Chapter Fifteen

Nori breathed in the early morning air. Her emotions were all over the place. A man would die today because he'd lifted his hand against her. She wasn't to blame. Robert's actions weren't hers. They were his and his alone.

For a moment, she'd been afraid when his father had arrived that the man who'd agreed to rear her might join his son. He'd blustered and yelled, raising hell as he tried to save his remaining son. When he'd turned his vitriol toward her, she'd feared Gavin might kill him. Then she'd feared her grandfather would. Either way, it didn't matter. Robert Buckingham would die today. By Gavin's hand.

"Are you okay?" Cris asked as he joined Nori.

"I'm good." She glanced over the courtyard, watching as more and more people filled the space around where Gavin and Robert were to fight.

"You know there's no need to worry," Cris assured her. "Your king has nothing to fear."

"I know Gavin will win," she admitted.

"But?" Cris asked when she stopped. "What is it you fear, my queen?"

"Is all this because of me? Did I bring this on?"

"Men live and die by the choices they make," Cris said. "You control only yourself. Buckingham is responsible for his choices and what those have led to."

She nodded. "How will it go today?"

"The people will form a circle that King Montrose and Buckingham will be inside. They will fight. Usually, it is to the death, but this time, it will be until Buckingham is defeated. Afterward he will be led to the stage they've constructed, and your grandfather will pass judgment over him. Then he will die." Cris paused for a moment, gaze running over the crowd. "There's no need for you to bear witness, my queen. No one expects that of you."

"I'll stay."

"As you wish, my queen."

She stood, Cris at her side as the noise grew. There was an energy in the air. Fear, excitement, and others she couldn't put her finger on. She'd started the morning in Gavin's arms. He'd made love to her before they'd both dressed and headed below. He'd left her with Cris while he and Con had disappeared to make sure everything was ready. She'd purposely ignored her grandfather, who was doing better physically, at least. Then she'd avoided the baron, not wanting another confrontation before he watched his son die.

At some point, Rory took her position at her side, her hand sliding into Nori's. Jo stood at her other side. Serena and Genevieve joined them.

"We stand together," Genevieve stated when her grandfather came to shoo them back inside.

"You should all be inside the keep," Lord Kingsley groused. "This is no place for a woman."

"Maybe not," Nori conceded. "But it is for a queen, and I'll watch until my husband leaves the circle."

Everything grew quiet when Robert Buckingham was led out. He was pushed into the ring of warriors and soldiers, then the ties on his hands were cut free.

"What is the meaning of this?" Robert bellowed, glancing around. Perhaps searching for a friendly face, but those who'd left with him were all gone. Killed by her grandfather's men.

"Today, you'll face justice, boy," Phillip called.

"Swords, daggers, or fists?" Gavin asked, rolling his head from side to side.

"Justice? For what? I did nothing that would warrant any form of justice," Robert argued. His gaze finally found the baron and relief filled his face. "Father. I'm glad you're here. I'm sure you can put a stop to all this."

The baron looked haggard as if he hadn't slept a wink all night. Nori doubted if he had. She remembered the grief he'd expressed when Justin had been killed. She wondered if he'd feel the same for Robert.

"You've committed treason," Baron Buckingham snapped.

"No." Robert shook his head. "I did nothing. I was leaving as I'd been told, heading home to speak with you. I didn't even realize our king had been shot until I was attacked and dragged back here by those heathen warriors from the Dread Lands."

"You would attempt to tell lies to save yourself?" Phillip asked.

"You would kill the man you pledged your granddaughter to?" Robert fired back.

"Eleanor was never pledged to you," the baron called out after a warning glance from Phillip. "She was betrothed to your brother. That alliance ended with his death. She was never meant for you."

"Liar!" Robert roared. "You told me she'd be mine. You promised."

His father shook his head, but it was Gavin who answered as he stepped through the crowd into the circle.

"It matters little now," Gavin said. "Queen Montrose is my wife."

"A marriage that hasn't even been consummated yet."

Gavin laughed, and Nori felt herself blush at that look on her husband's face. Any who looked between them would know that their vows were true. Consummation had occurred.

"I've told you my wife and marriage are none of your business. You made a grave mistake when you threatened her, Buckingham. Another one when you talked your men into believing she'd betrayed their king. You might not have fired the weapon, but your words were the push to see it done."

"I said nothing!" Robert argued.

"Your men stated otherwise," Gavin said.

"Tortured men will say anything."

Gavin laughed. "They all offered you up before they died. Not by my hand. By your king's. Save your words. They won't sway me. We'll fight until my need to spill your blood is satisfied."

