The Heir (7 page)

The Prince guided the distraught young woman
to a nearby chair. “Do not worry yourself, Princess. My father, the
King, is making arrangements to take back Mirstone.”

Baylin pried Princess Isla’s grip from his
arm and crossed the room to sit next to King Gideon. “Your Grace,
my purpose in coming this morning was not only so I could check on
your comfort. I have been asked by my father, to escort you to war
council. He is finalizing plans and we could very well ride within
the next week.”

“Ride?” Isla repeated. “Certainly you don’t
mean to take part yourself, Baylin.”

“Undoubtedly I do,” he replied. “I am to be
King of Grasmere. What kind of King would I be if I sat safely back
while my men died protecting the Kingdom?”

King Gideon shifted in his chair and Baylin
realized the depth of his words.
He should be uncomfortable. He
fled with his wife and daughter without any thought of those they
left behind.

“But Your Grace,” Queen Fia interrupted,
“surely your father would not want you to go into battle. You have
yet to provide an heir to the throne. What would happen to Grasmere
should you fall without an heir, gods forbid?”

Baylin thought of Luana and the life growing
inside her. He could not help but smile. “I have an heir that is
well on his way.”

Isla huffed in shock. “An heir? You mean
your bed wife’s child? It’s not even born, and it’s not a trueborn.
What if it is a girl? Even if it is a boy, you can’t possibly be
suggesting that it be allowed to rule.”

Queen Fia grasped her daughter’s arm
reproachfully. “Hush.” Isla gritted her teeth together and scowled
at her mother.

The Queen turned her gaze to Baylin.
“Apologies, Your Grace. I’m certain Isla only meant to point out
that, though the news of your child is most welcome, he or she will
not be considered a trueborn heir to the throne. The child of a bed
wife cannot rule the Kingdom of Grasmere.”

“You’ll find that he can, and he most
certainly will when he is of age, should the worst happen.” Baylin
rose to his feet. “Though I can assure you I do not plan on falling
in battle, so there is little to concern yourselves with.”

Isla wore a look of shock. It was the first
time Baylin had ever thought of her as unattractive.

“Well, Prince Baylin,” said King Gideon,
standing up in front of him, “let us attend your father presently
so we may take back Mirstone.”

After months of harsh, icy weather winter
afflicted upon Grasmere, the sun finally cut through the clouds and
shined over the Kingdom, sunny and warm. It smiled down on the
snow-covered land, bringing warmth to drive the chill away at
last.

Luana sat alone, staring out the window,
absorbing the heat of the sun. Baylin had spent the last week in an
endless war council. When they were able to spend time together, he
would not speak much about it to Luana, most certainly because he
did not want to worry her. But she knew war was upon them. She
could not help but be concerned.

She was entering her third month being with
child and, when they should be enjoying this time, Baylin was
constantly away. Also, it seemed whenever Baylin did manage to
steal away from war council, Princess Isla would inevitably show up
requesting Baylin’s presence.

As Luana waited, she attempted to read,
however thoughts of the Princess kept intruding on her pleasure.
She makes me sick. She is exceedingly fake and manipulative. She
plays the victim, pretending she’s concerned for the people of
Mirstone though she cares nothing for them. What’s worse, Baylin
can’t see her for what she truly is.

Luana hated Isla. There was nothing
redeeming about her. Yes, Luana was biased. After all, the King
wanted Baylin to marry the Princess. However, it was much more than
that. Isla was unkind and appeared to enjoy the pain she caused
Luana. To add insult to injury, Baylin was forced to play host and
give in to the spoiled girl’s every whim.

Luana was tired and had had enough.
I am
tired of being locked up in my bedchamber and tired of Baylin
spending all his time in war council with his father. And most of
all, I am tired of Princess Isla.

Thankfully it had been two whole days since
Isla had managed to weasel her way into the chamber, and Luana
welcomed her absence.

As Luana tried to return her attention to
the book, she heard a light knock at the door.
Who on earth
could that be?
Luana, being a bed wife, didn’t receive any
guests, and most everyone knew Baylin would be in war council with
the King.

