Champion of Fire & Ice - Megan Derr Page 0,39

Cimar pulled him in amongst the aforementioned trees and pushed him gently up against the trunk of a particularly large one. He tasted like quail pie and mulled wine, his hands quite sure of themselves as they sank into Davrin's hair to keep his head right where Cimar wanted it.

Far be it for him to complain.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Three days later, Cimar still could not go anywhere about the castle or city without someone stopping him to discuss the lindworm, the challenge in general, or attempt to get information out of him regarding Davrin and Her Highness.

He was sick of it, but there was nothing to be done save get used to it. He was going to be the champion of a prince consort—his life would never entirely be his again. It was intimidating and exhausting, but he'd surrender far more than his solitary, quiet life to stand by Davrin's side the way he'd always wanted.

Cimar took a seat on a bench outside a temple and sighed, grateful to be off his feet for a time, and in no rush to return to the castle and frost fair, for all he was looking forward to having the matter over and done with.

Lee had wanted to come with him, but Cimar preferred him as far from the drama as possible. He wouldn't put it past Grayne or Tekker to use Lee against him—hurt him, even kill him, whatever it took to make Cimar falter or break long enough they could land the final victory.

If they did hurt Lee, nothing and no one would stop Cimar from stopping them for good.

He scrubbed at his face, longing for a place he could curl up and sleep undisturbed for several hours. Or where he could hide away with Davrin for several hours and do far more delightful things undisturbed.

That brought a smile to his face and improved his mood slightly. If there was one thing he'd not expected to come from this challenge, it was the romance of his impossible dreams.

What would Ballior say if he could see all that had come about because of his death? More than likely he'd simply laugh and say or do something to really set off Tekker and Grayne. Those two generally didn't care enough about anyone to muster something as strong as hate, but they'd hated Ballior and all the thousand ways he'd thwarted them over the years.

Cimar would be damned if they got away with murdering him.

He might be damned anyway, for thinking such vengeful thoughts unbecoming a knight, but he didn't care. Justice would be served for once.

Thankfully, he had a future queen and prince consort on his side.

Shaking his head at his meandering thoughts, he slowly stood, stretched out stiff muscles, and continued on to where his horse waited.

He'd only just reached it when he heard someone call his name in a frantic, frightened tone. Lee.

Cimar whipped around just as Lee came barreling to a stop right in front of him, mere steps short of crashing into him. "Lee?"

"Sir Cimar! You have to come at once, please, I think they're being threatened. They—" His voice broke then, and it seemed for a moment like tears might get the better of him. Which was so unlike Lee, it was nearly frightening.

Cimar grasped his shoulders and gave him a gentle shake, then pulled him into a tight embrace. "Lee, whatever is wrong, we will fix it. Calm down, now, all right? It's not like you to panic. You didn't act like this when we faced a lindworm, for love of the gods. All right there? Good. Now tell me what's wrong."

"I went to Everard and Odilia today, tell them what's been happening, invite them to my formal knighting…" Sorrow and pain filled his face. "They refuse to see me. Wouldn't even tell me to go away themselves, just had their bartender do it. Told me it was over, I needn't bother coming by anymore. Nothing I didn't—" He stopped, drew a shuddery breath. "Didn't expect to hear eventually, but it's not like them to speak through others. I left, but after a bit went back, just to settle my nerves, you know? Figure out if something was really wrong, or if I was just having a hard time dealing with 'no.' I was just about to give up when some men showed up. Thugs of some sort, cheap clothes but good armor and weapons. I swear I heard one of them complaining about Grayne. I just don't know