Page 65 of The Guardian's Witch

“Alex,” Cameron peeked his head in the door. “You should be out here.”

“I’ll be right there.” Alex faced Bryce. “This discussion isn’t over.”

“Come, Alex. The jealous husband doesn’t suit you.”

Alex turned to leave the room. He looked over his shoulder. “Stay away from my wife.”

* * *

Lisbeth was next to the king when Alex left the library and took his place with her. His expression gave no hint of what had happened. Bryce followed behind him. The onset of a tingly sensation grabbed her attention. Alex slipped his hand over hers. Her instinct was to pull it away but before she could move, he gently tightened his grip. The tingling started to build. She felt the dampness of the mist begin to gather.Go. She commanded silently. The feeling stilled and slowly subsided. His hand remained.

“I was about to tell Alex and Lisbeth I thought this a good day for them to complete their wedding rites,” the king said to Ramon.

Alex put his hand on Lisbeth’s waist. She didn’t say a word.

Ramon looked down his nose at her, gave Alex a scathing look, and turned to the king. “Why, sire, would you give Glen Kirk and Lady Lisbeth to a traitor?”

Silence spread through the crowd at the mention of the word. Lisbeth looked from Ramon to Alex. Panic welled up in her. She searched through the crowd for Alex’s family. She found them as shocked as everyone else. The merry smiles on each of his brothers’ faces turned sober. One by one they gathered near him. The silence exploded into an uproar.

“Stay calm,” were Alex’s whispered words.

She took a deep breath. He was right. Stay calm.

The king’s jovial expression was wiped away and replaced with a cool cunning glare. “Explain,” he demanded of Ramon.

“The thieving Scots have burnt and pillaged my farms, but only one belonging to Glen Kirk. Why is that? Because Stelton has an arrangement with his Scots brother. They meet all the time. My men patrol the area for you, sire. I’ve witnessed them myself.”

Lisbeth looked at Alex. “Say nothing,” he whispered. He stepped closer to her.

“What proof, Ramon? A man speaking to his brother-in-law is not proof of treason.” The king’s displeasure was evident.

“Few know of their battle sign, sire. How Scots and Scots sympathizers know each other, a single small braid and bead at the nape of their neck.”

“I have no such braid.”

Ramon pulled up Alex’s hair and exposed a trimmed area.

Alex resisted touching the spot. A vivid picture of himself sitting bent over the table in the lodge and the feel of a cold blade against his neck swam before him.

“I see you’ve gotten rid of the offending evidence—your bond with the Scots. You thought no one knew of your plotting with them against the king. Against England. I will not stand for it.” Ramon smirked.

Alex said and did nothing. He listened.

Ramon pulled a silk package from his belt. He unwrapped the small bundle in front of the king and exposed Lisbeth’s violet amber charm along with a single small braid and bead.

“Do you know where I got this? From her pouch when she was at Ravencroft.” Ramon pointed to Lisbeth.

“Alex, I didn’t have my pouch at Ravencroft. You had it. And the stone, there is only one like it. It’s always kept in the lodge in the bedroom chest.” Lisbeth was filled with rage.

Once again Alex spoke softly, “I know. But say nothing. For all that is holy you must remain quiet.”

She did as he said.

“Lord Alex isn’t a traitor!” Robby shouted from the edge of the crowd.

“I know a traitor is never easy to take.” Ramon turned and looked at Alex. “Especially when it is someone who you’ve trusted with your very life.” Ramon turned back to the king. “He’s been conspiring against you, against England, with the Scots.”

“A braid, if he had one, does not mean he’s a traitor, Mitchell. There is more to being a traitor than just looking like a Scots. Besides, the Scots are not the enemy.” The king’s patience appeared to be wearing thin.

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