Lady's Ransom (The First Argentines, #3)

Ransom’s heart clenched with dread as he stared at the note in his hand. Turning his back on Sir Axien, he broke the seal and quickly read Claire’s message.

It’s been stolen. If you took it, Ransom, I want you to bring it back at once. I think you read from my little book, even though I told you not to, and decided to take it before you left for Atha Kleah. You must bring it back, Husband. If it was not you, then it was one of your knights, who I know are more loyal to you than they are to me. If you truly have no knowledge of this theft, then search your men for a white stone. Do not return to Connaught without it. I am in earnest. It belongs to me. It belongs to my family.

Claire de Murrow

Betrayed

Ransom blinked and then realized he knew who had stolen the stone—and Guivret was already on his way to Brythonica. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers. The line that had cut his heart the most was: Do not return to Connaught without it. He had never received such a rebuke before, and it angered him that she would say such a thing.

Guivret had served Sir Terencourt. Of all the knights, he alone knew about Ransom’s role as guardian of Brythonica. Not only had Guivret betrayed Claire, but he had betrayed Ransom too. Had he done so at Constance’s request? For he had a strong suspicion the stone Claire had described was the missing seering stone. Hadn’t the duchess told him the two belonged together?

“Lord Ransom, can you hear me?”

He lifted his head and saw Lord Toole staring at him expectantly. Standing next to Toole was a knight wearing the badge of the Lion on his tunic. Ransom carefully folded the letter and then turned.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, trying to absorb the news without grimacing. He approached the two men. “Have you come from Kingfountain?”

“Aye, the queen dowager summons you,” he said. “I went to Connaught first. The Duchess of Glosstyr received me quite coldly. She demanded to know the purpose before she’d tell me where you were. I did tell her, my lord. I was not wrong to do so?”

“No, you did right,” Ransom said, his stomach flopping over. “What news do you bring?”

“King Rotbart is dead,” said the knight. “Word just arrived at court through the Espion. The queen dowager asked me to bring you back to Kingfountain. Jon-Landon has gone missing as well.”

Ransom stared at the young knight’s face, remaining impassive as the news crashed into him like a violent surf against the rocks. “I will go,” he said. He looked at Lord Toole. “You will hear the other cases.”

“I’m afraid I cannot,” said Lord Toole. “I’m the high sheriff, not a justiciar. I lack the authority to hear them. I’m only here to advise you.”

Ransom closed his hand into a fist, the only betrayal of his feelings. He’d arranged to be in Atha Kleah for three days to hear cases, but it was impossible to delay his travel for that long. “Well then. Open the castle again. I’ll hear cases until the morning tide leaves and I with it.”

“As you wish, my lord,” said Lord Toole. He immediately summoned the steward and relayed the instructions. The man gasped in shock at Ransom’s decision. It meant they’d all be working through the night.

“I’ll have the ship ready to take you with the tide,” the knight said.

As the man turned to leave, Ransom grabbed a bit of his tunic. “We will stop in Ploemeur on the way back,” he said. He wanted to grab Guivret by the neck and determine what, if anything, Constance knew about his thievery.

The knight gave Ransom a wary look. “If you say so, my lord.”

Ransom bid a servant bring him a quill, ink, and paper, and the man returned with them as the room once again filled with people. He considered what he wanted to write. Although he was angered by Claire’s accusation, he remembered what Constance had said about the seering stones. Those who used them without the Fountain’s command risked madness. Things began to fall into place in his mind: Claire’s altered mood since he’d returned from Glosstyr. Had she seen him in Ploemeur?

Pain stabbed at his heart, and he hurriedly scrawled a letter back to Claire.

Dearest,

I know you are angry. Sir Axien just arrived with your rebuke. I knew nothing of it. Guivret was acting guilty when we left and after we arrived. Before your letter came, he begged leave to return to Brythonica. I let him go, for he persuaded me that his mother was unwell. You know I have received a command to return to Kingfountain. It is my intention to go to Ploemeur first and demand an accounting from Guivret. I’m ashamed of his trickery and deception. Let me try and recover the stone and fulfill my duty as Lord Protector of Ceredigion. Estian, I’ve learned, is also returning. No doubt he will wage war on us.

We have much to talk about when I return. There are secrets that I cannot tell you, but I will confess all that I can.

With devotion,

Ransom





The seering stone is gone. It was missing the day Ransom left for Atha Kleah. There’s a Gaultic saying I’ve never understood until now. “No war is more bitter than the war of friends.” I’ve done my best to forgive and trust Ransom. But if he truly stole the stone from me, without a whisper of apology, I will find it hard to move past it. I sent Sir Axien with a letter and await its return. My anger frightens me. It is so very cold.

—Claire de Murrow, Queen of Legault Connaught Castle





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN


Into the Snare


When Ransom reached the docks in Brythonica, he was given a horse to make the journey to the palace. He rode swiftly up the switchbacks, his gaze fixed on the fortress atop the massive rock outcropping. A flash of memory came upon him—he’d ridden this route once with Devon the Younger’s wife, Noemie. The memory was not a pleasant one.

When he reached the top of the hill, he rode to the elegant gates and left his horse with a waiting groom with instructions to keep the horse there until he returned for it. He did not intend to stay long.

“Good day, my lord,” greeted one of the servants. “The duchess is expecting you.”

Ransom nodded and followed the man down the polished corridor. His anger toward Guivret still simmered in his chest. Whether or not the young knight was at the palace, Ransom had decided it best to seek out Constance and find out what she knew. Even though he had told his wife where he was going, he felt uncomfortable being in Ploemeur.

The servant paused at the doorway to the solar and bowed to him, allowing Ransom to enter first. He did and found Constance standing by the window, gazing out at the sea. She turned to him, her expression one of deep concern.

“I knew you’d come,” she said.

“Do you know why I’ve come?” he asked.

“Why don’t you tell me,” she said calmly.

“One of the knights of my mesnie used to work for Sir Terencourt. Has he returned?”

Constance nodded. “He has. He’s here.” She gestured to something behind him, and he turned to see Guivret pressed against the wall, a look of guilt and misery on his face.

Ransom glared at him before turning back toward Constance. “I’ve been put in a very difficult position.”

“Indeed,” she answered. “And it’s not fair to ask more of you.”

“More?”

The duchess walked to a chair and rubbed her palm against the plush cushion. “Guivret has also been struggling with divided loyalties. Loyalty to you and loyalty to the Fountain.”

“Or do you mean loyalty to you, Duchess?” Ransom asked her.

“You must decide that for yourself, of course,” she said. “Perhaps it would be best if he explained himself. I did not order him to do what he did. It was his decision. He must face the consequences.”

Ransom sighed and turned back to Guivret. The young knight approached, his eyes roiling with guilt and regret. He dropped to one knee before Ransom. “I plead with you to hear me out, my lord, before condemning me. I will accept any punishment you can devise.”