Free Queen Of My Heart by Jordan Silver Page B

a fine soldier of you yet.”
    “Do you mean it your majesty?” His eyes were bright with excitement and I was reminded once again of his youth. I ruffled his hair and sent him back to Jonas while I went to question the prisoner.
     

 
    He had been bound and tied to a tree with two of my men keeping watch over him. I relieved them and studied the young man who stood before me. The leader had been a nobleman from the days of my grandfather’s reign, one of the last of a few rebels who had refused to accept my lead. He wasn’t the first I’d had to put down but hopefully he was the last. Most preferred and alliance as opposed to war as my reputation preceded me. I was known to show no quarter to my enemies neither did I take prisoners. Why should I feed and shelter those who sought my demise?
    “How did you know I would be passing by this way?” He glared at me with contempt as I drew closer to his side. He wasn’t one of my former subjects at least not one that I’d lain eyes on before and I had made a point of meeting all the men of fighting age when I was crowned as king years ago. Still he could’ve slipped my notice, it was possible.
    “I asked you a question, if you want to live to see the dawn I suggest you answer. From where did you learn of my whereabouts?” Only a handful of people knew where I’d gone to and I’m quite certain my mother and father hadn’t let slip to anyone what I was about. He grinned facetiously when I raised my fist. “You’re going to kill me anyway so I might as well stay still. That way the next one to attempt your death will have success.”
    “So there’re more of you are there? Very well I’ll just have to dispatch the scum the same way I did your leader today.” I drew my sword to take his head and be done with it. I have no stomach for torture and I deplored the practice of slavery so there was only one recourse left.
     

 
    When I was through, I went to the tent before heading back to where I’d left my wife tending my men. She wad still at it, sewing up the arm of one of my soldiers who’d taken a broad axe to the arm. She was fair to drooping as she knelt next to him on the grass in the waning sunlight. When she was through binding his arm I picked her up my intent to head to the nearby stream to wash away the day’s grime. “Put me down you big ox.” She started pounding my shoulder and I almost dropped her in my surprise.
    “Rhiannon, what mean you by this? What has gotten into you?” There were tears in her eyes and I realized I hadn’t stopped to think of the fear she must’ve felt. “Forgive me my love I didn’t think…”
    “No you didn’t, what mean you going into the thick of it as you did? You could’ve lost your fool head, not that I care one wit.” She broke into tears and it took me a while to realize that it fear for me that had upset her. I snatched her back up in my arms and twirled her around to the enjoyment of my men.
    “Put me down you lout or I swear I shall, I shall bash your thick skull in whilst you sleep.” I grinned up at her before stealing a kiss. “Never, I’m never putting you down again.” I held her close to my heart as I made my way to the water. My men knew not to come near while we were there together so I had no fear of undressing her there beneath the moonlight. She was so busy railing at me for putting myself at risk during the battle that she didn’t try to stop me.
    When we were both naked, I lifted her and into my arms and walked into the water. Her screech of outrage awakened the birds that were bedding down for the night in the trees above us. I dunked her head beneath the water before she could flay me with her tongue farther and started washing her while she was busy trying to get her hair from her eyes. I passed her the soap, which I now saw was rose scented; too late, she was already running it over my chest and arms. Again so caught up was she in her chastisement of me that she scarcely seemed