Warlord's Ward

The Book

I stretched to lift it. Careful not to slide it or to unbalance the stool. I was petrified that if it were to clunk or the book drop, he was going to wake. And though I didn't personally know how awful he was, of all the things Warlord had told me, he'd seemed the most sincere about his worry of what would happen to me if the King caught me.

Warlord would kill me now if he knew the risk I was taking.

He'd made me swear to avoid the King and now here I was.

In the very same chamber with him. Trying to steal his book from the very same room he's sleeping in. I was still as I listened to ensure I was still hearing that consistent snore before I twisted with the book and clambered down off the stool. Not even bothering to move it back as I tucked it down the bulky front of my dress.

I knew it gave me a square appearance and it was obvious something was there but carrying it was even riskier. I lifted my skirts and hurried out the door, down the hall, down the flights of stairs and around to the tower stairs where I took off up them at a run. Clutching the book against my chest as I moved. Looking furtively over my shoulder, I turned and slammed full-on into a hugely armored knight.

I gasped and stared up at him in shock. Floundering for something smooth to say to get me out of this situation. But my horrified mind seemed frozen without thought.

Oh, no.

He caught my shoulders in a biting grip and gave me a little shake.

Warlord! I cried out inwardly.

"What are you doing here?" The knight roared in suspicion. Giving me a black look that indicated he might strike me if I didn't answer him quickly.

And worse, as he'd shaken me, I'd felt the book dislodging. Slipping along my body beneath the dress and only resting atop the ripple of fat above my thighs. A breath away from falling from the bottom of my dress.

Warlord. I chewed my lip. Where are you now?

***

Right here. It seemed like I could hear his voice in mind.

Somehow answer my urgent call.

"Release her. She's coming to me."

"Warlord?" The knight teased. "What need have you of this woman when you have one far finer hidden away in that chamber?"

Warlord blinked slowly, clearly willing himself patience.

To not kill him.

"She is to tend my woman. Bathe her and pretty her for what I'm going to do to her tonight."

"Now that," The knight snorted and began chortling before pointing at Warlord. "Sounds believable!"

His hands dropped off me and he shouldered past me.

The rough jostling sent the book plummeting from beneath my skirt.

I made several quick grabs along the front of the dress. Trying to stop it from thunking down on the stairs but it seemed to teeter on my fingertips and keep falling. I hissed through my teeth and bent just as it appeared beneath the hem of my skirt between my ankles.

But the book brightened in a bloom of blue light. Hovering where it was before forming a trailing string which zig zagged from between my feet, up the stairs to Warlord's fingers.

He gave an abrupt bounce of his hand and the book shot from where it floated into his palm. His fingers slapping closed around the cover.

I stared openmouthed in shock. Still not used to magic!