CHAPTER ONE

The day had arrived.

Lady Lucy of Rittenhouse had put on her best dress and was sitting at her chamber table. She brushed her hair, unsure of what she had been doing more—dreading the arrival of the day, or praying that it would come all the sooner. Truth be told, when she had found out about it a mere seven days ago, she was instantly angry, scared, and nauseous...

ONE WEEK AGO

Distressed, Lucy hurried to Rittenhouse Castle's chapel. Spotting her clergyman, she rushed to him and gripped his arm. "Brother Connor, please tell me what's going on! What is Nicholas doing?"

Connor laid his hand on top of hers. "My lady, Lord Nicholas has set up a gaming tournament of knights to garner coin from those knights who can afford to participate."

This puzzled her. "That doesn't make sense. They wouldn't come and pay to just solely fight in a tournament." Her eyes pierced Connor as she pressed, "What has he offered them in return? My father's land?" she asked fearfully. "Tell me he hasn't done that!"

Connor nodded, affirming her fear. "He has, unfortunately, offered your stepfather's land."

Tears stung her eyes. "I had been hoping that I could somehow get my home back. Nicholas never did care for the small amount of farmland." She frowned, shaking her head. "I wonder if these knights are aware of its modest size. I can't imagine them paying too much coin for it; Nicholas no doubt charged them a large sum for entry. How is it that he's convinced some to agree to give money and fight in this tournament for such a small return?"

"My dear, there's more." Connor sadly squeezed her hand.

Dismayed, Lucy squeezed it back. "What else has he offered?"

"…Your hand in marriage."

"What?" Her face immediately paled as her stomach churned. "What are you saying?"

"Your brother has sent out notices and invites, calling all knights and lord's across the land to present a payment to compete in Rittenhouse's Tournament of Knights, which is also being called, The Tournament for the Hand of Lady Lucy." Lucy felt sick as he went on, "The winner will obtain, Sir Henry Wallace's land, a small southern corner of Lord Rittenhouse's land—which is mostly marsh—access to the king and your hand in marriage. Thus, giving them some land, status of being among the kings people and married into a notable family."

In a daze, Lucy sunk onto the front pew. Connor sat next to her as despair gripped her soul. "How long have you known this?"

"Some weeks, but—"

"Weeks?! Brother Connor! Exactly how long?!"

"…About two months—"

She pulled away from him, but he continued, forcing her to listen. "Hear me out. He threatened to send me away if I breathed a word of this to you and I did not want to leave you here with him and all of this madness."

Overwhelmed, Lucy placed her head in her hands. "Where can I possibly go?"

"My lady, I've been searching for a place for you so that you can get out from under Nicholas's cruel hand."

"What have you found? A far-off convent in a different country?"

"I've found nothing," he somberly answered. Lucy was beside herself as he gently touched her shoulder. "Maybe all will go well if you do marry the knight that wins your hand. You'll finally be free of your brother."

"And more than likely marry into a new kind of nightmare! What good is it if I trade one hell for another?"

"I'm praying all will go well for you."

"So, there is no place for me." She closed her eyes.

Connor shook his head. "I haven't given up hope for your plight, my lady. Neither should you—wait!" He stood as Lucy shot up, heading for the church door. "My dear, where are you going?!"

"To talk to Nicholas and make him see reason!"

Nicholas shrugged as he sat out on his upper room terrace on the warm summer day. "I've decided that you could actually be useful for something! Why not offer you up in marriage to men willing to pay a small fortune and have some sport with it, too?"

Lucy looked in horror at Nicholas Benjamin Cahill, Earl of Rittenhouse, her older, tyrant half-brother. Part of her couldn't believe her ears, but the other part didn't doubt that he would devise and carry out something as dreadful as this. "What have you done?!"

"I've done us all a favor!" he laughed, reaching to the bowl of grapes the servant girl held for him. He had one leg carelessly flung over the arm of the chair as he ate the fruit one by one with a smirk that Lucy wanted to slap off.

"I won't be used as a bartering tool for your greed and childish entertainment."

