Page 141 of The Champion

She kissed him tenderly. “That is good then, Stryder. Because there will never be another lord I could ever welcome into my heart.”

Eighteen

Rowena paused as Stryder packed the last of her belongings onto one of his wagons. How odd that when she had arrived, the last thing she had ever expected was to leave Hexham with a husband and a child.

Yet here she was, holding Alexander’s hand while his father packed them for their trip to their new home.

Most of the nobles were gone already and, on the morrow, Eleanor and Henry would leave as well.

Swan was still rather surly with them, but he seemed a little less so today, as he sat mounted on his horse between Val and Will. Raven was holding Alexander’s small palfrey and had volunteered to keep the boy out of trouble while they traveled.

It would take a few days to reach Stryder’s home, where Val and Raven would remain, while Swan and Will rode further north to check on Kit and the others.

Her uncle stood beside her with tears in his eyes. Stryder had gladly allowed him to stay on in Sussex, as his vassal, to oversee the people and lands.

“I shall miss you, sprite,” he said before he kissed her cheek.

“And I you, uncle. You will write?”

“Always.”

Once the last trunk was packed, Stryder joined her. “We are ready when you are, my countess.”

She nodded and gathered her skirts, but before she could take a step, she saw Damien headed toward them.

His long cloak billowed out around him, and he was flanked by two looming men. As he approached them, his men fell back.

He stood before them in silence and as with all the other times she had met him, Rowena couldn’t tell which one of them he was staring at.

After a long pause, he stepped forward and reached his gloved hand out to ruffle Alexander’s hair.

“Take care of your family, Stryder,” he said gruffly. “Let no harm ever befall them.”

Damien picked Alexander up and placed him on the back of his palfrey.

Without a word, he turned and left them staring in his wake.

“That was odd...” she breathed.

“He’s a troubled man,” Stryder said quietly. “I only hope that one day, he finds peace within himself.”

He held his arm out to her uncle. “Take care, my lord. I shall see you anon.”

“Aye,” her uncle agreed. “I fear without Rowena and her ladies, the hall will be far too quiet for my tastes. I shall visit with you very soon.”

Rowena said goodbye to him as Stryder scooped her up and carried her to her horse. He set her up high in the saddle, then handed her the reins. “Are you ready, my lady?”

“Aye, Lord Knave. Lead me into my future, whatever it may be.” Because, now that she had her prince, she knew that her future with a husband would never be bleak. She had found the one man who wouldn’t rule her.

Stryder gave her the same freedom to love him that she gave him to love her.

Epilogue

Withernsea, England, Three months later

Christian of Acre sat in the ale room of the town’s only inn, finishing his supper in solitude while the rest of the inn’s occupants ate and drank noisily around him.

He’d been here for the last four days, waiting for Pagan and Lochlan MacAllister to meet him. The plan was for them to join forces.