Realm of Knights Read online

  No one spoke. While riding, everyone remained alert, surveying their surroundings with an intensity Reid found fascinating. She quickly tired of listening for sounds of attack and watching for pursuers. Instead, she focused on the types of trees she saw, the men who traveled alongside her, and the way in which Gordon and Ackley had fought those Axians. She was constantly contemplating this information, trying to make sense of it and to understand the two princes.

  After a fortnight in which Reid hadn’t bathed once, she crawled under her blankets, eager to reach their destination. Reid was tired of riding, sick of traveling, and lonely from not talking to anyone. She missed her sisters, her father, and her home. She even missed her daily routine and knowing what to expect each day.

  Closing her eyes, she tried to keep the tears at bay. She would not cry when half-a-dozen men surrounded her.

  “Hey,” Ackley said, putting his bedroll next to hers. He stretched out on it. “You awake?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  He chuckled. “There are a few things you should know before we arrive at the City of Buckley.” He spoke so softly Reid had to strain to hear each word.

  “Does that mean we’re almost there?” she asked.

  “We’ll arrive tomorrow.”

  The news should have thrilled her. Instead, a deep foreboding set in. What awaited her at the king’s castle? What did Ackley want with her?

  “I find it strange,” he said, “that our fathers were friends, yet I never saw Duke Ellington or any of your sisters at court.”

  She expected him to talk about the castle or the king—not their fathers. “No, we never went to the City of Buckley.” What did that have to do with her predicament?

  “You do realize that’s not normal, right?”

  “The other dukes visit?” she asked, suddenly aware of how guilty it made her father look.

  “They do. Especially if they have daughters.”

  “Well, I assume it’s because my father had something to hide.” However, he could have taken and presented her sisters at court, leaving Reid at home. Or he could have went and visited by himself.

  “Did your father ever speak about King Hudson?”

  She racked her brain, trying to remember what her father told her. “Just a couple of stories about growing up and playing as boys. I don’t remember anything specific.”

  “What do you know about my father?”

  Why was he asking? His father was dead, so she would not be meeting him. “I don’t know much beyond he was the king, was married to a woman named Leigh, and had four children. My father always spoke highly of him. I assume he was a good man and a loving father. But I honestly don’t know. My studies pertained to the county of Ellington and how to manage the land. I know about sheep, tenants, and grain. Kings, not so much.” Now that she was thinking on the matter, it was odd her father had never told her what the king did, how the counties were managed, or anything beyond Ellington.

  Ackley remained quiet for several minutes. Just when Reid’s eyelids began to droop, he asked, “What have you been told of Axian?”

  Forcing her eyes open, she tried to think straight. Exhaustion consumed her, and the dark night sky tried to lull her to sleep. She yawned. “Axian is the largest county in Marsden. Prince Henrick, the late king’s brother, oversees it. He keeps to himself. Axian is separated from the rest of the kingdom by the Gast River and the Modig Mountains.”

  “And do you know why Prince Henrick controls Axian?” Remaining on his back, he propped his left hand under his head.

  “No, I do not.” She’d never thought twice about it before now. Against her will, her eyelids closed.

  “My grandfather, King Broc Winston, had twin sons with my grandmother, Adele. Because my father was born two minutes before my uncle, my father became king upon my grandfather’s death. Needless to say, Henrick was jealous. The twins were always competing with one another.”

  Reid found Ackley’s voice soothing. What he told her seemed like something from a storybook. It was hard to imagine this was the kingdom’s history. She needed to pay attention because he was telling her this for a reason. “Was Henrick given Axian as consolation for being born second?” Axian made up about a third of Marsden.

  “Some say Henrick invaded Axian. Since my father didn’t want to fight his own brother, he let him have the county so long as Henrick didn’t cross the Gast River. They managed to live in relative peace, each on his own side of the river.”

  And now that Hudson was dead, Henrick must believe himself to be the rightful ruler, not Eldon. However, from what Reid understood from her studies, the line of succession passed from father to son, not brother to brother. “Have you met your uncle?” she asked, rolling onto her side to study Ackley.

  “No, I have not.” He twisted so they were face to face. “All I know about him is he married a woman named Nara, whom he had two sons with. Dexter is the eldest son at twenty-two, and Colbert is twenty. I know nothing more. However, I intend to rectify that. And that, my dear Reid, is where you come in.”

  Why did he need her to learn more about his family in the south?

  “If you pass the tests I’m certain my sister will put you through, you’ll be deemed worthy. If you’re worthy, I plan to include you in my organization.”

  “Your organization?” she mumbled, half asleep, her eyelids closing once again. “What are you part of? A group of assassins?”

  “Not exactly. I’m part of the Knights of the Realm.”

  Chapter Eight

  The words echoed through Reid’s head. Knights of the Realm. She’d heard of the elusive organization before. However, she’d thought it was a myth. Stories told to children at night. The Knights of the Realm had been around for centuries, and no one knew quite what they did.

  But it was real. Prince Ackley was part of it. And he wanted her to join.