"You will do whatever I say, dried up hag!" He chuckled. "It'll be all that I can do to actually get some good fighting men over here who'll want to joust, swordplay, and the like for your shriveled hand." Lucy bristled as he continued, "But, I suppose that it'll be the champion title they'll be after and access to the king through me that they'll desire." He quirked an eyebrow. "More than likely there will be a number of old, toothless knights, trying their best to get their last huzzah showing off as warriors. But I image that some of them may even want your aged, brittle body since no one will have theirs." Holding up an index finger on one hand as he popped in another grape with the other, he laughed, "Lord Wagner of South Murkland! Now, he was the first to put in a thousand coins! There's a fine husband for you! If you don't mind all the sweat, lice, fleas and filth." He cackled loudly.

Lucy's stomach rolled. "You don't need the money, and if you did, why not get it another way? You don't have to sell me!"

"Nah! This way's more fun and lucrative." He flitted his hand. "Now go away, stupid, old woman and go fix yourself. I think I see some gray hairs around your ugly face, and I want the most coin that I can get... or I'll just get rid of you the easy, yet—unfortunately—not profitable. And no one will question me about what became of you."

Filled with disgust, Lucy spat, "You'll never be like Lord Rittenhouse and honestly, I don't know why you strive to be!" She stepped closer. "But, wait... you are like him. You, too, don't have a care of who you rob, kill or destroy. You're a ruthless, murderous, greedy, son of a bitch coward like he was, and you're running hard to meet up with him in hell!" Nicholas leapt up and back handed her, making her stumble backwards, almost losing her balance. Lucy tasted blood as she held her hand over her mouth.

Nicholas moved menacingly over to her as she attempted to get out of his reach, but he pushed her against the wall, clamped her jaw between his four fingers and thumb and mercilessly squeezed. Pain shot through Lucy's wounded jaw and tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes as Nicholas enunciated, "Tempt me and I will put you in the grave, right next to the crumbling bones of your precious dead farmhand foster father, whoring bitch of a mother and pathetic sickly sister. Now, get out!" He pushed her over with the hand that was still clamped over her jaw, causing her to fall to the floor, but she quickly scrambled onto her feet. Cutting him with a look filled with anger and loathing, she hurried off the terrace, through the upper sitting room and out to the hall.

From there she had gone straight to her chamber and fervently prayed in tears for a miracle.

The day had arrived.

Lord Garcia Flynn's plan was set in motion. Ever since the day he learned of Lord Nicholas's announcement of the tournament, he had begun training like never before, determined to win and avenge his family's death.

ONE WEEK AGO

Kneeling to check the hooves of his horse, Dunamis, Flynn thought about the two and a half years it took to finally get to this point of walking onto Rittenhouse Castle grounds and exacting revenge. And it all came about because the pompous lord decided to have a Tournament of Knights—the Tournament for the hand of Lady Lucy.

The winner would be rewarded with land right next to Rittenhouse's property and marry his sister, Lady Lucy, which is exactly what Flynn wanted. He planned to go to the games and keep his identity concealed as he participated. Once he won the games and the land along with Lady Lucy, he would then reveal who he was. Nicholas would be livid but wouldn't be able to go back on his word. But once Nicholas found out the true error he had made in having this tournament, Flynn would have then aided greatly in Rittenhouse's destruction.

In Flynn's winning and gaining a percentage of the land and Lady Lucy, Nicholas would have blindly forfeited his entire property. Flynn researched and found that the king had given Lord Benjamin Cahill, Earl of Rittenhouse, the land based on a contracted deal. That deal stated that if Rittenhouse or his descendants sold or gave away more than 5% of the land in his possession, then his entire property would be returned to the royal monarch except for that which Rittenhouse Castle sat upon. But on top of that, since Lord Nicholas was going to be losing his land and he had publicly made an offer to give land as a prize for the tournament, he would ultimately end up having to give the winner Rittenhouse Castle because that would be all he had left to give as a prize. He wouldn't be able to negotiate. This would ultimately leave the Rittenhouse family homeless. And Flynn had no intention of marrying Lady Rittenhouse and that would be yet another added humiliation to the family.

More than likely, the king had set up this contract to ensure that Lord Rittenhouse didn't turn around and offer the land to the king's enemies. He also probably wanted to keep Rittenhouse far away from him, but close enough to keep an eye on his no-good activities. The fact that Nicholas was having this tournament told Flynn that he knew nothing of the contract that the king had on his lands. Nicholas would lose his property and a substantial portion of his wealth. It would be a clever way to cripple the evil man who played a part in his family's death.

