Scarlet sighed.
Gabriel shifted his weight.
“I know,” Scarlet said.
She licked her lips. Tasting Gabriel. Feeling Tristan.
The three of them made a tragic triangle.
Scarlet swallowed. “I’m sorry this is such a mess. I’ll…I’ll try harder to ignore Tristan.”
Maybe.
Scarlet was pretty sure ignoring Tristan wasn’t an option.
Gabriel let out a long sigh. “No, I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to handle this new connection you have with him.” He took a moment to compose himself before sighing in frustration. “It’ll be fine.”
It would not be fine. She knew it. Gabriel knew it.
Scarlet’s heart started to pound in fear. She was losing Gabriel.
Gabriel walked to his bedroom door. “Come on. I’ll drive you home.”
32
The afternoon Scarlet had agreed to marry him, Tristan entered the dining hall of the Archer castle.
“I have found someone to marry.” He announced to his father as he strode up to the round man in the otherwise empty hall.
Cornelius Archer turned around and eyed him. “You?” He laughed. “You are not my boy who marries.”
Tristan nodded his head. “I was not, no. But I have changed my mind.”
Cornelius waved him off. “It is too late, my son. The king requested you in his army.”
“Yes, but I refused to go.” “You did.” Cornelius nodded as he took a seat in one of the ornate chairs at the table. “But I have made an agreement with him. One of my sons for his war and in return I get six more parcels of land.”
“You…you sold me to the king?” Tristan was not surprised by this, but he was incredibly panicked.
Cornelius waved a hand. “I did not sell you. I negotiated with the ruler of our land, Tristan. Stop acting used.”
“But why?”
“Because you and Gabriel are the best archers in our region.”
“So?”
“So, the king wanted the best.”
“Then why not send Gabriel?”
“Ha!” Cornelius plucked a fat grape from a tray of fruit before him. “If I send Gabriel, then you are left here to marry and reign in my place. We all know how poor an idea that is.”
“Why? Why is that a poor idea? I can reign. I am wise and strong.”
“You are a bleeding heart!” Cornelius looked at him sternly. “If I hand the castle over to you, you will be passing out food and giving away gold like a nun. No.” Cornelius shook his head again. “You will go fight for the king and Gabriel will marry and reign here.” He sighed. “Thankfully, I have found a more suitable woman to be his wife. Do you know he runs around with Eli Fletcher’s daughter?”
Tristan said nothing, not caring one bit about Gabriel’s love life. Tristan was being sent away from Scarlet. Away from his home. Away from everything he knew. “When is my departure scheduled?” Tristan tried to act honored, even though he wanted to throw something.
Cornelius chewed another grape. “Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?! Tristan only had one day to come up with a plan.
“Allow me to marry first,” Tristan said desperately. “Allow me to take a wife before I go into the king’s service.”
There.
That way Scarlet and Ana would be cared for while he was away. He would marry Scarlet and she would never have to hunt again. She could move into the castle and be cared for until he returned.
Cornelius grimaced. “Who is this girl you are so desperate to wed?”
Tristan raised his chin. “You do not know her. She is a peasant.”
Cornelius rolled his eyes and stood up, grabbing another grape. “Absolutely not.”
“What?”
“No,” Cornelius said, popping the grape into his mouth. “You are not marrying a peasant just so you can go off and fight in war while I feed and clothe your woman. Do you know how many servants that would require?” He shook his head again. “You can marry whomever you want when you get back. But I refuse to take care of your woman with my wealth while you are away.”
“You do not have to care for her. Just protect her. She has a home and can provide for herself. Just allow her to be protected under your title until I get back.”
Cornelius laughed. “I am no guard dog, Tristan. And I will not allow my son to marry someone and then have her live in the village. You are truly mad.”
“But father—”
“No! You will not marry before you leave and that is final!” Cornelius’s face turned red as he yelled and Tristan closed his mouth. “Now go see Tennius for your armor. He will equip you as necessary for your enrollment.”
Tristan turned to leave, but had no intention of going to Tennius.
He would not leave Scarlet. Not ever.
If his father would not let him marry her under the safety of a noble title, then Tristan would marry her without a title.
Tonight, he would go to the hut and run away with her. They would take Ana and find a home elsewhere. They would not be wealthy, but they would be safe.
And always together.
Tristan left the dining hall and hurried to his quarters.
He quickly packed all he could think of needing—weapons, ammunition, blankets, money, food—and threw everything he could fit into his pack. He quietly exited his room and made his way out of the back of the castle.
If he could make it to the stables without being seen, he could get to his horse and be on his way to Scarlet—and their life together—before sunset.
His hopes were high as he entered the stable and took silent steps to where his steed waited.
“Sneaking out, my lord?” Tennius’s voice met Tristan’s ears like the cutting of bone.
Tristan turned to see his father’s guard eyeing him carefully.
“It is no business of yours.” Tristan continued moving toward his horse.
“But it is the business of your father.” Tennius gestured to someone behind Tristan. “Which makes it my business.”
Tristan hated Tennius.
Turning around, Tristan saw three more guards at his back. He was greatly outnumbered and had all his weapons packed and out of reach.
“Your father asked me to watch for you today. In case you decided to flee from the king’s service.” Tennius gave a wicked smile. “Looks like I caught you fleeing.”
Tristan dropped his pack to the ground and prepared to fight his way out of the castle grounds.