Lorik The Defender (The Lorik Trilogy) by Toby Neighbors Page B

Queen Issalyn in mortal danger again.
    He wondered for a moment if he was in love with the queen. She was certainly a fine woman; strong, smart, compassionate, and beautiful. He’d never been in love before and he wasn’t comfortable with the way he felt. He loved Vera, but that was a protective, familiar kind of emotion. With the queen, it was as if his heart had been plucked from his chest and was walking around, exposed and in danger. She was never far from his thoughts, and being near her made him feel weak and strong at the same time. His desire for her was strong, almost intoxicating. Yet, he also wanted to honor her, to ensure that nothing he did besmirched her in any way.
    It was love, he surmised, but he refused to let it sway his decision. He couldn’t go north with her. What would King Ricard think if he found the Queen of Ortis in a sordid love affair with Lorik? It could damage their mission, and as much as he cared for the queen, he couldn’t leave Ortis exposed. The kingdom had become like his own child. He had a deep seated, unexplainable need to protect Ortis from all threats. He needed to defend the kingdom, even if that meant dying in the process.

Chapter 10
    Lorik found that Queen Issalyn’s shieldmaidens were on full alert. Several stood guard around the large tent. Each of the ladies were fully armed and watchful. The news of the attack had spread through the camp quickly and now people were passing by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the queen, or see some of the carnage from the attack.
    Lorik was given a wide berth as he walked through the city of tents and hastily erected shelters. The people of the camp whispered about him, but he ignored the hushed voices and focused on what he would say to the queen.
    “May I enter?” he asked the ladies at the entrance to the tent.
    “Of course, my lord,” they said, stepping aside.
    Lorik had to duck slightly to come through the narrow flap. The interior of the big tent was spacious by camp standards. One corner had blankets hung to form a smaller room. Lorik guessed Queen Issalyn was within, since the rest of the tent appeared empty.
    “My lady,” Lorik said. “Are you here?”
    Queen Issalyn stepped out. Her eyes were red and her skin, which had taken color on the long march north, seemed pale.
    “Are you well?” Lorik asked.
    “I am, thanks to you,” she said moving closer to him.
    “I am sorry that wretched man threatened you,” Lorik confessed.
    “I admit I was terrified,” she said, “but I was more frightened for you than for myself.”
    She was close enough that she put a slender hand on his arm. Lorik could feel his heart rate increasing. Just being close to Issalyn was intoxicating, but when she touched him it took all of Lorik’s self-control not to pull her into his arms and kiss her. He’d had his share of flings over the years, but no one had ever made Lorik’s heart race the way Queen Issalyn did. He wondered briefly if it was because she was queen. She should have been untouchable, and yet here she was, alone with Lorik and touching his arm.
    “I’m not sure what to say,” Lorik managed.
    “Say that you will stay with me,” Queen Issalyn said. “I feel the need for your protection every hour of the day.”
    “My lady,” Lorik said.
    “Don’t,” the queen interrupted, “don’t hide behind decorum, Lorik. The time for that has passed. I love you. I can’t stop thinking about you. My food is tasteless, I can’t sleep. Please, say you love me too and end my misery.”
    “I...” Lorik hesitated. He wanted to confess his love, but he was afraid. He felt torn over his decision to leave and he was afraid that he was somehow shirking his task if he didn’t confront the witch’s army.
    “I’ve seen the desire in your eyes,” Queen Issalyn said. “Tell it is more than that. Tell me you love me, Lorik. I have never felt this way about any man. I don’t care about what is right or wrong, I don’t care what anyone