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- Herausgeber: Velvet Ink Press
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
Sworn to celibacy and forged in the fires of battle, Sir Caelen lives by the unbreakable rules of the Iron Order—no wife, no desire, no weakness. But when he is sent to guard Lady Alinor, the sharp-witted daughter of a nobleman betrothed to another, his sacred vow begins to crack beneath the weight of longing.
Alinor has been raised to obey, to smile, to endure. Promised to a powerful man she neither trusts nor loves, she finds herself drawn to her quiet protector—the only one who sees her not as a symbol of alliance, but as a woman with a voice of her own.
As political tensions rise and betrayal strikes from within the very walls meant to keep her safe, the bond between Caelen and Alinor deepens into something neither can deny. But with an oath made in blood and a future carved by duty, their love becomes a dangerous rebellion.
In a world where honor binds and desire tempts, how far can two hearts go before the cost becomes too high?
Will he choose the vow that shaped him—or the woman who sets him free?
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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The Iron Oath
A Forbidden Medieval Affair
SINS OF THE CENTURIES
Isolde Ravencourt
Copyright © 2025 by Isolde Ravencourt
All rights reserved. This book and all individual stories contained within are protected under international copyright law. No part of this collection may be copied, reproduced, distributed, or shared in any form without the express written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, settings, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or real events is entirely coincidental.
AI Tools Acknowledgement:
The cover image and/or design elements were created using generative AI technology under appropriate commercial-use licensing.
Thank you for reading this special collection. I hope you enjoy every story inside.
Table of Contents
The Iron Oath
Description
Chapter 1: Return to the Quiet Lands
Chapter 2: The Lady in Waiting
Chapter 3: Of Walls and Whispers
Chapter 4: A Blade Between Them
Chapter 5: The Betrothed Returns
Chapter 6: Storms Within and Without
Chapter 7: The Breaking Point
Chapter 8: Betrayal and Blood
Chapter 9: Fire and Iron
Chapter 10: The Iron Oath Broken
Chapter 11: A New Vow
Epilogue: Five Years Later
The Iron Oath
Description
Sworn to celibacy and forged in the fires of battle, Sir Caelen lives by the unbreakable rules of the Iron Order—no wife, no desire, no weakness. But when he is sent to guard Lady Alinor, the sharp-witted daughter of a nobleman betrothed to another, his sacred vow begins to crack beneath the weight of longing.
Alinor has been raised to obey, to smile, to endure. Promised to a powerful man she neither trusts nor loves, she finds herself drawn to her quiet protector—the only one who sees her not as a symbol of alliance, but as a woman with a voice of her own.
As political tensions rise and betrayal strikes from within the very walls meant to keep her safe, the bond between Caelen and Alinor deepens into something neither can deny. But with an oath made in blood and a future carved by duty, their love becomes a dangerous rebellion.
In a world where honor binds and desire tempts, how far can two hearts go before the cost becomes too high?
Will he choose the vow that shaped him—or the woman who sets him free?
Chapter 1: Return to the Quiet Lands
The wind had lost its bite by the time Sir Caelen reached the outer stone gate of Greydale Manor. Spring had begun to soften the harsh edges of the world, coaxing small white blossoms from the hedges along the dirt road. His warhorse, Branoc, gave a low grunt as Caelen eased back on the reins, the manor’s looming gray silhouette stretching across the early dusk like a brooding sentinel.
He hadn’t been home in years—not to this place, not to the southern lands where peace hung on fraying threads. He shifted in the saddle, armor creaking faintly beneath his cloak. The burden on his shoulders was heavier than steel—an oath sworn in blood, years ago, beneath the sacred banner of the king: to serve, to protect, to resist temptation.
The gates opened slowly, groaning under their own weight. A stable boy sprinted out, wide-eyed and breathless, offering a hesitant bow. Caelen dismounted, handing off Branoc with a quiet nod.
“Welcome back, sir,” the boy mumbled, then hurried off.
The courtyard was quiet, lit by lanterns flickering to life along the stone archways. A steward emerged next—worn in face but still dignified.
“Sir Caelen,” he said. “Lord Elric awaits you in the solar.”
“I’ll go at once.”
The corridors of Greydale had not changed. Same cold stone walls. Same burnished sconces. The tapestries still displayed faded victories and long-dead knights—men Caelen had once admired as a boy, before the wars turned valor into ritual.
Lord Elric stood by the hearth, fire casting long shadows on his lined face. A scroll lay open beside him, and a goblet of wine remained untouched.
“Caelen,” the old lord said without turning, “you came faster than I expected.”
“There was no delay on the northern roads.”
“Good. Then I trust the king’s message was clear. You understand the delicacy of your post.”
“I do.”
“You are to guard my daughter as if she were your own blood. She is to wed Lord Gareth within the season. The alliance is fragile. One wrong breath, one misstep, and half the western barons will rise in arms again. I need no chaos, Caelen. Only silence. Obedience. Order.”
Caelen bowed. “My sword and life are hers to command.”
Lord Elric finally looked at him—eyes sharp and assessing. “No one must know what you’ve been through these past years. No stories. No wounds. You are a knight, not a ghost.”
“I understand.”
“Then you will begin tomorrow. She walks the rose garden in the morning. Stay close, but not like a shadow. She’s… willful.”
Caelen nodded and turned to leave. As he stepped into the hallway, the weight of the task settled over him—not just protection. Not just vigilance. This was a house of masks and pressure. And the woman he was sworn to guard was already promised to another.
***
He rose before the sun, as always. His room in the east wing was small but clean, with a narrow window overlooking the far courtyard. He dressed simply—no full armor today, only a padded tunic and leather guards. Greydale did not need a knight prepared for battle. It needed a symbol.
The garden smelled of damp earth and blooming roses. Mist still clung to the stone paths, softening the sharp lines of hedges trimmed with precision. He walked slowly, not out of hesitation, but discipline.
Then he saw her.
Lady Alinor.
She moved like she belonged to the morning—tall, dark-haired, with a slender frame wrapped in a soft blue gown. Her cloak trailed along the stones, and her hands were tucked behind her back as she studied a wilting rosebud.
She didn’t turn when she spoke.
“You’re the knight from the north.”
Caelen stopped a respectful distance behind her. “I am.”
“I imagined someone older. With less hair.”
There was a pause. Then, faintly, she smiled over her shoulder. “Or perhaps more scars. I’ve heard the war left little of men’s faces intact.”
He didn’t answer.
“I am not afraid of silence,” she added. “But it does get dull rather quickly. I suppose you’ll be walking with me now?”
“If you wish.”
“I do not,” she said, finally turning. Her eyes were dark and sharply observant. “But my father insists on it, so I suppose I’ll allow it.”
Caelen inclined his head. “I’ll remain at a distance.”
She studied him for a moment longer. “You don’t speak like the others.”
“I was taught to listen first.”
