Page 25 of The Champion

“We are least likely to be disturbed now.”

“And I am least likely to agree to learn anything at this hour of day, milady. My sleep is hard-won and too precious to be disturbed by something I find as distasteful as song.”

Rowena hesitated at the catch in his voice as he spoke those words to her. “Hard-won how?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he headed back for his bed. “Come back at midday, Rowena, and I will be more approachable.”

“But–“

”No, ‘buts,’ milady. I am weary and wish to sleep.”

His commanding tone set ill with her, but what choice did she have?

She felt a childish urge to stamp her foot at him. Yet, what good would that do?

None whatsoever. Sighing, she set her lute down for when she would return to teach him.

As she started for the opening, a cry rang out.

Lord Stryder was on his feet again in an instant, pulling on his breeches as chaos broke outside the tent.

Rowena left the tent with Stryder one step behind her. He held his sword in his hand as he brushed past her, rushing toward the tent where everyone else seemed to be gathered.

Half-dressed and half-asleep knights were all stumbling past her.

At the top of the hill, men were gathered around a red and blue tent.

As soon as Stryder joined the men, they turned on him.

“You!” Lord Rupert, the elder brother of Cyril snarled. “You killed my brother!”

Rowena wasn’t sure which of them was more stunned by that accusation.

“We all heard your threats against him,” Rupert snarled.

Stryder scowled at him. “I killed no one last night.”

“Liar!”

“I saw him leave Cyril’s tent myself just after matins,” another knight said. “There’s no mistaking the Blackmoor coat of arms.”

Before she could blink, Stryder was seized by a group of knights as Henry made his way through the crowd.

Rupert repeated his accusation to Henry.

“What say you, Lord Stryder?” Henry asked.

“I am innocent.”

One of Cyril’s younger brothers came out of the tent, holding a bloodied medallion. He handed it over to the king.

Henry studied it carefully, before looking back at Stryder. “You were with Cyril in Outremer?”

“Aye, Sire.”

“And where were you last night after you left the hall?”

“In my tent.”