Page 22 of The Guardian's Witch

“Alex,are you still here?”King Edward came out of his private apartment.

Alex uncurled to his full height from the hard bench.“Yes,Your Majesty.”

Early in the morning a royal messenger had pounded on his door and rousted him out of bed.He had handed Alex the summons.The king demanded Alex attend him.But that was hours ago.He had planned to leave this morning as soon as the castle gates were open,and instead had spent the day suffering in the small antechamber.The room filled and emptied several times while he paced,cursed and finally sat and waited.His anger long gone,he was resigned to the whim of his king.

“Where is everyone?”The king looked around the room.He had a surprised look on his face.

Alex followed the king’s gaze.“It seems,sire,I’m the last one left.You wanted to see me—this morning.”Alex approached the king.

Edward’s face gave nothing away.His slow,mischievous smile annoyed Alex.What was the man up to?

“Yes,Alex.Come with me.”The king treaded the well-worn carpets with a lively step and led Alex up one hall and down another until Alex was certain they would end up back at the king’s chamber.“Ah,here we are.”The king threw the doors open revealing a large party.Everyone quieted and made way for His Majesty.

One courtier’s voice rang out.“To the bridegroom.”Alex looked startled.Who was the bridegroom?Then the chaos began.

Alex,accompanied by King Edward through the tumult,was the center of attention.His back was pounded and his arm pumped by anyone close enough to touch him.When they got through the room,the king’s man brought the crowd to silence when he pounded his staff on the floor.

“Lord Alex,”said Edward.“Say goodbye to your bachelor days.Tonight you marry.”

Alex felt the blood drain from his face.He quickly summoned up his control to stall the display of any emotion.

“You’ve succeeded where the others have failed.Every other protector I’ve sent to Glen Kirk has gone missing.Was it Lady Lisbeth’s beauty and charms that kept you there?”

The mention of Lisbeth’s name among this crowd made his temper rise.The room exploded in loud laughter.Aflurry of activity left Alex draped in flowers and propelled onto the small dais where a veiled woman stood attended by two others.Alex glared at the king.

Edward leaned close to ensure only Alex heard.“If only you could see your face.”

“Aword,sire,”Alex asked in a controlled quiet tone.

“You have my full attention,”the king said softly as he nodded recognition to courtiers.

“There was no mention of a marriage.”

“And your point?”

“Sire,I’m certain I will marry,but it will be to a woman of my own choosing.”Alex held to a thin glimmer of hope that this was all a bad hoax.

The king’s expression turned hard.“Do you doubt my judgment?”

Alex looked at his king and knew all was lost.“No,sire.”He bowed his head slightly in submission.“But would you reconsider?”He could hear the desperation in his voice.

“You know I have your best interest at heart.”Edward paused.“Would you give me Glen Kirk as forfeit?”

He imposed an iron control on his face.“Iam grateful for your choice of wife,sire.Iam a fortunate man.”Alex bowed.He would never give up Glen Kirk.

The king straightened,clapped him on his back,and boomed in a loud voice, “Come,you’ll be married to your Lisbeth by proxy.I’ve arranged everything.”

Alex was certain he had.He smiled through clenched teeth.

“Lord Alex.”The king ushered Alex in front of a meek little man who hardly fit the elegant robes he wore.Two of Alex’s brother’s,Bennett and Cameron,moved out from the crowd and joined him.

“Easy,Alex,”said Cameron.“The king’s entertainment will soon be over.”

Alex stood there seething.The robed man went on and on but Alex stood rigid and remote.Glen Kirk was worth the inconvenience of a wife.

“Kneel,sir,”the robed man,sword in hand,demanded of Alex.“Kneel and prepare for the sword of courage.”

“Watch that sword of yours,Alex.You won’t need courage,more likely stamina.Isuspect you’ll be thrusting it all night,”shouted someone,sending the crowd into peals of laughter.

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