Conquer the Night (49 page)

She didn't reply.

“Ready to marry me?” he asked. “I'll let you have a bath, my lady, for the occasion. A long one. I'll give you clean clothing; I'll let you sleep in a bed in a room.”

She smiled. “A bed no longer holds such charms. I have found a lovely shelf in the crypt; I'm trying it out. It will await me if I die.”

“If you die now, lady, your limbs will be sent to the far corners of King Edward's realm, your head will rest out front on a spike, and your torso will be burned to ash.”

“Then it's good that I've made use of that empty shelf in the crypt while still alive.”

He drew back his hand, ready to strike her.

But he paused. She was startled to realize that he had hesitated because someone was entering the main hall.

“Lord Darrow!” the man called.

She spun around and frowned, recognizing the man Gaston led into the hall, and trying to remember just why. He was older, with long white hair and a beard that was more salt and pepper. He had lively blue eyes, and despite his age, he was tall and robust. She had met him at Edward's court, and at her own home.

“Lord Percy!” she murmured.

Darrow shot her a quick, angry glance, then hid his expression and greeted the newcomer. “Indeed, Lord Percy.”

The older man moved with sure, long strides. He reached the two of them and gripped Darrow's hands. “Your man met one of mine while hunting rabbits. He suggested that you might be coming here. I was nearly killed by the heathens in my flight; I have some injured men. I hoped to throw myself on your hospitality, not to mention the fact that you might have need of the strong, robust fellows in my service.”

He didn't wait for an answer, but turned to Kyra. “My dear! How are you doing? I miss your crotchety old father, and that's the truth. A good man, he was, beloved of two kings. Are you well, child? You look a little pale. But then, circumstances are trying, aren't they?”

“Indeed, she should look pale,” Darrow said sharply. “We were, this very moment, discussing the fact that the lady betrayed me—and the king.”

“She betrayed you, sir? Ah … that's right. You two were betrothed! Well, there's a marriage that can't take place.”

Kyra stared at him incredulously. She remembered him well now, a steadfast and loyal man, one who honored the king, but was never cruel.

“Why can't the marriage take place?”

“Why not?” Percy blustered, shocked. “Why, she expects another man's child!”

Kyra's jaw dropped; Kinsey Darrow turned a mottled shade of purple. Then he stared at Kyra. Did she betray herself?

“What makes you think that?” Darrow asked Percy.

Percy cleared his throat. “Well, the heathen who nearly killed me was that wretched Sir Arryn Graham.”

Kinsey was staring at her. “So that is why he wants you back so badly!” he murmured.

“Aye, he wants her back! He let me live only under the circumstance that I come to you and tell you—”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Kinsey flared, still staring at Kyra. “He'll flay me alive—”

“And broil you while he does so, if you don't immediately let the lady go to him.”

“I am in a castle, Lord Percy. The outlaw is in the field. He will never reach me.”

“Ah, but, he intends to spend the whole of his life hunting you down.”

“Then let us hope his life will be short.”

Lord Percy shrugged. “You are right. This is a strong castle. But you know … Stirling has now been lost. Even Berwick is evacuated by the English!”

Darrow spun on Percy. “Gaston!” he called out. “Bring our best wine for our guest!” He walked back to the table and sat down, indicating that Lord Percy should join him. “He cannot have the lady, though since I do hold the castle at the moment, I believe I know how to make his life very short.”

“Oh?” Lord Percy inquired, pausing to thank Gaston as he provided him with wine.

“The lady is guilty of treason. You will sit trial with me, Lord Percy. The evidence is irrefutable. Sir Arryn Graham, a known outlaw who refused to sue for the king's peace, came here. She ordered the men to surrender. She closed the gates against me when I tried to relieve the castle. She rode to battle with the outlaws. She has thoroughly defied the king, fought against him, caused him grave harm! And she will meet the full penalty of the law. You must agree with me—you heard yourself that she is expecting the rebel's child.”

