Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,70

his respect. “You both have duties to your countries that you cannot set aside. I pray God will someday reward you both for your sacrifices.”

Jorg stirred and sat up. As he joined us by the fire, we finished our meal quietly, for I had nothing more to say about a future with Aurora. Though I couldn’t bear the prospect that another man would wed her, we had more urgent demands at hand.

No one would have her if we couldn’t rescue her in time.

Chapter

22

Kresten

We rode through the night and well into the next day before we took another short break. We’d easily picked up my brothers’ trail, and from what Chester could surmise from the horse droppings as well as embers of their campfire, they were eighteen hours ahead of us. At various points along the way, the heavy prints and wide tracks showed a frantic pace, leading Chester to believe they may have gotten close to Aurora.

But there was also no indication they’d secured her. As the day passed into another night, I despaired we would be too late, that our effort to capture the weasels would amount to naught if Queen Margery was as anxious to have Aurora’s heart for her alchemy as Pearl had claimed.

“You seem to know much of Mercia’s ancient customs,” I said to Chester through a yawn as I struggled to stay awake at the break of dawn on the third day of traveling through Inglewood Forest.

He released one of his scoffing laughs. “Of course I know much. During my training, my father made sure I knew everything there is to know about Mercia.”

We’d talked off and on during the long hours of traveling, especially when we slowed our pace to skirt more vigilantly around an area with signs of a basilisk. I’d learned much about Chester and the training he’d received from his father, Sir William, who had once been a renowned elite knight, one of the best in the land. Though elite guards took vows to remain unmarried, Sir William had secretly fallen in love and married a noblewoman betrothed to another man of some importance.

The nobleman had demanded Sir William’s death. But because Sir William uncovered a plot to kill Queen Leandra, the queen pardoned him. The slighted nobleman held a grudge and eventually attempted to slay Sir William’s wife and newborn child.

Though the plot succeeded with Sir William’s wife, the babe remained alive, leaving Sir William a widower with a child to raise on his own. About the same time, Queen Leandra died giving birth to Aurora. With Queen Margery seeking to slay Aurora and take Mercia’s throne, Sir William offered to take Aurora away and keep her safe along with his own son.

With two nuns to act as nursemaids, Sir William led the group deep into Inglewood Forest. There they raised the two children, hoping Queen Margery would soon give up her search. They’d never expected to remain in hiding for so many years.

“My father was a strict teacher.” Every time Chester spoke of Sir William, he did so with admiration. “He gave me the same training he’d received, perhaps more since he concluded I’d one day need to battle Queen Margery to protect Aurora.”

I stifled another yawn. “What did he teach you about the white stone and alchemy?”

“Like other elite knights, he was taught the white stone can create an elixir with the power to transform rock into jewels, silver, or gold. However, the elixir ingredients are written in an ancient code that has been nearly impossible to decipher over the centuries. Those most serious about alchemy have only been able to experiment with the stone, never knowing what it truly requires. Many speculated a human heart was necessary for riches, but no king or queen was willing to make so great a sacrifice to discover the truth. Instead, they considered themselves to be royal guardians of the white stone, making sure to protect and use it wisely.”

“And how does one use it wisely?”

“Legends speak of the stone’s ability to create metals using blood rather than hearts. I’ve heard it said the blood of a mighty warrior can form impenetrable iron.”

“So rulers of the past have used the white stone for strength and not greed?”

“Something like that.”

“Until Queen Margery.”

“Aye. King Alfred, God rest his soul, shouldn’t have bequeathed the white stone to his elder daughter.”

“Once we have freed Aurora, we shall destroy it. Then the queen will never be tempted to harm anyone else.” The honking of geese drew