A few more things were all Flynn needed to pack, and he'd be on his way.

"So, you're still going to go through with it?" Flynn glanced over at his friend, Sir Rufus Carlin, stepping into the stables. When Flynn didn't respond to his question, Rufus went over and leaned against the stall wall. "Alright, don't respond."

Flynn began brushing his horse. "You should know what I'll say."

"What if, you don't win?"

"I'll win."

Rufus paced. "What if Rittenhouse discovers who you are before the tournament is over?"

"He won't."

He paced a few steps more and stopped in front of Flynn. "What if it turns out that Lady Lucy is sweet and beautiful?"

This earned him a glare. "She's Rittenhouse, so she'll be neither of those things."

"No one's heard anything about her," Rufus pressed. "You can't be too sure."

Flynn ceased brushing his horse and turned to him. "I'm sure of what Lord Rittenhouse did to my family or have you forgotten?" Rufus looked away as Flynn angrily continued, "Being Rittenhouse makes them all guilty. I intend to win this tournament and burn them all down to nothing but humiliation and poverty." Rufus crossed his arms as Flynn hung the brush on the wall and asked, "Are you still planning to come with me?"

Peering at his good friend, Rufus nodded. "You know I am."

Flynn nodded too. "Now let's finish and ride out."

In a large field near Rittenhouse Castle, a section of the grassy land had been closed in for the arena and stands were put up on both sides for the crowds to spectate over the games. To the north of the arena was the grove of trees allotted for the knights to erect their tents. The south side of the arena was allotted to the guest to set up their tents and camps. People all around from high to low birth, great and small, young and old excitedly gathered around the event field eager to have the tournament begin.

Suddenly trumpets blew. The crowd's excitement and energy elevated as they began to cheer loudly as music began to play. An older robust man walked out and climbed up into the two-story master of ceremonies tower which gave him a good vantage point of the event field. He peered over at the main entrance gates and a man waved, signaling him to begin as the music ceased.

"People of the land from all around who have come to join us for this wonderful exciting event! I now welcome you to… The Tournament of Knights!"

The people in the stands yelled, shouted and cheered, waving banners, ringing cowbells and clanking pans with sticks. "We have eleven strong knights who have come from far places for our special two-day event to win the prize of land, and the hand of the fair Lady Lucy! But first, all stand for the one sponsoring this entire tournament! The Earl of Rittenhouse!"

With twenty of his guards dressed in their official orange and red attire flanking him, Nicholas strutted out, waving his hand, soaking up the cheers of the crowd as his entourage followed him onto the south side stands that he had reserved for the nobility. He had wanted to be sure that every lord, lady and the like would be sure to see and meet him.

Once Nicholas was seated, the announcer went on, "Gentle people, let us now welcome the beautiful one whose hand our fierce warrior knights will be vying for in these grand exciting games… Lady Lucy of Rittenhouse!"

Lucy held her head high and took the hand of the assisting guard, standing at the nobility stand's steps and she regally mounted them as everyone cheered. Connor escorted Lucy's lady's companion, Maid Jiya as they followed close behind her. Lucy stood in front of her chair at the center of the nobility stand as she nodded at the people and waved her hand in a genteel manor as her heart raced and her stomach churned. The guard helped her sit and Lucy was grateful that she was at least ten feet from Nicholas. Jiya was seated to her right with Brother Connor seated next to Jiya. There was a long table with fruit, cheese, bread, water and wine between Lucy and Nicholas who was on her left.

The announcer's voice rang out, "And now, joyous friends and spectators, I present to you, those you have all been waiting for… The Fighting Knights!" The crowd roared in excitement, making noise as the main entrance gate opened wide and the first knight rode in. "Our first knight, on this glorious morn is… Sir Roderick the Lowlander!" Some of the crowd cheered as a knight in dull armor came out into the middle of the event field, waving his hand and loving the crowd's attention.

"From the cold fields of Everhole, Sir Zelmon of Wettings!" The crowd cheered as a short, squat man wearing dingy and dented up armor trotted in on his dirt brown horse. He didn't wave or make any kind of gesture as he went over and halted his horse next to the lowlander.

