Chapter 9
1464 Words
As Clara and Bryce left Gretl’s chambers, Lucas hurried down the dungeon tunnel toward Declin’s cell. He arrived at the gate and loudly whispered Declin’s name through the bars, startling the prisoner who was asleep in the corner.
“Lucas!” Declin jumped up and rushed over to the gate. “What’s going on? I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“My father is dead; the king was murdered.”
“What are you talking about?”
“His body was found this morning.”
“So that’s why the guards were all talking earlier.”
“Yes,” Lucas agreed. “Tobias seems to be in charge now and he has Malcolm stepping up security everywhere.”
Declin put his hand on Lucas’s. “How are you doing with all of this? Zachary was your father.”
“I’m okay. I guess I haven’t really absorbed the news yet. All I want to focus on is getting you out of here.”
“Give yourself time to mourn, Lucas.”
“There will be time for that later,” Lucas said. “In the meantime, I think the king’s funeral will be the perfect time to plan your escape.”
“You just said Malcolm is increasing security.”
“Yes, but security for the funeral will be high given that my father’s murderer is at large. If I can convince Tobias to pull the knights from the dungeon for the funeral, that may provide us a small window of time.”
“I love you for thinking of me like that, but I don’t want you to do anything foolish.”
“I am helping to plan the king’s funeral. Once I know the security plan, I’ll figure out the best time.”
Declin placed his forehead against the bars of the gate and kissed Lucas through them. “I am so grateful for you.”
“We will be together,” Lucas said. “You’ll see.” He turned to look down the corridor. “I have to go. The guards are returning. I’ll be in touch.”
Declin put his hand on the prince’s. “Lucas, wait. Please…be careful.”
Lucas smiled, then rushed away down the corridor as Declin watched.
At the same time, Tobias sat behind the large, ornate desk in his study as Malcolm stood at the window looking out over the countryside.
“If you’re going to serve the new king, there must be absolute trust,” Tobias stated. “I need to know I have your loyalty.”
“You have my unwavering loyalty, as your father did.”
“You knew him almost better than his family did, Malcolm. Do you have any idea who killed him? We are alone now; you must be honest with me.”
Malcolm turned to face the future king. “He knew of your affair with Roslyn.”
Tobias stood up from his chair. “He did?”
Malcolm nodded. “It upset him very much.”
“He never loved her.”
“For your father, it is was never about love. It was about loyalty. You betrayed him and it hurt him deeply.”
“He was a cruel, insensitive king and husband. Roslyn deserves better.”
“That may be, but he didn’t see it like that.”
“He and I didn’t see eye to eye on many things. I suppose that doesn’t matter now.”
“What matters is that you become the king we all need you to be…and that we bring his killer to justice.”
“That is my priority. My family isn’t safe if there is a killer on the loose. That’s why I need your help apprehending the culprit.”
“I will do my best, but we both know your father had many enemies, yourself included.”
“You don’t honestly think that I killed him?”
“You gain the most from his death,” Malcolm stated sternly. “It’s only natural that people will suspect you.”
“You don’t believe that, do you?”
“I know the man you are. You are a man of principle.”
“I am.”
“Which brings me to another point, Your Majesty.”
“What’s that?”
“Your father promised me a wife. I hope you will honor his promise.”
Tobias looked inquisitively at Malcolm. “A wife? I wouldn’t think you’d need any help finding yourself a bride.”
“He and I were in agreement that not just any woman would be appropriate for a man of my…stature. That’s why he promised me a special girl, one suitable to be by my side.”
“Of course,” Tobias agreed. “I’ll honor his promise. Who is she?”
“
"Your sister. Clara.”
While Tobias pondered his deceased father’s promise to Malcolm, Matthew sat by the fire in his cottage warming his dinner. The crackling flames illuminated his handsome face as he watched them sputter beneath the metal pot containing his stew. After a few moments, he used a leather mitt to carefully remove the pot from the fire without burning himself.
He placed the pot onto the cooling rack beside the hearth. Lifting the lid from the pot, Matthew deeply breathed in the delicious scents rising from the stew. Grabbing his bowl and a spoon, Matthew prepared to enjoy his meal, but a knock on his door immediately diverted his attention.
Placing the bowl and spoon aside, Matthew rose to answer the door.
“I’m sorry to bother you at this hour of the night,” Clara said, dashing into the cottage as soon as Matthew opened the door.
“I knew it would only be a matter of time before I saw you,” Matthew replied, closing the door behind her. “Word of your father’s murder travels quickly. How are you coping?”
Clara pulled off her hooded cloak and threw her arms around Matthew. “Hold me. Please, just hold me.”
“Of course,” Matthew replied, taking the princess safely into his strong arms. “This has to be terribly hard for you…and your brothers.”
Clara tightened her arms around the farmer.
“Do they have any idea who—”
“No,” Clara replied before he could finish his question. “It’s so horrible. My family is falling apart.”
Matthew stroked Clara’s silky hair. “The Chamberlains are strong. You’ll be okay once you have time to work through this tragedy. It’s a shock to everyone in the kingdom.”
“I know he had many enemies, but he was my father. He loved me, I know he did.”
“I’m sure he did. How could he not love you?”
“I couldn’t wait to get here. I knew you’d make me feel better. I’d knew you’d make me feel…safe.”
“I’m sure Bryce has been a comfort to you. He’s a good man.”
“He’s my twin; we understand each other in a special way. But you’re…different. You know me more…intimately.”
Matthew kissed her on the forehead. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
She looked directly into his eyes. “Make love to me.”
Her demand caught Matthew off guard.
“Please.”
“Clara, you’re upset and vulnerable. I don’t think now is the time—”
Clara pressed her lips against his in a deep, passionate kiss.
Matthew tried to resist her. “Clara, I don’t want to take advantage of you being so upset.”
Clara ran her fingers under Matthew’s loose shirt over his chest. “Each time you make love to me, it brings us closer together. Tonight, I need to be close to you more than ever.” Kissing his neck, she pulled his shirt off him, letting it fall to the floor.
Rather than resisting, Matthew embraced her passionately. He kissed her deeply, fingering the ties on the back of her dress.
In the distance outside Matthew’s cottage, Clara’s twin brother Bryce raced on horseback toward the farmer’s residence.
Inside her chambers, Roslyn stood staring out into the night sky through the large window near her dressing table. The sky was bright with stars and a soft breeze pushed its way through the trees below her window.
Suddenly, she felt a chill run through her body. She turned away from the window and found herself face to face with her husband, the king.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Zachary declared, the corners of his mouth turning upward into a sinister smile.
Roslyn let out a loud scream and collapsed onto the stone floor beneath her.
- Writer
