Excerpt Day: The King's Tale by Rowena Sudbury

[reviews_and_ramblings]

The King's Tale by Rowena Sudury
Release Date: July 27, 2009
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publisher Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

Blurb: Though Dafydd is the fourth son of Welsh nobility, when he leaves his home he becomes a humble woodsman in small kingdom of Lysnowydh on the sea. During a fierce storm, a stranger seeks shelter in Dafydd's remote cottage. He is no ordinary traveler-he is Christopher, King of Lysnowydh. The wild passion that flares between them rivals the storm, and love moves King Christopher's heart to name Dafydd Marshal of his troops to keep him close. However, love is never simple or safe when it must endure the pressures of political life. Though Dafydd proves himself in battle, Lysnowydh's nobles protest his rise in position and power. Forces will conspire against Dafydd and Christopher, and they must endure treason, treachery, and the demands of a kingdom requiring an heir to secure their happiness together.

Excerpt:

from Chapter One

The winter sky shared the sadness the kingdom felt at the passing of the king some months later. Perhaps he had known, that warm spring day, that his light would be extinguished before the year's end, yet he had not shared the knowledge beyond his urging to his heir. His passing was swift, with little time for any to prepare.

And once the sad business of the funeral had passed, young Christopher found himself on a quest to find a suitable wife.

"I will not marry without love," he declared before the councilors. He endured their arguments with a set chin, until he finally roared, "Enough."

His grief was deep yet. They allowed him the week, and then renewed their efforts with fierce determination. He must begin the task of searching for a wife, and he must do it soon.

He traveled far and wide, and was unable to swallow his pride and take a mate. He knew he would face their accusatory stares when he returned yet again empty handed. He was stubborn.

The icy rain gave way first to sleet, and then snow. His tired horse plodded down the narrow lane, and while Christopher knew he was within an hour of home, his tired beast did not. He must needs find shelter for the night, begin the journey again on the morrow.

The cottage was small, nestled along the edge of the little used track. Snow stung at his eyes yet Christopher managed to spot it. He slid from the horse, and stumbled toward the door. His horse blew behind him as he raised his fist to rap on the rough-hewn planks.

The door opened, spilled light into the swirling world of snow.

"Please, I beg shelter from the storm," he rasped. He looked up, not recognizing the massive man who stood before him. "I shall pay."

Dafydd recognized the king at once and he stepped back, "Come, warm yourself by the fire, I will see to your horse."

"My thanks," Christopher shouted over the howl of the wind, and he moved gratefully toward the fire, warmed his hands.

The horse stabled, Dafydd returned and bolted the door behind him. He shed his woolen mantle, and gazed at the golden-haired young king where he crouched by the fire.

"I will pay you for your trouble," Christopher murmured. "I have gold."

"You will not," Dafydd responded as he moved into the room toward the large table that dominated the center of the cottage. "I do not require payment in gold for sheltering a traveler from the storm."

As the fire warmed him, Christopher shed his fur-lined cloak, rose, and sprawled in the one chair at the table. He watched as Dafydd stirred the fragrant stew in the pot hung above the fire.

"Then I shall pay you with what you desire," he said. "Everyone desires something."

Dafydd set the long handled spoon aside and turned to pour two mugs of ale from a pitcher that sat on the windowsill. He handed one mug to Christopher and took the other for himself.

"I have all I require," he said. "A warm cottage, a horse, work I enjoy."

"Then I fear you misunderstood me," Christopher said softly. "I did not promise to give you what you require, but what you desire. There is a difference between the two."

With a grunt Dafydd set his mug on the hearth and swung the cast iron pot out from its spit over the fire. He ladled two bowls of the savory stew, and broke a round loaf in half. He handed the simple meal to the king.

"Then I will ask you for a story," he said. He sat on the floor, his back against the hearthstone.

Christopher took the bowl and realized this simple man had shared full half of his meager meal, and had allowed him to take the only chair. Were he not so bone tired and hungry he would have returned the bowl and pressed on, stronger now for having sat a quarter of an hour in the warmth. Yet something held him, and he scooped some of the rich stew up with the bread, burned his tongue, and spoke with a full mouth.

"What kind of a story do you wish?"

Dafydd ate with his spoon and saved the crust of bread to soak up the rich gravy that pooled in the bottom of the crude bowl. "A story of beauty, of the finer things in life," he said simply.

The meal consumed, Christopher picked up his mug and accepted another measure of nut-brown ale. "I am not sure I can oblige," he said softly. "There was a time when I knew beauty, and softness in my life, but I fear now 'tis not so. Now I must needs accept that the world is a cold and hard place."

"I am a simple man," Dafydd said. "I know nothing of the world. I would accept any story you told, real or imagined. You did promise."

Christopher smiled ruefully, "That I did. Yet I fear you would know the difference between a made up story and the truth."

"I would not know the difference," Dafydd replied softly.

"Aye, you would."

They sat in companionable silence until Dafydd refilled the mugs for the third time. Christopher took a long draught of ale, and ran his soft pink tongue over his lips to clear the foam. "My manners are sorely lacking. You have fed me a delicious meal, and yet I know not even your name."

"My name is Dafydd, and I deliver the wood for your castle's kitchens your majesty."

