Realm of Knights Read online

  Realm of Knights

  Knights of the Realm, Book 1

  Jennifer Anne Davis

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and events in this book are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Published by Reign Publishing

  Copyright © 2019 by Jennifer Anne Davis

  All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form without permission.

  Cover Design by KimG-Design

  Editing by Cynthia Shepp

  * * *

  ISBN (paperback): 978-1-7323661-5-2

  ISBN (ebook): 978-1-7323661-6-9

  * * *

  Library of Congress Control Number: 1-7777176951

  OTHER BOOKS BY JENNIFER ANNE DAVIS

  * * *

  True Reign:

  The Key

  Red

  War

  * * *

  Reign of Secrets:

  Cage of Deceit

  Cage of Darkness

  Cage of Destiny

  Oath of Deception

  Oath of Destruction

  * * *

  The Order of the Krigers:

  Rise

  Burning Shadows

  Conquering Fate

  * * *

  Knights of the Realm:

  Realm of Knights

  Shadow Knights

  Hidden Knights

  * * *

  Single Titles:

  The Voice

  For Addison

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Shadow Knights

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Sitting in the middle of the worn area rug, a chess set at her feet, Reid stared at the pieces, bored out of her mind. This was not how she’d anticipated this day would go. Laughing out loud, she realized this was not how she thought her entire life would go. She punched the floor, hating she was stuck inside on her eighteenth birthday. Picking up one of the wooden pawns, she rolled it between her hands, wishing the rain would let up.

  She stood and went over to the window, peering outside. The area around the castle was a muddy mess. A groom led a horse into the stables, slipping and almost falling as he did. The horse didn’t look familiar.

  Scanning the area, Reid noticed a dozen or so men standing not far away. All held their horses’ reins. Each wore a black cape with a hood, making it hard to see their faces. Reid didn’t recognize any of them. At the front of the castle, two men stood apart from the group, speaking to her father, Duke Ellington.

  The duke nodded and opened the front door wider, waving the two men inside. Reid strained to get a better look as they entered. These men were most likely in need of assistance. With the rain, it made sense her father would invite them in. As the duke, he was in charge of the entire county of Ellington, one of the ten counties in the kingdom of Marsden.

  A few minutes later, someone knocked on her door.

  Reid’s sister, Kamden, stepped inside the bedchamber, then closed the door. “Father needs you to go to town to hire an additional cook and half-a-dozen servants.”

  “Who’s here?” Whenever they had guests, her father hired people from the nearby town to help around the castle since he only kept a limited number of servants on hand. The duke was paranoid someone would find out the truth about Reid.

  “I’m not certain,” Kamden said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Kamden was only a year older than Reid, and they’d always been close. After slinging her light brown hair over her shoulder, she began braiding it. She tended to do that whenever she was nervous.

  Reid went over to her dresser. After pulling out thicker pants and a heavier tunic, she changed into the rough clothes most of the men around this part of the county wore. She sighed. Just once she’d like to wear a pretty dress and know what it felt like to be treated as a lady. Yanking her brown hair back, she tied a piece of fabric around it, securing it in place. Satisfied, she grabbed her ugly cap and tugged it on, making sure it covered her hair. It didn’t matter how much her father moaned and complained—she would not cut her hair any shorter. As it was, it barely went past her shoulders. He’d just have to deal with it.

  “Put your cape on,” Kamden said. “Those clothes barely hide your figure.”

  Reid snorted. There was no way she could pull off being a man much longer. Her father had already forced her to play the role of his male heir far longer than he’d intended. Reid just had to hold out until one of her sisters had a boy. Then the duke could entail his estate to his male grandchild. With three of her four sisters married, it was only a matter of time. Of course, they’d each managed to deliver a girl. Maybe Reid truly was cursed.

  She put her cape on. “Are you sure you don’t know who those men are?”

  “Father didn’t introduce me. He sought me out right away and told me to come to you. I didn’t even get a look at their faces.” Kamden wrapped her arms around Reid, hugging her. “You better go. Use the servants’ entrance, and don’t speak to anyone. Father said not to return until after dark. When you do, you’re to sleep in the quarters for the hired help.”

  Surely Reid had heard her sister wrong. Her father would never order her to sleep elsewhere, especially on her birthday. When they had visitors in the past, he hadn’t forced Reid to hide. “Do you think those men are here about me?” Terror set in. Maybe someone had discovered she was a woman instead of a man. If that happened, her family would lose everything.

  “Just do as Father said. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

  “If only he’d remarried. Then he could have produced a male heir, and I wouldn’t have to pretend to be a man.”

  Kamden kissed Reid on the cheek. “You know Father promised Mother on her death bed he’d never remarry.”

