A Vow to Keep by Lana Williams

Author:Lana Williams [Williams, Lana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 1478235276
Publisher: Lana Williams
Published: 2012-07-27T00:00:00+00:00

***

Royce surveyed the field they’d prepared for jousting one last time. All appeared to be in readiness. Now they needed Blackwell to return, and they could start the training. With a satisfied nod, he rode his destrier back up the hill toward the keep.

He passed several cottages, greeting the villagers working nearby. Up ahead, a girl ran as though her life depended on it. Curious as to what caused her to rush so, he urged his horse into a gallop, easily overtaking her.

By Christ, it was Alyna.

“Lady Alyna,” Royce called out incredulously.

She glanced back over her shoulder but didn’t pause in her flight. The look of fear upon her face stopped his heart.

“Whatever is the matter?”

“’Tis Nicholas!”

“Come,” he bid her and held out his hand.

Alyna grasped it, and he pulled her up before him. He kicked his horse into a gallop toward the keep. His stomach clenched at the thought of the boy being hurt or worse.

Within moments, they were through the portcullis and into the bailey. “Where?” Royce asked then saw him before Alyna could answer.

The boy stood just outside the entrance to the stables. He held something in his hands and examined it with great interest.

“What is it? I don’t see anything wrong.”

She looked at her son for a long moment, obviously puzzled. “Well, I thought...”

As she spoke, Edward rode out of the stables, his head turned back toward the interior of the building, his angry voice audible across the bailey. “I told you not to give him oats until after he’s cooled down. Next time, you will listen to me, you fool.”

The scene played out with painful slowness for Royce. He could see that Edward paid no attention to the path his steed took. The black horse, eager to have its head to run, jerked at the reins, stomping and snorting as it tried to gain the upper hand. Neither man nor beast saw the small form off to the side of the entrance, right in their path.

“Edward, halt!” Royce shouted.

The nervous horse sidestepped, spooked at the sight of the small boy, and reared. Edward tugged the reins in an attempt to control his horse, but still did not see Nicholas. The boy looked up, and Royce could see the fear etched on his face. The child turned to run, but it was too late.

“Get out of the way, you stupid boy,” Edward bellowed as he saw Nicholas. The horse reared again and clipped Nicholas with a hoof, striking him in the middle of his back. Nicholas was knocked to the ground.

“Nicholas!” Alyna cried as she jumped off the horse.

The boy lay motionless.

Royce’s heart stopped as Edward’s horse reared again. He urged his horse forward, knowing he’d have better luck moving Edward’s horse aside if he remained mounted. “Get back,” Royce demanded, his rage nearly blinding him.

Edward realized what had happened and tried to calm his frightened steed. Royce rode between the frightened horse and Nicholas to get the beast away from the boy. He forced the horse back into the stable and turned his steed sideways to block the entrance.

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