The few minutes I sat there on that sofa after Gwen left my family suite was not going to make a difference in preparation for Rian’s party. Arlana was going to have a fit anyway. I could not believe Gwen just left without saying a word. Was she not hurting over our separation like I was? I would like to think it was only self-preservation on her part when she ignored me, but I could not be positive. I eventually came to the realization that even if she had turned to me and allowed me to take her into my arms one more time, it would not have changed anything. This problem with Juliane Sawyer would still be there.
The morning of Rian’s birthday, I woke both of my brothers so we could go before breakfast to allow Rian to pick out his horse. It was a tradition in our family—we all got to choose a horse of our very own for our tenth birthday. Rian took his time choosing his from the yearlings available. He finally settled on a Dapple Gray stallion.
Just like Father had done for each of his sons, I explained how temperamental these stallions could be and told him they would need to spend plenty of time together if he wanted the best relationship with his horse. It was a bittersweet moment for all of us.
Despite the short notice, Arlana seemed to have everything ready for the party. After breakfast, the dining hall was cleared and games were set up at each table. Prizes were given out to every child who participated. There were smiles on the faces of adults and children alike when cake was served before dinner. Arlana had allowed a two-hour meal time before the archery contest was to begin.
After dinner, it seemed as if the entire castle full of people emptied out to go watch the children compete. Everything was set up by the two archery ranges beside the barracks that the warriors used for practice. I was surprised to see that one was meant for the children and the other for adults.
Gwen stood beside the line of children with the look of pride showing on her face. She seemed to be the one deciding the order in which they would shoot. It was obvious that she was allowing them to go according to skill. Some of the first shooter’s arrows went awry, missing the target completely. Each archer was better than the one before.
I was surprised to see little Gemma standing just in front of Rian at the end of the line. She stepped up to the mark and took aim like she had been doing it all her life. A cheer went up when her arrow hit in the ring next to the bull’s-eye. I had never seen the little girl smile so big. She walked over to receive a hug from Glynis. It was good to see that they seemed to have forged a bond between them.
Rian was next. Gwen put her hand on his shoulder and whispered something to him. He nodded and then stepped up to the mark. I believe I must have been holding my breath, praying he would land a good shot—not because I wanted my brother to win, but because I knew he needed the emotional boost.
He took his time. I watched his shoulders rise as he inhaled and then the release. His arrow landed just inside the center circle. It was the best of all the children.
Surprisingly, he turned and hugged Gwen. He said something I could not hear. She threw her head back and laughed as she hugged him back. I could not help but think what a fine mother she would make one day.
I had not been paying attention to the men using the other target until one of them walked up with a boy, obviously his son, who was taller and older than Rian. “My boy challenges him to a shoot-off, best out of three.”
What was this man thinking in challenging Rian on his birthday, not to mention the fact that he was a prince of this kingdom? I recognized the man as one of my warriors—someone who should know better. I waited to see how this would be handled. I would intervene if necessary.
“That hardly seems like a fair challenge considering Rian has only been training for weeks where as your son has been at it for years.” The way Gwen’s arm lay across Rian’s shoulders, one would think he belonged to her.
The man curled his lip up as he lifted his chin. “If you are as good an instructor as everyone claims, you should have nothing to worry about.”
Rian tilted his head back and looked up at the man. “I have an idea. You go up against her. That is, unless you are afraid you will lose to a woman.”
The man looked at Gwen as if to size up his competition. Her gaze never left his face. The crowd around them was quiet. Everyone was looking at Gwen wondering if she could do it. I had little doubt that she would win, but I was not sure what the consequence would be.
The man sniffed. “All right, let’s do it.”
Gwen looked at Rian and grinned. “Go get my bow and quiver, please.”
Rian ran over to the side of the barracks where her equipment was waiting. Had they planned this?
After strapping on her quiver, Gwen stepped up to the place marked on the ground while the warrior took his place at the adjacent range. They both took careful aim. Gwen let go of her arrow seconds before her opponent. They both hit dead center of the target. Another warrior stepped up to inspect each target before proclaiming it a tie.
The two archers took their marks fifty yards back from their original positions and shot again. Gwen’s was still dead center, but the self-appointed judge claimed that her opponent’s arrow hit a quarter of an inch off from center.
“It counts. As long as it is in the bull’s-eye, it counts.”
The man had a look on his face as if he were daring her to contradict him. Gwen just shrugged and started walking back another fifty yards away from the target. She turned and took her shot before the man made it to his mark. Her arrow was still in the bull’s-eye but was close to the edge.
The warrior squinted at her target just before a grin split his face. She watched as he took his time making the shot. It was Gwen’s turn to grin when his arrow struck the target in one of the outer rings. She walked over and stuck out her hand to the man. He looked at her hand and then back to her face before he gave in and shook it.
The crowd closed in around her, blocking my view at times. The men slapped her opponent on the back in a teasing manner which he took good-naturedly. Some of the women stood back with a look of judgment on their faces, but there were just as many gathered around Gwen in animated conversation.
Suddenly one man divided the crowd to get to her. He took her up in his arms and swung her around. Instead of getting angry as I expected, her face lit up as she emitted a girlish giggle. Heat seared from my stomach up to my throat. I had an almost uncontrollable desire to walk over and punch the man in the face.
