Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm #3) - Jennifer Anne Davis Page 0,66

grabbed her around the waist, effortlessly tossing her over his shoulder. She was too shocked to protest.

Setting her on her feet in one of the empty sparring areas, he said, “Your swords are over there.” He pointed to the corner.

Furious he’d thrown her over his shoulder like a sack of flour, she stomped over and grabbed her weapons, withdrawing them from their sheaths. When she faced him, he stood with his legs shoulder-width apart, his hands at his sides.

“No weapon?” she asked.

“I don’t need one.” His fingers twitched as he prepared to spar.

She couldn’t best him physically—which meant she had to outsmart him. An idea formed. Lifting her sword, she pretended as if she were going to strike his side. When he went to block with his arm, she twisted her hand awkwardly. Crying out, she dropped her sword, then grabbed her wrist, cradling it.

“Are you okay?” Dexter took her hand, examining it. “Does this hurt?”

While his attention was on her hand, she withdrew her dagger, placing the tip at his neck. “I win.”

He chuckled. “You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

“Nope.” She grinned.

“Then, yes, I concede this round.” His foot shot out, hooking around Reid’s ankle and flipping her to the ground.

Lying flat on her back, she blinked at the bright sky. “That was a bit excessive.”

He straddled her. “Was it?” His dark eyes danced with mischief.

“Your Highness,” a soldier shouted as he ran into the training area. “There’s someone here to see you. He says it’s urgent.”

With his eyes still trained on Reid, Dexter asked, “Did he give his name?”

“Yes, Your Highness. He said his name is Seb.”

Dexter went unnaturally still, a dozen emotions flitting across his face. Finally, he jumped to his feet. Reaching a hand down, he pulled Reid up.

“Is he an older gentleman?” Dexter asked the soldier.

“He is.”

“Is he alone?”

“No, Your Highness, he is not.”

Everyone had stopped sparring to watch the exchange between Dexter and the soldier.

“Then I guess we better go see what Seb wants.”

Entering the great hall, Reid and Dexter approached their guest. Seb sat on the sofa, a man kneeling on the floor beside him. Ackley, Gordon, Idina, and Gytha fanned out in the room.

“Seb,” Dexter said. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Some matters cannot be entrusted to another person,” Seb replied, standing to shake Dexter’s proffered hand.

“Who’s this?” Dexter asked, pointing at the kneeling man.

“This is Prince Owen of Melenia.”

Shock rolled through Reid. One of the Melenia princes was here? Why hadn’t she heard about him before now? Like the other Melenians she’d encountered, he had short blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. However, he wasn’t wide shouldered or muscled. She put his age to be closer to her own—eighteen or nineteen.

“Are you certain?” Dexter asked.

“I can verify Prince Owen’s identity,” Gordon said. “I met him when I spoke with the Melenia officers stationed outside the palace. He is the fourth-born child of the king and queen of Melenia. He was sent here to assist Commander Beck with the soldiers.”

Dexter observed the young man. “Captain Gytha, wait here with the prince. Everyone else, come with me.”

“I’m going to stay with Gytha in case she needs backup,” Reid said. If the prince were here learning military strategy and how to invade another kingdom, he had to be intelligent and skilled with the sword.

Dexter lifted a single eyebrow, but he didn’t question her. “That is an excellent idea,” he replied. With a flourish, he handed her a dagger before exiting the room with the others.

Reid slid the dagger into the back of her pants in case she needed it. This man obviously didn’t have any weapons on him. Seb would have made sure to remove them before traveling with him. However, something told her not to underestimate him—that he was far more lethal than he seemed.

Prince Owen’s wrists and ankles were tied together. Did Seb bring him here on his own? Or had he traveled with additional soldiers? Perhaps the prince was utterly useless, and he didn’t have any sword skills. Maybe his father had sent him to get him out of the way or to instill some sort of work ethic in him.

She watched the prince where he knelt on the floor, trying to get a read on him. His eyes were trained on her, making her feel oddly exposed.

Gytha placed a hand on Reid’s arm, pulling her away from the prince.

A slow smile spread across his face. “I was trying to determine who you are,” he said. “Now I know.”