A Knight Amid Thorns
Laurel O'Donnell
Chapter Five
Graden had to find the rose before Ella. He knew he was right now. All the witch wanted was that damned blue rose. While Ella hadn’t told him outright, he had seen the truth in her eyes, the way her beautiful orbs widened when he mentioned the flower. How many people were looking for it? He had to find it. He had to find it before all the rest, Ella included. His search had taken him this long and if the rose was so elusive, he couldn’t risk someone finding it before him. If they did, he would spend the rest of his life searching for another with no hope of a family of his own or a life.
Graden had stopped in the keep and replenished his supplies of bread and ale before hurrying toward the stables. He made it halfway across the empty courtyard when he heard her voice.
“Dumount!”
He paused in the middle of the inner ward, part of him wanting to flee, part wanting to see her again, perhaps for the last time. He waited for her.
When Ella stood before him, she asked, “Did you kill him for the blue rose?”
Confusion washed over Graden. “What?”
“Did you kill Edwin to get information about the blue rose?”
“No.” He stepped past her and continued toward the stables.
“Liar!” She raced after him.
“Why do you ask me questions if you’ve already formulated an answer?”
She grabbed his arm, halting him. “I think he wouldn’t tell you about the blue rose and you killed him.”
“That’s not what happened. I would have asked him, if I hadn’t been drunk.” He pulled his arm free of her hold. “But I never got around to asking him.”
“Where are you going now? Are you leaving?”
“What do you care?” He continued across the ward.
She raced after him.
God’s blood, she was annoying! He stopped suddenly and whirled on her. She was so close she almost collided with him. He caught her arms, steadying her. “What do you want of me? Why are you chasing me?”
“Are you leaving?”
“I have work to attend to. You should be happy I am leaving. It’s what you’ve wanted all along.” But he could not release her. His gaze swept her face. Such smooth, soft skin, her bowed lips, that pert nose and those eyes that sparkled in the moonlight.
She scowled. When she spoke, there was no condemnation in her tone, only pleading. “Why did you kill Edwin?”
He released her and stepped back as if his touch would somehow taint her. He ran a hand through his hair. “It was an accident. I certainly didn’t mean…” He wet his lips with his tongue and took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to kill him. I was drunk. He was drunk. I simply wanted…him to be silent.”
Ella’s gaze moved over his face as if she were trying to decipher the truth.
He straightened. “I didn’t mean to kill him. I hit him because his yelling was giving me a headache. I thought the blow light, just enough force to knock him out.”
She stood still, her features clouded with anguish.
Graden had known only self-recrimination these years. He had blamed himself for the boy’s death, but it had been an accident. He had found comfort in the thought. But seeing the agony in her sweet face brought more self-loathing than he had ever experienced. He turned away and moved toward a saddled horse.
She grabbed his arm to stop him. “And what of this blue rose you search for? Is that why you are running off?”
“Blue rose? How do you –?”
“Thomas told me that you searched for it. It was what the woman wanted, wasn’t it? The blue rose. That is the payment.”