  “I know.” Reid’s stomach soured. Their mother had died eighteen years ago today. She still felt guilty for being the one alive.

  “Good luck.” Kamden left the room.

  Reid quickly made her way to the stables where she found her horse, Mirage, already saddled. She mounted, then headed to the main section of the town in the City of Dorsot, the rain pounding on her back. Her birthday just kept getting better and better.

  Reid watched the cook and servants she’d hired ride away in the cart. Standing next to her horse, the rain no longer falling, she kicked a rock. Now what was she supposed to do? Not wanting to go home just to hide in the servants’ quarters, she tied Mirage to a post and started wandering around. The City of Dorsot was about a mile from the castle, and consisted of three main streets where most of the businesses were located. Off those streets were the smaller shops and some apartments. Just outside the town were the homes for the shopkeepers. The farms and wealthier landholders were beyond there.

  Glancing at the gray sky, Reid estimated about two hours until sunset. She meandered along the muddy road. That was when she heard the sounds she was unknowingly seeking—the ring of swords clashing, the grunts from men sparring. Her feet took her down another street to a fenced-in area. Several young men stood around the perimeter, watch
ing two men spar. When Reid got closer, she saw Knox going against Harlan. Eager to watch her two friends, she found a spot along one of the fences.

  Knox threw a punch, hitting Harlan in the stomach. Harlan stumbled but didn’t concede the match. Few people could beat Knox—he was a beast. Although Knox was a tad on the short side, he was wide-shouldered and all muscle. Knox noticed Reid, giving her a curt nod before circling around Harlan. The wind blew Knox’s brown curly hair into a tangled mess. He lunged for Harlan, knocking him down. Since Knox was the son of the watchman—the man responsible for the security around the county—it made sense he was a good fighter.

  Harlan conceded the match. As the apprentice for the local apothecary, Harlan put little stock into fighting. He stood, then flicked a chunk of mud off his pants. For once, his perfectly styled red hair had a few strands out of place. He exited the fenced-in area, mumbling something unintelligible.

  “Ellington,” Knox called out. “Get in here.”

  Reid removed her cape. She hated when people called her Ellington. It reminded her of her father. A few of the men standing around slapped her back as she climbed over the fence. Since everyone knew her as the duke’s male heir, they expected certain things from her. Like knowing how to fight so she could lead Ellington’s soldiers if needed.

  Knox ran a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face. “Isn’t today your birthday?” His shoulders rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath.

  “Maybe.”

  He smiled. “I have a feeling this will be the year that you finally become a man and get some hair on your face.”

  Reid had heard him say this hundreds of times. When most of her friends became men, they’d started to ask her questions about why her voice hadn’t deepened, why she never removed her shirt when she sparred, or why she didn’t have thick hair on her legs. If they had an ounce of intelligence, they should have been able to figure it out. Thankfully, all they did was tease her. No one had been brave enough to come out and ask her directly.

  Shaking out her arms, she said, “When that happens, I’ll finally wallop your arse.”

  Knox barked out a laugh. “Never going to happen.”

  She shrugged. “Do you have a set of practice swords I can use?” Since she was so slight, Knox insisted she fight using swords instead of fists. Her father had agreed. Between the two of them, she’d received extensive sword training. The blacksmith had even been commissioned to make special ones, which were lighter and easier for her to use. Up until now, no one had questioned why a boy would need to wield such weapons. But as of today, she was no longer a boy. And people were beginning to wonder about her.

  Knox handed her two smaller practice swords. She took one in each hand, feeling the smooth hilts against her palms.

  “Keeping your cap and tunic on, Ellington?” Knox teased.

  She didn’t bother answering since she always left them on. He was simply trying to goad her. Going into her fighting stance, she prepared for Knox’s attack.

  Chapter Two

  Fighting with Knox was like dancing. Well, Reid assumed it was like dancing since she’d never actually danced. But she’d watched her sisters. While Knox was brute strength, Reid was speed. When he lunged, she dodged. When he threw a punch, she countered with her sword.

  When she fought, she almost forgot she was a woman pretending to be a man. Nothing mattered except her opponent. And she was good. Damn good. She loved the way the swords were extensions of her arms, keeping Knox at bay.

  Knox smiled. “I see you’ve been practicing the new move I taught you.”

  Since he was talking, Reid took the opportunity to kick him. He saw it coming, grabbed her foot, and twisted her leg. She flew to the ground, thankful she’d secured her cap. She’d managed to keep her head up so her face didn’t plunge into the mud. Tucking her swords in, she rolled before jumping to her feet. Mud now covered her chest and pants.

  “You can’t best me,” he teased. “Concede the match.”

