Return of the Warrior Read Online Free PDF Page A

happened. Or at least Selwyn’s version of it, since he was there. Truthfully, I wonder if he didn’t kill all three of them at once and just claim that he was trying to defend your parents when he slew Carian.”
    Christian’s head swam at what she was telling him. “Why did no one tell me?”
    “Have no fear, my prince, they never tell me anything, either. Of course, I am simple and they fear I will forget it. Are you simple, too?”
    “Nay, Lutian,” she said kindly before she looked back at Christian. “You never came home, my lord. When I was ten-and-four, Selwyn said that he had sent for you, only to find your monastery in ruins. Everyone thought you were dead.”
    “Then why are we still married?”
    “I refused to believe it without proof, especially since Selwyn immediately suggested that I marry his son to maintain our border and treaty. Somehow, I knew you were alive, so my father stirred up your people and demanded they present him with your body and with proof that the body was you. Selwyn couldn’t produce a body with your necklace and so our marriage stood.
    “As your wife, I was to be accorded due respect, which kept them from invading our kingdom. Not to mention that as long as your people believe you are alive, neither Selwyn nor Basilli can formally ascend the throne or take control of the military.By ancient law, only the rightful king, not his regent, can command the Elgederion troops. When the letter of your survival came a few years back, it was intercepted by an Elgederion steward, who made it known to all. My father and I had our proof that you lived.”
    “For that we will always thank you,” Lutian said. “Otherwise my queen would be married to the beast and I’d be skewered on a pike for his pleasure, since he hates me.”
    Part of Christian could understand that sentiment, since Lutian did seem to ramble on about nothing, and yet his words were harmless enough.
    He turned his thoughts back to Adara. “If the army will only follow me, how is it that you are in danger of invasion?”
    “Some grow weary of waiting for their prince to return and be crowned king. They are the ones who listen to Basilli. Unlike his father, he is charismatic and persuasive. He is slowly convincing your people that you should be abandoned and that a true, full-blooded Elgederion should be on their throne. Meanwhile, he is pressuring me to declare you dead so that he can, in turn, marry me.”
    He scoffed at that. “And now you want me to return to a homeland I have never seen and depose him?”
    “Aye.”
    Christian was aghast at her simple logic. “Have you really thought this through, my lady?”
    “Of course.”
    Christian shook his head as he tried not to mock her plan. “So you propose that I just walk into the Elgederion throne room and demand my kingdom back?”
    “Well, nay, it won’t be that easy.”
    “It won’t be easy at all,” Christian said. “I have found in my life that no one gives up a throne willingly.”
    “No one except you,” Lutian said.
    Keep that up, fool, and there’ll be a wringing of your neck soon enough.
    Christian cleared his throat. “Aside from me, most are more than willing to fight unto the bitter death for their powers. It would take an army.”
    Adara’s brown eyes burned into him with her fiery passion and unyielding belief in her rightness. If only he shared her beliefs. “The Elgederion army will ride to your side, Christian, when you return. It is the law of your people.”
    He snorted at that. “I assume it is also the law of my people that their royal family not murder each other so that a distant cousin can be regent, and yet that is what has transpired.”
    “He has a point with that one, my queen.”
    She directed a glare at her fool. “Fine, then. If you’ve no wish to be king, then give me an heir.”
    Christian actually sputtered at her unexpected words. Did he hear that correctly? Surely she hadn’t just said what he thought she did.