Page 49 of The Champion

Kit’s face was every bit as haunted. “So, bother him not, Rowena, about anything trivial.”

She nodded, her throat far too tight to speak.

Rowena left Kit and returned inside where Stryder still prayed. The light of the candles played in his hair, while he held himself as still as any statue.

She realized, as she glanced about, that two more of his knights were there. The only ones missing were Nassir, Zenobia and Christian.

No doubt they were off trying to find Cyril’s killer, before he could kill their next friend, while Raven and Will traveled to forewarn him.

Rowena offered up her own prayer that they succeeded.

Stryder slowly became aware of someone watching him. He opened his eyes to see Rowena just on the edge of his peripheral vision. His heart heavy over the one promise in his life that he had made and broken, he crossed himself and rose slowly to his feet.

As he approached, he realized her eyes were filled with unshed tears. “Are you all right, milady?”

To his utter shock, she pulled him into her arms and held him tightly. He felt her tears fall against his neck as she clutched him to her.

Stryder couldn’t have been more stunned had she slapped him. Indeed, that he would have almost expected.

But he needed this warmth from her at the moment. Wrapping his own arms around her, he held her and let the pain inside him lessen a degree.

If he lived an eternity, he would never forget the boy whose face he never saw. He could only hear the child’s voice through the walls of their prison. Hear the sounds of his cries as he was tortured.

“Swear to me, Widowmaker. Swear you won’t leave me here for them.”

“I swear it. I will get you out of here and take you someplace where no one will ever hurt you again.”

He had missed that promise by one day. One single day. If they had left just one night sooner, the child would have lived.

Someone cleared his throat.

Stryder became aware of the fact that he and Rowena were embracing in the midst of a church. Reluctantly, he withdrew from Rowena to see Val indicating a priest, who was glaring at them.

Taking her hand, Stryder led her from the chapel, back outside. Val and Swan walked past them, in the direction of the training list while he hesitated outside the chapel door with Rowena.

He wiped the cold tears from her cheeks as he watched her closely. “What has you so upset?”

She sniffed delicately. “Nothing. I think I just didn’t get enough sleep last night.”

He arched a brow at that.

“I had something in my eye?” she tried again.

Now he frowned.

Rowena rubbed a hand over her brow as if every bit as bemused as he was. “Forget my actions, my lord. You just looked as if you needed comfort and I felt the peculiar urge to give it.”

“Do you do this often with men you’ve just met?”

She laughed nervously. “Nay. I’m hardly the sort to do such and yet... I suspect you’re a good man beneath your armor.”

“For a brutal killer you mean?”

She nodded. “You’ve never really killed in cold blood, have you?”

“Nay, but I have felt the urge a time or two in my life.”

“As have I.” Her confession surprised him. “If ever I found the man who killed my father, I think I could kill him gladly.”