‘Caris Ironside, my lord.’Was that what I should call him?My lord?This was my first time addressing someone from nobility.
‘Please kneel, Caris Ironside.’
I felt my ribs protest as I lowered myself to kneel before Lord Warwick.He lifted his blade and placed the flat on top of my bent head.
‘Do you swear that you will protect your lord and your lord’s children with your life?That you will act with honour while serving me?’
I took in his words, recogni sing what I was swearing to.I hadn’t thought through how this was going to work.My focus had only been to find a way into the inner sanctum of this fortress.
Lord Warwick had moved his family to a remote location and hired a whole militia to ensure their safety.He was desperate to protect them.Protecting a good man and his children from danger would be something I would do without an oath.Is he a good man, though?He had shown consideration for my wellbeing when Torgrin removed my helmet.He could have had me thrown in a dungeonjust for being a woman daring to compete in a tournament.The city had flourished since his presence in Murus, and from what I’d seen, Torgrin and Atlas were loyal to Lord Warwick.Was that enough?I hadn’t seen either captain for a decade, I barely knew them, yet my instincts told me they were good men.
I couldn’t kneel here for much longer; the pain in my ribs was making me nauseous.
‘I swear on my life that I will protect and serve you and your children honourably, my lord.’
‘Then rise and take your applause as the winner of Murus’s first Tournament of Honour.’
I rose, and the crowd erupted into cheers.
Lord Warwick smiled as he held the sword I had forged between his outstretched hands.
‘This truly is the most beautiful sword I have ever seen, Caris Ironside.I will pass it on to my son one day.’
I had woven an intricate leafy vine around the handle, and in the middle was the Warwick oak tree.Along the blade, I had engraved the entire landscape of Murus with the mountains and the fortress overlooking the city below.
‘You are a woman of many talents it seems.I look forward to knowing you better.’
Atlas and Torgrin were watching me.Were they disappointed that one of their own didn’t win?Atlas gave me a wink.
I didn’t think so.
As I left the arena, I searched for Cillian, but he was lost among the exiting crowd.
CHAPTER 9
Istood next to Nightmare, leaning against her for support.I couldn’t remember a time I was this tired.Through the hustle and bustle around me, a single soldier approached.It was the archer – the soldier from the day before.He was tall and thin, with fair skin and hair, close to my age or maybe a little younger.
When my identity was revealed, I wasn’t thrown into the fortress dungeon because this man had not divulged what he saw me do on the street.I was curious to know why he had kept my secret.The man from Murus had said he would keep my secret too, but he did so out of gratitude for saving his family.Why had this young soldier not reported me?
‘Caris?’He seemed less nervous than he was during our last encounter.‘Captain Torgrin has asked me to escort you to your accommodation.’
‘My horse?’
‘Webber, our horse master, will take good care of your mare.’
Nightmare was very particular about her accommodation and didn’t get along with other horses well.She barely tolerated Cillian’s horse, Bay.
‘If you wish to assess her wellbeing, I can take you to visit her in the stables tomorrow?’
I nodded, retrieved my weapons, and said my goodbyes to Nightmare.I had nothing else with me – no clothes or belongings.
To my confusion, I was led past the barracks and into the fortress.A large stone entrance with a wide central staircase opened up, and then I was taken down long corridor after long corridor.Finally, the soldier paused before a door and asked me to wait while he retrieved some things.When he returned, he was holding clothing, books and loose sheets of parchment in his gangly arms.
‘Is this your room?’I was exhausted but felt bad taking someone else’s bed for the night.
‘No.The room is yours,’ he assured me, trying his best to see over the stack of books he held.‘I will be back tomorrow to take you to the stables.’
‘Thank you,’ I called after him as he tottered slowly back down the way we came, doing his best not to drop anything.