"You won't kill me?" Robert asked, and Nori almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"Your death won't be by my hands," Gavin agreed, and Nori knew everyone could see how unhappy that made her husband.

Robert waved his fingers. "Let's go then. I have no fear of you."

Even she knew how stupid Robert was to say such a thing. Gavin merely grinned before roaring to the sky and running at Robert. They met in a clash with Gavin taking Robert to the ground beneath him. They fought, split apart, then crashed together again. Nori knew Gavin was merely playing with the other man. She could see it in the way he allowed Robert to skirt around him, the way he let the other man gain confidence. He wanted Robert to think he might walk away when everyone watching knew there was no chance.

"Not so tough are you, War King?" Robert sneered, wiping blood from his busted lip onto the shoulder of his tunic. "Let's end this."

"Let's," Gavin agreed, standing his ground as Robert flew for him.

Nori saw the glint as sun hit blade and screamed her husband's name as Robert lunged for him. Gavin sidestepped, grabbing Robert's hand and twisting. The sound of breaking bone filled the air as the blade fell to the dirt before Gavin kicked it away. As if Gavin had only been waiting for that moment, he attacked. His fists struck with brutal force as he knocked Robert to his knees. Still, he didn't stop. Not until, with one final punch, the other man was knocked flat in the dirt.

The crowd roared their approval. She knew there had been executions at her grandfather's castle. Seeing this, she was grateful she hadn't been there to witness them or the bloodthirst of the crowd, civilized people lost in the haze of violence. This was something she never wanted to see again. She squeezed Rory's hand.

"I think I'm ready to go inside, now," she said to no one in particular.

"About time," Lord Kingsley muttered as he ushered them back into the keep. "I'll have some water brought to the table for you, Queen Drake."

Nori glanced at the woman in question and felt guilty for not thinking of her condition while they stood outside.

"I'm fine," Rory assured her. "Jamie would have created a scene if he thought I shouldn't be there. Baby and I are fine, but I will accept the promise of water."

Lord Kingsley led them all to the upper table, making sure they were seated with plenty of warriors around them, before leaving to see that food and drink were brought for them. Cris sat at one of the lower tables with several other warriors, not seeming upset at all that he wasn't outside watching the fight.

"Did you get a chance to speak with your father?" Nori asked Rory, once they'd been served.

Rory nodded. "He's better than I'd hoped for. I see what my mother saw in him. He's strong, intelligent, and charming. He and his men plan to head back with Jamie and me. He asked for an opportunity to show me the kind of father he can be. He apologized over and over for not knowing, for not coming for me and my mother. He showed me a ribbon my mother gave him long ago. He keeps it in between the pages of a book and takes it with him wherever he goes."

"That's romantic," Serena offered with a sigh.

"And you?" Jo asked. "Do you want to build a relationship with him?"

"I do," Rory told them before casting a glance at Nori. "I'll never forgive Phillip for what he did. For placing my mother with Montrose, for leaving me there. For not letting my father know I existed. He robbed us of what we might have shared as a family. He let my mother be used and abused when there was a man who loved her and would have treated her well. Phillip made those choices and didn't care about the consequences. He never even checked on us himself. I can't forgive that. I don't think my father ever will, either."

"I understand," Nori promised, and she did. There were things she struggled with, as well. She loved her grandfather, though. Had always loved him. She merely saw him more clearly now. Flaws and all.

They were still chatting at the high table when the men joined them. Gavin had cleaned up and wore fresh leathers.

"You bathed without me," she murmured as he pulled her close. She brushed her fingers along his brow, down his cheek, then along the line of his jaw. "It's done?"

"It's done," he agreed. "We'll leave for home tomorrow."

She'd been expecting that announcement once this final matter was finished. She'd honestly expected him to say they'd leave as soon as Robert had been dealt with.

"Why morning?" she asked. "There's plenty of day left."

"I thought you might enjoy a little more time with your grandfather. Plus, I have something planned for this evening."

"What do you have planned?" she asked.

"A surprise," he said then chuckled at her expression. "A good one, I promise."

"Will it end with you and I in our bed?" she leaned closer to whisper.

"Definitely," he murmured then ran his tongue along her neck, causing a shiver of desire to pass over her skin.

"Maybe, I don't want to wait for my surprise," she told him, tilting her head to give him better access.

"You'll want this," he swore. "Trust me."

She nodded. She trusted him. Despite their rocky start, he'd been honest and true with her. He'd shown her he was a man of his word, one she could trust with her heart. Whatever surprise he had in store, she was ready.