Risk Everything (28 page)

“Mayhap this will help,” Alpin’s voice said nearby.

Meghan moaned as Rolf ’s hand released her forehead. A moment later, it came back to wipe her face with a cold, wet cloth. It felt wonderful.

“Thank ye, Alpin.” Her voice croaked like an old armorer’s who had been too long afore the fire pits. She grasped the cloth and covered her face as she straightened. Rolf did not take his supporting arms away, and for that she was thankful.

She leaned against him and took deep breaths of cool air.

As the dizziness waned, she ventured to open her eyes. Alpin stood there, dripping pink water. He had splashed himself to spare her the gory sight. The nicety surprised her.

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“Come, we are but half a league from the village. I ken we surprised the varlets who were about to attack it again.”

Rolf led her to Storm and took special care to lift her onto the saddle and arrange her clothing around her legs. She glanced at the bodies laid in a neat row beside the road. Thankfully, none were Rimsdale warriors.

At the village, the hours passed in a cloud. Rolf sent several villagers back to bury the dead, while he and his men helped the rest. The women were grateful for Meghan’s no-nonsense advice for them to join together. The eldest were asked to care for the children, while the younger women helped set the huts to right and aided the men as best they could.

Rolf promised them much-needed food and grain. The ma-rauders had carried off most of the villagers’ foodstuff, some of which was destined for the castle as their rent.

Hearing a child’s laughter, Meghan stood in the doorway and watched as Rolf swung a wee lass high in the air. His eyes were merry and crinkled at the corners as he whirled her around in circles, laughing all the while. He looked to enjoy the play as much as the bairn. Such sweetness and longing covered his face that she wanted to run to him and vow they would one day have all the children he could desire.

Someone cleared his voice beside her. Surprised, she saw Alpin stood there awaiting her notice, looking uncomfortable.

“Rolf was on his way to collect you when the little one caught his eye.” The sun glinted off Alpin’s pale hair as he, too, studied his friend.

Rolf brought the child close to his chest, and her little arms grabbed his neck in a hug. After Cormac brought his helmet and shield, Rolf kissed her head and seemed reluctant to hand her back to her mother.

Turning to spy Meghan beside Alpin, he gestured with his hand for her to come. ’Twas time to leave.

A league from the village, they approached a fork in the road. Meghan still mulled over the soft expressions on Rolf ’s face while he played with the child, but when men gathered around her to hurry her to the left, it got her attention.

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Something on the opposite path caught her eye. ’Twas a tra-ditional warning to unwelcome visitors. A pole with a crosspiece stood planted in the ground. Atop it perched a skull, complete with a helmet. On the crosspiece, a draped plaid warned men of that tribe to keep distant.

Recognizing the plaid, suspicion and shock worked their sick way from her mind to her stomach. She clasped a hand over her lips to keep from retching again.

’Twas Blackthorn’s. She near screamed with fury.

“Rolf, ye lying bastard.” Meghan fought the roiling sickness as she hurled her furious words at him.

Rolf ’s back stiffened, but he did not turn to face her.

She used Storm to press the man to her right out of the way so she could approach the hated warning and study it closer, but more warriors hedged around her and forced her forward.

“Are ye so vile a man ye canna face me and tell me the truth?” Still he did not answer, though she knew he heard her shouted words.

“I gave ye my missive to Connor telling him of our vows.

Ye said my family was content that I had handfast with ye.” She fought back a sob. “Lucifer’s spawn! Why is there such dire warning for Blackthorn warriors not to approach Rimsdale?”

Rolf pulled to the side of the trail. His iron-hard face and taut body shouted his displeasure. She pulled abreast of him.

He swept his hand in the air and jabbed to the back of him.

His men fell behind, giving them space. Her anger transmit-ted to Storm, who sidestepped and tossed his head about, snorting and looking as peeved as the woman on his back.

“Control Storm or I will do it for you,” Rolf snapped at her, and stretched to wrench the reins from her hands. She backed the gelding farther away and glared her defiance at him.

“Dinna think to take the reins, ye nithing of a man. If my family knows we are handfast, ye need no such warning.

Never would they raid the lands of a man I am as much as wed to.”

