Roger dropped to his knees. “I… I’ll tell you—”
Thorne snarled and moved toward Roger, but the knight drew his sword and pointed the tip at Thorne’s chest. Within moments, other swords were drawn around the great hall.
“He broke a deal with a fae,” Roger blubbered. “Lord Thorne captured a fae in a trap. He made a bargain for strength and prowess in battle, and in exchange, he was to release the fae and grant the fae an acre of any lands he was awarded for his help on the battlefield. I don’t know what the fae wanted the land for; all I know is when the fae came to claim his land two weeks ago, Lord Thorne refused. Because he kept only half of his word, half of his appearance was cursed. Lord Thorne agreed to sign over the acre of land in exchange for looking normal again, but after Lord Thorne signed the deed and handed it over, the fae gave him an enchanted silver hair stick—saying he’d promised only that he would make Lord Thornelooknormal, not actuallybenormal.”
Now the king’s glare of fiery rage turned toward Thorne. “You lied to me, repeatedly deceived me, your king and planned father-in-law. You falsely accused an innocent man, threatened death and punishments to your servants outside of the bounds of the law, and broke a fae bargain, proving that you are an untrustworthy miscreant and not a man of your word. I revoke your title and your lands. For knowingly lying to the king in a grievance hearing and attempting to cause the execution of an innocent man, I hereby sentence you to death.”
“No!” Thorne flexed his clawed, scale-covered hand. “This servant is lying! They’re both lying! I—”
“Take him outside and behead him,” King Mortimer ordered. “I don’t want to see that wicked monstrosity a moment longer.”
Several knights converged on Thorne and dragged him, flailing and screaming obscenities, out of the hall.
The door slammed shut, blocking out Thorne’s deranged protests. Marcus finally let himself relax, and Edwin grinned at him. All of their planning and risks had paid off, but Thorne had been so confident in his lies Marcus had feared he would convince Adriana’s father and their witnesses.
Marcus bowed to King Mortimer. “Your Majesty. Thank you for seeing that justice is done.” He straightened. “As your humble subject, I ask you—do you recognize my marriage to Princess Adriana, whom I dearly love?”
Mortimer’s mouth pinched as he glanced over the waiting crowd. Marcus held his breath as the king delayed answering. Surely he wouldn’t forbid them from being together. The entire point of standing in as Lucien during the marriage ceremony and demanding this hearing be in public was so the king couldn’t deny the existence of the marriage and quietly have him killed.
“Adriana performed the wedding ceremony with the knowledge it was Marcus Alimer, not Lucien Thorne,” Jairus said solemnly. “They will both admit to consummating the marriage, and we…” He coughed. “Based on the state we found them in, I believe we can attest that their marriage was formalized.”
Marcus willed his face not to turn red as Adriana blushed. As much as he’d enjoyed that and looked forward to doing it again, he could dowithout Adriana’s brother discussing it in front of a room full of strangers.
“I acknowledge that Marcus Alimer and my daughter are legally wed,” Mortimer said tightly. “But there are other concerns. You deceived me as well, Alimer, by concealing your true identity within my castle and then impersonating Thorne in the wedding rite. You and your servant”—he motioned at Edwin—“infiltrated my castle and proceeded to undermine my authority by stealing my daughter—”
“I was not stolen!” Adriana protested. “You would have given me to a man I did not love and who did not love me and wasn’t even a good man! And what recourse did you leave Marcus after you sent an assassin to kill him?”
“An assassin who lied to me,” the king muttered.
Edwin cleared his throat. “I faked my prince’s death, Your Majesty. Your knight was not dishonest with you.”
Marcus winced. He’d tried to convince Edwin to stay hidden until everything was settled and run if things went wrong, but of course his friend wouldn’t listen.
