About Droit de Seigneur
Written by Laney Cairo
33 pages / 11000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-796-1, 1-60370-796-4
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Accolon despises the tedious politics of Arthur's Court, but as a knight, he is obliged to attend. His new squire, Derryn, is sharp-tongued and clever, and takes very good care of Accolon. The pair of them wind up in the middle of a Court conspiracy, holding an
enchanted blade and ensnared by a sorceress. Treason, betrayal, gossip and love--Accolon has never known Court to be so dangerous before.
Sample
Accolon hung back at the entrance to the Great Hall, giving Queen Guinevere and her ladies plenty of room to walk ahead of him, making sure he didn't stand on anyone's trailing robes. It didn't work, and he had to breathe in as Lady Felicity pushed up against him on her way past.
"Apologies, my lady," Accolon said.
"Lord Accolon," Lady Felicity said, her eyelashes lowered briefly. "You so rarely favor us with your company at court. I need to speak with you."
Accolon hesitated, and Lady Felicity stayed holding his arm, her breasts pressed absurdly against his chest. The bonds and ties of friendship and love within the court were treacherous, and Accolon had no idea who Lady Felicity owed her allegiance to, political or personal. A rejection could see him facing a blade, as could an invitation.
"With me? Why?" Accolon said. "Perhaps later, in the Great Hall. I must check my horses first."
"Your horses," Lady Felicity said, sounding dispirited. "It's always the horses."
Accolon nodded. "It is."
Lady Felicity drifted after the other ladies with Lady Morgan bringing up the rear, and Accolon stayed where he was, while the court shuffled into the Great Hall or made its way to the stables or bedrooms.
Derryn, Accolon's new squire, wandered up to Accolon and handed him a jug of small beer.
"Where were you during the meal?" Accolon asked Derryn, taking the jug gratefully.
"Horses," Derryn said. "Putting your pack in your room. Finding out what you need to know, like that old Lord Brunor has got Lady Felicity with child. You going to take her? She'd be safe."
Accolon looked down at Derryn, who was leering at him. "No, she doesn't charm me. You should try. You've never been to Arthur's court before, so the ladies will want to test you."
Derryn lowered his lashes, in exactly the same movement that Lady Felicity had used, then grinned at Accolon. "Do they like Welsh squires here?"
Accolon drained his jug and handed it to Derryn, taking in Derryn's light hair and gray eyes. He caught Derryn's arm so Derryn's sleeve fell back, showing a slender wrist and pale skin. "They'll either like you or be jealous of you."
When Derryn pulled his wrist free, Accolon let it go without resisting. There were dangerous eddies between he and Derryn, and Accolon was intrigued by the hints of darkness in Derryn. He understood all about darkness.