Page 104 of The Champion

Stryder released a long, tired breath. “Leave them. Those rumors have been with me all my life. I no longer even hear them.”

“Aye, but you do.” Rowena touched his arm comfortingly. “You’re just too well-armored for your own good.”

Stryder caught her uncle watching their exchange.

Clearing his throat, he disengaged himself from Rowena’s grasp.

“Is there something the two of you wish to tell me?” her uncle asked.

“Nay,” they both said in unison.

Lionel looked back and forth between them suspiciously. “Are you certain?”

“Completely,” Rowena said.

They rejoined the thronging crowd of onlookers who were gathered in the great hall.

Stryder grabbed Rowena up against him as soon as he saw the blanket covered body being brought in.

Elizabeth.

“Stryder, what-“

”Shh,” he said quickly, making sure she couldn’t see her friend or the ones who carried her body. “There are some memories no one needs to have.”

Her uncle gave him a nod of approval as Stryder guided her toward the rear of the hall and the exit that led toward the kitchens.

“It was Elizabeth, wasn’t it?”

“Aye, love.”

She closed her eyes. “Thank you.”

He kissed her hand gently. “Ever at your service.”

Rowena paused to give Stryder a hug for his thoughtfulness and she savored the warmth of his body. The feel of his strength and comfort.

She drew a ragged breath. “Is this ever going to end? I’m beginning to share Joanna’s thoughts. I am more than ready to go home and put this tournament behind me. How can we continue to have festivities after so many have died?”

“The same way we managed to laugh while we were in prison. You have to, otherwise you will go mad from the grief. Sometimes it helps to shout. Let the angels hear your rage.”

Scowling, she understood his words far too well. “Is that what you did?”

He nodded. “Other times I would goad my captors just so that I could get a taste of them before they beat me back.”

She winced at his words. “What if I’m not as strong as you are?”

“I would never take you on in battle, Rowena. Methinks you could easily best me in that regard.”

She smiled at that.

“Stryder!”

Neither of them had time to look or respond before someone threw them to ground.

Stryder struggled against the unknown assailant until he heard the whizzing sound of arrows being fired.

“Rowena?”