Redemption by M J Marlow (librera reader .txt) 📕

She will make your life a delight and a headache.”
“She hasn’t accepted me yet, Nik,” Alexander frowned.
“Does she get a choice?” Nikolas asked, confused. “I thought you and her father had more or less agreed…”
“I will not marry her,” Alexander told his cousin, “unless she agrees.” He frowned as he remembered her face as she had left him. “Marit should be courted and wooed, not bartered away like property.”
“Come share a goblet with me, cousin,” Nikolas laughed as he guided Alexander away. “I would hear these puzzling views of yours.”
Marit watched them leave from where she had hidden herself with her men and found herself smiling. So Alexander wanted her, but not unwilling. She had never felt such happiness in her short life. A man she could quite whole-heartedly give herself to wanted her as well. Wanted her enough to allow her to make the choice. She heard someone moving nearby and froze. One, no three men were moving in around her. Marit could smell the sweat of their fear as they came closer. They knew what they were doing could end in their deaths, but their desperation kept them coming. She motioned her men to remain hidden and headed for the great hall and could hear them speeding up their pursuit.
“Princess? Is something wrong?”
Marit looked around as she heard Nikolas’ voice and the trio moved in on her. They led her over to Nikolas, whose eyes were hard and cold. He moved to touch her and she pulled away from him, glaring in anger. He laughed in amusement and then went still. He slugged her across the jaw and she glared at him coldly. Nikolas looked at his fist and then at her, stunned. It took all four of them to subdue her. Nikolas looked down into her angry eyes as they hid from the guards her screams had brought running.
“If you tell anyone what happened, Princess,” he told her harshly, “I will slit Alexander’s throat.” He saw her reaction and knew this meant something to her. “I see that he means something to you, after all. Good.” He nodded to his men. “We are going to release you now, Princess. If you wish Alexander to live, you will say nothing.”
“What have you done with him?” Marit demanded as they released her. “If you have harmed him…”
“I would never harm my cousin, Princess,” Nikolas laughed as he broke in over her anger. “He is far too valuable as a hostage. No,” he said as he looked into her angry eyes. “He is going to be just fine. I am merely returning him to his grandfather for a little family conversation.”
“You are not taking him against his will, my lord Count,” Marit hissed at him. “He walks out of here on his own volition, by his own choice,” she ordered the man, “or I will have you and your men arrested.”
“You really think you can make such demands?” Nikolas laughed at her. “You are alone, Princess…”
“Is she?” Edmund of Fellstone asked as he stepped out of the shadows, followed by Lorenz and Martyn. “We heard everything, Princess. Shall we call the guard?”
“No,” Marit replied. “Count Nikolas is going to tell you where he has taken Emperor Alexander now. If he does not, you are free to do whatever you must to get him to tell you where he is.” She saw the guards coming. “Take the count’s men into custody until he is ready to leave.”
Nikolas watched the princess leave, stunned. How had she known he was moving against Alexander and herself. He had been very careful in his behavior. There was no sign he could remember that would have alerted her. He looked at the three men glaring at him and knew he was in trouble. He led them out to a cart waiting near the stables and watched as they untied Alexander and helped him inside. Nikolas found himself locked in his chamber under guard.
“Your cousin was very insistent that you go to your grandfather, my lord,” Marit said to Alexander as he was shown to her father’s study. “It would seem that he is not as happy about our alliance as you might hope.”
“I don’t care what my Grandfather wants, Marit,” Alexander told her bluntly, holding the wet cloth against the bump on his head he had not allowed her to heal. “All that matters to me is what is best for you and the borderlands.” He saw Marit’s look and hid his smile. “If you feel that it would be best not to incur my Grandfather’s anger and refuse my suit, I will accept your choice. I won’t be happy about it,” he continued, looking at her and then her father, “but I will accept it.”
“It is your choice, Marit,” Marius told her. “We had an agreement, as I recall.”
“I need time,” Marit told them both. “It’s not that I don’t like you, my lord,” Marit continued, blushing as she admitted this. “I do, but…”
“You have been through a great deal since you found out who you really are, Princess,” Alexander guessed her reasons. “You are correct in wanting to spend some time getting to know your father, your house. I would not take that from you. So,” he said as he rose to his feet and bowed to her father, “I will take residence at Atherton and wait. I trust,” he said as he took Marit’s hand in his and kissed her palm, “that you will allow me to court you, as you should be courted, my beautiful princess?”
“But your Grandfather…”
“My men should already be at Atherton,” Alexander broke in, turning to Marius. “I and the 3500 men I bring with me are at your command, Your Majesty.”
“Your allegiance is most gratefully accepted, Excellency,” Marius nodded and smiled in relief. He was impressed that the man could command such a force. He was glad that it was on his side. “We expect to see much of you here at Sylvan Ford.”
