Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Her eyes followed the king’s to the door and it opened.
Tavish entered.
“They have left without incident,” Dravic asked, it having taken a full day to ready the group before they could take their leave.
“Aye, my king,” Tavish said. “Wynn, Bria, Kaelan. Dar and Elara as you ordered. They ride for Driochmor. Though with substantial snow on the ground, their journey will take longer, as will any word sent back to us.”
“Dar and Kaelan will make sure any important news reaches me posthaste,” Dravic said with quiet certainty.
Tavish nodded and remained standing there, silent.
Dravic glared at him. “What is it? You look troubled. Do you not agree with my decision?”
“Your decision to send all of them was sound,” Tavish replied without hesitation.
“Then speak.”
Tavish hesitated for only a moment. “Rumors are spreading like wildfire through the castle.”
Dravic’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What rumors?”
Tavish cast a quick glance at Adira. “That she is more than your companion.”
Silence dropped into the room like stone.
Adira glanced between the two men. The king looked angry. The other looked uneasy.
“Tell me, Tavish, do you believe this?” Dravic asked.
Tavish shook his head. “Nay, my king.” He paused. “But I believe the castle does.”
Dravic looked at Adira. “She remains under my protection.”
Tavish did not argue that point, but his next words came carefully. “Then she should not be sleeping in your bedchamber.”
Adira understood then. They were speaking about her, and the king was not pleased.
“I will take that under advisement,” Dravic said, keeping tight rein on his anger. “Bring Eunice here to me. NOW!”
The war room went quiet again after Tavish’s departure.
Dravic remained standing at the map table, one hand gripping the edge of the wood trying to contain his anger. Adira stood nearby, as she always did, watching him more than the room. She had learned the patterns of his silence as much as his movement.
He had not spoken since Tavish left.
The air even felt different.
He finally turned slightly toward her. “It will be dealt with.”
Adira did not know what he said but from his controlled manner she believed he had made a decision about something. She had a feeling it concerned her and her stomach churned with worry.
The door opened and the king’s advisor entered again. This time he was not alone.
A woman stepped in behind him and Adira recognized her immediately. She was the woman who had been in the king’s bedchamber the other night.
Adira was not sure what to do, but since she was not permitted to be with the king when the woman was around, she turned to leave.
Dravic’s hand struck the table hard.
Adira froze, a strong vibration running along the floor and up through her. She turned. The king’s eyes were on her and he pointed firmly beside him.
Adira obeyed immediately, hurrying around the table to stand at his side.
Eunice and Tavish remained silent, waiting.
“What rumors do you spread, Eunice?” Dravic demanded, then angrily added, “No lies better leave your tongue, Eunice, or you will lose it.”
Eunice stiffened but spoke bluntly. “I saw clearly enough, my king.”
Dravic’s eyes narrowed. “Did you, now?”
“Aye,” she said quickly, more emboldened. “Her—standing there in her shift. And you—half dressed—”
Dravic cut her off. “You mean my shirt was off.”
Eunice lifted her chin slightly. “Aye, it was obvious.”
“What was obvious?” Dravic demanded again.
“Your intentions,” Eunice said, without hesitation.
“You claim to know my intentions?” Dravic pounded the table again.
Eunice wisely lowered her chin. “If you sent me away when it was my night to pleasure you, then it was obvious who you would take pleasure with.”
Dravic stepped forward just enough to make the space between them feel smaller.
“You assumed wrong.”
“Then prove me wrong,” Eunice challenged, raising her head.
“How dare you challenge the king,” Tavish said, stepping forward.
Eunice had the audacity to laugh. “Then I am right, for it has been far too many days since any woman has graced the king’s bed. He should be only more than eager to have me pleasure him. But then, of course, if he already has been pleasured and is in no need—”
“Enough!” Dravic commanded.
The anger in his voice had Eunice wisely lowering her gaze.
“I need to prove nothing to you,” Dravic said, “but you shall suffer for your lies.”
Eunice paled.
Dravic looked to Tavish. “Have her hair sheared from her head and put her in the stocks and make sure everyone knows that her crime is… lying.”
“For how long, my king?” Tavish asked.
“Until I decide otherwise. Afterward, she is to work at the wash house, her chore from that day on.”
“Nay! Nay! Please, my king, do not do this to me. I will admit my lies to all but please, I beg you do not punish me like this.” Eunice fell to her knees, holding her hands out to him in mercy.
Adira felt the woman’s fear. It ran through her so strongly that her legs grew weak. Her heart ached for the woman. She could only imagine what the king had said to her to frighten her so badly that had her on her knees begging.