The Warrior's Game Read Online Free PDF Page A

security her presence in Michel’s bed offered her.
    The door reopened and the king's chamberlain stepped halfway into the room. The golden chain that crossed his breast, the symbol of his position, was a yellow streak against the bright blue of his tunic. His brown cap was pushed far back onto his bald head. “Your bath, sire?”
    “I am ready,” John replied.
    With a nod, the man threw the door wide and stood aside as a pair of men rolled a large tub to a stop in the center of the room. As both Michel and his master watched, the servants snapped a greased cloth into place on the floor and lowered the tub atop it; they laid another greased sheet within the tub to help it hold water. Only then did the many men bearing buckets begin to file into the room, each man circling the tub as he emptied what he carried into the tub.
    John shot a sly glance at Michel. “What befuddles me is that you might still want the lady now that you’ve met her. She’s disgusted by you, I fear.”
    Michel's jaw tightened in exasperation. If the lady was disgusted it was because John had done his best to make sure she was. “I care nothing for what she thinks of me.”
    “You should care. She’ll fight you, making your marriage hell,” John jabbed.
    “She may try,” Michel replied with a shrug, “but she will fail.” God had made Adam the master of Eve just as He had made Man and his Sons the master of dogs, horses and the other creatures of the earth. It was akin to a sin for any of Adam's get to make himself vulnerable to those he was charged to dominate.
    “I’m warning you Michel, Lady de la Beres isn’t the sort of woman most men would have as a mate. Bedding her will be like riding an unbroken horse.” He paused to shoot his mercenary another sly look. “I vow I find myself longing to see what that might be like.”
    “Use her as you will, my lord,” Michel agreed without hesitation, refusing John the outrage he expected. “All I ask is that you support any bastard she bears and that you’ll agree to meddle with her no more once our vows are said.” It was sons of his own blood Michel wanted to raise, not one of John’s by-blows.
    Just as Michel expected John's smile flagged. The king turned his back on his mercenary to walk to the side of the tub. There, he opened his belt and stripped off his strange robe, tossing the garment toward the room's corner where his body servant ably caught it. With his every motion John suggested this match of theirs was over.
    It was another reminder of how reluctant John was to fulfill the promise he'd made his mercenary. And that made it past time for Michel to retreat, leaving his king free to sulk and lick his wounds until he finally gave way as he knew he must.
    “By your leave sire, I'll depart today for Sussex to view the lady’s estates.” The properties were close enough to Winchester that the journey would be easy, a day's ride out and no more than a week to interview her bailiffs and assess the state of repair of buildings and walls.
    John looked over his shoulder at him. “Wait a little before you go.”
    “How can I when you’ve named me her estate's administrator?” Michel countered. “It’s my duty to make myself familiar with her lands, doing so as swiftly as I can. I'll not have Sir Enguerran enrich himself with her assets as he gives up the properties.” Nor did he trust John. Michel wouldn’t put it past the king to let his mercenary wed the lady all the while knowing her estate wasn't what it should be.
    Contempt darkened John’s face as he stood naked beside his tub, shifting to again look at his knight. “That craven bitch's son? He barely has balls enough to wipe himself much less to steal from me. Nay, her properties will wait until d’Oilly accepts he cannot afford the fee I named. Far better that you act as my temporary warden here when I depart for Windsor on the morrow. It will give you access to the queen's hall and time to engage the lady so