Dark One Rising(2)

She glared at him. “Who are you to recite the rules to me?”

“I’m the Captain of the king’s guard, and I’m here to protect the king and his family, and that includes you, Melenthia. I cannot do so when you sneak off without permission.”

“What I do or where I go is none of your concern. I will do what I feel is necessary for the people of this kingdom. I have a duty to them, to hear their concerns and needs and report them to my father. I must be out among them to do that.”

“I do not fault you for your dedication to the people of this realm, Your Highness, but on your lack of judgment. You can do your duty with armed escort.”

She had her hands on her hips now and was scowling at him. “Are we done?”

“For the moment.”

She growled and turned on her heel, stalking away. Tomas, the new young squire in the guard, saw her heading for the front door into the castle and stopped her in mid-stride.

“Coming home a bit late again, Your Highness?”

“I lost track of time, if it’s any business of yours.”

She liked Tomas. He was handsome and funny, and he always covered for her whenever she came in late, or came home from somewhere she should not have been. Unlike Gerard, he understood her need for freedom. She knew she would get an earful from her father about the late hour of her return, and she already heard it from Gerard. She did not want to hear it from him as well.

“I don’t see an escort coming back with you. Perhaps you left him behind on the road when he could not keep up.”

“I don’t need an escort. I’m perfectly able to protect myself.”

“Aye, that is true, Your Highness, but it’s best if your father knows otherwise.”

“I’m sure Gerard has already told him.”

“Perhaps, but it would be best if we pretended we didn’t know that.”

She smiled at his implication. “Well then, did you enjoy your ride into town, Squire Tomas?”

“Quite, Your Highness. ‘Twas a fine day to be out and about.”

She smiled at him, and he smiled back. He would cover for her. Again. She started to head up the stairs but he cleared his throat. “I believe His Majesty is in his sitting room at this moment. It would probably be best if he was not disturbed.”

She caught his meaning and turned instead and went in the rear door through the kitchen. He called to her again. “I believe there is a trencher waiting in your room. I’m sure, Your Highness, that you are famished after your long ride.”

She smiled again. He had gone so far as to get a servant to bring supper to her room, knowing that in her father’s ire, he would demand she go straight upstairs, that dinner was over.

“As you were, Squire Tomas.”

He bowed to her and went back to his gate post. She went into the kitchen and trotted up the back stairs. Her father was waiting for her at the top. Busted.

“You missed dinner again, Melenthia. Where have you been?”

“In town, father. I have been talking to the citizens of Kingswell about how they are faring these days. I lost track of the hour.”

“That is the third time this month you have left this castle without escort and been late coming in.”

She became a bit rebellious. “I’m not a child anymore, father. I am perfectly capable of coming and going by myself. Besides, I did have escort. Tomas was with me.”

“Do not take me for a fool, Melenthia. I know Tomas likes you and covers for you often. If only you could charm a baron or a count so easily.”

She frowned. “If men of nobility were so easily charmed then I wouldn’t have a problem, but they only see what they want.”

“You are a lovely young woman, Melenthia. I wish you’d act more like a lady.” He looked down at her attire, then at her wind blown hair. “Look at you, you look like a ruffian.”

“I don’t need the pomp and circumstance that my station requires to know who I am. I have opinions and feelings, and I should not be brushed aside as if I were nothing. I am not some giddy child who follows around a handsome face like a love-sick puppy.”

“All this nonsense comes from education. Your brother had you study behind my back. Just one more thing he chose to do without my consent.”

“Maybe he felt it was important for me to know how my world works in order to understand the people in it. I’m able to help if you’d just give me a chance.”

“They are not your people, Melenthia, they are mine. I have Kevaan to help me in the affairs of state. It’s not for you.”

She scowled at him and crossed her arms over her chest. “What did mother do? Sit next to you and look pretty; a rose and her thorn. Did she not help make decisions to shape the kingdom that she shared in?”