Rowena Through the Wall: Expanded Edition (26 page)

"I'm sure you do a lot of things well."

He leaned toward me, his warm breath on my ear. "Be careful, Lady, or you may find out."

I blushed, happy with his teasing.

"The southerners are skilled with horses," he continued, "so the best jousters come from there. They have the finest horses. See, over there."

We watched in awe at the spectacle of horse and riders in armor. Each jouster had a groom to help him dismount as the armor was very heavy and awkward. The jousting sticks were several yards long and extremely sharp.

Deadly…

I quaked at the thought.

"In the far north," he said, "they value feats of strength, like mace and caber toss." He steered me away. "Be careful where you wander these next few days, Rowena. Stay with one of us at all times. Every room in the castle will be taken tonight and men will be drinking heavily."

What a good man Thane was.

"Thank you for the advice," I said. I took a deep breath. "Are the Norland men here yet?"

"They've camped in the northern fields. They won't venture in here."

That sounded ominous.

"Will they be here for the opening feast tonight?"

Thane guided me up the castle steps. "Not the regular men. Only the leaders have been invited."

My heart pounded furiously as I watched him leave. Gareth would be here tonight. With Janus and Cedric.

With trepidation, I touched my stomach.

Before the feast, I went looking for Kendra. She wasn't in her own room. I decided to check Grandfather's room. He wasn't there either.

But Cedric was.

With his back to me, he looked magnificent, masculine and fit. The ceremonial tunic he wore was in the Huel colors of green and gold.

I felt that magnetic pull again.

Cedric spun around, his green eyes meeting mine.
Zing!

"I've just arrived," he said. "Jon is with me."

"I'm glad he's here."

He met me in three strides. "You carry our child." There was wonder in his voice.

"I can't be sure."

"I can."

He embraced me and I cried out in pain.

Jerking back, Cedric yanked my dress from the shoulder, exposing the raw wound. "Bastard," he hissed. "That bastard wolf-child of a demented witch. He can't be human. Not one more night does he deserve to live on this earth. I'll kill him."

"No," I cried, terrified.

"You think I'd risk you now, seeing this? You think I'll allow him to touch you again? You carry my child. Mine!" He paced the floor. "I should have been quicker. I didn't know. I should have realized his nature would lead to such violence."

"I'm safe for now," I insisted. "He doesn't touch me now because of the babe. Kendra told him it was risky."

"Is it?"

"Not at all. She told him that to protect me from him."

"Smart girl. I'm beginning to like this strange cousin of yours."

"You'll be at the feast tonight?" I asked, knowing he'd protect me from all the others―whether I liked it or not.

"I need one more night to work my plan."

"What plan?" I heard footsteps. "Someone's coming!"

Cedric didn't move, his mind was elsewhere, so I
fled.

There was no one in hall.

Maybe I'd imagined the footsteps.

As I ran down the stairs, men poured in through the main doors. When they noticed me, their unruly chatter stopped. I lifted my skirt so I wouldn't trip and as I rushed past, one man tried to touch my hair. Gritting my teeth, I hurried down the side corridor toward the royal suite.

A strange little man blocked my way. He was old, wise looking and very thin, but he didn't seem threatening.

"Hello," I said, smiling.

Wordlessly, he held out a small wrinkled hand, his fist closed.

"You want to give me something?" I asked, surprised.

He grinned, nodded and dropped something small and cool into my outstretched hand. Then the man darted down the corridor.

I opened my hand and stared at the man's gift. It was a ring of blue stones. And it matched the Tintegal broach.

That could only mean one thing. Gareth was near.

The champions were gathering.

Kendra and Logan were waiting in the royal suite.

"I was looking everywhere for you, Row." Kendra blew out a relieved breath. "We're moving you to the top floor. Logan's already transported most of your belongings."

"Can you do it without me?" I asked, yawning. "I'm sort of weary and could do without all those steps."

"Of course we can," Logan said.

Kendra nodded. "Do you want to lie down for a bit?"

"Not really. I'll sit by the window and keep out of your way. Come get me when you're done."

While they packed and chatted, I gazed out the window. The square was busy with activity.

A tall, blond man caught my eye. Gareth.

His eyes found mine and he gave a brief nod of recognition. He held up one finger and I nodded. Then I waited.

Moments later, Gareth materialized outside my window.

"Rowena," he said in a strangled voice.

It tugged at my heart. This was the first time I had seen him since that fateful day of the arrow. I remembered how he had appeared that first time in my classroom, like a Viking prince from some dramatic opera. I recalled his strapping body and the muscled arms that would put any weightlifter to shame.

One arm was useless now, cradled in a sling.

"Your shoulder," I said, my eyes never leaving his face. "How is it?"

"It heals. I won't be competing this week."

"I'm sorry. For everything."

Ivan had done that to him. And Ivan had suffered for it. We both knew that and left it unsaid.

"You look beautiful." His blue eyes gleamed. "Like in my dreams."

It was hardly a beautiful dress I was wearing, the green muslin. But I thanked him all the same.

"You're with child, I hear."

I sucked in a breath. "Word gets around."

"Could it be mine?"

"It's possible."

He cursed. "Does the wolf-king treat you well?"

Fear must have been evident in my eyes because he cursed again. His whole body shook with anger.