  Some people told harrowing tales of long ago when the Knights protected the innocent and defended those too weak to defend themselves. Others whispered stories of how the Knights played a vital role in which family ended up controlling each county when the kingdom of Marsden first formed. Some said the Knights were simply assassins, while others claimed they were spies. Whoever they were, whatever they did, one thing was certain—the Knights of the Realm was a secret organization not even the king controlled.

  Reid glanced around at the men sleeping nearby. Were they all Knights? If so, no wonder they had easily dispatched the two dozen men who attacked them in the forest.

  Did the Knights of the Realm include women? Since women weren’t allowed to fight, it probably didn’t. Was that why Ackley wanted her? Because she was a woman who passed for a man? The irony wasn’t lost on her. She rolled away from the prince, finally falling into a blissful sleep.

  “There’s the City of Buckley,” Ackley said, pulling his horse to a stop at the crest of the hill. Gordon and the rest of the men did the same.

  The sight took Reid’s breath away. Never had she imagined the City of Buckley would be so large and beautiful.

  Amid the rolling green hills and pastures, a massive city was surrounded by a wall. Inside the wall, hundreds upon hundreds of buildings stood, all of similar height and shape in some variation of light tan or cream, most with thatched roofs. At the southern end of the city, there was another wall. Within that one was a castle. From where Reid stood, she could see the castle was rectangular and contained several towers and turrets.

  “It’s good to be home,” Gordon said. Nudging his horse, he urged it down the slope toward the gate in the wall.

  It was hard to imagine what growing up here would have been like. The sheer size overwhelmed her. In Ellington, her castle wasn’t even a fourth the size of the king’s. The towns and villages near her home were small. While there were a couple of larger cities, none were anywhere near the size or magnificence of this place.

  “Your cap secure?” Ackley asked.

  She nodded. It was always secure. Howe
ver, he probably already knew that.

  “Let’s go.” Their group headed down the hill. When they neared the wall, the sentries on duty started shouting to one another. A bell began ringing, and someone raised two flags. Reid assumed this was how they announced the princes’ presence to the city.

  Both Gordon and Ackley positioned themselves at the front, riding side by side. Ackley instructed her to follow directly behind him. One of the men from their party rode next to her. Someone tossed Reid a black cape with the royal crest embroidered on it. As she wrapped it around her shoulders, everyone else pulled out matching capes and put them on. Except for the princes, each man pulled their hoods up, casting their faces in shadows. Reid did the same, making sure to completely cover her cap.

  They passed through the gate in the wall, then entered the City of Buckley.

  The sights, smells, and sounds bombarded Reid. On the roads, people scurried out of the way to let the royal convoy by. Shops and apartments lined either side. A few dogs ran by, barking. People were selling goods, arguing prices, and talking with one another. The smell of baking bread and roasting chicken filled the air. She’d never seen so many people or buildings so close together.

  As the royal convoy made their way through the streets, a few people stood off to the side. They cheered and clapped as the horses passed by. Her group finally reached the inner wall that separated the castle from the rest of the city. The gates swung open, and the guards waved them through. When Reid made it to the other side of the wall, she noted the dirt road had turned to pebbled stones. Neatly trimmed bushes lined the way. The road took them toward the castle, then circled around a small pond before stopping in front of the entrance.

  The brothers dismounted, instructing Reid to do the same. The rest of the riding party took the horses and continued, going around the side of the castle and out of view.

  The front doors swung open. A couple strode forward, arm in arm. “Brothers,” the man exclaimed, a smile lighting up his face and chocolate eyes. Reid assumed this was King Eldon. His shaggy brown hair curled around his ears, accentuating his neatly trimmed beard.

  The woman at the king’s side had to be Queen Harlow, though she was much younger than Reid anticipated—seventeen or eighteen at most. Harlow had sky-blue eyes and blonde hair that flowed down her back. The green dress she wore emphasized her slight frame.

  Eldon released his wife to hug both Gordon and Ackley.

  Something in the air shifted as a stunning young woman with dark red hair emerged from inside. “It’s about time!” She wrapped Gordon, then Ackley, in a hug. This must be Princess Idina. At seventeen, she was the youngest of the royal siblings. “Who is this?” she asked, pointing at Reid.

  “I’ll explain once we’re inside,” Ackley mumbled.

  Idina’s piercing green eyes scanned Reid before she nodded and followed the king and queen into the castle. Once Idina was out of sight, Reid could breathe again. She’d never seen someone so vivacious before.

  Gordon and Ackley also headed into the castle. Having no other viable option, Reid followed, feeling very out of place among the royal family.

  A large chandelier hung overhead, hundreds of candles burning and casting the entrance hall in a soft light. Directly ahead stood a grand staircase, disappearing behind a mezzanine that overlooked the hall. The banister was made from a dark wood. Several wooden pillars were situated around the hall denoting where corridors to other wings of the castle began. A few area rugs covered the smooth stone flooring.

  A woman in her fifties with chestnut-brown hair and brown eyes approached.

  “Mother,” Gordon said, kissing the woman’s cheek.

  “I’m glad you both made it home safely,” Leigh, the queen mother, replied in a soft voice.

