City of the Underground

The Plan

Her pulse began to race. Then a thick shadow began moving toward her from beside the window. Her heart thumped painfully in her chest. The large shadow before her drew closer. Fear gripped at her lungs.

"It's me," the deep voice said sadly. "It's Robert."

"By all of heaven," she gasped out in relief.

Her stiff shoulders dropped and her palpitating heart began to ease into it's natural rhythm.

"You gave me such a fright. Where have you been? I have not been able to find you. Mostly because my father has set his watchdogs over me."

She reached out to him and attempted to pull into an embrace. He back away stiffly while putting up his hands to halt her.

"I know," he looked off into the distance. "I've been here working with the cattle like we planned. I even saw the prince's arrival. Handsome, is he not?" he asked coldly. The room was too dark to see his features, but she read him perfectly. The heavy scowl on his face to the balled fists at his side.

"Robert," she tried to explain.

"Where have you been all evening?" he cut in gruffly.

"What?"

"You heard me, where have you been...? How handsome is he?" he demanded.

He grabbed at a tuft of her damaged gown a brought it up to view. The obvious slit in the front came up easily. She cursed herself for having so vigorously challenged the prince.

"How long were you two alone?" he continued with his voice thick with accusation. "Tell me!"

"Robert, it's not as it seems. I was forced by my father to attend him. We--"

"Forced? Forced?! Yes, truly I can see your distress! Your cautious and secretive demeanor as you entered. Your unraveled hair and disheveled gown. I saw you leading him into the garden!" he accused.

Kaylana gasped as she realized what he was implying. She dropped back a step in shock.

"You fool," she breathed. "I fought him!"

His head snapped to attention and he grabbed at her shoulders.

"Did he force himself upon you?" he demanded in a fury. "I swear I will kill the ingrate!"

"No. No, Robert no. You misunderstand me," she explained. "My father tricked us into spending the evening in the garden together. After that I tried to leave but he would't let me abandon him in the garden. So I challenged him to a sword fight."

"What," he said indignantly. "Do you know how he could have hurt you?"

"Yes, well, after a fair round of grappling he was able to contain me. Fairly generously I may add, after having attacked him."

"What," he growled.

"Listen! He only wanted to explained how he didn't wish to marry either. He has a missing elder brother who was supposed to succeed his father as king. Jonathan never took to the idea of being king and is especially keen to get out of the betrothal as well."

"Jonathan is it?"

"My love, we've agreed to work together to thwart this arrangement. He will work with us."

"He will?" he said more to himself. "How are you sure?"

"He said he wanted the freedom to marry one he loved as well. I think there may be such a one already for him. I believe that to be his reason as well as ours."

"Hmm," Robert thought to himself for a long moment. Turning over the validity of her claims. Realizing his jealous extent, he softened.

"I'm sorry love. All these thoughts were assaulting me this entire evening. It's been driving me mad. I was with John in the stables when I saw you both go into the garden. You were so far away that you did not notice but I could recognize your form no matter how great the distance. I did not know what to think, and I could never imagine a man capable of denying his heart your beauty. You capture so many so easily, yet you do not even know." he brought a hand up to arrange some of her unruly hair.