Page 124 of The Champion

Stryder’s heart ached as he thought of Damien with the child. They must have been kept together for quite some time for a child so young to remember so much of what Damien said.

“And what of the boy?” Stryder asked the woman. “Where has he been kept?”

“In a guarded orphanage with other boys his age. So long as his mother obeyed her masters, they promised her he wouldn’t be harmed. Word was sent that she had died, and I was told to bring him home to his father.”

That made even less sense. “Told by whom?”

“Servants don’t ask questions, my lord. We only do as we are told.”

Stryder apologized, then looked back at his “son.”

“What is your name, child?”

“Alexander.”

He smiled gently and held his hand out to the boy. “I am Stryder of Blackmoor, little Alexander. Your father.”

The boy looked as stunned as Stryder had felt when he had heard the same.

Alexander’s eyes teared brightly. “Are you truly my father, the great English knight?”

“Aye, lad. Forever and always.”

The boy launched himself into his arms with a happy yelp.

Rowena felt her own eyes start to tear as she watched Stryder and the boy embrace. There for a moment, she had almost feared that Stryder would deny him, but she should have known better.

He would never be so cold to a child.

The old woman started away from them.

“Wait.” Stryder rose with the boy cradled in his arms. Even though Stryder was large, the boy was still too big to be held. His long skinny arms and legs were wrapped tight around Stryder as he laid his little head on Stryder’s shoulder and kept his eyes closed tight.

“What is your name?” Stryder asked the woman.

“Fatima.”

He inclined his head to her. “Thank you, Fatima, for bringing my son to me.”

She nodded, then started to leave again.

“Fatima?” Stryder called after her. “Will you not stay with us and help Alexander adjust to his new home?”

“I must return. My master will be very upset if I don’t.”

Stryder set the boy back on his feet. “Do you have family to return to?”

“Nay, my son died as a child and my husband not long after. I have worked for my master at the orphanage ever since.”

“Then stay,” he insisted, “and help Alexander. I will send money to your master to pay for your freedom.”

The old woman wept at those words. “You would free me, a useless, old woman?”

Stryder gave her a chiding glance. “You’re not useless, Fatima. You traveled a long way to bring my son to me. I think Alexander would like to have a familiar face around, is that not right, Alexander?”

Alexander nodded fanatically. “I love Nana. She tickles me when I’m good and tells me lots of stories.”

Stryder held his hand out to the old woman. “Stay with us, please.”