“They know we are handfast. I sent them notice when I first told you I had.” His cold eyes accused her as if she was

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the one in the wrong. “The warning was necessary. In the last sennight, several of my men have gone missin’ when my patrols returned. ’Tis likely more treachery from your brother.”

“Never. If Connor knows our handfast is legal, he wouldna dishonor me by kidnappin’ men who are now part of my family.” She glared at him, daring him to say she believed wrongly.

A strange look flickered across his face. In her heart, she knew something was terribly wrong. Ready to send Storm crashing through the woods, she searched for an opening.

Even as her muscles tightened, he sensed her intent. He jerked the reins from her and started out at a fast pace. Cursing him with each breath she took, she grabbed Storm’s mane and tightened her legs around the big horse.

Bleddyn ap Tewdwr, the Welsh mystic who was as a brother to Brianna, returned to Blackthorn. Thunder, his eighteen-hand destrier, merited his name as his hooves pounded over the drawbridge and through the barbican.

Of the same great height as Damron and Mereck, Bleddyn was as broad of shoulder but with a fearsome demeanor. His hair, black and long, was shaggy around his face. His eyes were as black as a storm-filled sky. They were mysterious eyes that saw more than any man had a right to see. A high, chiseled nose and firm, well-defined lips added distinction to his face.

As was his custom, he had painted the left side of his face blue. On the right, a ragged scar painted a vivid red ran from his hairline down across his eye to end at the corner of his lip.

He wore a brilliantly colored, feathered mantle over a black tunic and leggings. His great eagle Cloud Dancer perched on his shoulder, its eyes always watchful to protect him.

As fearsome as was Bleddyn‘s mien, a stranger would be startled to see even the smallest of Blackthorn’s children eager for his attention.

Damron allowed an ample time to pass until everyone greeted the Welsh mystic. After the women left to tend their

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bairns, it was a fitting time to discuss what needs be done for Meghan without Brianna or Netta demanding a say in their plans.

“Come, we have need of ye,” Damron said as he led the way to his solar.

“ ’Twas no surprise Meghan did not greet me with her pipes as is her habit. I know of her plight.” Bleddyn’s voice was soft and reassuring. “She is at Rimsdale. Though she will suffer for what he has done, Rolf will never harm her.”

Damron dropped the latch on the solar door and hoped the men could finish their talk afore the women tracked them down. He brought the Welshman up to date on Rolf ’s curt demand that they stay away.

“Since then, we have trailed their patrols and taken the last man in line to bring here for questionin’.” Damron grinned wryly. “Five men are ‘guests’ below, but not in the dungeons.

In separate cells.”

“None would tell us anythin’, but Mereck’s gift has told us all.” Connor’s voice sounded heartsick.

Bleddyn looked at Mereck and waited.

“Aye. They knew not that I could read their thoughts. I asked if Meghan and Rolf were handfast, and they answered aye soon enough. When asked if ’twas done in proper fashion, they agreed. Their shamed minds told me different.”

“Cloud Dancer will take a message to Meghan to let her know we watch and wait.” Bleddyn gripped Connor’s shoulder, comforting him. “Rolf will not harm her. After all is done, he will know of his great love for her. Still, ’tis best she does not know his plans aforehand. She will come to understand what is inevitable. Though it will be painful, she will gain from it.”

Loud thumping and banging sounded at the door, the first obvious kicks and the second pewter tankards striking the sturdy wood. ’Twas their three wives.

“Dammit, let us in. Now,” Brianna’s voice ordered through the thick wood. When it did not spring open, she yelled louder

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and kicked the door again. “Demon, open the door. Don’t force me to make you sorry you ever woke up this morn.”

“Mereck.” ’Twas Netta’s voice, accented with a sharp whack of pewter against the wood. “If you read my thoughts rightly, you will let us in even if all others say you nay.”

Mereck and Damron looked at each other and shrugged.

Both knew their wives would think nothing of denying them their beds. Both men knew they could do naught about it. None but Bleddyn’s sharp eyes saw who was first to reach the latch.

“Well, now. I’m glad that’s settled.” Brianna swept into the room and eyed Damron with a you-had-better-listen-to-me look. “I think Cloud Dancer should take a message to Meghan.”