Lord Percy nodded, watching Kyra gravely. “Is this all true, lass? I'm well aware that you must be with child—the man was adamant, and others declared it true as well. But did you order the men here to surrender?”

“Only when certain death was imminent.”

“Did you fight against Lord Darrow?”

She opened her mouth to protest her innocence, then fell silent. “When I heard that he had, in truth, butchered women and children, aye. That I did.”

She expected Lord Percy's sympathy. “Ah, well,” he said flatly. He looked at Kinsey Darrow. “She is guilty. Guilty as charged. We must, however, have a trial.”

“Of course,” Kinsey said.

“She'll die an outlaw's wife.”

“What?” Darrow said.

Kyra almost said the word as well.

“So goes the word throughout the south of Scotland as we all slither and scurry!” Lord Percy said with wry humor. “Aye, the truth of it I can't verify, but the lady supposedly wed the outlaw in the forest as well.” He came forward, planting his fists on the table. “It's said they were married by the very priest who led the mass here at Seacairn—before turning traitor to join the rebels as well.”

Kinsey was staring at Kyra then with such pure rage and hatred that she thought he might soon foam at the mouth and have a fit.

“You
married
the bastard. When you were
betrothed
to me?” He made no attempt to hide his feelings from her.

It was a lie, of course. Arryn had said that he would never marry her. And, of course, it was a dangerous lie, because Kinsey couldn't torture her into saying wedding vows anymore—they would mean nothing; the whole affair would be scandalous.

And if he couldn't marry her …

He'd want to kill her quickly.

“We'll hold the trial tomorrow morning,” Kinsey said. “I'll start the men building the scaffolding for her execution this very afternoon.”

“You can't execute the lass,” Lord Percy said flatly.

“And why not?”

“Well, the lass is guilty; the babe is not.”

Kyra lowered her head. Good old Lord Percy. He had been on her side all along.

But she discovered she was not so easily reprieved.

“It is an outlaw's rumor only that she is with child. In fact, it is most unlikely. She has barely known the fellow long enough to be certain of such a thing. In fact, I think it's a bald lie. A lie to escape the king's justice.”

“Come now, Lord Darrow! We are Christian men. We can wait to carry out justice, and be certain.”

“Well … I must think about this,” Kinsey murmured. “Still, we will hold the trial tomorrow morning. I've knighted men among my retinue; I'm sure you do as well. Six will sit in judgment. For now … I will call my men and see that the lady is returned to her quarters below, and we can enjoy a good English supper, eh, Lord Percy?”

“She is Hugh Boniface's daughter,” Percy murmured. “Should you get to this trial so hastily?”

“Were my heart not so wounded, and were I not so outraged that she should so betray her king, I might have more patience. Gaston, call the men on guard duty to escort the Lady Kyra back down the stairs.”

Percy's eyes were on Kyra. She returned his stare, wondering why he didn't object more strenuously to her predicament. He came to her and touched her cheek.

“I'm so sorry, my lady. Take strength. God helps those who help themselves.”

Startled by the words, she stared at him.

But the guards had come, and she was quickly dragged away.

Into the night, Lord Kinsey Darrow, his guest, and their retinues drank and feasted. The river still teemed with fish and eel, and though colder days were coming quickly, there was still an abundance of summer's produce.

Gaston served the Englishmen with a heavy heart.

The rest of Scotland rejoiced. While here …

He couldn't let this happen. There had to be a way to stop it.

But there was none. If he and all the villagers revolted at once, they'd be cut down by the knights with their great swords and powerful war-horses.

What to do …

Escape with her. He knew how to exit the castle. Not a pleasant way, but …

He could scurry through the drainage system, which would land him in the river. Freezing, but he was a tough little Briton.

But the gates to the crypt were huge, heavy, iron. Locked huge, heavy iron.

He tried to serve the guests and not stumble or spill a drop of wine or ale. Some of Lord Darrow's men had learned cruelty from their master; they were quick to backhand a man hard enough to loosen his teeth, should he fail to serve.

“Gaston. You are Gaston?”

