Unbroken (Unarmed Trilogy #2) (8 page)

"This is my home," she said as they made it to the final step. "It is my turn to take care of you."

"I want to make sure you don't fall, especially while you carry my child. You need caring for, after what you've been through," Will reminded gently as he felt the rocks beneath the thin sandals provided for him.

"This makes me forget," Tamzin said as she looked at his arm around her waist. "When I take care of you, I know I am helping. I can't fight so keeping you healthy is my way of making sure what happened in Thurston never happens again."

"Why do you think you cannot fight?" Will asked as Tamzin led him down a sandy path and at the end, Will could see the edge of the town.

"You certainly proved that to me during our practice session," Tamzin laughed bitterly as she looked up into the sun. The light made her skin glow.

"You're a Roth girl. There are other ways to learn how to fight," Will said as he looked down at the rocks. "Your father never allowed you to be taught how to shoot with a bow and arrow? It is your territory's number one defense."

"I wanted to. I was always curious, but my father said I needed to make sure I knew the arts and how to properly take care of a husband before that. As I became older, I lost interest because other things became more important," Tamzin said as she looked out at the ocean in the distance. "Can you teach me that?"

"Of course," Will smiled before he leaned in and kissed her softly. "Tomorrow, my love. Right now, will you show me around?"

"Follow me," Tamzin grinned as she took the lead and dragged Will close behind her. They walked up a small hill made of mostly sand, with small patches of what appeared to be grass. Will felt himself already begin to sweat, his body unused to any type of heat. He could see a bit of perspiration on Tamzin as well, but of course, she glistened as opposed to the globs and drips of sweat on Will. He was thankful for the light breeches and tunics when they came to the top of the hill, where the sun hit them perfectly. It was exactly midday now. "The people will probably start their break soon. For the next few hours, the town stays mostly quiet because this is when it's hottest. The people in the field will stop collecting, the vendors won't stop completely but business slows down, but the taverns and places to eat should still be operating normally."

"It's not good business practice to stop in the middle of the day," Will said as he looked off into the distance where he saw the many miles of groves and then the miles of cotton fields on the opposite side.

"But it's better than having rioting and dying workers,” Tamzin said as she stopped to watch the grove workers come in. "They pick the trees for our fruit. They do the most work in the morning when it is cool and after their break, they only work for an hour or so longer. When the workers are happy, their productivity is much higher, so my father tries to keep them happy."

"Douglas Johansson probably does not do that for his workers," Will said to himself and watched as Tamzin turned to look at him.

"And that is why his people are dying and the living ones start constant rebellions. A King's success should not be measured in his wealth, but by the state of his territory. My people live long lives and poverty isn’t nearly as much of a problem as it is Johansson. When I become Queen, that is the kind of territory I want to rule over," Tamzin spoke regally as she nodded to the men and women who came in from the groves. "These people love my family because they are treated kindly. No one works more than five days a week, taxes are relatively low because of our high population, and law is kept firmly in place. Like you, we tolerate no crime."

"Which means you cannot be softhearted to everyone," Will pointed out as he laced their hands together. "It is hard to be a Queen; it may be harder than a King."

"How do you figure that?" Tamzin asked.

"Because those laws you have mentioned sound like something your mother would have suggested, but your father receives all the credit. It must be hard to be the backbone of a kingdom when no one thanks you for it," Will answered as he watched the people sit on the sides of the street and pour water over their heads. It was unbearably hot out. The streets began to quiet and it was then that Will heard it. It was the sound of swords clashing and grunts of men. "Does your army normally train now?"

"That's probably Rolf trying to show the Northern Army his strength," Tamzin said with an eye roll. She lifted her dress and walked quickly, as quickly as her swollen belly would allow, with Will on her tail. They walked across many streets and to the other side of the palace, where Will saw some of his men, including Garrett, watch two Roth men spar.

