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Chapter Fifty-Four - Ephron
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The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fifty-Five - Winning Him Over
It was settled. Isabel, Cassie and Lars were heading for the Dane Lands with Rowanne. Eithne couldn’t help hoping they would find Ulf and his men. He, too, had a missing sister, Tora, she seemed to recall. While Rowanne was still upset about Nell’s disappearance.“We must do something,” she said to Ephron.“If it’s slavers, they’re probably long gone.”“Word must go out to leave our females alone.”“I agree with Princess Eithne,” Xander said.She started, not having heard him enter the room.“Having an attack of conscience?”It vexed her that she was treating him so icily these days. Ephron warned her that he wouldn’t wait around for ever. That had made her even more mad. But she didn’t just have herself to consider. For the good of the realm, maybe she should consider several suitors before coming to a decision.Eithne really didn’t want to settle for that. But would clipping his wings make either of them happy? He didn’t seem the sort to want to remain tied down.And what of Genevie
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fifty-Six - The Gift
What could he give his Princess and future wife? Xander already knew, but now he was having doubts. Not about her. The second thoughts centred around Genevieve and how she would react. It wasn’t the kind of thing you bestowed saying it was only temporary, either. Heirlooms were precious.Knowing his younger sister she would approve, being something of a romantic. That was probably why she was missing still. He had often suspected de Mornay of having a hand in it. Now he was almost certain.The trail hadn’t gone as cold as people might think. He had charged two of his mercenaries with tracking him and was awaiting a message, still hopeful after only a few days. Explaining to Eithne he was going to have to leave in a hurry without her might not be the easiest negotiation he’d ever had to make, though an amethyst ring could help to soften the blow.Retrieving it was no problem since he’d hidden it under a loose flagstone in his new quarters.Then he sat down with a flagon of wine and pre
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fifty-Seven - All Kinds of Danger
Ephron wasn’t quite the same as when Xander had been around. He seemed to blame Eithne for his hasty departure.“Weeks. It’s been weeks and no word,” he complained, pacing up and down.They were in the solar, which had now been restored to something of its former glory, courtesy of a few tapestries and a good clean. It was a tranquil place, usually, though not today.“He vowed to return and I believe him,” she said, setting aside the sampler she was working on.The stitching in that hound didn’t seem right and would have to be unpicked. It was giving her a headache. No, he was giving her a headache. Her brother had only appeared at his best because he knew Xander would counsel him. That much was self-evident now.“What are we going to do about Mama?” she asked, massaging her temples lightly.“I haven’t yet decided.”“Of course, I know you have the final say, but banishment will only postpone the inevitable.”“That’s why I’m keeping her under lock and key. As for the imposter, he will
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fifty-Eight - Rescue
“Something’s wrong,” Jocasta said to Iain as they sat by the fire, toasting themselves.“It isn’t Xander, is it? Don’t tell me he’s come a cropper in his native Frankia.”“I don’t give a fig for him, you know that. It’s Eithne. Those Germanians you told me about.”“Well, there’s not likely to be a coup with them under lock and key in the tower.”“Don’t you know anything? Some of those cells have open doorways.”“Crikey. Me own sister knows more about the castle than I do.”“I have my spies.” She grimaced. “Or did.”“Want me to wander across and take a look?”“No, you idiot. Are you trying to get yourself killed?” She smiled at him; they both knew she didn’t always mean it when she lashed out verbally. It was just her way. He relieved his tension with a sword, his sister sounded off. “Iain, I suggest you ride after your fellow gladiators. Round them up with all speed. Or I fear the worst.”“I’ll go in the morning, first thing,” he said.The haunted look on her face persuaded him otherw
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Fifty-Nine - An Unexpected Ally
Not long after the imposter had dragged her into the room, he passed out. Eithne gazed fearfully at Frederick, who put his finger to his lips. “I drugged his ale,” he said. “No-one shares what’s mine.” “How did you know what he was proposing?” “I have heard the rumours. He wasn’t easy to fool.” “You saved me – us – my lord, and I am grateful.” “Don’t call me by that fancy title. I’m a mercenary plain and simple. Except I no longer wish to follow Kurt.” Megan was struggling in his grip, and Eithne had no notion what to do, except plead with him not to hurt her. “We’ve all been through enough,” she added, willing him to go easy on the woman. But some things were not so straightforward. “I don’t trust this one. Did you know she’s been playing one side off against another?” She nodded. “Megan did what she had to survive.” “Including sucking up to Kurt.” “I did no such thing. If you must know, he forced himself upon me.” “Is that so?” “Has he done this kind of thing before?” E
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Sixty - Clara
Two separate outside forces were converging on the castle, she could see them from the window slit. Her guard was the loyal kind who swiftly rounded up a like-minded force and they waited in her tower room, like turncoats watching to see who would gain the upper hand before they joined the fray.Yet Clara knew she would triumph, whichever Ephron survived. The gladiators were disbanded for now, with those loyal to Eithne heading for wherever they hailed from, except for Flavius. Her eyes narrowed. She would deal with him in the fullness of time. And Xander had gone to Frankia chasing a not so wild goose and a gander who deserved all that was coming to him.Charles de Mornay could rot in Hell, as far as she was concerned. He’d almost cost her the greatest prize of all. The girls were well hidden in a walled city and soon a ship would come to take them to the Satrapy in the east where they would join harems willingly, or not.She had wanted to send Eithne with them, but had to give Xande
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Sixty-One - Harem
He was done with loyalty. In the end, it netted him nothing. All Clara’s grand schemes and look where she was now. Sensing the writing on the wall he made himself scarce while the going was good. Time to visit the harem. Maurice really hoped that particular ship hadn’t yet sailed.The idea came to him as he made his way to a villain he knew who would show him the quickest and safest way to the port. Maybe he could divert the lovelies to Byzantium rather than Persia. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d presided over an auction and word of the takeover hadn’t reached the places he’d been so far.Maybe his luck was about to change for the better.In fact, he arrived at an opportune moment. The husband and wife team who were keeping the women secure wanted out. Since they knew he was a trusted associate of Clara, they seized the chance to cut their losses, and he wasted no time in re-acquainting himself with several beauties, most of whom seemed willing.The virgin was still off-limits. Ev
The Conqueror's Royal Slave Chapter Sixty-Two - Too Late
Genevieve could scarcely believe they had a new tormentor in the form of the man who asked them to call him variously, Maurice, Guillaume and sometimes Ephron. She was only thankful de Mornay had not visited in a while. The bastard had her necklace; Xander would be so mad.Sometimes, she despaired of ever setting eyes on her brother again. Yet she hadn’t given up hope. She knew him. He was by no means a typical Rimet.The other girls all spoke Ormondian with varying dialects from different regions of the United Isles. Nell had taught her the Anglo Saxon tongue which she knew she must be mangling all the time. Frankish was so different.She supposed it must be the same for Tora, the one who hailed from the Dane Lands.None of them wanted to join a harem. Still, it was probably better than being auctioned off. At least they hadn’t been loaned out to brothels in the city, the ones who weren’t virgins, that is. For her, that wasn’t an option. Though it hadn’t stopped their new keeper from
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