"Hailing from the marshlands of the deep south, Lord Wagner of South Murkland!" The knight cantered in with dirt and mud stains on his armor. It was as if he hadn't bothered to clean and then fell into a mud puddle. The man stopped his horse in the middle of the event field and looked over at Lucy, leering and smiling. She could only see a scattering of teeth in his mouth, a couple at the top and even fewer on the bottom.

Lucy nodded back to him, suppressing a shudder as he went to join the other knight. Lucy glanced over at Jiya, giving her a look. "It's like Nicholas scrounged for the worst knights possible," she lamented under her breath. Jiya patted her hand as the speaker went on to the next knight.

"They're almost done with the introductions," Rufus informed Flynn who was mounted and made ready to enter the arena. "Last chance to turn back, Sir Asher."

Flynn gave him a steely stare. Rufus sighed and lifted his helmet to him. Flynn settled it over his head and flipped up the visor as Rufus climbed on his own horse and brought it alongside Flynn's. "You know what to do when the gate opens." Flynn reminded. He flipped his visor down and made a clicking noise to his horse who trotted forward toward the gate.

"And lastly!" the speaker yelled, "from the land of the great, rolling grass hills comes, Lord Wyatt Logan!" The knight in gleaming armor rode into the event field on a stately sable warhorse that had a black mane and tail. Lucy watched as he stopped his horse in the center of the event field, facing her. His horse then neatly bowed on one knee as Lord Logan gave her a valiant wave. The crowd loved it and cheered as Lucy apprehension increased.

"Hopefully he has all of his teeth," Jiya murmured. Just then he smiled, and he was quite good-looking. Jiya squeezed Lucy's hand as Lucy began to pray for a miracle again.

"That makes eleven warriors who have come to vie for the hand of Lady Lucy!" the announcer shouted. "Now, ladies and gentlemen! Let's begin the—"

A young lad ran up to the viewing platform, and yelled up at the speaker, interrupting him. Everyone perked up in anticipation of what was going on, including Lucy. The announcer climbed down and spoke to the boy. No one could overhear the urgent whispers they were saying to each other. Then the young lad suddenly pointed eagerly toward the gate as it swung open.

Rufus rode his brown and tan warhorse over to the announcer as Flynn waited by the entrance with the people near him, gaping up at him in stunned awe. The robust man climbed down and spoke with Rufus. Lucy peered over at the gate and a mysterious knight was there, seated on his horse.

After a few moments, Rufus handed the announcer a heavy bag. The man nodded to him and then hurried over to the nobility stands. Lucy scrutinized the man speaking quietly to Nicholas's assistant and heard the words, "Three thousand coins," as he hefted the bag up to him. Again, Lucy regarded the mysterious knight sitting patiently upon his steed and wondered who he might be.

Jiya leaned over toward her. "Do you have any idea who he is?" Lucy slowly shook her head, half in wonder and half in anxiety. Jiya observed her friends worried face and rested her hand on hers. "Don't worry. Who knows? Maybe this will be your knight."

Nicholas's assistant then stepped over and quietly relayed the message into his ear. Lucy saw a slow smile spread across his face as he gave a slight nod to his assistant, who then turned and nodded to the announcer.

The man rushed back to his speaking post, climbed up and bellowed, "It has come to the attention of Lord Rittenhouse that we have a late entry into our fighting field!" Murmurs rose from the spectators as he announced, "Our twelfth fighting knight, Sir Asher!"

"I've never heard of him," Jiya uttered, craning her neck to see him.

"Neither have I," Lucy replied.

The crowd hushed down to a droning murmur as the mysterious knight rode through the entrance into the arena. Strength and authority emanated from him as his dark armor sparkled brightly in the summer sun, appearing to be almost black in color. His jet-black warhorse pawed the ground with no doubt of its fierceness and power and he, too, was adorned with armor that matched his master's.

Flynn guided his horse into the middle of the arena, turned to the nobility stand, and gave her and Nicholas a slight nod before he moved on to where the others were. The sun glisten off his sword's pommel and guard, catching Lucy's eye as he went by.

"This just became very interesting," Jiya stated and Lucy didn't respond as she continued to gaze at the twelfth knight.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, we will begin the first event of Spears from Horseback!" The crowd clamored and shouted, growing more excited.

