The Bloodtruth Series - Cege Smith Page 0,3

the day to continue on. Angeline walked to the edge of the camp and stared up at the mountains towering over them. It seemed like mere moments later the sun’s rays disappeared behind the snowcapped peaks.

She had done a good job so far not showing Rhone how worried she was, but a knot had been growing in the pit of her stomach ever since he showed up on the convent’s doorstep five days ago. She felt the weight of the men’s disapproval pressing on her. In a very short time, their lives and livelihoods would be in her hands. She knew they were afraid she would let them fall. She was afraid of that too, but a Robart never showed weakness in front of the subjects.

The men were starting to light torches around the camp’s perimeter and she knew she couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer. Angeline had no trouble finding her tent. It was the only one in camp. The men guarding her slept on the hard earth under the stars. Rhone waited for her outside the flap.

“No creature comforts. Just a little privacy from the men. I’d appreciate it if you’d stay inside for the night, Princess. Someone will bring you your dinner, and we’ll be gone at first light.” It was the same speech Rhone had made for the last four nights. Angeline was well aware of the real reason for his thinly veiled suggestion and she was tired of being treated like a dunce.

“You mean that you don’t want me to see your men overindulging in their drink and making fools of themselves,” Angeline said with her chin jutted out. There was a glint in Rhone’s eye, and she could see that he was trying to decide if he would offer a rebuttal or not. She didn’t give him the chance. “Thank you to you and the men for your service today. I’m feeling quite tired and I wish to be rested when I see my father tomorrow. I have much to prepare for and not much time. Given the circumstances, I’m sure you understand that I’m not feeling very hungry. I’m going to take my leave now and I will see you in the morning.”

Keeping her head held high, Angeline swept into the tent and closed the flap behind her. Inside, she seethed. She needed to make it very clear to Rhone that he couldn’t order her around as if she was one of his men! Her father had coached her how to deal with men like Rhone, but she wished she had more time to practice with him by her side.

Angeline looked around the tent. One of her clothing trunks was in the corner. There was a small lamp hanging from the middle of the tent poles in the center of the ceiling. A few bearskins scattered on the ground offered a minimal barrier between her and the cold, hard dirt.

“Truly a room befitting your future queen,” Angeline said under her breath. She pulled her cloak closer around her. It was going to be a long night.

CHAPTER TWO

Angeline awoke to hear the horses screaming. She yanked the long dagger out from underneath her pillow and shot to her feet. If there was one thing her father had insisted on, it was that Angeline knew how to defend herself. It had been years since she had trained with the dagger, but it was small and light and good for a fight in close quarters.

She heard the men yelling outside trying to coordinate. Then Rhone’s rough voice broke through the melee. “Protect the princess! Guard the perimeter! Don’t let any of the bastards break through!”

Angeline wanted to know what was happening. Her heart felt like it was going to beat right through her chest. The noise outside was deafening, but she didn’t dare step foot outside the tent for fear of getting in her own men’s way. She looked down and realized she had fallen asleep without changing. The lantern above her head was giving out only a weak beam of light, so she knew it was late. She had just enough time to pull her cloak around her shoulders when Rhone burst in through the flap. She saw only the inky blackness of night behind him before the flap fell closed. The perimeter torches were no longer lit.

The grizzled old soldier had blood running down the side of face and he looked like he had seen a ghost. “Princess, we must get you to