The Heir Page 6

  “Well?” Baylin asked angrily. “Isla, why on earth would you strike Luana?”

  The Princess glared at Luana in his arms. “Had you been here a few moments earlier, you would have found it to be necessary. She is completely disrespectful to me, Baylin! She would not bow or show any kind of civility. She would not even answer my simple questions. I only wished to know her better.”

  Luana struggled out of Baylin’s arms toward Isla, reaching her hands out like claws. “You lying c—”

  “Enough!” Baylin pulled Luana back, putting himself between the women.

  “You see?” Isla said in a wounded tone. “And before you came in she threatened to choke me!”

  Baylin turned to Luana with a confused expression. “You wouldn’t?”

  “Of course I didn’t!” Luana felt angry toward Baylin for even questioning her. “She’s lying. As she has been from the moment she showed up in Grasmere; something you should have caught on to!”

  Isla glared at Luana. “You dare speak to the future King of Grasmere in such a familiar tone? Further proof of how insolent she is.”

  Luana felt the heat rush over her. “You lying snake. You spew venomous lies from behind your teeth to hide that disgusting forked tongue!”

  Isla’s expression flashed of rage, but she turned her gaze to Baylin and reached a hand out, placing it on his arm. “Baylin, you’ve known me since we were children. What could I possibly have to gain by lying to you? We are already betrothed. I would do nothing to upset her, for the sake of your child.”

  Luana lunged at Isla again, this time Baylin was ready and held her back.

  “Isla, you should go back to your chamber,” Baylin said, keeping Luana held tightly in his muscular arms. “King Gideon will want to inform you of our plans. We leave for Mirstone at daybreak.”

  The words knocked the breath out of Luana. She stood still as she stared up at him in shock.

  Even Isla seemed to be without words as she gaped at him with her mouth open in astonishment. “I… yes… yes, I will go now.”

  Baylin turned to Luana. “I must escort the Princess back to her chambers.”

  “You can’t be serious.” Luana gave him a look of astonishment. “You accused me of being a liar, then declared you are leaving for war. Yet you are going to see to Isla’s needs first?”

  “I’m not going to argue with you,” Baylin said, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. “I will return to you shortly.”

  Chapter Eight

  Baylin quickly delivered the Princess to her parents and hastened to return to Luana. I cannot leave with this anger between us.

  On his way, Baylin turned a corner and bumped into Lord Cadman. Not this, not now.

  “Prince Baylin, dear nephew, been visiting Princess Isla I see?” Cadman smiled slyly. “How easily you forget your sweet bed wife when another pretty face shows itself.”

  “I do not have time for you,” Baylin said, pushing by his uncle.

  “Probably for the best,” Cadman hissed. “The Princess is a proper match, after all.”

  Baylin was furious. He turned to face Cadman. “There will be no match, not for me. I have no desire to marry the Princess.”

  “You don’t really have a choice though, do you?” Lord Cadman gave a scheming snicker. “You will be forced to marry Princess Isla and your little bed wife will be swept away like dust in the wind, as though she had never been.”

  Baylin grabbed Cadman by the cuff of his tunic. “You do not speak of Luana. You remove her from your thoughts and do not dare speak of her again. You are a vile monster.”

  “That’s no way to speak to your cherished uncle.” Cadman glared at Baylin. “You must realize I have been helping your father arrange this since you were a mere boy.”

  Baylin loosened his grip on Cadman’s tunic as he took in the words. “What do you speak of?”

  “Your future, of course,” Cadman said through crooked teeth. “Or rather, the long task of planning it.”

  “Why would Father entrust you with an undertaking like the joining of the Kingdoms? Those arrangements are made in the strictest confidence between the Kings of each house.”

  “My dear nephew,” Cadman’s tone was heavy with false affection. “Your father was far too busy ruling the Kingdom for matters such as betrothal. He knew I thought of you as my own son, after all. So, in a way, this happy arrangement has been in my hands all along.”