"Their stance is atrocious," Will said to Tamzin as he stood in front of her, as the men became rowdy. "Stay behind me in case someone accidentally strikes out." Will observed the area around them; it was extremely green grass covered by trees with red flowers, like the one in Tamzin's hair. Though it was mostly shaded, the heat still did not escape the men.

When Garrett noticed Will and Tamzin, he and the Northern men that watched, stood in attendance for the royal couple. Garrett smirked at Will. It was time for the Northerners to begin to show off as well. "At ease, men," Will called out, his voice louder than the two Roth men fighting and the jeers from their men.

"Princess," Rolf greeted as he came from across the courtyard. He ignored Will as he took Tamzin's hand in his and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Will nearly lost his eyes from them rolling so harshly. "It is good to see that the Northerners haven't made you any less beautiful."

"Honestly, Rolf. The Thurston men have the same culture as us, except in a colder climate. We are friends here," Tamzin said as she felt Will place one hand on her back. "We have one bloodline to make us family as well."

"Don't remind me," Rolf said as his eyes flickered to Will. "Your men got drunk off their ass last night. You may need to collect them off the street, still."

"My men fought a great number of battles against Johansson. They can do whatever they want. My wife said for them to treat this visit as a holiday before we must travel again..."

"These men have lost their entire families," Garrett interrupted as he blood boiled over. "Let them drink to forget and you have no right to judge them." With Garrett's statements, Will watched Rolf's demeanor falter slightly before he returned to his rigid stance again.

"We may be allies, but we are not friends. Your families are dead because your commander was too arrogant to see straight," Rolf said as he looked to Will. "He also put his Princess and his heir in danger as well."

"I don't care who you are, but you will stand down," a Northerner stepped forward, his wild eyes angry. "No Southerner insults our Commander and Prince."

"You’re the one who will stand down," Will growled at the man, who instantly shrank back. Despite the man's size being comparable to Will's, Will's control over his army was always stronger. "The blood of my unborn child is part Roth, which is the only thing that stopped me from allowing my man to kill you. Do not forget my strength," Will said as he took a step forward, his height imposed over Rolf. "My men have been through enough. Do not antagonize them further or there will be a purge."

"Will," Tamzin roared behind him as she reached out and grabbed him by his tunic and pulled him back. "You are not in the North. You are not the most powerful man in the room anymore. Most people would think what you just said was a threat."

"It is a threat. From your father's frosty welcome, I've discovered that my men are surrounded by covert enemies," Will uttered the words quickly and regretted them with the same speed.

"You think I am your enemy? You think I would allow harm to come to these men?" Tamzin asked, her voice hoarse and her eyes filling with angry tears. Her face became red from frustration. "I am not your enemy and my people and my soldiers are not as well."

"I didn't mean you..." Will tried to explain but she beyond gone. Tamzin let go of his tunic and put distance between them before she looked behind Will to see her men and his.

"I suggest you reevaluate your statement after you spend a night away from my chambers," Tamzin said with a raised eyebrow. Her eyes had begun to dry without spilling a single tear. "Unless you get on your knees now and beg for my forgiveness. For our reign, our people will know that you and I are equal."

"I am on my knees every night for you," Will said as he lightly gripped her arm and pulled her closer so his lips were close to her ear. "But if I do that, I will lose the respect of my men."

"But it is fine for me to stand by and let you call my soldiers your enemy?" Tamzin asked as she stared at him incredulously. "We are either equal or we are not. As your wife, I bend to your whim most times. When will you bend for me?"

"I am here, aren't I?" Will asked as he gestured to Roth Territory. "I knew what would be awaiting here for me, but I came to make you happy..."

"Oh, please. My father told you that you were awful to me before. Did he embarrass you? No." Tamzin pulled her arm away. "You make me think that I will never be forgiven by you for what happened with Lucy and my part in it. I made an absolutely stupid mistake. But so did you. You left me alone and your people were betrayed by your own man."

"I am not having this argument with you now," Will said as he shifted uncomfortably and changed balance from his left to right foot.

