Page 60 of The Champion

It was early for him, but if Nassir was correct, it would be best that he give the assassin ample time to make his move.

As he removed his clothes, his thoughts turned to Rowena and he smiled as he remembered the look on her face when she’d seen him naked.

He so loved to tease her.

And as he got into bed, he realized just how much he wished he hadn’t released her in the hall. How much he wished her here in his bed.

Would she be as playful between his sheets?

Aye, without a doubt. And as he let his thoughts wander, he could almost swear he heard her laughter on the wind.

Rolling over, Stryder stared at the wall and imagined her face.

‘Twas a shame that he picked that moment to turn. Had he not, he might have seen the shadow that drifted past the right side of his tent...

Nine

Rowena came awake to the sounds of a riot occurring outside her windows. Before she could sit up in her bed to investigate it, her door was flung wide by Joanna and Elizabeth who rushed across the room to slam open the shutters and look below.

Dressed only in their chemises, neither of them had taken time to even brush their hair. The two of them stood on bare tiptoes, peering outside.

“Rowena,” Elizabeth said over her shoulder, “come quickly and look. They have arrested Lord Stryder!”

Rowena sat up immediately. “They what?”

Leaving the warmth of her bed, Rowena joined them there at the window to see the chaos where more than three score of people were gathered in the courtyard. They were shouting and screaming all manner of insults and accusations.

In their midst was Stryder, surrounded by royal guards, who struggled to get him safely through the ravenous crowd that demanded his blood. The earl’s face betrayed every bit of his anger.

Her heart hammering, Rowena moved away from the window, pulled a gown from her coffer and donned it, then ran below.

She vaguely heard Joanna calling out for her return, but she paid no attention to it. She had to find out exactly what had happened and why everyone wanted Stryder’s head.

Struggling to tie the gown laces behind her, she pushed her way through the crowd until she stood outside on the stoop with a dozen other people.

Henry and Eleanor stood off to the side of the crowd wearing dour expressions.

“I didn’t do this, Sire,” Stryder snarled, as the king’s guards struggled to bring him inside the castle. “You know I didn’t.”

By Henry’s face, she could tell the king believed him. “Go quietly, Stryder. ’Tis best for everyone.”

Stryder fought even harder. It took ten men to drag him up the stairs.

The earl fought them until he caught sight of her.

Rowena trembled. Their gazes locked and it was there she saw the most shocking thing of all.

Stryder’s panic.

And if she didn’t know better, she’d swear she saw a glimmer of fear in those celestial blue eyes.

One of the guards shoved Stryder through the door.

Rowena’s heart pounded as she made her way to Eleanor who was still beside Henry.

“Majesty? What has happened?”

The queen looked ill. “There was another noble murdered last night. Roger of Northamptonshire.”