  “We’ll celebrate your return at supper tonight,” King Eldon declared. “However, right now, I want a report.” He ignored Leigh and Harlow, beckoning the men closer. “Let’s go to my office.” The king wrapped his arms around his brothers, ushering them toward one of the corridors.

  Ackley glanced over his shoulder. “Idina, see that our visitor is given a guest suite. She’ll tell you who she is.”

  The king glanced at Reid, his eyebrows pulling together in confusion. Gordon patted Eldon on his back, and the brothers headed down the corridor to the left.

  Idina’s eyes narrowed. “Needless to say, I’m intrigued. Follow me.” She led Reid in the opposite direction. Oversized windows lined the corridor, letting sunlight filter in. When Idina reached the fifth door, she pushed it open, revealing a spacious sitting room. Emerald green drapes had been pulled back from the windows, which overlooked an interior courtyard filled with roses.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Idina asked, perching on one of the four sofas.

  Reid shook her head, too nervous around the princess to think of hydrating herself.

  “Sit.” Idina pointed at the sofa across from her. “Tell me who you are and why my brother brought you here.”

  “Um,” Reid stuttered as she took a seat. She was filthy, and the sofa didn’t have a speck of dust on it. As she tried to compose her thoughts, she scanned her surroundings. One of the walls had a simple writing desk against it, another had an empty fireplace, and yet another had several paintings hanging on it. Everything was neat, organized, and clean.

  “How about we start with why you’re dressed like a man, yet my brother referred to you as a she?” Idina folded her hands on her lap, waiting for Reid to answer.

  “It’s a long story.” And she didn’t know how much she could reveal to the princess.

  “Then I suggest you start at the beginning.” It was more of a command than a request.

  So she complied. She explained how her mother died in childbirth, leaving her father with five girls and no heir, how her grief-stricken father lied in order to keep his land, that she was a female but raised as a male, and she ended with how Ackley saw her sparring with twin swords so he’d sought her out and brought her here.

  A laugh burst from Idina. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “I’m afraid not.” As she sat across from the princess, Reid hoped she didn’t smell too badly after traveling on horseback for so many weeks without a proper bath. “Your brother said if I helped him, he’d make sure my father was pardoned for his transgressions against the crown, and he assured me that my father’s land would be deeded to anyone he chooses—male or female.” She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, her right foot tapping against the floor.

  “Before Ackley left, he told me he needed an agile woman who was small enough to sneak into certain rooms to spy. But he wanted her to know how to defend herself in case she got into trouble. He also wanted her to be able to lie her way out of any situation. I see why he brought you here.”

  Reid felt Idina assessing her, and it made her uncomfortable. “How come you’re not with your brothers?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Because I’m a woman who couldn’t possibly want to hear about what my brothers have been through these past few weeks.” Disdain filled her sarcastic tone.

  “Prince Ackley obviously trusts you.” And he’d implied his sister was involved with the Knights.

  “He does.”

  “Are you…do you…work with Prince Ackley?”

  A smile spread across her face. “As far as King Eldon is concerned, I assist Ackley with spy reports. That’s what he thinks Ackley does—handles our spies.” Her eyes danced with amusement. “Eldon only lets me help because if he doesn’t keep me busy, I bother him relentlessly.”

  “Prince Ackley said something about a test?”

  Tapping her finger on the arm of the sofa, Idina said, “Well, Gordon wouldn’t have brought you along if he hadn’t agreed with Ackley.” She stood. “You haven’t told me your name.”

  “Reid Ellington.”

  “Clever. A name that could be used for either a man or a woman. Are you known to the world as Lord Ellington?”


  “Yes,” Reid answered, her voice quiet and small next to this overpowering person.

  “How old are you?”

  “Eighteen.”

  “We’re roughly the same age.” Idina rose, folded her arms, and moved to one of the windows, gazing outside. “While I can’t say I’ve ever had to pretend to be a man, I can tell you I have an idea of what you’ve been through. Every day, I present one face to the people around me—pretending to be passive, docile, and kind.” Glancing over her shoulder, she smirked at Reid.

  “You’re not those things?”

  “I grew up with three older brothers who teased me relentlessly. I can be just as pigheaded as them. And tough. So while I may look like a pretty princess, I can assure you I am so much more.” She came back toward Reid. “Just like you. You are so much more than just Lord Ellington. I think it’s time we present you to the court.”

  A chill ran through Reid. “What are you saying?” She had no idea what being presented to the court entailed.

  “That you are now going to be Lady Reid Ellington. No more pretending to be a man—that is, unless we request it.”

  Reid didn’t know how to be a lady. While she’d watched her sisters dress and behave with grace, she’d never bothered trying. She never thought she’d need those skills.

  “Come,” Idina said. “Let’s get you situated in a guest suite, then find some suitable clothing for you. We have a supper to attend.”

  Reid turned in a circle, taking in the room. It was easily twice as big as her bedchamber at home. An enormous bed with purple drapes took up one wall, a tall armoire was along another, and a bathing chamber was located opposite the bed. Ornate rugs covered the wood floor. Going over to the windows, she peered outside. The room faced the front of the castle.