Page 34 of A Dark and Stormy Knight (A Knight’s Tale #3)
T he doors to the dungeon yanked open and each one slammed to the ground as it fell.
Wallace had already been fed, though he hadn’t touched the meal and he sprang to his feet, expecting Lord Dinsdale to come down the stairs to see if he’d eaten poisoned food and died.
The man probably wished to reassure himself before sounding the alarm.
But it was not Dinsdale coming down the stairs, but first one guard stomped down the steep staircase, and then another.
Wallace stood by the bars, wondering what the men wanted, and if it boded ill for him.
The guards halted outside his cell. “Lord Wolfsbane, you’ve been summoned by the king.” The guard’s voice was calm, slightly deferential.
Was this a trap? He could not see the men’s expressions, but one unlocked the door and when it swung wide, Wallace half-expected an attack of some kind, but the guard stepped back and gestured him forward.
The second guard offered his weapons, both sword and dagger. Surely, a trap?
He cautiously came out of his cell, took his weapons, felt better with them in hand, and moved a few more steps toward the stairs.
The expected blows didn’t come and he started up the stairs, every fiber of his being anticipating a trick. He pounded upward as if the dogs of hell were at his back, ready to rend and tear.
When he came out in the fresh air and twilight, a familiar voice called out, “Wallace?”
His mother.
The tension left him. She would not be there if this were a trick. “What has happened?”
“Cara has spoken to the king, and he’s agreed to another joust between you and Dinsdale for our lands and property.”
The excitement coming off her was palpable.
Shock held him in place as he wondered, was he still in his cell, asleep and dreaming?
Cara had spoken for him?
Disbelief warred with pleasure. As he’d languished in the dungeon, she’d taken his part before the king? If that was true, she must have defended him in front of everyone. The entire court.
He drew in a breath. That she would do such a thing, jeopardize her own position, would never have occurred to him.
Did she love him?
A deep rush of satisfaction flooded him.
If he’d captured her heart, there was naught he could not accomplish.
Both guards were at his back, and one made an impatient sound in his throat.
Lady Helena glanced at them, and grasped Wallace’s hand in hers and gave him a tug. “Quickly, to the kitchen. We need to get you cleaned up and in front of the king as swiftly as possible.”
“Why do I need to be cleaned up? Should I not go directly before the king?”
“He should,” one of the guards said.
“Cara insists, and she seems to know what she’s about.”
In the kitchen, Lady Helena demanded a cloth and some of the water warming over the fire.
Lady Helena bid him quickly wash his hands, face, and then used another dry cloth to brush at his clothing.
She finger-combed his hair and when she was satisfied, led him to the kitchen toward the great hall.
She stopped in the hallway and her hand shot out. She tugged him down and whispered in his ear, “Lady Cara has named you a hero. Shoulders back, voice steady, and do us all proud.”
As confused as he was, he gave his mother a quick nod and strode around the corner and into the room.
Whatever he’d been expecting, it was not this. Lords and ladies still in their wedding finery, chatting, laughing, all of it ceasing abruptly as every eye in the room turned toward him.
A quick glance showed Lady Cara stood near the queen. He gave her a quick once over, and moved forward, understanding his mother’s admonishment to look strong and steady in the face of ... whatever this was.
The crowd parted as he made his way to the king and knelt on one knee, bowing his head. “My liege.”
“And here he is, warrior, savior, and dare I say, gentleman?”
At his words, there was laughter, and Wallace didn’t understand any of it.
Still, he’d take the praise over the king’s condemnation.
“Rise and stand tall, Lord Wolfsbane, I’m sure your betrothed wants to assure herself of your good health after your separation.”
He did as the king commanded, meeting the king’s sharp gaze for a moment, before it slipped to Cara once again.
“See you, Lady Cara, your betrothed, and he is none the worse for wear. I am sure he will soon feel up to any duties you require of him.”
A few of the men snickered.
Cara tipped her head and smiled. “Duties, indeed, Your Majesty. What can you be suggesting?”
The king, and everyone else laughed, and Wallace tried not to show his confusion.
As glad as he was to have Cara acknowledged as his, his wariness didn’t abate. If there was to be another joust, he wanted it stated plainly.
“Sir Rupert, come forward.”
Sir Rupert left Amelia’s side, a fact not lost upon Wallace. When the man died upon the morrow, his sister would suffer the man’s presence no longer.
When Sir Rupert stopped beside Wallace, their gazes clashed and Wallace drew in a deep breath, his heart picking up speed, his body readying for a fight.
Sir Rupert, blue-eyed, looked naught like his father, and was a few inches shorter than Wallace. His bulk was made up of muscle, though Wallace could but wish the man had run to fat.
Wallace’s lips curled into a sneer and his fists clenched and unclenched as he stared down the man who would be dead and buried soon enough.
“Gentlemen, there are ladies present,” King Henry admonished. “Do not forget yourselves.”
Sir Rupert thrust his chin at Wallace before facing the king, and Wallace’s lips curled when the other man looked away first.
When everyone quieted, the king smiled at the two of them. “It has been decided, by me, that the joust that was interrupted at Stirling will take place on the morrow, directly after we have broken our fast. All properties shall be restored to Wolfsbane should he win. Naught if he loses.”
At the words, a slight shock, equal parts relief and disbelief raced through him. Though his mother had informed him of the king’s change of heart, he’d not quite believed it.
“Dinsdale, Wolfsbane, are we agreed to the terms?”
“Your Majesty.”
Wallace hadn’t realized how close Lord Dinsdale was until he came forward to stand on the other side of his son.
Hatred and dark satisfaction swirled within him, even as the other man bowed to the king.
He had every intention of killing Sir Rupert this time, and depriving Dinsdale of his heir. Finally, it would be a life for a life. “Agreed, Your Majesty.”
“I want things kept civil,” the king continued. “We want to be sure we made the right decision in seizing the Wolfsbane property.”
The king looked stern. “Understand me, this is a wedding. I would prefer no one is slaughtered upon the morrow. I do not wish for tears staining the festivities.”
The king smiled at his wife. “I do so hate to disappoint the ladies.”
Wallace’s mouth opened and closed, instinct telling him he’d best not complain. Apparently, the king had no problem disappointing the men. Still, when blood ran hot, many an injury happened upon a jousting field, some fatal, and the king would likely not hold such a death against him.
The king suddenly clapped his hands. “And now, for more entertainment, I think ’tis time to take the newlyweds upstairs!”
The crowd signaled its approval by gathering up the bride and groom and escorting them out of the great hall as the king led the way.
Eyes narrowed, Wallace watched Lord Dinsdale stare after Lady Helena as she took Amelia away.
He finally slunk after the rest of the crowd, but it mattered not. His comeuppance would come on the morrow.
Lady Cara slipped her hand into his, and soon enough, they only shared the great hall with the servants.
“Thank you, my lady,” his words were heartfelt, sincere.
She wrapped her arm around his. “You can thank me by surviving tomorrow.”
He gave her a slight smile. “If you promise not to run between us, I can assure you, that I will win.”
“You’d better,” she said, and tugged him forward.
He moved, willing to let her lead, still unable to believe he was out, free, and he’d get his second chance.
He was not sure how Cara managed it, and it seemed a miracle somehow, and gratitude, and mayhap love, welled within him.
This was a woman to be proud of. One to have at his side.
After the joust, after vengeance was satisfied, they could start their lives together back at Wolfsbane Castle.
He could make her content, glad she’d thrown her lot in with him. He just needed the chance.