Page 113 of The Champion

He turned at that and went back into the study.

Rowena blinked twice as his words rang in her ears.

He admits it! Rowena’s heart skipped a beat as she realized what Damien had just done.

She rushed down the stairs and out of the castle with only one destination in mind.

Stryder.

It took her several minutes to find him training in the list with Raven who had returned just the day before from his trip to York. Unfortunately, as Zenobia had predicted, he and Will had arrived too late to help their friend.

The two of them had been quiet and withdrawn since their return.

But at least Rowena had good news.

“I have proof!” she announced proudly as the men fought before her.

Stryder lowered his sword as soon as he saw her running toward him. Until he caught a flash of silver.

Whirling fast, he barely had enough time to dodge Raven’s attack.

Raven pulled back immediately. “I’m sorry, Stryder,” he said breathlessly. “I hadn’t realized you were distracted.”

His youngest knight looked at Rowena, blushed, then excused himself.

Stryder pulled his helm from his head as Rowena danced around him like a small child who had just been given a gift.

“He’s guilty!” she proclaimed for the millionth time and, since it had been that many if not more, he didn’t have to ask who she was referring to.

Stryder sighed. Poor Damien. ‘Twas a wonder the man hadn’t killed Rowena for her persistence.

And irritation as she dogged the man’s heels.

He looked at her wryly. “What did he say now?”

She counted her two items off on her fingers. “He threatened me and he admitted he’s killed people.”

He arched a brow at that. “I’m guilty of both of those myself and yet you still live. Healthy and sound in spite of all the aggravation.”

She gave him a menacing glare. “But, but-“

“Rowena, love,” he said, gently interrupting her tirade against Damien, “you must stop dogging Damien’s steps. Everyone has noticed that you all but follow him to the garderobe. The man is toying with you.”

“He admitted it,” she insisted.

Stryder strove for patience. “What exactly did he say?”

“Well, he said my nosiness might be bad for me and I asked if he were threatening me. He said, nay, he would never threaten me, and so I asked if he had threatened others. He said, aye, and that he’d even been known to kill a few of them. See! Proof!”

He shook his head at her. “Those are words, my lady. Nothing more, nothing less. You can’t convict one of the most powerful, well-connected men in Christendom of being an assassin without incontrovertible proof. Damien is far too smart to give that to you. Trust me, I know him.”

She looked even more frustrated than normal. “I can’t believe he’s going to get away with what he has done.” Her voice was thick with heartfelt emotion. “Elizabeth is dead because of him, and I want him to pay for it.”

He removed his gauntlet and touched her creamy cheek lightly. Her soft skin went a long way in soothing his ire with her persistence. In truth, he admired and respected her temerity. “We have no proof that he killed her. All we know is she drowned. It could be an accident.”

She looked up at him with those passionate green eyes that were untainted by the tragedies that had marked his life. “Do you really believe that?”

“Honestly, nay,” he admitted, “I do not. But no one is going to listen to us unless we catch him mid-strike.”