Page 79 of The Champion

Rowena scowled. “What special wing?”

It was Swan who answered and his words horrified her. “The one where the Saracens kept what they called their whores.”

“They weren’t whores,” Christian snapped, his face suddenly flush with rage. “They were the women who had been captured and a few young boys.”

Feeling sick with the news, Rowena covered her mouth with her hand. Tears welled in her eyes. “They weren’t freed?”

The men looked even sicker than she felt.

“I wish I’d killed Cyril myself,” Christian snarled.

Nassir curled his lip. “Why didn’t one of us go and check?”

“Because we were all afraid of being caught that night,” Zenobia reminded them. “The eldest of you was only a score of years. You were mere boys yourselves.”

“Still…” Christian’s tone was ridden with guilt and pain. “One of us should have checked.”

Swan winced. “We believed in Cyril and his men. Why would they have lied about freeing them?”

Pure fury darkened Christian’s gaze. “Because it was Cyril and he was an animal.”

Nassir let out a long breath. “Whatever we do. We must never let Stryder know.”

Rowena frowned. “Why?”

They looked at her and she remembered the promise Stryder had made to the little boy.

“Oh dear Lord, the boy was one of them on that wing?” she asked, her throat tight.

They nodded in unison.

Nassir ground his teeth. “He will never forgive himself.”

“Nay,” Christian concurred.

Val joined them. “We have a problem.”

Swan rolled his eyes. “Another one? Are you jesting? Anyone else have something they wish to add to our current predicament?”

“What?” Nassir asked Val, ignoring him.

“Stryder is to undergo a trial by combat.”

“How is that bad?” Swan asked Val. “There is no man in Christendom who can best him. He’ll be freed in no time.”

And yet, by the look on Val’s face, Rowena could tell the news wouldn’t be good. In trial by combat, the king’s champion represented the crown, but since Stryder was the only one of Henry’s champions present, it begged one simple question. “Who is he to fight? Will they send for Sin MacAllister or Draven of Ravenswood?”

“That was Henry’s first thought.” Val’s expression was deadly earnest. “Until Cyril’s brother pointed out that Simon of Ravenswood is one of Stryder’s dearest friends. Draven would no more kill Stryder than he would Simon.”

“And Sin is one of Henry’s dearest friends,” Christian said. “Henry would never take a chance on losing him to Stryder.”

Now it was Rowena’s turn to frown. “Then who’s left to fight him?”

“Oh, take a moment and think,” Val said to the group. “Who is the one man present Stryder would sooner throw himself to the lions than kill?”

Swan scratched his chin. “One of us?”

Val shook his head.