Lord Protector (44 page)
Authors: T C Southwell
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Epic
Chiana gazed at him, her heart filled with joy. Every day, Blade took Rivan into the gardens to play. Usually she would accompany them, and their antics always had her in gales of laughter. Blade included her in their boisterousness, as he had done at the palace, and she was always left gasping and giggling, as well as somewhat bedraggled and grass-stained, at the end of it.
Blade also took great delight in teasing her, appearing at the most unexpected moments to make her jump, pounce on her and hug her before vanishing into whatever shadow he had emerged from. Occasionally she would catch him, although she suspected that he let her. In the afternoons he would practice his skills, then find a comfortable spot to sit and doze, read or write. Her happiest moments, however, were when they were alone, lying beside the fire sipping wine, when she could hold him.
Blade seemed content, and she sometimes wondered if he truly was, but did not dwell on it too much. She feared he would leave again one day, despite his promise. He continued his pastime of humiliating nobles at state functions he was obliged to attend, such as Kerra's birthday, and Chiana's, although he would not divulge the date of his own so it could be celebrated. Chiana revelled in his company, discovering him to be an accomplished conversationalist on many subjects, so much so that at times she felt that she was the one who lacked proficiency.
Blade had purchased several other rich estates, for them to enjoy once her regency was over, he claimed, but she suspected that he just liked having enough money to buy anything he wished. His penchant for buying the family estates of the wealthiest noblemen, and especially those who slighted him, told her that he also did it to avenge such slights or simply to demonstrate his power. Considering what he had suffered to earn it, she did not begrudge him his little foibles, even when the nobles complained. As she pointed out, Blade paid far more than the estates were worth.
It was fortunate, she mused, that the crown had wealth to spare, the way he spent it. He also lavished her with gifts. Apart from the numerous estates, he had presented her with highly bred horses, exotic pets, mountains of jewels and so many wardrobes of exquisite gowns she could never wear them all. Blade had opened the palace coffers to the poor, housing beggars and vagrants in several stately homes he had purchased and staffing them with servants to wait upon the unfortunates, whose fortunes he had changed. In addition, he opened houses for the sick and homes for harlots and abused women and children. The crown and church already had several such establishments, but Blade opened many more.
The former assassin ensured that everyone thought the crown owned the establishments, however, and only Chiana knew the truth. His reputation named him a wealthy and powerful but cold-hearted man, and he seemed to prefer it that way. Instead, Chiana was credited with all his good deeds, and it shamed her a little that she had never thought to be so generous to the populace. Then again, she supposed, she did not have the right to spend the crown's wealth so extravagantly, while he, having earned it, did. That made him more powerful than she, and even, until she ascended the throne, Kerra.
The only speck of unhappiness in her idyll was the certitude that the overabundance of gifts Blade lavished upon her was due, in large part if not in whole, to his sense of inadequacy. She made the most of his teasing company and stilted affection, although she could not shake the sense that her joy existed on borrowed time. He constantly surprised her, and she despaired of ever plumbing the true depths of the man she had come to know and love. Her only wish was to spend the rest of her life with him, so she might revel in his captivating company and bask in the reflected glory he tried so hard to hide. Her husband, who had shaped history and changed the fate of three kingdoms. The Queen's Blade.
*****
Get the two prequels,
Dead Son
and
God Touched
.
About the author
T. C. Southwell was born in Sri Lanka and moved to the Seychelles when she was a baby. She spent her formative years exploring the islands – mostly alone. Naturally, her imagination flourished and she developed a keen love of other worlds. The family travelled through Europe and Africa and, after the death of her father, settled in South Africa.
T. C. Southwell has written over twenty novels and five screenplays. Her hobbies include motorcycling, horse riding and art, and she earns a living in the IT industry.
All illustrations and cover designs by the author.
Contact the author at [email protected]
Acknowledgements
Mike Baum and Janet Longman, former employers, for their support, encouragement, and help. My mother, without whose financial support I could not have dedicated myself to writing for ten years. Isabel Cooke, former agent, whose encouragement and enthusiasm led to many more books being written, including this one. Suzanne Stephan, former agent, who has helped me so much over the past six years, and Vanessa Finaughty, good friend and business partner, for her support, encouragement and editing skills.
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