“We thought of that by ourselves, love.” Damron grabbed her around her waist to lift her high for his enthusiastic kiss.

She returned it with such vigor that when she pulled back, her eyes were dreamy. Shaking her head as if to clear it, she sighed. Leaning back in his arms, she smiled at him.

“Ha! I’ll bet you won’t think to tell her we will have someone waiting at a certain spot. Just in case she should want to leave that overbearing lout who won’t let me visit her.” She frowned her displeasure and turned to Bleddyn.

“Rolf had the colossal nerve to write that he ‘will not allow the Lady Brianna to visit Meghan until Meghan becomes accustomed to her new station in life.’ Whatever that means.

Even I understand a handfast is like a marriage.”

“My little one, Rolf grows more possessive of our Meghan by the hour. As for having someone watch for her, we planned to tell her that also.” Bleddyn smiled at the loving touches the couple failed to conceal. “The tree where she escaped him and hid the first time is a likely spot. ’Tis close to our borders, and she knows the way. Mayhap you will write the message?

It will give her added comfort to see it in your own hand.”

“Let me down, you great hulk of a man.” Brianna put her hands on her husband’s shoulders and leaned back.

Damron nestled his face between her breasts and whispered, “Mmm, ’tis enough milk ye carry to feed wee Douglas and still have enough to share with his da.”

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Brianna boxed his ears.

“Ow, wife. Are ye tryin’ to scramble my brains like ye are wont to say?” He grinned as he lowered her inch by inch to the floor. By the time her feet touched solid wood, her face was flushed with need. “This word
hulk
ye used. Is it another of yer strange names from that time afore ye came to us?” His head tilted as he studied her face. While she hesitated, he scowled until his brows near met in the middle. “It isna a compliment? Think well, wife, afore ye answer.”

“Hulk? Did I say that?” Brianna put her finger on her chin and scrunched up her face at him. “Remember when I used to call you a lumbering Neanderthal or an obnoxious lummox?”

“Aye.” He glowered and took a threatening step toward her.

“Well, it’s nothing like that.” She put her hands on her hips and stood her ground. “When I was a girl, there was a story about a man who turned green and changed into a veritable giant when he was angry. Hmm, like when I used to call you Lord Demon because of your own anger.”

“Are ye sayin’ I look green to ye?” He held out his arm and stared hard at it. Seeing nothing but a healthy golden tan, he waited expectantly for her to continue. How could he be angry with his wee wife when she was trying so hard to explain one of her memories. Stories of her previous life from far in the future never failed to fascinate him and his family.

It was a well-kept secret from all but them.

“No, love. But you are a giant to me. We believed the tallest men of today were about up to here on you.” Her hand lifted just above her head to give him an idea of the height.

“That isna a man,” Damron huffed. “Yer people had little rea-sonin’. If we had but the strength of a lad, how did ye think we could wield a broadsword as tall as ye, wear gambesons, chain mail, helmets, short swords, shields, and other weapons?”

“It’s too much to explain now.” She shrugged and marched over to the table where he kept his parchments and writing utensils. “Let’s get word to Meghan, and then I’ll tell all of you the story about this hulk who turned into an avenging green giant.”

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Soon after, the missive was ready and tied to Cloud Dancer’s left leg. They hurried up to the top of the castle.

Bleddyn stood on the walkway facing toward Rimsdale. He spoke in strange words and chirping sounds. As he lifted his arm and sent the great eagle on its way, he called out the one word the others understood.

His voice soared to tumble in the building clouds.

“
Meghan
!”

Chapter 21

Meghan
!

She heard her name whirl and dip with the wind and glanced furtively around. A deep canopy of leaves rustling above turned the day dusky. Alert to every sound and sight, she noted the voice of a raptor. Heavy gusts of wind parted the green ceiling, giving her glimpses of the eagle that followed in the wispy clouds.

Cloud Dancer. No other but he could soar and swoop with such grace. As faithful as Guardian or Ugsome, he followed her. She hid a smile, not wanting to alert the warriors around her.

Rolf kept up the hard pace to Rimsdale, his eyes lit with sparks near bursting into flames, the stony set of his jaw at war with the furrows in his brow. Each time she glimpsed his face, she tried to judge his thoughts.