tree. He was about to call out to her when he noticed a pair of hands on her waist. He ducked behind a blooming bush and watched as she reached up and kissed someone. The man bent forward to greet her in the moonlight and as the moonbeams lit up his face, he could see ’twas none other than the traitor.
“I followed you and your betrothed on your outing,” he told her. “I could not bear seeing you in another man’s arms.”
God’s teeth, thought Braden. How many people were on that outing spying on him while he’d tried to court the woman? Naught was private around here, and he did not appreciate his every move being watched by one person or another. Not wanting or needing to see more, he decided to put an end to this little secret rendezvous.
He pulled his sword from his sheath and rushed forward, now holding the tip of his blade against the man’s throat.
“I should have known you were a traitor in more ways than one,” he ground out.
The man raised his hands above his head and Lady Christabel stepped back and looked at him with pleading in her eyes.
“Please, Sir Braden, let him go. He is unarmed and means no harm.”
“No harm?” He almost laughed at the irony of it all. “Because of him I was almost captured and executed. And now he tries to steal from me my betrothed as well. I cannot let you escape, traitor,” he told the man. “I have made a promise to Lord Solomon to bring you to him and I plan to uphold it. Now come with me, as I am sure my liege lord would be very pleased I’ve caught the traitor right inside his castle walls.”
Lord Solomon walked out into the gardens just then with Sir Samuel and two other knights following. “Sir Braden, what is all the commotion?” he asked. “Is everything all right between you and my daughter?”
“I have caught your traitor, my lord.” He grabbed hold of the stablemaster and shoved him forward, presenting him to his lord.
“So you have,” he said with a pleased nod of approv al. “And I would have him executed just as soon as you return with the girl spy as well. We would have a double execution, and put an end to this deceitfulness forever.”
Braden felt his heart sink within his chest. This isn’t what he expected his liege lord to say. But now that he’d been given his order, he needed to carry out the wishes of the man to which he now paid fealty.
“Aye,” he answered, hating himself for agreeing. “I would leave at first light to go and collect the girl.”
“Do not let me down, Sir Braden.”
“Nay, my lord ,” he answered, saying the words expected of a knight is his position. “I would not let you down. You know you can count on me.”
Chapter 12
Portia sat atop the highest peak of Mount Calila the next morning, her face turned upward toward the sky. She breathed in the fresh, virgin air, feeling her body fill with the essence of the wind, strengthening her powers of being an elemental of the air. Spending the night in nature had made her feel refreshed and alive again. She was happy that Juturna had given her the suggestion, as ’twas exactly what she needed all along.
She wove mountain flowers into a crown and placed it on her head. She felt so alive atop the peaks, and knew she was safe here from her ruthless stepmother as well as the Klarens who had all but taken over her father’s castle. She was able to climb the hills easily with the help of the breeze, and she knew the element of air would protect her and keep anyone from following.
She stood atop the cliff and stripped the gown from her body. She never liked the way clothing felt against her skin. She was a sylph and needed to feel the air all around her in order to really feel alive. She raised her arms over her head and paid homage to the sky. Then she lay atop a soft patch of grass and stared up into the swirling depths of blue and white.
The clouds drifted by, taking on shapes , and she played the game she’d loved as a child. With her
“I followed you and your betrothed on your outing,” he told her. “I could not bear seeing you in another man’s arms.”
God’s teeth, thought Braden. How many people were on that outing spying on him while he’d tried to court the woman? Naught was private around here, and he did not appreciate his every move being watched by one person or another. Not wanting or needing to see more, he decided to put an end to this little secret rendezvous.
He pulled his sword from his sheath and rushed forward, now holding the tip of his blade against the man’s throat.
“I should have known you were a traitor in more ways than one,” he ground out.
The man raised his hands above his head and Lady Christabel stepped back and looked at him with pleading in her eyes.
“Please, Sir Braden, let him go. He is unarmed and means no harm.”
“No harm?” He almost laughed at the irony of it all. “Because of him I was almost captured and executed. And now he tries to steal from me my betrothed as well. I cannot let you escape, traitor,” he told the man. “I have made a promise to Lord Solomon to bring you to him and I plan to uphold it. Now come with me, as I am sure my liege lord would be very pleased I’ve caught the traitor right inside his castle walls.”
Lord Solomon walked out into the gardens just then with Sir Samuel and two other knights following. “Sir Braden, what is all the commotion?” he asked. “Is everything all right between you and my daughter?”
“I have caught your traitor, my lord.” He grabbed hold of the stablemaster and shoved him forward, presenting him to his lord.
“So you have,” he said with a pleased nod of approv al. “And I would have him executed just as soon as you return with the girl spy as well. We would have a double execution, and put an end to this deceitfulness forever.”
Braden felt his heart sink within his chest. This isn’t what he expected his liege lord to say. But now that he’d been given his order, he needed to carry out the wishes of the man to which he now paid fealty.
“Aye,” he answered, hating himself for agreeing. “I would leave at first light to go and collect the girl.”
“Do not let me down, Sir Braden.”
“Nay, my lord ,” he answered, saying the words expected of a knight is his position. “I would not let you down. You know you can count on me.”
Chapter 12
Portia sat atop the highest peak of Mount Calila the next morning, her face turned upward toward the sky. She breathed in the fresh, virgin air, feeling her body fill with the essence of the wind, strengthening her powers of being an elemental of the air. Spending the night in nature had made her feel refreshed and alive again. She was happy that Juturna had given her the suggestion, as ’twas exactly what she needed all along.
She wove mountain flowers into a crown and placed it on her head. She felt so alive atop the peaks, and knew she was safe here from her ruthless stepmother as well as the Klarens who had all but taken over her father’s castle. She was able to climb the hills easily with the help of the breeze, and she knew the element of air would protect her and keep anyone from following.
She stood atop the cliff and stripped the gown from her body. She never liked the way clothing felt against her skin. She was a sylph and needed to feel the air all around her in order to really feel alive. She raised her arms over her head and paid homage to the sky. Then she lay atop a soft patch of grass and stared up into the swirling depths of blue and white.
The clouds drifted by, taking on shapes , and she played the game she’d loved as a child. With her
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