Chapter Eight #5
Addax found himself looking at Beau, who had the same expression of disgust that Addax surely must have himself.
Beau had seen Maximilian, too. Maximilian, just married, who was proudly walking about with women who were not his wife.
When their eyes met, Beau shook his head and walked away, heading over to William and Paris. That left Addax alone with Emmeline.
“My lady, may I ask a question?” he said when Beau was gone.
Emmeline’s smile faded as she watched Maximilian walk off with his two women. “What is it?” she asked.
“Tomorrow, I compete for the championship of the joust,” Addax said. “The only favor that I have carried at this tournament, so far, is a small dagger that my father gave me. It is the only thing I have of him, so I always wear it when I compete so that I feel him with me.”
“Oh?” she said, her thoughts shifting from Maximilian to the mysterious dagger. “May I see it?”
“It is with my possessions in my tent,” Addax said. “But I would be glad to show it to you. It is called the Qara Ejder.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means the Black Dragon,” he said. “You see, my father was called kaara ejadar by our people, and that is the name I adopted on the tournament circuit as a way of keeping him alive. The small dagger is representative of the kingdom, and the throne, that should be mine.”
Her brow furrowed. “Your father was the king?”
“He was. I was his heir.”
She blinked as if shocked by the information. “You have spoken of your country before, but I failed to understand that… Are you a king, my lord?”
He shrugged. “I should have been,” he said. “Had Kitara not been sacked by my uncle and our enemies, I would have been.”
She stared at him. Then she suddenly dropped into a curtsy and lowered her gaze. “I… I am so sorry, my lord,” she said, sounding nervous. “I did not realize your position. I never meant to be disrespectful.”
He frowned, reaching out to pull her to her feet. “Stop that,” he commanded softly. “I am not a king. At least, not in England, so please do not treat me any differently. I only told you because we were speaking of the dagger. But I must ask you a question.”
Emmeline still seemed a little nervous in his presence. “Go ahead.”
“May I carry your favor tomorrow to take me to victory?”
Emmeline was surprised. “Me?” she said. “You want something from… me?”
He nodded. “If you will give it.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to him. Her nerves at learning of his true heritage faded as she looked over the crowds of clamoring admirers. “But… but surely there are a hundred maidens who would love for you to carry their favor,” she said. “Why not ask one of them?”
He shook his head. “I never carry an unmarried woman’s favor, lest she think that it means more than it does,” he said.
“I have no desire to find myself betrothed because of a misunderstanding. It is, therefore, my routine to ask a favor from the wife of a friend. It is much less messy that way, and I am certain Max would not mind.”
With that explanation, the entire mood of the conversation changed as Emmeline’s features lit up with delight. “In that case, I will give you a token, of course,” she said. “What should it be? A kerchief? A jewel?”
“Anything you wish.”
Emmeline’s gem-colored eyes glittered at him. “I will think of something,” she said. “And… thank you. I am most honored that you should ask. I’ve never had a knight ask for my favor before.”
Addax could feel something stirring in his chest. The way she was looking at him was warm and friendly. But there was something more to it. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew it wasn’t healthy. Or honorable.
But, God, it felt good.
“I am the honored one, my lady,” he said. “To be clear, it does not mean that we are betrothed.”
Emmeline laughed softly at his jest. “I understand completely,” she said. “Does it at least mean that we are friends?”
“Absolutely.”
They smiled at one another, though Addax was having trouble looking at her.
Now that the question of the favor was settled, he realized he felt rather giddy about the whole thing.
Carrying the favor of this lovely woman was a proud thing, indeed, and looking at her made him want to blush.
It was a strange sensation, indeed, and one he didn’t want to entertain or navigate, so he simply changed the subject.
It was safer that way.
“Now, shall we watch Hage disarm another opponent, or would you like to see something else?” he asked.
Emmeline pointed toward the village. “Would it be possible to find the man who makes the coffins again?” she asked. “I find that I am rather hungry.”
Addax nodded. “Of course,” he said. “Let us go and be gluttons together. Just coffins?”
“Fruit pies if we can find them.”
“I suspect we can.”
With a grin, she looped her hand into the crook of his elbow, an innocent gesture that meant nothing other than the fact they were heading in the same direction and he was escorting her. It wasn’t improper in the least, but a common action.
Still… Addax felt her hand on his arm like a branding iron.
God help him, he loved it.