“Another count of deception—”
“Father,” Jairus said pleadingly. “You tried to have Marcus killed because you feared he would retaliate against you for the deaths of his family or might stir up opposition to your rule. But Marcus has been in Faine Castle for days and caused no harm, and in fact took great risks to himself to protect Adriana from marriage to a monster. He did not attempt to murder you or me, and he married your daughter because he loves her, not because he wants anything from you. He hasassured me that he holds no ill intent toward you for acts performed in a war his own father started. He has no desire for the throne and is willing to publicly take oaths of fealty to you.”
Marcus dropped to one knee before the king. Enough letting others defend him. If he wanted to fight for his dreams, he needed to take the risks himself.
“Your Majesty.” He bowed his head. “I acknowledge that I deceived you. I also swear I bear you no malice and harbor no aspirations of kingship—I’d happily live out my days as an untitled farmer in a cottage with Adriana at my side. I have said I consider myself your subject, and as such, I accept that my fate is entirely in your hands. I trust that you are a good man and noble king and will do what is right. Do with me what you believe is just. I ask only three things of you.”
Marcus raised his head to meet Mortimer’s gaze. “Allow my servant, Edwin, to live. He acted under my instructions and any fault lies with me alone. Remember your love for your daughter and do not punish her or force her into another marriage. And if you truly believe that justice demands my death…” His chin quivered, and he had to swallow back his fear. “Don’t let my wife watch. Please.”
The king’s expression softened, the anger and distrust gradually replaced by something more like regret and acceptance. The rest of the hall seemed collectively to hold their breath.
Adriana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stepped closer. “Father, please—”
Mortimer held up his hand to silence her without taking his assessing gaze off of Marcus. “Then you will here, before all thesewitnesses, swear your fealty to me and that neither you nor your descendants shall ever challenge my rule or the rule of my heirs?”
Placing his right fist over his heart, Marcus bowed while still kneeling. “I, Marcus Alimer, have always longed for peace in Aedyllan. I swear on the stars in the sky, the blood in my veins, and the ancient soil beneath my feet my fealty and allegiance to King Mortimer Faine, and promise that I will always support his rule and the rule of his heirs, and shall instruct my descendants to always honor their oaths of fealty to the Faine line, for so long as you and your descendants rule the people of Aedyllan justly and protect the peace of Aedyllan.”
King Mortimer nodded gravely. “I accept your allegiance and your declaration of our most sacred oath, Marcus Alimer. On the virtue of your actions and the testimony of others to your character, I recognize you as my son-in-law and Adriana Alimer’s husband, and I grant you the title of duke and bequeath you the lands formerly held by Lucien Thorne. You may rise.”
A cheer went up from the crowd, Edwin’s whoop the loudest of all. When Marcus looked over at his wife, it was to see Adriana applauding while tears of joy slipped down her cheeks. The moment he was on his feet, she ran to him, colliding with his chest as she threw her arms around him. He wrapped her in a return embrace, pulling her close. How was it possible to love someone so much that he couldn’t ever hold her close enough to convey the depth of his devotion?
“I’ll always love you,” he said as he leaned his cheek against the side of her head. “I am your husband, as I once vowed I would be, and I swear by the same sacred oath—by the stars, my blood, and the veryground—I will never leave you. I’ll always be there when you need me, so far as is in my power, my darling, beloved Adriana.”
Her arms tightened around him, and then she pulled back and met his eyes. “And I’ll always love you. I swear it on the stars in the sky and the blood in my veins and the ancient soil beneath my feet, my husband, my beloved Marcus.”
“And I promise to never give up on the dream of us,” Marcus said.
He would not lose hope again, and this time, his dreams wouldn’t be built on castles made of clouds.
Marcus would act on his hope that their future would be bright and full of love. He would love and support Adriana every day. He would treat his subjects well and use his power as duke and the king’s son-in-law to defend the peace and prosperity of Aedyllan with Adriana as his partner and ally.
At long last, without fear of being seen, Marcus bent down and kissed Adriana with all the passion of years of longing, all the boundless depths of his dedication, and the tenderness of the promise of many years to come.
The End
