Julie Garwood - The Prize

Nicholas didn't know what was going on, but she was determined to find out, no matter how many guards Royce had ordered to keep her on the bill. She lifted her skirts and started running down the path. She was caught from behind. Vincent grabbed her. The redheaded knight apologized profusely as he escorted her back to her tent.

"The baron wishes you to watch from here, my lady," Vincent explained for the tenth time.

She turned around to give the soldier a curt response, but quickly changed her mind when she saw the sympathy on the soldier's face. Vincent was only doing his duty. Nicholaa couldn't fault him for that.

"Exactly what am I going to be watching?" she asked.

"The fight," Vincent answered, looking confused by her question.

"Vincent, I gathered there was going to be a fight," she returned. "I'm asking you why. Royce told me he wasn't going to participate."

The second guard moved forward. "The king just ordered the challenge to settle a dispute."

Edward had told her everything he knew, and she still hadn't learned anything.

Then Vincent spoke again. "Your brother's receiving an honor, my lady," he said as he motioned to the field below. Nicholaa turned just as Royce handed his sword to Lawrence, who in turn handed the jeweled weapon to Justin.

"Now what are they doing?" she whispered. Justin had left the field, and Royce was speaking to Lawrence. Guy was also talking to his vassal.

"They're following procedure," Vincent answered. "Our baron is letting it be known in front of witnesses that Lawrence will take charge in the event…"

The soldier realized what he was explaining a little too late. Nicholaa let out a gasp. "I can't believe this is happening," she whispered. Anger was quickly replacing her fear. Her voice had a sting in it when she added, "Royce specifically told me he wouldn't be competing."

The two soldiers exchanged a look. "He isn't competing," Vincent said. "A dispute is being settled. That's quite different from a competition, my lady."

"Will the two of you at least go down to the base of the hill where the other soldiers stand and ask them if they know what this dispute is all about?" Her words fairly tripped over one another in her rush to gain their agreement.

"By God, if this is a fight to the death, neither one of them will win," she announced, "because I'll kill both of them. Just see if I don't."

Vincent was able to keep his smile contained. Edward wasn't. Their mistress's concern for her husband warmed their hearts. Her worry was unfounded, however. Their baron could meet any challenge.

The soldiers finally agreed to her request and walked down the long path.

And then it began. Guy was first to attack. Nicholaa was thankful they used only their fists instead of weapons, yet after several minutes of watching the men battle each other, she realized one could easily kill the other.

At first they seemed to be evenly matched. Each was able to shake off the other's powerful blows. Royce was a little more controlled in his actions, though.

Nicholaa's stomach did a little flip when Guy tripped Royce. Her husband was sprawled out on his back. Guy seized the advantage. He made a dive to pin Royce down. Just as Guy lunged forward, Royce's foot came up. He caught Guy in the groin lifted him a good distance into the air, and sent him into a backward somersault. It was a dazzling display of strength.

The crowd went wild. Guy must have had the wind knocked out of him. He stayed flat on his back for a long minute. Royce didn't take the opportunity to end the fight then and there, however. He simply stood with his hands on his hips and waited for Guy to get up.

Nicholaa began to relax. Her husband was obviously toying with Guy. His superior ability was very apparent to her now. She was even able to smile a little.

The noise from the crowd made her head pound. The only ones not cheering were Royce's soldiers. They looked very dignified, and arrogantly confident, too, as they stood side by side along the length of the field watching their baron.

Guy got in a lucky punch. Nicholaa winced in reaction. She turned her attention away from the field then. Her stomach wasn't going to let her watch much more. She wished to God Royce would end this and come up to her. She wanted to kiss him first and yell at him next.

Her gaze scanned the crowd. Everyone was intent on the battle. A movement among the horses caught her eye then. Nicholaa moved a little to her left to see what that commotion was about. She saw two soldiers sprawled on the ground in a huddle. She realized they were the men who had escorted Morgan and Henry off the field. Neither moved. Then she saw Guy's vassals. Morgan and Henry were reaching for the reins of the nearest mounts. Henry turned her way. She saw the bow and arrow in his hands then.

They were simply running away from their humiliation, she told herself. Yet she remembered the way Henry had looked back over his shoulder at Royce when he'd been escorted off the field. Those two escorts were now injured… or worse.

Nicholaa ran back inside the tent, grabbed her sling and the stones, and hurried back outside. She stared down at the field while she slipped the loops around her fingers and inserted one smooth stone into the pouch.

It was only a precaution she was taking, she told herself. The vassals wouldn't be foolish enough to try to have their revenge now. They'd never make it to safety if they dared to do what in her heart she already knew they were going to do.

She prayed she was wrong. She also moved to the edge of the slope as another precaution, though.

The vassals' mounts broke through the trees in a full gallop toward the field. Henry came first, with Morgan behind him.

The crowd hadn't noticed the intrusion yet. Nicholaa swung her sling into a wide arch above her head. "Come closer, Henry, just a bit closer," she whispered.

The horses pounded onto the field. Everything seemed to happen at once then. Guy was facing the soldiers. Henry was still too far away from Nicholaa for her to do him any damage. The arrow was positioned in his bow. He let go of the reins and took aim.

Baron Guy did a remarkably brave thing then. He threw himself in front of Royce at the last possible second and took the arrow that was meant for his opponent.

Henry tried to grasp the reins and turn his mount before Royce could get to him. He wasn't quick enough. Royce moved with the speed of a panther. He didn't try to stop the mount but jumped up and ripped Henry from the saddle. Royce didn't waste time killing the dishonored knight, for there was still Morgan to contend with. He kicked Henry just once. The blow was well placed and powerful enough to knock the breath out of the soldier.

Morgan had finally come within range of Nicholaa's stone. The vassal's arrow was nocked to his bow. Royce wouldn't be able to get to him in time. Neither would any of the other soldiers who were now running onto the field. Everyone was still too far away.

Morgan had slowed his mount. He raised the bow and took aim.

So did Nicholaa. Her target was his arm. She wanted to knock the arrow out of his grasp before he tried to kill her husband.

Just as she dispatched the stone, Morgan twisted in his saddle. His arrow wasn't directed on Royce now, but on another target altogether.

A collective scream came from the crowd. Then the stone caught Morgan on the side of his head, slamming into his temple. Morgan was lifted from the saddle and thrown backwards. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Everyone seemed to freeze in position. Everyone but Royce. While the crowd stared at Morgan, he turned to look up at the hill where Nicholaa stood.

She promptly hid the sling behind her back. She couldn't see his expression, but she knew he'd guessed she was responsible.