Midnight Eyes by Brophy, Sarah (well read books .TXT) 📕

steps. Sparks flew and the sound of it rang out around the room like a bell.

Robert didn’t flinch and his level gaze served only to infuriate William further. He raised the point of the sword up to the center of Robert’s unprotected chest. “The only thing I need from you,” he ground out, “is the name of every other traitorous cur on this accursed isle so that I may then destroy them at my leisure. If you tell me, I might even relent and let you die quickly.”

And that was that, Robert thought with a detachment that didn’t surprise him. This was how his life would end, not on the battlefield but in the deadly viper pit of court intrigue. He was found guilty of crimes he hadn’t committed and had now only to await a certain death. Well, that being the case, he would be dammed if he’d kneel subserviently a moment longer.

He rose gracefully to his feet, noticing with amusement that William took a hasty step back, his eyes darting around the room. Robert shook his head. It had actually come to this. William was truly afraid of an unarmed man. If it wasn’t so bloody sad, Robert might have laughed aloud at the absurdity of it.

“Sir Robert, I didn’t give you permission to stand,” William yelped, his red face blossoming into an alarming shade of purple.

“I didn’t ask for your permission. I find I can no longer kneel before a man who thinks me capable of treachery. Besides,” Robert added dryly, “I don’t believe you have given me permission to assassinate you either, but I’m believed capable of that.”

William quickly retreated to the relative safety of the dais, then stood up stiffly, trying to regain some of his dignity. “You have just proved by your own actions that you do not respect my throne.”

“The throne’s fine,” Robert mocked softly, “it’s you I’m finding hard to respect at the moment.”

William’s jaw tightened and Robert felt a small satisfaction at the other man’s anger, as he glared and grimly continued with his pronouncement. “Therefore you leave me no choice but to strip you of all your titles and possessions. You will be held prisoner, under sentence of death, at my pleasure.”

Robert closed his eyes for a second, surprised by the pain that shot through him. Shadowsend receded into the realms of distant memory. He had been allowed to live a precious dream, but now he must wake to the harsh realities of life.

He had lost everything, yet oddly it felt almost like none of it had been his to lose.

He opened his eyes and gazed narrowly as Roger stepped forward and confidently reached out a hand to touch the king’s arm. That Roger lived was the one regret he would take with him to the grave and beyond.

William covered Roger’s hand with a beringed one of his own and nodded his head. “Oh, and while you await execution, the running of your estates will revert to my beloved Roger, as will the guardianship of your wife.”

The blood flew from Robert’s face. “No!” he yelled as he took a hasty step forward, not caring that the guards unsheathed their swords.

William raised a brow. “I don’t see any other possible solution. You should be grateful. Most traitors’ wives are not treated so well.”

“Your Majesty, you can’t just hand her over to her brother,” Robert said, able to plead for Imogen where he hadn’t been able to do so for himself. “She is of an age and the lands were left to her in her own right. Do with me as you will, but give Imogen her freedom. It is all I ask.”

Liar, an insidious voice whispered in his ear. You would also ask for her happiness; you would have her given freedom and light.

But those things were not even the king’s to give.

For the first time in his adult life, Robert found himself praying blindly to a God he had never believed in: God, let me go to my grave knowing that my love is living a life free of fear and pain. Let me know that she is smiling and strong.

The King smirked. “What? Give Lady Deformed freedom from her own brother on the say-so of a traitor? I think not. She will have to be kept under close watch just to make sure that you haven’t polluted her with your treason. Who better than her own, loyal brother?”

“I wouldn’t leave a dog in Roger’s protection,” Robert said through gritted teeth. “Imogen has suffered enough at this…this…thing’s hands. She deserves better now, goddamn it.”

“Such ardent devotion,” Roger said with a sly smile. “Anyone would think you had fallen in love with Lady Deformed.”

“Don’t call her that!” Robert roared and searched his mind frantically for some way to shield Imogen from these evil men. He stepped toward the dais without really knowing what he was going to do, but knowing he would do it well.

His eyes blazed with murder and saw nothing but the object of his hatred smiling mockingly down at him. He didn’t notice William’s frantic call for the guards to restrain him, Robert’s only focus centered on Roger.

It took five men to stop him stalking toward the throne, six to bring him back to his knees. He struggled only because they stood between him and his goal. His mind didn’t even register the pain that flashed through him as a mailed hand slammed into his jaw. They eventually subdued him, holding his arms tightly behind his back so that he couldn’t move.

“Remove him to the dungeons.” William smiled tightly and his hand clenched around the hilt of his sword.

Robert started to struggle with renewed vigor. “William,” he bellowed, ignoring the king’s shout of outrage, “don’t be blinded by lust. Roger may be your lover, but he’s only using you in his sick, twisted games. The man’s a snake. William—”

One of the guards aimed a blow at his stomach, knocking the wind out of him but he couldn’t let