FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses
ALAZAR - Bast To Watch Over Her

Nightway Castle, Nightway

ALAZAR

This afternoon Alazar watched Riaura from behind a training pillar in the bailey. Able to see in the lower window slit. He often stood listening to what went on in the castle. Ready to storm in if Radix harmed her.

Riaura pushed open the shutters to peer across the bailey. Toward the gate that’d take her to Warlock Grove.

You don’t have to go out there. I’m here. What do you need? He didn’t move in the looming darkness of the bailey wall, not wanting to alarm her.

Why do I worry so much for her? He asked himself. But his inability to answer made him dismiss the question.

“Riaura.” The man inside, summoned her to his chair near the fire.

Charles Danbury of Danbury Estates.

She reflexively went to him.

Alazar heard her steps crossing the Main Room.

“Think of him no more, Dear Girl.”

Alazar moved closer to peer in and saw the man clasping Riaura’s hands, patting the back of one in some strange reassurance and rubbing her forearm in a way that made Alazareth wary.

Don’t hurt her! The thought of what the man might do sickened Alazar.

He heard Danbury’s voice. Ringing disgustingly in Alazareth’s ears, making him yearn to rip the man limb from limb.

“A Princess such as you shouldn’t be wandering the woods.” He chastised her. “You shouldn’t be out there with any man.”

“But he’s my friend.” Her young voice defended on the other side of the stone wall.

“He has poor intentions!” Danbury barked at her. Fingers biting into her forearms.

She gasped and her eyes widened fearfully.

Alazar’s fists worked.

“No well-groomed man would spend time with you in the woods. Do you honestly think his interest whole? Not merely because you’re mistress of Nightway, an heiress?”

I have poor intentions? Alazar put a fist into the training pillar, smashing the wood to splinters. Drawing the eye of the guards on the tower. He blew slow breaths. Trying to settle.

Then Marod’s evil voice. “Come eat, Girl. You’ll waste no more time thinking of that stranger. It’s doubtful he misses you as much.”