"Ah, so you have had the advantage of me all this while, knowing who I am whilst I am kept in the dark." Warm, full of good food and ale, Christopher sprawled back in his chair; his eyes twinkled in the firelight.

"I am not a stranger to your bailey," Dafydd said. "But you are dallying from your task. My story."

"A promise is a promise." Christopher rested the mug on the arm of the chair. "Once there was a young lord who was the apple of his mother's eye. In fact, the only one she favored more was the lord's father, the king of a small hamlet on the Cornish coast."

Dafydd sipped his ale, comfortable on the furs that were scattered before the fire. He listened as Christopher told his story, realized it was his own history he recounted.

"The lord admired many things, yet what he admired most above all things was hard work, and thus he held those who toiled diligently above all others." He paused to look down at the woodsman. "When the lord became king, he was expected to take a wife, provide the kingdom with an heir. The new king found this prospect distasteful."

"Why was that?" Dafydd asked as he set his empty mug on the hearth.

Christopher's voice dropped, and became sultry and warm. "Because, the king preferred to have a man to warm his bed."

There was a silence between them, and yet it was not uncomfortable. Dafydd shifted his position on the floor, moved closer to the king. Christopher dropped a hand from the arm of the chair, stroked it across the top of Dafydd's closely cropped hair.

"Does this story trouble you?" he asked softly.

"Nay," Dafydd whispered.

"The king," Christopher continued, "Was sent on many a journey to find a suitable wife, yet each time he came up empty-handed, because he vowed he would not marry without love." He tipped back his mug and finished his ale. "As such, he gained the disdain of his council, and was set upon by all within his kingdom. He was not allowed proper time to mourn. He soon discovered there was little softness in the world, all became bitter and ugly in his life."

"Mayhaps not all," was Dafydd's quiet response.

"Most," Christopher said softly. "There was not even time for the king to seek for aught beside a mate."

A log shifted in the fire and settled in a small shower of sparks. Dafydd moved closer to the hearth and shifted the embers with a long stick. He added another log, and turned to look back at the king.

"I would stay this night," Christopher said softly, "If you would allow me to sleep on the floor before your warm fire."

The wind howled outside the small cottage, icy drafts found their way inside around the windows and the door. Dafydd reached for another log and added it to the blaze.

"You must stay your majesty, 'tis far too cold to return to the warmth of your keep. Yet you must sleep in my bed."

Christopher cocked his head to the side, and he leaned forward in the chair, his forearms rested upon his knees, "'Tis an offer you give me?"

Even in the wan light of the fire 'twas obvious that the woodsman blushed. He dipped his head to hide the confusion in his eyes, "An offer for the warmth of the bed, 'tis I shall sleep on the hard floor."

With no more than a rustle Christopher slipped from the chair and knelt on the floor in front of Dafydd. "'Twas not my intent to make you uncomfortable Dafydd."

Dafydd raised his head, his eyes free of the confusion, "You do not your majesty."

"I have told you," Christopher continued, "That I would prefer a man in my bed, not a woman. 'Tis not something most men talk about, and yet you have put me at ease Dafydd. If it troubles you must needs let me know."

"I have told you that it does not," Dafydd said.

"Then you must tell me of yourself," Christopher said gently, "And what you prefer."

Dafydd dipped his head again, "I know not," he whispered.

"Ah," Christopher said, "'Tis well. Your honesty speaks volumes."

"Please your majesty," Dafydd said as he raised his eyes and met the king's steady gaze again; "You must sleep in my bed this night and allow me to take the floor."

"Aye," Christopher said, and he rose from his knees. "I am accustomed to sleeping on the hard ground, yet I will honor your request with a condition attached."

"A condition?" Dafydd said as he stood.

Christopher turned and took up his cloak from where he had tossed it earlier on the bed. "You must needs wrap up in this cloak, 'twill keep you warm."

Dafydd hesitated, and then reached out and took the cloak. "Aye," he said simply.

They settled then, the king in the bed burrowed deep amongst the furs, and Dafydd on the hearth, snug in the king's rich mantle.

When morning came Dafydd stirred first. He made a hearty oat stirrabout in the cast iron pot and drew another pitcher of ale from the barrel in the corner. The two ate in companionable silence before the rekindled fire.

---

At last Dafydd took the bowls and set them aside. He took up the king's cloak and brushed it deftly before handing it back.

Christopher reached for the cloak, but did not release Dafydd's hand, pulled him closer. "My thanks humble woodsman," he said softly, "For the sharing of your meal, your abode."

"'Twas my pleasure your majesty," Dafydd said with a slight tremor in his voice. "All that I have is yours."

"'Tis well," Christopher said, he bent forward and pressed his lips against Dafydd's. When he pulled back he held the cloak. The woodsman had trembled against him as he bestowed what was supposed to be a kiss of peace, yet they both knew 'twas something more. "Might I come again?"

"You need not ask your majesty, my home is yours where're you desire."

"Then I shall return," Christopher said. He donned the cloak and turned to leave. "Mayhaps sooner than later."

"I shall look for you then."

The snowdrifts were piled deeply around the cottage. Dafydd stood before the door and watched as Christopher rode off down the track.