The announcer bellowed, "As of now, Spear from Horseback's leading knight is… Lord Logan!" The crowd cheered and made noise as he went on, "We have our last competing knight ready to show us what he can do! The last knight for this event is… Sir Asher!" The people cheered, eager to see how the mysterious knight would perform on the obstacle course.

Rufus handed Flynn's spear up to him. Lucy paid close attention as Flynn took the spear and then cantered past the nobility stand. He guided his horse to the beginning of the course and halted him. The crowd quieted as Dunamis moved from side to side, snorting with pent up energy. Flynn intently viewed the seven standees that were set at intervals across the event field—three set on the left, and four set on the right. The objective of this event was to ride his horse at top speed, straight down the middle and jab his spear into each dummy, hitting the red painted target displayed on them—each having different target point locations.

Inhaling deeply and exhaling, Flynn lifted his weapon, gave his horse the signal, and took off. Gripping the spear, he quickly approached and jabbed the first dummy on his right, straight into the target. Spinning the spear like a baton, he swiftly switched the spear to his other hand and stabbed the next dummy on his left, directly into the mark. Twirling the spear over his head and transferring it back to his right, he plummeted the iron point into the red circle on the third, and continued on down the line, back and forth, successfully piercing the stuffed burlap dummies right inside the red circles in rapid succession. The crowd went wild when his spear hit home on the seventh standee.

Lucy and Jiya clapped and cheered.

The judges went out and checked the markings that Flynn made and reported to the master of ceremonies. "Our winner for this first event of the Tournament of Knights is… Sir Asher!"

The crowd cheered loudly as Lucy's anxiety and hopes rose.

"Fellow knights!" The gamemaster announced, "It is time to greet the one whom this tournament has brought you strong, warring men here for these competitive events!" The crowd made noise. "Please approach the nobility stand, one by one, to meet the lovely… Lady Lucyyyy!"

The crowd applauded as Lucy, Jiya and Connor stood while Lucy mentally prepared herself to greet the men her brother had allowed into the event. "It'll be alright," Connor reassured her. Jiya patted her shoulder and stepped back as Lucy stepped forward to the railing. The first knight approached.

Lucy felt great heaviness and dread after meeting most of the knights. Some were courteous but much younger than she. One was old enough to be her father, one the size of a giant and others were filthy, pompous and extremely unpleasant. Lord Logan, however, gave her a glimmer of hope. He was courteous, the right age and size and blessedly clean. But now she was to meet the twelfth and last knight and undeniably, a part of her had been anticipating it. Since he was the last one to arrive and had won the first event, he was the last one set to meet her…

The mysterious knight guided his horse toward the stand where she stood. His shiny dark armor was impressive and appeared lighter in weight than the other knight's protective coverings. He appeared to be a tall man and Lucy wondered what he looked like.

As he approached, he took in her hunter green dress that was trimmed with an olive green floral stitched pattern. Her hair was concealed with a matching head covering. Flynn figured her hair was dark because of her eyebrows and tried to imagine what it might look like.

Lucy peered at him as he reined in his horse and stopped in front of her. Slowly, he brought his hand up and raised his helmet's visor—which only revealed… his piercing green eyes.

The two quietly stared at each other. Immediately she perceived fervor behind his gaze while he discerned strength in hers.

The lady's soft brown eyes also seemed to hold a bit of… hopefulness. His attention was pulled to a bruise at the corner of her mouth along with male fingertip size bruising on the side of her jaw that the powder she had on could not conceal. Peering back at her, he wondered who had harmed her and why. Then pushing the thought out of his head, he reminded himself she was Rittenhouse's daughter and steeled his gaze—but then a gentle, disarming smile touched her lips and she spoke.

"Greetings, most valor knight. I am Lady Lucy Preston-Wallace and I welcome you to the Tournament of Knights. May you have success that will bring glory to God, land for your possession, and… my hand in marriage."

Noticing her faltering at the mention of marriage, Flynn wondered at her calling herself Lucy Preston-Wallace—omitting Rittenhouse all together. His attention was caught by the large gold pendant of a cross that laid softly against her chest. It was beautiful with a cabochon ruby in the center of it that immediately reminded Flynn of something else he knew that was very similar. As he wondered how she had come to possess something that looked like it, too, Lucy followed his gaze to her cross, and gently enclosed her hand around it.

