galveston. My mount had been an old mare, and I rode her at a gentle walk.
The Shears’ carriage was supposed to wait for me. Instead, it was nowhere to be found. In Solentine’s absence, Avaria was in charge, and I had a feeling she did not care for me.
We reached an intersection. We should’ve turned right, north, toward our house. Instead, we turned left, south.
“My lord, I think we’re going the wrong way.”
He frowned. “No, I’m quite certain this is the shortest route.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the Citadel, of course.”
Of course. What was I thinking?
“Why are we going there?”
“To celebrate your glorious rescue.”
“My people will be very anxious about my safety.”
“No worries,” he assured me. “Once we reach the Citadel, I will send your maid to inform them of your whereabouts in a carriage. Clover, is it?”
“Yes, my lord,” Clover answered.
“Have no fear. Your lady will be perfectly safe. I’m reasonably certain the Defender Knights can withstand an assault from the City Guard.”
Bellen winked at me.
I sighed. “When I was younger, my mother said, ‘If a man is charming and smooth-tongued, you must ask yourself how he got that way.’”
“Your mother sounds like a very wise woman,” Bellen said.
“My lord, I think you are the man my mother warned me about.”
He laughed.
I shut up and concentrated on staying in the saddle. At least I had gotten out of the Guard station without revealing my identity. Hreban was still in the dark. Even Bellen only knew my first name, and I needed to keep it that way.
Twenty minutes later we rode into the Citadel’s courtyard. Bellen lifted me off the horse. A female squire came running out and took the reins.
“Get a carriage for Tress Clover,” Bellen ordered.
Clover gave me a look. I nodded. He seemed very intent on separating me from my maid. Might as well find out why.
“This way.” Bellen offered me his arm again.
I put my hand on his forearm, and we ascended the massive staircase, going up to the keep. Midway up, Bellen stopped and frowned. I looked in the direction of his stare. The entire city lay below us, miles of roofs and walls, interrupted by the flat ribbons of the rivers, and in the distance the thin spire of the Mage Tower thrust to the sky. Above it a huge fireball churned, a sphere of brilliant red flames, spinning and turning. Dear god, it had to be bigger than a city block.