There were already people in the great hall, waiting to begin the trial. This has been planned, Nicholas realized, his wrath overflowing. He scanned the hall and found Richard sitting at Nicholas’ table with Reg taking Kestrel’s seat. Which one of them would he kill first?
They brought her in. Another man had replaced one of the original four. Charlie.
Nicholas stared at him and his fingers around Kestrel’s upper arm. Betrayal hooked him in the guts. He cast Charlie a murderous glance and then met the gaze of his wife.
She was afraid. He could see it in her eyes. She kept it hidden and he admired her for it. He would get her out of this. She tried to see him through the group of men who subdued him. His heart thrashed against his ribs. There were too many guardsmen, the kings and his own, filling the great hall. He couldn’t take them all.
The king’s voice tore his attention away from her. Nicholas heard his words as if in a deep fog.Prove…Witch…Witnesses.No. Nicholas closed his eyes then opened them again when Reg motioned to a certain man among them to come forward.
“Your Majesty, this is John, the smith from the market.”
John stared, wide-eyed at the king and rolled his cap in his hands.
“John, tell the king what you saw.”
“I seen her holding her arms out to the earl. He went to her as if he had no choice in the matter. He was getting ready to kiss her! We all know the earl has not taken a woman in years.”
Nicholas didn’t care how he knew that. It was something else the fool had said… “I went to her as if I had no choice because I didn’t. I love her. ’Twas no spell involved. ’Twas her kindness and determination to help all of you.”
Reg told the guards to quiet him. One of the fourteen holding him punched him in the gut.
“Richard!” Nicholas shouted again. “Stop this. Let her go and I—”
The guard struck him again, this time thanks to the king’s silent order.
His cousin called another witness against her. No one stepped forward.
Nicholas looked at Charlie. “Let her go or I will kill you.”
Charlie didn’t seem like he was going to defy him, despite Nicholas’ poor odds of getting out of this alive if he tried—Charlie uncurled his fingers, took his hand away, and winked at his commander.
It was all Nicholas needed to unleash the thing it took fourteen men to subdue. They’d taken his sword. He didn’t need it when he let out a shout and took two men down with his fists and elbows alone.
Reg and the king bolted to their feet. People started running. A woman screamed when he yanked a sword free from one of the men who went down. Armed, he cut through any guards who lifted their swords to him. There were seven. The other seven who had been holding him sheathed their blades and held up their hands in surrender.
Charlie cut down two of the guards who held Kestrel and was fighting the third when Nicholas leaped over the table separating him from them and jammed his sword into the guardsmen’s back. He pushed the man away before his body hit the floor and took his wife in his arms.
“Find my cousin and bring him to me,” he ordered Charlie.
“Aye, Sir.”
“And Charlie.”
“Aye, Sir?”
“You are now my first in command. You will sit at my table from now on.”
Charlie smiled. “Aye, Sir.”
“Go.”
Elia hurried to them and took Kestrel from his arms. “Oh, my dearest girl, my dearest girl,” she cried. “Are you hurt?” What can I get you?”
They were the same questions Nicholas would have asked her, so he waited for her reply.
“Nicholas,” she said softly. “Get me Nicholas.”
He hadn’t wept since he was seven. And he wouldn’t begin now, but he came close. He stepped forward and pulled her gently into his embrace. “I am right here, my love.”