"Sir Asher," she swallowed, "may you show yourself strong, brave and true… and may the Lord bless you and keep you this day out on the tournament field."

Flynn examined her brown eyes one last time and slightly bowed in response to her words. Lowering his visor, he guided his horse back to the gate where the knights would get refreshments and rest until the next gaming event.

Flynn and Rufus went off to their camp that was set far from the others. Flynn's men, Sir Karl Gross & Sir David "Bam Bam" Baumgarden, stood guard around it to ensure that no one got close to see or hear him, nor take their things.

Bam Bam moved over to Flynn. "How'd did the first event go?"

"He's in the lead!" Rufus answered for him as Flynn went to the back of the tent, lifted his helmet off and set it on the table just outside the back entrance.

"The others aren't making it easy," Flynn admitted, taking a big pitcher of water from the table and drinking deeply.

Karl folded his arms. "Wish we could go and watch."

Flynn wiped his mouth. "I need you here to keep an eye out."

"We know, we know." Karl rolled his eyes then stepped closer and elbowed him. "So, how was it meeting Lady Lucy?"

"I met her. That was all."

Rufus eyed Flynn. "She seemed pretty from where I was standing."

"She's pretty?" Bam Bam asked.

Karl's eyebrows went up. "What color is her hair?"

Glancing over at them, he doused his sweaty head with some of the water as flashes of her disarming words and smile went through his mind. "I was focused on the task at hand," he gruffed and set the pitcher down.

"Come on," Rufus persisted, "you were standing there for a bit with her, what did she say?"

Flynn had expected a vapid, spoiled woman or simpering miss, or even the ugly sister. But Lady Lucy hadn't appeared to be either of those things. He had also heard what she had said to the knight before him and he was certain she made no mention to that knight of being valor, strong, brave or true. Nor had she given him a blessing. But she did say those things to him and that was something very unexpected.

Flynn peered around at the men again, reminding himself of the reason why he was there. "Lady Rittenhouse has said nothing that will matter once I win the tournament."

LATER THAT NIGHT

Jiya walked along side Lucy through the castle hallway to Lucy's chamber. "What do you think of Lord Logan?"

Lucy thought about the question as they entered the room and went to sit near the fire. "He seems nice. Charming. He's a good fighter."

Jiya settled next to her. "How would you feel about him winning the games?"

"I don't know. You can't really know someone until you've lived with them and even then, that might not reveal much. But I wouldn't hesitate to choose him over Lord Roderick, Sir Zelmon or… Sir Ramone the Large." They both shuddered.

"What about Sir Asher? He's now won two events."

"He has," Lucy acknowledged.

"I couldn't hear you two when he rode up to the stand. What did he say to you?"

Lucy shook her head. "Not a word. He just bowed."

"That's odd. Maybe he doesn't speak our language."

Lucy touched her necklace. "No, I have a feeling he understood me."

"Did he seem kind?"

She pondered it. "He just… listened. I know he noticed the bruising around my mouth." Her hand absentmindedly touched the wound as she thought about the color of Sir Asher's eyes. "He also appeared very intense and determined."

"That sounds like the way he is in the events," Jiya observed. "What did you say to him?"

"I just greeted him, introduced myself, and blessed him."

Jiya turned more toward her. "Blessed him?"

"It came out before I knew it."

"I see. Did you bless the others?"

Lucy slipped her feet out of her slippers. "No. I just told them, 'thank you for coming.'"

Jiya chuckled, "Even Lord Logan?"

"He did most of the talking. He said he was happy to come to the games and get a chance to meet me and vie for my fair hand. Which all seemed nice."

"Lord Logan is light and spry."

"Whereas Sir Asher is solid… and methodical." Lucy added, "It's like he can tell what his opponent is going to do before they even know."

"So, of all of these knights, it appears that the top two are holding your interest." Jiya slid forward. "Which one is holding your interest more? Or should I guess?"

"Whether it be Lord Logan or Sir Asher, my fate is still severely unknown. I can only pray that the right one will be the victor and that he would be someone that I would willing want to call my lord and my husband."