  Baylin slammed Cadman against the cold stone wall. “You are a viper. I need only crush you beneath my boot to rid the world of your vile presence.”

  His uncle laughed. “But you can’t, can you? Your father, my older brother, he would never forgive you, would he?”

  Baylin clenched his teeth and shoved his uncle back down the hall away from him. “There will come a time when he sees you for what you really are. And I will be there, smiling down at you.”

  For the first time, Baylin saw fear flash across his uncle’s face. This pleased Baylin. He turned and headed to his chamber.

  When he arrived, he found Luana watching the setting sun through the window. Her beauty still takes my breath away. She turned at the sound of him; her eyes were red and her cheeks were tear-stained.

  He crossed the room to her quickly. “What is it?”

  “Do you really have to ask that?” she retorted. “You announce you are leaving into battle and your first instinct is to see Princess Isla to her chamber?”

  “I had to do what was right by her.” Baylin tried to pull Luana into his arms. “I had to reconcile the two of you.”

  Luana pushed away from Baylin, causing him to take a step back. “Reconcile? How exactly did you reconcile it? She attacked me and you gave her the affection!”

  He sighed. “I don’t want to argue with you. I leave at first light and I do not wish to have our last night together filled with fighting.”

  “Neither do I,” Luana replied. “It’s just that woman is so vile…”

  “She is still royalty,” Baylin replied. “The law requires she be respected. What were you thinking by treating her in such a way?”

  “What do you mean?” Luana asked. “I wasn’t thinking anything. She showed up here, uninvited, pretending she cared to know me and then turned on me.” Luana gave Baylin a wounded look. “You obviously care about her more than you have let on. You trust her over me.”

  “She said you threatened her,” Baylin said grimly. “It could be considered treason if she presses. I’m trying to protect you.”

  “I didn’t… she’s lying,” Luana muttered, hurt.

  “It’s not like Isla to lie,” Baylin defended.

  “But I am?” Luana spat.

  “Of course not,” Baylin defended. “But obviously someone is lying.”

  Luana screamed at him, wringing her hands in the air. “By someone, you are referring to me. After all, your precious Isla would never lie to you.”

  Baylin realized how his words had sounded. “No, not at all. I simply don’t understand why she would lie.”

  Luana shook her head, gritting her teeth. “She lies because she wants to drive us apart. She lies because she knows you do not want to marry her. She lies because I love you and that worries her. The problem is you are too blinded by her beauty to see it!”

  Baylin stepped forward, cupping Luana’s chin and bringing her eyes to his. “If I have been blinded, it is due to your own beauty. When you are with me, I can see nothing but you.”

  “No.” Luana jerked away from him. “You cannot fix this with charm, by pushing it under the rug. You need to see her for what she truly is.”

  Baylin groaned, frustrated. “I understand why you do not like Isla, I do. But if you could only know her as I do…”

  “You defend her?” Luana accused, glaring at him. “Still?”

  “No… Yes… It’s just…” Baylin grasped at what words to say that would end the argument. He was frustrated, confused and hurt by the whole situation.

  “Yo
u’re just like the King,” Luana said in a wounded tone. “You’re as blind as he is.”

  Baylin looked at Luana, irritated. “What do you mean by that?”

  “You scold him for not seeing Lord Cadman for what he is,” Luana murmured. “Yet you allow a veil to be pulled over your eyes to the Princess’s cruelty and manipulative behavior.”

  Baylin’s face softened, taking in the depth of Luana’s words.

  “I do not wish to fight with you,” Luana continued. “I love you, even with your foolish affection for the Princess. But I will not be accused of something I did not do.”

  Baylin pulled Luana into his arms. “I am sorry to have caused you pain. You must know my greatest desire is only to bring you happiness.”

  Baylin breathed in deep, taking in the sweet smell of Luana. He wanted to memorize it so it would be with him always. He could feel Luana relax in his arms and he gave a deep sigh, feeling the heat of their quarrel passing.

  When they broke their embrace, Luana gave him a worried look. “So it is true then? You are going to war?”