It was the great Lord Percy, the tall man who had arrived today.

Kinsey had already cuffed him soundly for entering with the man before announcing him.

“Aye, it's Gaston,” he murmured, eyes downcast.

“Get to the forest in the hills tonight if you would save her life. Do you understand me?”

He realized that the man was handing him a note. He couldn't help but glance around quickly.

But most of the men were drunk, and paying little heed. And Darrow, he noted, had left the hall.

He quickly slipped the note up his sleeve.

“Aye, Lord Percy. Aye.”

“You can get out of the castle. Can you get men in?” Percy inquired.

He shook his head. “Not an army, I'm afraid.”

“We need only bring in a few,” Percy said.

“Well, aye, there's a way … the gates are opened in the morning. The farmers and the merchants come in with the wares, and the people shop for their meals and needs each day, other than Sunday, the Lord's day.”

Lord Percy nodded.

“Bring those words with you to the forest tonight.”

“Lord Percy—”

“Hush. Sir Richard is watching.”

Gaston nodded and bobbed. Lord Percy cuffed him as if he had spilled something.

Gaston, head down, quickly retreated from the hall. “Steward, they would call you a steward!” Sir Richard said, catching him by the shirt collar. “You are a buffoon!”

He didn't argue with Sir Richard, but hurried on to the kitchen.

Kyra heard the footsteps, but before the torchlight appeared, she knew that it was Kinsey coming; she knew the hated sound of the way he walked.

Light suddenly flooded the crypt.

“Kyra, oh, Kyra … where are you? Sleeping with the dead? How soon, my love, you will be among them.”

A guard opened the gate to the crypt. Kinsey stepped through.

“Can you kill so quickly, now that such a respected and learned man as Griffin Percy has suggested that you must wait until my child is born?”

“But why wait, when it's a lie,” Kinsey said smoothly.

“It's not a lie.”

“I say it is. And I intend to prove it. You see, I can find a physician or midwife to examine you, and I promise, by the time they are through, it will be a lie. You'll be in tremendous pain, of course, but then, you will be in great pain before you die anyway. Unless, of course, I let the executioner allow you to strangle to death before you're disemboweled.”

Her heart sank; she immediately felt a weak and trembling sensation in her knees.

He took a step closer. “I can arrange for an examination immediately, Kyra. Unless, of course, you're willing to sign an oath now saying that it's a false rumor, you're expecting no man's child, and you're ready to abide by the king's justice.”

She didn't answer.

“Well, then, I shall call for my physician….”

He would do it, and she knew it.

“Get your document.”

“It's all written. I only need your signature.”

One of his men joined them. A parchment was produced. She read it quickly. It was a document swearing that she wasn't with child, and that she accepted the king's justice through a fair trial.

With no choice, she signed.

“Why not write a whole confession for me, Kinsey?” she inquired.

Kinsey's man rolled up the parchment, and exited the crypt.

Kinsey waited until he was gone; then he smiled at her. “I think a trial is far more dramatic. How fortunate that Lord Percy has come. He can testify to the proper procedures taken! So … you really are a little harlot! Expecting the man's child! Did you let him enter the walls before throwing yourself at him?”

“Barely,” she replied. “I begged him to take me! I told him I was about to be married to a monster and a fool, and that I would know a man before being shackled to a monkey.”

He hit her; she should have expected it. She went reeling, and would have fallen, except that he caught her.

“You know, I raped the last woman who carried his child. And you're not dead yet. Um, but we are surrounded by the dead. What a unique experience.”

She tried to jerk free of him, but she was weak and cold.

“Lord Darrow!”

It was Lord Percy, coming down to the crypt.

Kinsey shoved her from him.

She landed against the shelf that carried the mortal remains of her father. She was no longer afraid. If his spirit existed there, it gave her strength.

“There you are! I was looking for you on a matter of grave concern.”

“I'll be back,” Kinsey told Kyra, and he left with Percy.

To her amazement, old Percy looked around Darrow and winked.

As if she weren't about to face the gravity of death …