Borneheld now meant that she outranked the man and did not have to curtsey to him.
Jorge stepped forward and lightly kissed her free hand. ―My Lady Faraday, I will not
pretend that I am not surprised and a little alarmed to see you here.‖ His deeply seamed and
weather beaten face crinkled into a bare smile as he spoke and his hawk-like eyes pondered her
reflectively. Faraday hastily turned away to Duke Roland, lest those eyes see too much.
―My Lord,‖ she smiled and sketched him the curtsey owed to his rank. Duke Roland
bowed as elegantly as his bulk would allow and returned her smile cheerfully. ―My Lady
Faraday, you are looking lovelier than any of us remember. How fortunate that you survived that
dreadful earthfall.‖
The other nobleman present stepped forward. He must be Lord Magariz, Faraday thought
as she smiled and offered him her hand. His dark hair was liberally speckled with silver and a red
and angry looking scar ran down his left cheek. His face was darkly handsome, almost
mysterious, certainly provocative. Faraday tore her eyes away from his face and noticed he was
heavily favouring one leg. She remembered hearing that he had been badly injured in an attack
on Gorkenfort at the beginning of DeadLeaf-month. He had the spare look of a man who lived
only for battle, but his face hinted at hidden depths of untapped ardour and his dark eyes sparkled
at her with unexpected humour.
―My Lady,‖ he smiled as he straightened after brushing his lips across the back of her
hand. ―We had hoped that Gorkenfort was impregnable to surprise attack, but here you have the
best military commanders in Achar struggling to regain the advantage after your unexpected
entrance. Be well and welcome to Gorkenfort, Lady Faraday.‖
Faraday smiled at his gracious remarks then reluctantly pulled her hand from his and
turned back to Borneheld, giving Timozel and Gautier a brief nod as she did so. ―My Lord,
please do not tell me that I was wrong to come here.‖
―Well,‖ Borneheld began, but Earl Jorge broke in.
―My Lord Duke, Gorkenfort is hardly the place for such a gently bred lady. We are a
military establishment and we expect attack any day now. Borneheld, I beg you, now is the time
to return your Lady to safety in Carlon.‖
―Oh no!‖ Faraday said hurriedly, genuine concern shadowing her eyes. She placed her
free hand over Borneheld‘s fist where it held her other prisoner and spoke pleadingly.
―Borneheld, my love. My mother is dead, and I only barely escaped death myself. In my grief
and loneliness my first thought was to join you. Please, I beg of you, do not send me away now.‖
She drew deep on the seed of power that the Mother had given her and stepped closer to
Borneheld, smiling into his eyes and gently squeezing his hand between her own.
Borneheld took a sharp intake of breath, as did most other men in the room. Already
beautiful, Faraday had assumed an aura of such allure that all the men present felt themselves
responding to it in some measure. Borneheld had no intention of trying to resist; if the woman
desired him so much, then why deny her?
Faraday saw Borneheld‘s eyes darken and pressed her advantage home. ―My Lord,‖ she
breathed, ―have I come all this way for nothing? Please, Borneheld, let us not delay our marriage
any longer. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?‖
By the Plough, Jorge thought, breathless himself, could I have refused so beautiful a
woman who rode through snow and danger to be by my side?
All Borneheld could see was the lovely young woman in front of him, declaring before
all these men that she had risked her life to simply be by his side. All his life he had suffered the
indignity of watching women smile and compliment him on his fighting skills, while all the
while their eyes had followed his half-brother. Well, now he had won a prize that even that
fatherless bastard would doubtless hunger after. She had come to him, not Axis!
―No doubt you thought only of me after the BattleAxe failed you so dismally,‖ he said. ―I
shall have him flogged for his incompetence when he arrives here.‖
Faraday quailed at the image Borneheld‘s suggestion brought to her mind, yet she knew
that she could not plead for Axis now. ―I should have stayed in Carlon with you, my love. My
father was wrong to send me with the BattleAxe. Perhaps,‖ she smiled coquettishly, ―we should
have my father flogged instead?‖
Borneheld burst into hearty laughter. ―What a mischievous lady you are, Faraday. A
surprise, I must say. Well gentleman,‖ he said turning to the three lords, ―could you resist such a
beauty as this? I admit that I cannot. Gautier!‖
Gautier snapped to attention. ―Sir?‖
―There is a decrepit old Brother still lingering about the fort, eating his way through
stores that would be better spent on a fighting man. Go find him.‖
―I will find him instantly, my Lord Duke,‖ said Gautier, wondering where the man could
be in the maze of the fort.