“You will think me a resident, Your Majesty,” Alexander nodded. He kissed Marit’s palm again, bowed to Marius, and left them alone. He went out to the courtyard and mounted his horse. He waved to Marit and saw her blush as she moved back a step. Such a delightful child, he thought as he rode out with his guard and Nikolas and his men in bonds. They rode for several hours before he let his cousin loose. “Well done, cousin.”
“She fell for it?”
“How could she not?” Alexander laughed, his eyes cold. “The pretty princess is falling right into my hands, as I planned.”
“So you plan on playing the doting lover a while longer, Excellency?” Nikolas asked.
“She won’t make me wait too much longer,” Alexander smiled. “Princess Marit knows she belongs to me.” He looked to one of his other men. “Have you located the witch yet?”
“She is waiting for you at Atherton, Excellency,” the man bowed his head. “The woman is quite eager to hear your plans for her house.”
“I’m certain she is,” Alexander frowned. “Cousin,” he turned back to Nikolas, “you will return to Dunlevy and make arrangements for a royal wedding. I want all the nobles in the Empire in attendance.”
“She may yet refuse you, Excellency,” Nikolas dared to suggest what Alexander now felt was completely improbable. “You’re that confident?”
“If I were not,” Alexander said tightly, “she and her father would now be in chains on their way to Dunlevy.” His expression grew even more satisfied. “The borderlands are nearly in our grasp. Once the princess is our wife, they will be part of our empire, as they were always meant to be.”

*
Several months passed and Marit was beginning to wonder what it was about Alexander that bothered her. He was the same attentive and affectionate friend, but there was something off about his eagerness. He was pushing her, without really pushing; and she found that she did not like it. She began to wish she had not given him any encouragement for a future with her. She found reasons to keep her companions around her when he courted her, and saw his anger and impatience mounting. She was in the gardens with Edmund, learning a new piece on the lute, when he came to find her. He glared at Edmund, heir to one of the sub-kingdoms in the borderlands, and waited.
“Edmund and I are not quite through here yet, my lord,” Marit told Alexander bluntly. “If you would care to return in;” she looked at Edmund, “twenty minutes?” The man nodded. “I will be free to walk with you then.” Alexander’s face fell and grew quite angry. Then he turned on his heel and stormed out. “There is something very wrong in his behavior, Edmund,” Marit said as she held the lute to her chest. “Am I the only one who sees it?”
“No, Princess,” Edmund replied firmly. “All of us have been watching him, as you suggested.” He had not liked the man from the very beginning. “I took the liberty of contacting some friends of mine in the Empire. Their replies to my inquiries should be arriving soon.” He held out the lute. “I think we have had enough of music for today. Come riding with us, Princess.”
“I should at least allow him to pay court, Edmund,” Marit told her friend. “If he is planning something, the sooner we are aware of it the better.” She smiled at his worried look. “I know, my friend, you are worried. I am fortunate to have such loyal companions around me.” She remembered where they were going. “Please give my regards to their Majesties, Justin and Tessa of Northfell. Tell them I will try to visit with them soon.”
Edmund nodded and left her alone in the gardens. She was not left that way long, but it was not Alexander who came to find her. She rose to her feet as Tavin strode in. He was looking very anxious and she knew something was wrong. He was not looking for her, she saw, but she made him stop anyway.
“There is trouble in Stormkeep?” she asked bluntly. He nodded and she frowned at his news. “Since Atherton fell into Alexander’s hands?” He looked at her in shock. “Don’t be shocked, cousin. I have been keeping a very close eye on the man. He is not as he appears to be.”
“There is no proof the men pushing into Stormkeep’s lands are Atherton, cousin,” Tavin told her, “but…”
“We can not take any chances,” Marit nodded. She heard the man approaching and turned to Alexander, her hands out. “Emperor Alexander,” she smiled her sweetest. “You know my cousin, prince Tavin of Stormkeep?” Alexander nodded tersely. “He was just sharing the most worrying news with me. Have your lands been suffering attacks from raiders these past weeks?”
“We have managed to keep them at bay,” Alexander lied to her easily. He looked at Tavin, who was watching him closely. “If Stormkeep requires assistance, prince Tavin; I would be more than happy to…”
“Stormkeep holds its own, Emperor,” Tavin broke in. “I will speak to you later, cousin. When you are free of distraction.”
“Your cousin is quite angry,” Alexander said as he watched Tavin storm off. “He can’t think that Atherton has anything to do with the raids?” he asked, feigning alarm. “My men would never…”
“There is no way to prove whose men are raiding Stormkeep lands, my lord,” Marit broke in over his false protestations. “Your Grandfather could have sent them, or they could be their own men.” She smiled up at him. “You surely did not come all this way to talk of border raids with me?”
“Of course not, Princess,” Alexander smiled back at her. “This time with you