"Then we are not having it at all," Tamzin said with a deadly stare. Will could hear the uncomfortable sighs and sounds from the men behind him. Soldier or not, Tamzin Thurston was terrifying when she was angry. "If you will excuse me, I will join Jacque in tending to our medicinal plants."

She turned on her heel quickly and Will watched, with pain and irritation, as she walked away. He felt Garrett touch his shoulder.

"She won't be angry forever. Women who are with child tend to have hotter running blood," Garrett tried to comfort but Will shrugged off his shoulder.

"And she still doesn't know about your secret woman," Will said as he turned to push past his men. "Don't murder the Roth men."

Will walked towards the cliff on which the palace resided. He dropped to his knees and leaned back on his heels to feel the cool breeze on his face. It was only midday and he was in a strange land with a wrathful wife. He shouldn't have said those things about her people, but tensions were running high for everyone. Why couldn't Tamzin understand that it was hard to be in a strange place where you were unsure of the intentions of the people around you?

That was when it dawned on him.

Tamzin had endured that before, when she came to Thurston for the first time. She was in a new place and knew very little about the customs and what did Will do? He treated her lower than dirt. Even if he had been a perfect gentleman, it still would have been difficult for her to adjust.

"God damn it all," Will spat as he nearly ripped his tunic off over his head. His stupid, inconsiderate mouth nearly ruined everything always. How could he make Tamzin forgive him now?

Tamzin had once told Will that the sun was everything. The sun could both nourish and destroy and decide at a whim what its intentions were. Will did feel the slight heat on his skin from the sun, but he never expected actual pain would be involved. He had spent the rest of the afternoon on the cliff, where he watched the fisherman on the ports. It appeared that the men on the ports didn't take breaks like the rest of the workers, as they worked only until halfway through midday.

When they were finished, Will moved his shoulders and arms to stand up but felt like his skin had shrunk multiple sizes. When he scrunched his nose, the skin across the bridge felt the same tightness. Will turned to look down at his skin, where he saw it was a deep red. Will touched his skin roughly and groaned as he felt the burn. The last time he felt that feeling was when he literally burned his finger as a child. It was from one of Gregory's punishments after he broke a sword; Will had to learn how swords were made and burned his finger.

Haphazardly, Will stood up from the ground and tried to steady his movements. He saw, with relief, that his legs were not red and didn't hurt like his shoulders did. The sun was setting as he waddled towards the palace. He held the tunic in his hand, with fear, that if he put it on, the slight weight would provide only agony. The palace was busy with people and he could hear the snickers from the nobles.

"Apparently Northerners have never seen sunlight before," a woman said as she pointed to Will's burned skin. He rolled his eyes as he gently walked up the stairs towards Tamzin's chambers. She had told him she wanted him to stay away for the night, but Will hadn't been given the proper tour to find Jacque's chambers and study. As he neared Tamzin's door, Thom stepped out from his chambers and laughed when he saw Will's appearance.

"You look like a lobster!" he teased as he approached Will.

"What's a lobster?" Will asked before Thom slapped his shoulder. "Kid, I don't care if you're a Prince or my wife's little brother, I'm going to pummel you." Will reached forward to grab Thom, but winced and groaned from his skin stretching.

"I will order a hot bath for you. Tamzin is already in Court, but I will be sure to let her know that you've gone and burned yourself," Thom grinned as he pushed past Will and the fabric of his tunic felt like a grater against his skin. Will gritted his teeth together and took a few more steps and opened the door to Tamzin's room. The servant girls had come in and changed the sheets, which felt like bliss against his hot skin as he laid down gently.

The silk was cool for a few brief moments before it felt like it was suffocating his skin. The heat from the burn had nowhere to go, so it felt like Will was being burned all over again. Despite this awful feeling, Will felt uncharacteristically tired. It became difficult to keep his eyes open and when he opened them next, a few girls were bringing steaming water into the room with the tub in it.

"You requested a hot bath, Your Grace?" One of the girls asked before she shrieked. "Are you sure you want a hot bath?"