Free WINDKEEPER by Charlotte Boyett-Compo Page B

asked softly. "I am no ogre from Diabolusia."
    There was such misery in the girl’s face and in her quivering tone that her childish voice, husky as it was, seemed even more youthful. "He will be so angry, Your Grace. He will beat me after you leave." Her chin trembled. "I have not gotten over the last beating." She lowered her head, her face burning with shame.
    Forcing down his temper, for he had seen the warning shake of Liza’s head as she saw his rage flare, he firmly gripped the girl’s chin and gave her small oval face a gentle tug. "No man lifts a hand to one who serves me and gets away with it. No man; not servant nor Lord nor Prince. If he does, he will have me to deal with me, and I can promise you this: Galen McGregor wants no trouble from me!"
    The girl raised her head. "You would protect me from your own kin?"
    "Aye, I would. I am his Overlord just as I am yours." He shrugged. "And I don’t like him all that well, anyway."
    "But when you leave, Your Grace—"
    "Are you indentured?"
    "Aye, Your Majesty," she said, lowering her head.
    "To my family or to my brother as his own personal servant?"
    "To your family, Your Grace."
    Conar smiled. "Well, then, if you are indentured to my family, as guardian for you, you are indentured to me. You belong to me, do you not?" He carefully watched the girl’s face to see if she was following him. He squeezed her hand. "I am the Heir-Apparent to the throne. When I take that throne, I will, in essence, be your parent. Right now, my father, the King, is your surrogate parent. Isn’t that true?"
    The girl nodded.
    "And I am his Regent, am I not?"
    "Aye, Your Grace."
    "So, technically, you belong to me." He winked.
    Understanding lit the girl’s small face and she smiled. "I belong to you," she whispered in awe. "I belong to you." She turned to Liza. "I belong to His Grace!"
    "Well, of course you do!" he snorted. "And because you do, and because I have been looking for someone to stand as chaperone for me as I take this lovely lady with me to our next destination, I think I shall require you to travel with us." He glanced smugly at Liza.
    Liza raised one fine black brow. "Chaperone, Milord?"
    "Nanny?" He grinned.
    Liza gave him a warning look.
    "Guardian?" He chuckled.
    Liza stuck her tongue out at him.
    "Lady’s maid?" His lids fluttered audaciously.
    "Companion," Liza stated firmly.
    Conar nodded. "Companion, it is!" Getting to his feet, he reached a hand to both ladies and smiled as they placed their hands in his. He grinned into the servant girl’s beaming face, happy he had calmed the girl all by himself. "How does that sound to you, Mam’selle? Will you hire on as companion to this lady?"
    "At his expense, of course," Liza added.
    He turned to Liza, saw her smug expression of counter-challenge, and winced. He frowned, knowing he had lost. He nodded in agreement. "I’ll pay your way, Mam’selle."
    "And give you your free-lot papers when we reach our next stop," Liza said.
    Conar sighed, recognizing the fact he’d been out-maneuvered by a slip of a girl not taller than his shoulder blade. He glanced at Liza’s uplifted face. "I’ll sign them this very night," he said through clenched teeth.
    "Plus…" Liza stopped at his warning growl, but her face was bright with humor. "Plus the promise of work at Boreas Keep, if you should ever need it."
    The girl’s mouth fell open. She took Conar’s hand and brought it to her lips. "Thank you, Your Grace! Oh, thank you!"
    "No need to thank me," Conar snorted, his face turned to Liza.
    "And it will be free-work with pay, won’t it, Milord?" Liza amended.
    "Free-work with pay?" the girl gasped.
    "Free-work with pay?" Conar groaned.
    Liza raised her chin. "Naturally."
    Out-maneuvered again. "Naturally," Conar agreed in defeat.
    "I will guard your lady with my life, Your Grace!" the servant swore as Conar gently withdrew his hand. "I would give my life for you, too, Your Grace!"
    Lightning struck near the keep and the loud