With a smirk at how the entire circumstance had played out where Lady de Barenton, now Lady Mercia, was concerned, Lance headed out of the stable, into the day beyond. He still had no woman, no name, and no position, but somehow, it didn’t matter. Coming to Lioncross had been a life-changing moment for him in many ways. He’d been able to accomplish, at least with David, what he’d set out to accomplish. Perhaps it would go somewhere, perhaps not. But he felt oddly stronger for it.
For Lance le Kerque, everything was going to be okay.
And for Essien al-Kort and Catalina de Efford de Barenton, Lord and Lady Mercia, everything was most definitely going to be okay. A forced marriage had changed their lives, but in a most unexpected way. The very thing they’d fought against had become the very thing that would save them. As Catalina had told Rebecca, her heart recognized his.
And his, most assuredly, recognized hers and would continue to, forever.
Until the world took its last breath.
EPILOGUE
Tournament at Warstone Castle
Seat of the Earl of Wolverhampton, Robert de Wolfe
Ten months later
“He’s not droppinghis left shoulder,” David muttered to his brother. “He’s keeping it in position, asking for you to hit it. Again and again.”
In full armor, astride a horse that was only put to work at tournaments, Christopher was tightening up the strap on the steel protection on his right forearm. He’d just made two passes against William de Wolfe in front of a crowd of tournament fanatics that were standing twenty deep in some places. The lists weren’t big enough to hold everyone who wanted to witness the legendary Christopher de Lohr, winner of multiple jousts, and William de Wolfe, the most cunning knight to walk the earth since King Arthur and his Round Table of warriors. It was a battle of the titans at Warstone Castle, seat of the Earl of Wolverhampton, Robert de Wolfe, and most of the Welsh marches had turned up for it.
Truly, a bout to behold.
“He’s doing it out of arrogance,” Christopher muttered. “I’ve already shattered two lances on him. He wants me to shatter a third, and the match will go into another round if our points are even.”
“I think they are.”
“I do, too,” Christopher said, finishing with the strap. “David… I do not think I can go another bout with de Wolfe. I’m exhausted as it is.”
“Jesus,” David hissed. “Whatever you do, do not tell Dustin. She’ll drag you off this horse and you’ll have to forfeit the match. She’s not stopped yelling at you since you told her that you were going to compete.”
Christopher eyed his wife, sitting in the lists next to Robert and his lovely wife, Gisele. “I know,” he said. “Christ, what was I thinking when I said I’d do this? De Wolfe goaded me into it.”
“He surely did,” David said, grinning. “He played on your monumental pride and you took the bait. And here you are, you old idiot.”
He said it a little too angrily and Christopher rolled his eyes. “Then let me see if I can knock that whelp off his horse,” he said. “I swear to you that if I do, I will dance on him while he’s still on the ground as I steal his horse. I will celebrate this victory until the end of my life.”
“Which may come sooner than you think if you do not pay attention to this match,” David said. “Look—there goes Sherry, over to the enemy side. What in the hell is he doing?”
Christopher lowered his visor. “I do not want to know,” he said. “By the way—have we heard anything from Rhys? He was supposed to be here this morning. He sent word yesterday that he would be arriving.”
David helped him adjust the helm. “He will be here any moment,” he said. “But do not worry about him. You must focuson keeping your head on your shoulders because there is a wolf on the attack.”
Christopher finished with the helm. “Come along, then,” he said. “Lead me to the start so we can get this over with.”
As David took hold of the charger’s reins and began to lead the horse back to the starting position along the guides, Alexander was indeed heading into the enemy camp. On the west side of the guides, William was lined up and ready for his next run. Paris and Kieran were with him, as were a few other knights who had come all the way down from Northwood Castle, where they all served. They, too, wanted to see William subdue perhaps the greatest living knight. When Alexander approached, Paris went to chase him off but Kieran stopped him, shaking his head.
“What?” Paris demanded. “Why did you stop me?”
Kieran’s dark eyes were intense. “Because that is Alexander de Sherrington,” he said in a low voice. “Mayhap you do not remember that he is one of England’s greatest assassins. He would kill you with his thumb and forefinger, and you would never see it coming, so if he wants to speak with William, we will let him. Sherry can have whatever Sherry wishes.”
Paris knew he was speaking the truth, but he still made a face and postured like he didn’t care. He was arrogant, but he wasn’t stupid. He and Kieran and the others watched as Alexander stood at William’s left flank.
“My lord?” William said when he saw Alexander standing there. “Is something amiss?”
Alexander shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I’ve come to tell you that Chris will be aiming for your lance and your arm next, so be on your guard. But if you aim for anything other than his left shoulder, or hurt that man in any fashion, there is nowhere in this world you can run that I will not find you. If I find you, Iwill do unspeakable things to you and you will not survive. Am I making myself clear?”
William’s gaze was steady. “Did he send you here to tell me that?”
