Page 27 of The Champion

When the lad returned with her lute in his hands, the guards released Stryder.

“Show them what you learned, my lord,” the queen said quietly.

Stryder’s gaze was locked to her own.

Rowena held her breath. Did the man even know how to hold a lute?

‘Twas a terrible gamble the queen was taking with all their lives.

Stryder’s gaze softened only a fraction of a degree before he held the lute in his hands. Astonished, she watched as his hands went straight to the correct positions, and then they fumbled a bit as he played a basic tune.

Silence rang out.

The man knew how to play...

Rowena’s mind whirled with the knowledge of that.

Henry sighed and nodded. “Well then, it appears the earl has an alibi after all.”

“Nay!” the knight who had accused him earlier said. “I saw him.”

“Perhaps it was another you saw,” Eleanor interjected. “One who favored the earl.”

The man frowned, but his gaze said he was sure it was Stryder he had seen.

Henry took the lute from Stryder. His gaze was a bit suspicious as he handed the lute to Rowena, who was now fearful, even more, of a forced match.

“Relax, child,” Henry said. “The two of you have a month as We promised. We pray you to make good use of it.”

His words spoken, the king turned around and left them.

The crowd dispersed slowly. Rupert didn’t move. He kept a piercing eye on both of them.

By Stryder’s face, she could tell how upset he was by all of this. Without a word, he headed back toward his tent.

Rowena followed. “Lord Stryder?”

“Leave me alone,” he snarled without hesitating.

She hurried to catch up to him and pull him to a stop. “Milord, please...”

His gaze burned into her. “What is it you want of me now?”

“Who taught you to play?”

“What difference does it make?”

All the difference. He wasn’t at all what she expected. “Why do you disdain music so?”

“For the same reason you disdain knights, my lady. Music cost me the life of the one person I held dearest in this world and, ever since her death, I hate not only it, but all who carry its sound.”

Five

Rowena couldn’t move as she watched the earl return to his tent. She took a step forward, but was stopped as someone took her by the arm.

“Give him his space, Rowena.”

She paused at the pleading look in Kit’s eyes. “You heard?”