  She didn’t bother responding. Knox always spoke when he fought. She asked him about it once, and he said he did it to throw off his opponent so he could win.

  “Try the move I taught you again. Only this time, slow your left arm and speed up your right.”

  After she nodded, she worked through the move in her head before implementing it. She needed to swing downward with her right sword, parallel to the ground with her left, then jab Knox’s chest with her right. Reid was about to execute the move when she felt a prickly sensation on her back. The men watching the match were no longer cheering, which meant someone new had arrived—someone who didn’t live in this town. And whoever that person was, he was watching Reid.

  Knox was hunched low, ready to pounce. She couldn’t afford to look behind her to see who it was. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was inside this fighting ring.

  Keeping her eyes focused on Knox, she moved closer to him, watching for any indication he would attack. When she saw his right cheek twitch, she knew he was about to strike with his left fist. She applied the move he’d taught her, slowing her left arm while speeding up her right. Swing, swing, and jab. She struck him.

  She almost screamed—like a girl—in victory. Instead, she forced herself to take a step back and nod. “You’re right,” she said. “Changing it up throws off your opponent.” She didn’t think Knox had allowed her the hit.

  He put his hands on his hips. “Great job. You’ve improved.” He slapped her on the back before calling someone else into the ring.

  Reid tossed the swords in the corner with the other weapons. That was when she noticed a man standing at the other end, leaning against the fence. Instead of watching the new match that had already started, he was staring directly at her. His light brown hair was curly, and it reached just above his shoulders. He wore solid black pants and a black tunic. Most of the men who lived and worked in this town wore tan-colored clothing. She’d never seen him before. He couldn’t be from around here. She remembered the men who’d arrived at her father’s castle earlier. They’d all been wearing black. Could this man be from that riding party?

  If so, Reid needed to get away from him as soon as possible. Her father had made her leave the castle for a reason. Climbing over the fence, she shoved her way between the men watching the match and headed down the street toward the center of town. As soon as she was a couple of blocks away, she started running, wanting to put as much distance as possible between herself and the stranger.

  Reid didn’t stop until she reached Mirage. Climbing on her horse, she felt immensely better. Since the idea of going home and hiding in the servants’ quarters on her birthday didn’t appeal to her, she steered Mirage out of town. The sun was starting to set as they headed south. Mirage snorted as if he knew where they were going. Reid patted his neck, smiling. Giving the castle a wide berth, they made their way around the fields to where the forest started. They wound between the trees until they came to the barely noticeable trail that led up the hill through the forest. Since it had recently rained, Reid slowed Mirage so he wouldn’t stumble as he trudged over tree roots and rocks.

  At the top of the rise, the land leveled and the trail disappeared. Reid steered Mirage to the right. After a hundred yards or so, she pulled him to a halt and dismounted, observing the sight before her. Nestled between the trees was a small lake. Her lake. She came here whenever she needed to be alone. In all her years, she’d never seen another person here, nor had she heard anyone mention this gem.

  She tied Mirage to a tree, then went to the edge of the water. The sun had set behind the hills, and the light was quickly fading. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the smell of pine trees, damp dirt, and the crisp air. She loved it here.

  A swim sounded like a good idea since crusty dried mud covered her neck and arms. Reid pulled off her boots followed by her socks. She carefully removed the ties securing her cap onto her head. Once that was off, she let her hair down, shaking it out. It felt liberating to h
ave her hair loose. Then she removed her pants and tunic. Since it was dusk, she took off her undershirt as well. The chilly wind blew lightly against her naked body, making her shiver. There was no easy way to get into the frigid lake, so she quickly dove in. The shock only lasted a few seconds as her body adjusted to the temperature.

  Unable to touch the bottom, Reid swam under the water, washing away the mud and grime from her body. When she resurfaced, she rolled onto her back, floating. The only word she could use to describe the sensation was freedom. Out here, away from everyone, she was free to be herself.

  But who was she? The question made her uncomfortable.

  At home, she was one person. Outside the castle, she was another. The world only saw one aspect of her—the lie.

  Rolling onto her stomach, she swam in circles, trying to stay warm.

  If she were a man, she’d help her father by managing the land and overseeing the county of Ellington. When he died, she would inherit the position and officially become Duke Ellington. Her family had held the land and title for over a hundred years.

  However, she wasn’t a man and couldn’t inherit.

  Three of her sisters were married, each to a wealthy landowner’s son. Of course, since her sisters were ladies, daughters of Duke Ellington, they were highly sought after. Several of the wealthier families with daughters had tried to enter marriage negotiations with Reid. She snorted. Luckily, her father had managed to sidestep that disaster.