Luana’s handmaid, Meg, who had been busy at
work cleaning, crossed the room to the door.

Luana heard Meg’s reply to the visitor at
the door. “Apologies, Your Grace. His Grace, Prince Baylin, is at
war council.”

Luana looked up to see Isla standing in the
door staring at her.

Luana felt her body grow warm with a flush
of anger.
Can she give us no peace? She knew Baylin would not be
here.

Isla did not wait to be invited as she
barged into the room. “I will wait.”

Meg gave Luana a panicked look. Luana
understood it was not the girl’s fault and nodded to dismiss her.
With relief, the maid hurried back to the private bath to continue
her cleaning and escape Isla’s presence. Luana, however, was not so
fortunate. She had never been forced to spend time alone with the
Princess. Baylin had always been there as a shield between the
two.

Custom dictated that Luana had to bow to
Princess Isla, and for Baylin’s sake, she did not want to be
disrespectful. She stood and gave the Princess a quick curtsey.
“Your Grace.”

“Luana, is it?” the Princess asked with a
slight curtsey. “Thank you for allowing me to wait in your chambers
for the Prince. Mother is terribly boring.”

Her civility took Luana by surprise.
Is
she trying to be friendly?
Luana felt certain it must be a
trick.

Isla sat down on the settee by the hearth
and flipped through one of Luana’s books that had been left there.
“I’ve never liked books.”

It was a statement, not a question. However,
Luana felt obligated to respond. “Indeed, Your Grace?”

“Not in the least,” Isla said, picking up
another book and thumbing through it. “They tend to be so boring,
and they always smell strange.”

Luana was thankful the Princess’s attention
was on the book because she had to stifle a laugh with a forced
cough.
She’s like a child who wants to be entertained.
Luana
felt almost sorry for her. Perhaps she’d never had any real
friends, growing up a Princess.

Luana picked up her favorite book and held
it out to the young woman. “Not all books are boring, Your Grace,”
Luana said. “You need only find one that speaks to your heart.”

Isla took the book and turned a few pages.
“And does this one speak to your heart? What is it about?”

“It does, Your Grace,” Luana said as she
blushed. “It’s a romantic tale about an elf Prince who meets a
young woman and they end up falling in love with each other.”

The Princess looked up at Luana, considering
her. To Luana’s surprise, Isla had a warm expression on her face.
Could I have been wrong? Maybe she’s as threatened by me as I
have been of her. We have both been forced into circumstances
against our wishes.

“Am I to assume, then, that you enjoy
reading?” Isla asked, as she laid the book down and smiled at
Luana.

The Princess’s tone was so sweet and kind,
it was becoming hard for Luana to hate her. “Yes, Your Grace, very
much.”

Isla’s warm expression turned to one of
sinister mocking. “Well, there will be plenty of time for that once
you’re back in your beloved village, won’t there?”

Luana was dazed by the Princess’s bluntness.
It had all been a game to Isla. Like a spoiled child playing a
game of make-believe. Just a way to keep her entertained while she
passed the time.
Luana knew the Princess wanted her gone, but
she had never thought her to be so direct. Luana kept silent while
she struggled to gather her composure.

Isla stood up and walked across the room to
Luana. “What’s the matter, dear? You honestly didn’t believe when I
marry Baylin I will allow you to stay.” Isla reached out and cupped
Luana’s chin, forcing Luana to look at her. “Or was it that you
thought he actually loves you?”

Luana jerked her chin from Isla’s grip,
looking away.

“Oh my!” Isla said, throwing her head back
with a laugh. “You do think he loves you!”

Luana gritted her teeth together, struggling
to contain the anger that boiled inside her as Isla verbally
assaulted her.

The Princess’s tone was malicious and
deliberate. “You are nothing more than a base-born nobody who
Prince Baylin was forced to make a child with.” She smiled coldly.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m certain he enjoyed lying with you; most
men do. In the moment, they don’t care who they are with. But rest
assured he will never see you as anything more than a slave to have
his way with.”

Luana could not contain her anger anymore.
“Baylin does love me!”