  Baylin dropped his eyes. “Yes. We leave in the morning.”

  “For how long?” Luana’s eyes threatened more tears.

  He took Luana by the hand and led her to the settee, sitting next to her. “Hopefully not long, but these things are not clear until we are in the heart of the battle. Right now, with the amount of men we have, we should be able to clear the troll hordes out of Mirstone in a matter of weeks. However, we will have to stay long enough to re-establish order within the villages. King Gideon was careless. He should have never left his people.”

  She took Baylin’s hands in her own. “I know you feel it is your responsibility to set a good example and defend them, but your duty is to Grasmere, not Mirstone. You are needed here.”

  Baylin jerked his hands from hers. “Not you too.”

  She sucked in a breath and gave him a wide-eyed look. “I love you. Do you think I would rejoice at your life being in danger?”

  “I will not be in danger,” Baylin boomed, standing to his feet. She doesn’t understand. I must do this if I am to prove I am ready to be a leader, to be a King. Once I am King, I can choose who I wish to marry.

  She stood beside him, worry written all over her face. “You cannot be sure. Baylin, I love you.” She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. “Your son deserves to know his father. You cannot guarantee that if you go to war.”

  “You must trust me, my love.” Baylin turned his sad gaze on Luana. “I must do this.”

  “Trust you? As you have trusted me? Trust must be earned; it is not something that is given.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. The sight of them broke his heart.

  He tried to pull her into his arms, but she pushed away. “Do not touch me.” Her heated words cut deep.

  “Luana, please,” he pleaded, trying to coax her into an embrace.

  “No!” she cried. “This is about Isla, isn’t it? It has something to do with earning the right to marry her.”

  “Isla?” Baylin was confused. He reached for Luana. “This has nothing to do with her.”

  “It has everything to do with her!” Luana screamed, pushing hard against his chest. “She said it herself—once you have saved Mirstone of the trolls, you are to be married.”

  Baylin’s mouth dropped open. “I… She…” Baylin tried to find words, but they wouldn’t come. Isla must have told her because only her family and mine know of the arrangement.

  “She was telling the truth for once, wasn’t she?” Luana said with disbelief on her face. “You are going to marry her when you return.”

  “Luana.” Baylin searched her face, trying to find the proper words. He reached out for her hand, but she pulled it away, turning her back on him.

  They stood there in silence. The Prince didn’t know what to say to fix the hurt she was feeling. If she would only see that I will never have to marry Isla. Once this is done, things will be different.

  Reaching out, he gently touched her shoulder. “My love, you must see reason.”

  She turned to him, tears in her eyes and venom in her words. “I hope you don’t come back.”

  The words cut straight to his heart. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Oh, don’t I?” Luana screamed, her eyes wide. “I will not stand by and watch you marry another. I will not suffer the indignity of you allowing her to cast me out of the castle. Why don’t you throw me back into the village now? At least then I will not be a prisoner.”

  “I have told you, I won’t let that happen,” Baylin said, reaching out for her. She slapped his hand away, refusing his touch.

  “Go,” she whispered, turning her back to him again.

  Baylin was wounded and broken. He walked slowly to the door then turned to her. She stared at him with resentment and anger across her face.

  “I love you, Luana,” he muttered. And I know you still love me.

  Chapter Nine

  I hope you don’t come back. The words turned to ash in Luana’s mouth the instant she said them. They haunted her night and day for nearly two months while she waited for Baylin’s return.

  It had been a month since she heard whisper of any news on Baylin on the battlefield. Luana could not take waiting in never-ending silence. She had attempted to send word to him, but the handmaids insisted it was forbidden to allow her any contact outside of the castle, even for Prince Baylin. Her most loyal maid, Meg, informed her that Lord Cadman’s lackeys watched them to ensure she could not get word out of the castle.

  Winter in Grasmere appeared to have finally passed and spring grew thick in the Kingdom. The days were mild and warm, filling the air with the sound of birds and the smell of newly bloomed flowers. Luana, though still confined to her chamber, took comfort in the sun as she stood on the large balcony.

