Gwen shook her head. She could not believe how pathetic he was.
"I suppose that you fancy yourself to be the one to come to my rescue, to be my partner to rule?" she asked, mockingly.
"Who else?" he answered proudly, his smile widening. "You and I have known each other since we could walk. We are both royalty. The masses love us both.”
Gwen laughed again.
"Do they?" she asked. "I had no idea that the masses loved you. In fact, I had no idea that they even knew who you were.”
It was Alton's turn to flush with embarrassment.
Before he could open his mouth again, Gwen held up a hand. She’d had enough. She didn't have time to waste for this. She had more pressing matters to deal with.
"I don't want to hear another word,” she said. “I'm not interested in you. I have never been. And I'm certainly not ruling anything with you—not that I think you're capable of ruling anything. Not even yourself. Not to mention, I am committed to Thor, and he to me. So you can leave now.”
Alton laughed, a short, mocking laugh.
"Is that it?” he asked. “Is that what’s standing between us? Thor? You can't be serious about him. He has abandoned you, on that foolish little quest of his. He's deep in the Empire by now, and we both know there is no possibility of return.”
He stepped closer, pleading.
“Admit it, Gwen. You know the truth. You know that he is gone. That he is never coming back. That he has left you alone. So, you see, now there is nothing left between us. Now it is time for us to marry. If not me, then who else? You will be left alone in this world. Don’t be scared. You can admit your true affections for me.”
Gwen seethed.
“I'm only going to say this once," she said slowly. "Listen closely this time, because this is the last time you will ever hear these words. I have no love for you. I don't want to see your face. I don't want to hear your voice. If you come before me again unannounced, I will have you arrested. Now leave me.”
With that, Gwen turned her back on him, and took two steps forward, looking back out over the parapets, surveying the Canyon. Her heart was pounding inside, and she prayed that this time he would get the message, would leave, and that she would never see his face again. She was shaking with anger at his presumptuousness, and she didn't want to do anything rash.
Gwen did not hear his footsteps retreating. She was about to turn and look, when suddenly, she felt a strong hand covering her mouth, and another reaching around and grabbing her by the chest. Alton held her tight, even as she struggled, and he was surprisingly strong for a thin and bony boy. He took several steps forward with her, leaning her forward over the edge of the parapet.
Gwen's heart plummeted, as she looked straight down at the fall, and realized how close she was to being pushed over the edge.
"Do you see that drop before you?” Alton cried. “Do you see what I can do? Admit your love for me. Admit it! If you do not, I will—"
Gwen suddenly remembered all that her father's fighters had taught her. She remembered that she wore boots with wooden heels, and she raised a foot high, and stomped down swiftly on Alton’s toe.
He screamed out like a girl, losing his grip, and she freed one arm, pulled it forward, and then elbowed him in the solar plexus.
He gasped, and knelt down, wheezing.
Then he looked up at her, death in his eyes, and stood, preparing to charge again.
Gwen reached for the dagger in her belt, prepared to draw it.
But Alton suddenly screamed out and dropped to his knees.
Gwen saw Steffen standing there, and realized he had just punched Alton hard in the small of his back. Steffen grabbed Alton by his hair, pulled his head back to the sky, pulled a dagger from his waist, and held it firmly to Alton's throat.
"Give me word, my lady," Steffen said, "and this piece of trash will be gone from the annals of the MacGils.”
"Please, please!" Alton whimpered. "Please don't do this! I didn't mean it. I just wanted to be with you!”
Alton looked pathetic, kneeling there, whimpering, begging for mercy.
"I should have him cut your throat right now," Gwendolyn seethed, still reeling from being pushed over the edge like that. It scared her to think of how close she had come.
"Please!" Alton pleaded. "You can’t kill me! I am royalty after all! It is forbidden for you to touch me!”
There was a sudden commotion and several men burst onto the roof. Srog led the way, along with Kolk, Brom and several members of the Silver. They all ran up to her, and several soldiers grabbed Alton roughly, yanking him to his feet and holding him in place.
"My lady," Srog said, breathing hard, looking embarrassed, "please accept my most humble apologies. Somehow this boy slipped past the guards. He told them he was royalty, that he was related to you.”
Gwen was still shaking from the encounter, but she dared not show it.
"I thank you for your concern," she said, trying to use her queenly voice, trying to step into the role they expected of her. "But I am fine. He is but a foolish boy, and Steffen was here to help.”
Srog nodded gratefully to Steffen.
"Silesian law demands that any person who lays a hand on a king or queen must be put to death,” Srog said.
"NO!" Alton screamed, weeping like a child. "Please! You can’t!”
Gwen looked down at him, shaking her head. As pathetic as he was, she couldn't stand the thought of killing him—even if he deserved it.
"My lord," Gwen replied to Srog, "I am new here, so I ask a favor. This one time, I would ask to bend your law. In this one case I do not wish to have him killed. I would rather some lesser form of judgment.”
"As you will, my lady," he said. "What did you have in mind?”
Gwen thought, trying to devise a way to rid Alton from her life for good.
"Well, seeing as this boy claims he is royalty, let's give him the royal right of fighting with the soldiers. Give Alton armor and weapons, and send him out in the field with the common troops to fight on the front lines.”
"No, my lady!" Alton screamed. "I am not a fighter!”
"Then you shall learn to be one,” Gwen said. “Maybe you can take your martial skills out on our enemy, instead of on a defenseless girl. Take him away," Gwendolyn ordered.