Page 12 of The Champion

Eleanor thought it over. “Rowena wants her choice of husband. I say we give it to her.”

“Are you mad?” Henry glared at her. “She’ll pick one of those … minstrels—” he stressed the word as if it were the most horrible creature imaginable—“who flock to your skirts. Those mewling troubadours who lack all sense.”

She gave him a droll stare that warned him of her wrath should he continue to disparage those who curried her favor in nauseating droves. “Nay, she won’t. Rowena prides herself on only one thing in life.”

“Her music,” Lionel said.

“Aye. As you said, she thinks to start a school.”

Lionel nodded.

“Then let us cater to her desires, gentlemen. Tell her that if she can teach a knight to sing in the troubadour contest at the end of the tournament, and win it, that you will not only allow her the choice of husband, but that you will set up her school.”

Henry frowned at the idea. “Are you suggesting she teach Stryder to sing?”

“Aye.”

Henry shook his head. He knew Stryder well enough to know what the man would say to that. “Stryder will never do such. He despises minstrels even more than I do. The moment Rowena approaches him with the proposal, he will send her packing.”

“Not if he’s told that the winner of the troubadour contest will be the one to choose the wife of the knight who wins the tournament.”

Oh, his queen was evil and he loved her like this. The cold, cunning politician who was merciless.

The plan was brilliant. “Stryder is sure to win the tournament.”

“Aye, he is. His pride will never allow him to lose. The only way he can prevent his marriage is to sing. In order to sing, he will have to be around Lady Rowena to learn a song and to practice. Once the two of them are together, I predict love will follow its natural course between them.”

There was only one flaw that Henry could see. “And what if he wins this troubadour contest and they don’t fall in love?”

“I never said it wasn’t a gamble, Henry. But I know I am right and they will marry at the end.”

“And again, I say, what if you’re wrong?”

“Then we kill them both off and be done with them,” Lionel said mercilessly.

Eleanor made an exasperated noise as if his solution pained her. “You won’t have to. Trust me. I know men and I know women.”

Henry would certainly give her that. His queen did indeed know how to manipulate people.

It was risky.

But if Eleanor was right...

“Very well then. Let us try this and see what happens.”

Lionel crossed himself. “Very well then, majesties. Let me go and deliver the news to my niece.”

Three

Rowena paused to the right of the crowd as she caught sight of her mysterious knight who had saved her.

He’s a knight, he’s a knight, he’s a knight...

The litany went through her head and though she should hate him for it, she couldn’t quite muster so strong a negative emotion. Indeed, the only emotion filling her was a desire so potent that it made her very much aware of the fact that she was a woman, full grown, who had never known the taste of a man’s lips. Even though she sang of it, she had no idea.

It was something that had never bothered her before tonight.

But, as she watched him talk and share a small grin with his companions, her curiosity swelled to gargantuan proportions.