  She paced along the edge of the balcony rail, causing her shadow to dance in ripples as it reflected down on the polished stone floor. She stopped, setting her gaze to the southwest. He’s out there. Somewhere. What if he never returns? I cannot let those words be the last that pass between us. I must get word to him.

  Luana hurried into the room and sat down at her small writing desk, pulling out parchment and quill.

  Baylin, my love,

  I have not received word for nearly a month. My thoughts betray me, and I fear the worst even when my heart hopes for your safety.

  My words when we last spoke were harsh and malicious. I do not have the right to ask for your forgiveness. However, please know that I love you and would gladly give you up to the Princess, or anyone, to be able to see your face again.

  Please, you must make it back safely. I would have you see your son take his first breath in this world. He will need his father.

  I love you.

  Luana

  Tears flowed down her face while she folded the letter carefully. She reached for a small metal bowl warming over a candle and sealed the letter by steadily pouring a tiny pool of melted blue wax over the folded paper. Her heart tore but her words rang true. I would happily see him torn from my arms as long as he was safe and happy. She took a metal stamp that featured the beautiful diamond of Grasmere. Baylin’s royal crest. She pressed it firmly into the hot wax before it had time to cool. She lifted the stamp, revealing the impression it left behind. She wiped away the tears clinging to her cheek. I must get this to him; gods help me, there must be a way.

  Luana, lost in thought, jumped at the sound of a knock at the chamber door. She crossed the room slowly. Her belly had begun to swell as her child grew, and she found the extra weight uncomfortable. She opened the door, discovering Queen Valasca on the other side.

  “Your Grace!” Luana greeted with wide-eyed surprise. She attempted an unbalanced curtsey.

  “Luana, dear,” the Queen said, reaching out to balance her. “You need not bow in your condition. Please, may I come and sit with you?”

  The Queen has never been to the chambers. Luana was not sure if she shou
ld feel flattered or worried at this unexpected visit. “My Queen, of course, you honor me. Do you come with news of Bay… I mean, of His Grace, the Prince?”

  Valasca smiled at her warmly, entering the room. “No, dearest, there has been no news as of late. I’m sure things are fine.”

  “How fares the King, Your Grace?” Luana inquired, shutting the door behind her. She received word the King still struggled to recover from his illness, and the stress of knowing his Kingdom was at war resulted in leaving him bedridden.

  “He suffers, my dear.” The Queen forced a painful smile. “The sooner this war is over, the better he will be.” She crossed the room and seated herself on the cushioned settee, motioning for Luana to join her. When the young bed wife sat down beside her, the Queen put a hand on the girl’s knee. “My dear, how are you feeling?”

  “As well as can be expected, I suppose,” Luana said. “I know I would be much happier if the Prince were here.”

  Valasca patted Luana’s hand. “I know, dearest. You truly do love him, don’t you?”

  She blushed, unable to look at the Queen. “Of course, Your Grace, it is my duty to…”

  “Luana,” the Queen interrupted. “Your thoughts and feelings are safe with me. I, too, after all, am a woman. I know what it is like to love a King of Grasmere.”

  Luana looked up curiously at Valasca.

  The Queen smiled. “Do you not think I remember the little girl who comforted my son when he fell from that tree so very long ago?”

  Luana cocked her head to one side as she raised an eyebrow. She remembers me?

  “Do not act so surprised, my dear,” the Queen said with a smirk. “How do you think Baylin was able to sneak out of the castle with it so heavily guarded?”

  “You?” Luana shook her head. She furrowed her brows. “But why? Why would you let your son do such things?”

  Valasca laughed warmly at Luana’s bewilderment. “Because he deserved to know what real friendship felt like. Within these walls, he is the future King of Grasmere and has always been treated as such. However, playing in the fields and forests with you gave him such joy. You loved him because he was simply your friend. He needed that to become the man he is today.”