Borneheld turned his eyes towards his lieutenant momentarily. ―See that you do,
Gautier.‖ He looked back at Faraday. ―For I think we will be needing his services at a wedding
this afternoon.‖
Faraday felt her stomach knot, but maintained her smile. ―My Lord,‖ she breathed, ―I can
hardly wait.‖
Magariz turned and caught Gautier‘s arm as the lieutenant strode past him. ―Gautier,‖ he
said quietly, ―you will find the Brother dozing in front of the kitchen fires.‖
Gautier‘s face relaxed in relief. ―Thank you, my Lord.‖
Timozel, quiet up to now, stepped forward. ―My Lord Duke,‖ he began, and Borneheld
turned towards him with mild impatience. What did the Axe-Wielder want now? He had done a
service rescuing Faraday from the earthfall and escorting her northwards, but surely it was time
for him to depart gracefully? Borneheld‘s eyes narrowed in thought as he looked more closely at
Timozel. The charming youth had grown into a striking man and a nasty suspicion flowered in
his mind. The journey north would have taken this pair weeks—just how had they amused
themselves at night? Was he about to get something less than he had bargained on?
―My Lord Duke,‖ Timozel went on, ―I do not think you yet quite realise the deep bond
between the Lady Faraday and myself.‖ Borneheld tensed and Faraday felt his fist close tight
about her hand. Oh, dear Mother, she prayed even as her face flinched from the pressure of
Borneheld‘s fingers, do not spoil this now, Timozel. ―My Lord Duke, after our fortunate escape
from the earthfall I realised that one of the best ways that I could protect the Lady Faraday and
bring her to your side unharmed was to pledge myself to her as her Champion.‖
Borneheld gaped in surprise and he almost laughed. Champion? No one did that now!
Mingled with his amusement was some degree of relief, perhaps Faraday was not as spoilt as he
had thought a moment ago. Behind him Jorge and Roland exchanged surprised looks. The last
Champion they had known had been of their grandfathers‘ generation. Unlike Borneheld,
however, neither of them was prepared to dismiss Timozel‘s pledge so lightly. What was this girl
that she had managed to win herself a Champion?
―My Lord,‖ Timozel dropped to his knees in front of Borneheld. ―My pledge of service
also extends to my Lady‘s husband. Know that I will serve you as loyally and with as deep a
fervour as I serve your Lady wife. I pledge to always put your honour and your cause before my
own and before any other vow that I may have made previously. My Lord Duke, will you accept
my service?‖
Suspicious a moment ago, now a glow of triumph began to suffuse Borneheld‘s face. Not
only had Faraday fled Axis‘ protection to be at his side, but now Timozel had cast aside his vow
of loyalty to Axis and the Axe-Wielders in favour of service to Borneheld. And to think that in a
week or so Axis himself would be here to witness Borneheld‘s triumph—and to hand over
control of the Axe-Wielders. Borneheld dropped Faraday‘s hand and smiled at Timozel‘s bowed
head.
―Timozel,‖ he said, not bothering to hide the triumph in his voice. ―Take my hands.‖
Timozel looked up and placed his hands between those of Borneheld. ―Know that I, Duke
Borneheld of Ichtar, do accept your vow of service and loyalty. Be welcome.‖
Faraday was shocked by Timozel‘s actions, but forced a smile to her face. ―My Lord, you
are so generous. ‘Tis no wonder the troubadours sing your praises far and wide,‖ she said,
noticing that Earl Jorge was looking at her strangely. She smiled lightly at Jorge and hoped that
he hadn‘t noticed her shock at Timozel‘s disloyalty to Axis.
―My Lord.‖ Gautier‘s voice called from the doorway. At his side stood an old man, his