Then I heard her call out Daddy, what are you doing here? My shoulders sagged in relief. How long would it take for my heart to understand that she no longer belonged to me? Upon closer inspection I realized it was indeed her father, Einri Alexander, but what if it had not been? She had every right to find someone new. In fact, there had been so many letters coming from Austin Connor, I expected him to show up at any time asking for her hand in marriage.
I looked on as they spoke to one another. I had hoped she would bring him over to greet me, but she grabbed his arm and directed him toward the castle.
“Your Highness.” I turned and looked into the dark eyes of Antoine Lewis, the general over my warriors. He bowed, and I nodded in recognition. “Prince Reagan, I wondered if I might have a moment of your time later, after the celebration of course.”
“Do you wish to talk to me about why one of your warriors challenged Prince Rian today?”
“That was a rash decision on his part and I will be speaking with him about it, but that is not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What is it then?”
He looked around him and then leaned in close. “It is concerning that man you have living in the barracks, Mr. Sawyer, sir.”
“Is he causing trouble with the warriors?”
“Not with the warriors, but maybe with you.”
I looked around to see what Rian was doing. There was a crowd of children around him talking and laughing with one another. I knew he had been having trouble fitting in lately, so it did my heart good to see him as one of the group. It was a few hours until supper time when my attention would once again be focused on him.
“Can you meet me in a half an hour in my office?”
“Yes sir, I will be there.”
My mind went back to Gwen and her father as soon as the warrior walked away. After congratulating Rian on his shot, I found Arlana to insure proper accommodations were made for Mr. Alexander. As I had suspected, she did not have a clue that he was here. I had never seen our stewardess appear as frazzled as she did in that moment. Having to plan a party fit for a prince and then hearing that her Aislinian counterpart had shown up unexpected was proving a trial for the woman who seemed unshakable at times. Regardless of her obvious disdain of Gwen, I knew she would offer the best of Gilvary to her father.
I arrived at my office just before Antoine. He wasted no time getting to the point. “Your Highness, I did not come here to gossip, but I felt I would be remiss in my duties and my loyalties to Gilvary if I did not make you aware of what is going on. Mr. Sawyer started out friendly toward everyone—overly so, if you ask me. Then he began making small, negative comments here and there aimed toward you. After only a month of being here, he has the warriors divided.
“Most of them are on your side and think you are doing a fine job. It is the few who do not that worries me. I have warned them of what would happen if I personally heard the words of treason coming from any of my warriors’ mouths. That’s when Mr. Sawyer informed me that he was not a citizen of Gilvary. I fear this man is only here to stir up trouble and felt you should know about it.”
I leaned back in my chair as I listened to the general speak. It was no secret that some felt my father was a stronger ruler. They were probably right on that account. What would he do if he were here? No doubt he would secretly have them all killed—including Angus Sawyer. In fact, that man and his daughter probably would have never made it to this castle. It made me sick to think such a thing.
This warrior could have come here with the purpose of only trying to get on my good side. He could be a deceiver with another motive that I could only guess at, but I doubted that was the case. I had seen him at the front of the chapel with his deep, clear voice ringing out songs about the cross while tears streamed down his face. I believed he was sincere.
“Antoine, you know why he is here. He may stir up even more trouble if I send him away. At least here he can be watched. If you think it would be better, I can have a room made up for him in the tower with his daughter.”
He rubbed his chin and looked down at my desk. “No, I think you are right. He needs to stay close where me and those I know are loyal to you can keep an eye on him.”
“I would like a list of those who are not loyal to me.” His gaze snapped up to meet mine. I could guess he was remembering my father’s ways. I held up my hand palm out. “I am not going to do anything to them unless you tell me they have definitely committed treason. I do not relish the thought of beheading anyone. I do think that they should be held back from any promotions until their loyalty is proven, and I would not want to inadvertently take one of them into my confidences.”
“I understand. You want to be aware of those who might be an enemy. I would want the same. I will deliver the list to you personally later today.”
“I appreciate your honesty and would ask one other thing from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Will you be my advisor? I need someone to oversee our defenses, and you would be perfect for the job.”
I could see he was trying to maintain a neutral expression, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “Can I pray about it and get back to you?”
“That is perfectly acceptable.” Actually I was pleased with his desire to pray even though I suspected he had wanted to answer with an immediate yes.
Though I had not planned to ask him to fill the position before this moment, it felt as if a burden had lifted from my chest when the words left my mouth letting me know I was right to ask it of him.
Later that night, I came into my mother’s room to find Rian in an animated conversation, telling Mother all about his day. With the smile she wore, I almost got a glimpse of the beautiful woman she was before my father’s death.
“Rian was just telling me about his horse. Did he tell you what he has decided to name him?”
I could tell Mother was staring at me as if to catch my reaction even after I turned to look at my brother. Rian picked at the quilt on the bed where he sat. I waited, but he did not say anything.
“What did you name him, Rian?”
His reply was just above a whisper. “Alexander.”
I swallowed hard while wondering if Gwen had any idea of how much she had influenced this child in the last few weeks. “I think that is a good, strong name. You did well in choosing it.”
One corner of his mouth lifted, but he still did not look at me. He stood and bent to give the queen a kiss on the cheek. “Goodnight, Mother.”
“I am headed to bed myself. I just came in to wish you a goodnight.” I bent and gave her a kiss on the other cheek. I had a feeling she wanted to talk about Gwen, but I just could not do it. It was bad enough that she haunted my dreams almost every night.
“Goodnight, son.”