Luana’s anger only fueled Isla’s malcontent.
“You silly little fool. You think because he dotes on you that he
loves you? His only concern is that little bastard in your belly.
As soon as you push the brat out, he will have no further use for
you. Once he has gone to battle for me and rid Mirstone of the
troll epidemic, he will take me for his Queen.”

Luana wanted to hit the Princess. She wanted
to reach out, wrap her hands around her neck and strangle her. “May
you choke on your own words. If only I could be there to see
it.”

Princess Isla’s expression changed from
pleasure to anger. She swatted Luana across the face with the back
of her hand.

“What is this?” Boomed Baylin’s voice as he
opened the door to the room. “Isla, why have you struck Luana?”

“Baylin! I mean, Your Grace, I…” The
Princess stuttered, trying desperately to make up an excuse. It was
obvious she had not been expecting to get caught. She tried to
gather her poise as Baylin made his way to Luana’s side.

Baylin looked into Luana’s eyes and stroked
her cheek. “Are you okay?”

Luana sighed with relief.
Thank the
gods.
The slap was worth it for Baylin to see the Princess for
what she was. She nodded, leaning into him as he took her into his
arms and held her.

“Well?” Baylin asked angrily. “Isla, why on
earth would you strike Luana?”

The Princess glared at Luana in his arms.
“Had you been here a few moments earlier, you would have found it
to be necessary. She is completely disrespectful to me, Baylin! She
would not bow or show any kind of civility. She would not even
answer my simple questions. I only wished to know her better.”

Luana struggled out of Baylin’s arms toward
Isla, reaching her hands out like claws. “You lying c—”

“Enough!” Baylin pulled Luana back, putting
himself between the women.

“You see?” Isla said in a wounded tone. “And
before you came in she threatened to choke me!”

Baylin turned to Luana with a confused
expression. “You wouldn’t?”

“Of course I didn’t!” Luana felt angry
toward Baylin for even questioning her. “She’s lying. As she has
been from the moment she showed up in Grasmere; something you
should have caught on to!”

Isla glared at Luana. “You dare speak to the
future King of Grasmere in such a familiar tone? Further proof of
how insolent she is.”

Luana felt the heat rush over her. “You
lying snake. You spew venomous lies from behind your teeth to hide
that disgusting forked tongue!”

Isla’s expression flashed of rage, but she
turned her gaze to Baylin and reached a hand out, placing it on his
arm. “Baylin, you’ve known me since we were children. What could I
possibly have to gain by lying to you? We are already betrothed. I
would do nothing to upset her, for the sake of your child.”

Luana lunged at Isla again, this time Baylin
was ready and held her back.

“Isla, you should go back to your chamber,”
Baylin said, keeping Luana held tightly in his muscular arms. “King
Gideon will want to inform you of our plans. We leave for Mirstone
at daybreak.”

The words knocked the breath out of Luana.
She stood still as she stared up at him in shock.

Even Isla seemed to be without words as she
gaped at him with her mouth open in astonishment. “I… yes… yes, I
will go now.”

Baylin turned to Luana. “I must escort the
Princess back to her chambers.”

“You can’t be serious.” Luana gave him a
look of astonishment. “You accused me of being a liar, then
declared you are leaving for war. Yet you are going to see to
Isla’s needs first?”

“I’m not going to argue with you,” Baylin
said, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. “I will return
to you shortly.”

Chapter Eight

Baylin quickly delivered the Princess to her
parents and hastened to return to Luana.
I cannot leave with
this anger between us.

On his way, Baylin turned a corner and
bumped into Lord Cadman.
Not this, not now.

“Prince Baylin, dear nephew, been visiting
Princess Isla I see?” Cadman smiled slyly. “How easily you forget
your sweet bed wife when another pretty face shows itself.”

“I do not have time for you,” Baylin said,
pushing by his uncle.

“Probably for the best,” Cadman hissed. “The
Princess is a proper match, after all.”

Baylin was furious. He turned to face
Cadman. “There will be no match, not for me. I have no desire to
marry the Princess.”

“You don’t really have a choice though, do
you?” Lord Cadman gave a scheming snicker. “You will be forced to
marry Princess Isla and your little bed wife will be swept away
like dust in the wind, as though she had never been.”