"I cannot apologize enough for our last minutes together, Rowena. If I ever meet Ivan again, it will be his death."

"He was banished," I said. "That is as good as dead."

"He shamed the woman I love. Death is too good for him. I have something much better in mind."

"Gareth, leave it alone. There is enough violence around us."

"Damn this arm," he muttered. "I hate being helpless. If I were well, this would all be settled."

Gareth would not be my savior this week. And I was loath to tell him how long it would take for his arm to fully recover. Those muscles would atrophy from disuse, as I knew from my medical training. It would take at least three months to regain his former strength.

"When I am well, it
will
be settled. My forces are almost ready and they are formidable, believe me."

I shuddered. "Gareth, no. Please…don't start a war over me."

"What better reason could there be?"

What living, breathing woman would not respond to such a sentiment? This big blond Viking would always own a corner of my heart. But the rest was reserved for Thane.

"Don't do anything foolish this week," I pleaded. "It's too dangerous with all these strange warriors about. We don't know their true allegiances."

"I see you wear my broach." He touched it. "How that pleases me. It will protect you, my love."

"Then I should give it to you so you will be safe."

He laughed. "You lovely thing. It's you who needs protecting. You and your child. Please me by wearing it always."

I reached into the pocket of my dress. "I must give you back this ring. I don't want Sargon to see it."

He reached for me, but I heard footsteps and backed away.

"Hail, Norland," Sargon said over my shoulder. "You have met my wife, I see."

Gareth nodded in courtesy. "We were previously acquainted, Sire, as you may have noticed from the broach."

"Ah yes! I had meant to ask about that. Somehow it slipped my mind."

Oh no, I thought. Not now.

"Your arm does well?" I asked again, as a distraction.

"It mends," Gareth said. "But far too slowly to suit me."

Sargon's mouth twisted into a scornful smile."You grow old, Norland. Old men don't heal as quickly. We will see you tonight. Come, Rowena."

He steered me away from the window. I resisted the urge to look back at Gareth, suspecting he was already gone.

I followed Sargon down the hall to the tower staircase.

"That wasn't a very nice thing to say," I said.

"I don't like the way he looks at you. He makes it plain, his regard for you."

There was nothing I could say to that, so I said nothing.

I spotted Kendra skipping down the back stairs. She greeted me with a wave and curtsied in Sargon's direction.

He left me with her.

As soon as he was gone, I said, "Kendra, I'm starving. Let's go to the kitchen and rustle something up."

"Now? Shouldn't we be getting ready?"

"Can't wait. I threw up everything this morning. I could eat a horse and a half now. Come on."

When we got to the kitchen courtyard, George was busy with the roasting spits. The fragrance of roasted pork and wild duck smelled delicious.

"Go on in the kitchen and help yourselves," George said.

Even Ralph was happy to see us. He wagged his tail nonstop.

I spotted a bowl of steamed shrimp. "Look, Kendra. Seafood."

"Yum. The southern folk must have brought it. And mussels. And real buns and fresh churned butter."

Without waiting for a plate, I started stuffing my face.

One for Ralph, five for me.

I heard a noise.

Ivan's groom stood in the doorway. He was a creepy fellow with stringy hair and bad breath. He should be down south with Ivan.

"Patrick." I nodded. "What are you doing here? Is Ivan okay?"

"You can see that for yourself. I'm taking you to him now."

"I don't think so."

Kendra straightened, immediately alert.

"He's right around the corner," Patrick insisted. "He's come to take you south."

I sighed. This day sucked.

"Nope. Not going. A whole lot of people have been trying to rescue me all day long. Frankly, I'm getting a bit tired of it. So you go back to Ivan and tell him thanks but no thanks. Nothing personal. I hope he's doing well."

Patrick stared at me as if I were some sort of weird sea monster. Then he vanished.

"I handled that pretty well, I think," I said to Kendra, who was feeding Ralph shrimp tails.

"What is it with you and the men here?"

"Maybe they don't have enough to do," I said, shoving a thick slice of pork into my mouth.

Ivan strode into the kitchen.

My jaw dropped. "Are you completely out of your mind coming here? Sargon will string you up like a Peking duck if he finds you."

"I came to get you."

He reached for me, but I jumped back. "I'm not going anywhere, Ivan. I'm very sorry, but I can't leave Grandfather. And where would you take me anyway? You've been banished. Besides, I have the baby to think of now."

"I want you with me." His mouth pursed in determination. "So you're coming with me."

"Stop bullying me!" I yelled, backing up into the shelves. "You're always bullying me."

"I haven't time for this!"

He grabbed my arm and dragged me across the kitchen.

"Let go of her!" Kendra demanded. "Or I'll bust your balls."

He glared at her. "I'll bust more than that if you try."

"Ivan!" I snapped. "You're hurting me."

He twisted my arm behind my back. I screamed.

"Be quiet," he said between clenched teeth. "You're coming now."

"She's not going anywhere."

The room went still.

Cedric blocked the doorway to the kitchen. "You heard the lady. Let go of her now."

Seeing them face off like this made me realize how incredibly well matched they were. One was light and the other dark, but in all other ways and in height and build, they looked like brothers.

Ivan scowled. "Cedric, get out of my way or I'll kill you."

"I'll put you in hell myself!"