Come the Morning (50 page)

She carried his child. Hallsteader couldn't know such a thing. He would want to take her, use her, and if he could not kill Waryk, taunt him for as long as they lived with the belief that his wife might bear another man's child …

But, he realized, it had ceased to matter. He wanted only one thing
.

His wife
.

Ulric had dismounted. He stood on the green slope below the wall. His men dragged a woman toward him, and Mellyora bit into her lower lip, startled to see that the woman was Eleanora of Tyne. “Look who arrived here for safety, my lady! Now, I haven't time to ram the gates, Mellyora MacAdin. I'm well aware your husband is close behind!” he called.

“Is there no way we can reach him with a hail of arrows?” she asked Jon of Wick, standing at her side.

He shook his head. “He's just out of range.”

“What is he up to? He has taken Eleanora …”

“Come out and ride with me that I can negotiate with your husband, Mellyora. If you do not, I will slit her throat.”

Slit Eleanora's throat? To what sense
, she wondered.

She hadn't asked the question aloud; he meant to answer her anyway.

“Peter and Eleanora are traitors to the English cause of King Stephen, my lady. I will not be amiss in such a simple execution!” Lord Etienne Renfrew suddenly cried out, joining in with Hallsteader's claim.

“You will die a slow death, Hallsteader!” she found herself crying in return. She winced. She hadn't intended to let them know she was concerned.

Waryk could not be far behind. Nor could Daro.

Unless Phagin hadn't reached them. Unless they had already massacred one another and their troops …

“It's so very simple …” Ulric shouted. He left Eleanora standing as she had been, hands tied behind her back. He walked back through the ranks of his cavalry and then reappeared, dragging a man behind him who wore Peter's colors of Tyne. The man was middle-aged, graying, dignified. He didn't glance at Ulric, but stood very straight. He brought the man next to Eleanora, whispered something to him, then looked back at the gates. “Mellyora MacAdin. This is Walter of Tyne. He has served young Peter and Eleanora since they were children. He has told me that he would gladly die for them.”

Finishing his speech, Ulric smiled. Then, in a split second, he brought his knife to the man's throat, and ripped it open. At his side, Eleanora screamed, wrenching away in pure horror. Mellyora lived in a violent world in which she'd seen death far too many times; and still, she'd never witnessed so brutally cold an act in all her life. She choked, clutching her stomach, backing away from the wall.

Ulric had given no thought to the murder. None at all. It had meant nothing to him.

The dead man fell. Ulric reached out for Eleanora, dragging her back against him. “Traitors, all! I will suffer no ill fate, Mellyora, for I am an English subject, while all of these people are treacherous bastards, cloying to the Scot's king in times of trouble! I will give you just enough time to come out of the gates, lady. If I do not see your beautiful blue eyes before me in a matter of minutes, I will slash Eleanora's throat. Your husband's mistress, some say, eh? Will you let her die for such a sin? Or is the daughter of the great Adin too honorable to condemn her for such a reason?” he taunted.

Waryk would come, Waryk would come …

Aye, she could hold the fortress. The fortress could hold itself. She had always wanted to prove herself, and she'd had no choice but to do so, but now …

“You know that I will do this thing!” Ulric thundered.

“Aye, you'll do it, we've seen that, Ulric!” she called out to him. She tried to keep her voice as cool as his. “But you're right; Eleanora was long my husband's mistress, while I am lady here, and Waryk's wife.”

“My lady! The ice in your heart makes me crave you all the more!” he cried out with mock gallantry.

“Nay, Ulric. I will come out—”

“Oh, madam, what a wise thing to do! Your charity toward those who have wronged you is most exemplary. I meant to give Eleanora one more chance. See whom I would have let die for her next!”

Mellyora bit deeply into her lower lip as Ulric motioned to one of his men.

Ewan, still weak, barely able to stand, was dragged forward. Her heart skipped a beat. Ewan, still loyal, still proud. To be dragged forward, threatened anew …

“You would kill a man half dead already?” she demanded.

She could see Ulric's grin. “Aye, lady—”

“Let him!” Ewan cried out with a sudden burst of strength. “Don't surrender the fortress, Mellyora, don't—”

He broke off as Ulric spun around, striking him with a heavily gloved fist with such that he fell, knocked unconscious.

“Half dead, all dead … what will it be, Mellyora MacAdin? The Lady Eleanora has a throat, so slim, so easy to cut …”

“I told you that I'm coming out. But I want Eleanora and the rest of your prisoners. The gates will not open unless you make this agreement. I will not come with you to watch others coldly murdered after I have surrendered myself.”

Ulric grinned, amused. “The other prisoners are but added weight. In good faith, I'll send them toward the gates now. Eleanora comes when I see you through the gates.”

“I will wait between the gates. When all your prisoners have entered past the portcullis and it has been closed again, I will come to you.”

Mellyora backed away from the wall. Jon reached for her. “I can't let you do this.”

She shook her head. “I can't let him butcher Eleanora or anyone else in cold blood like that, my God, did you see what he did to that poor man—”

“Aye, a warrior, willing to die for Eleanora of Tyne, he was so sworn. You cannot die for her, Mellyora—”

“He doesn't want to kill me, Jon. He wants to use me. Against Waryk.”

“And that he will.”

Mallory stood at the wall with them, brooding over the matter. “We'll offer him a ransom.”

“He doesn't want money, Mallory. He is seeking vengeance.”

“You can't go to him.”

“But if I go to him, it will buy time. We have to have that time!”

“I can't let you go—” Jon began again.

“What do we do against this enemy? He will kill, and kill again. He will bring forth all our people, and slay them one at a time before these walls. And I don't really intend to go, Jon.”

“Ah, Mellyora, he is dangerous—”

“Jon! I know that, but I am the lady here, and God knows who else he is holding, who rode with Lady Eleanora when she came here.” She lowered her head. Once again, Ewan had been willing to die to defend the honor of his home. He was hurt out there. He was barely recovered from the last wounds he had received.

But she was carrying Waryk's child. Ulric knew that. She didn't think that he wanted her so much; he wanted the gates opened. His only chance to storm the fortress.

“Jon, listen, this can work. I can go between the gates, we can receive his prisoners … and then, close the main gates before he can come at us again.”

Jon arched a brow. “You know that though he is saying that he will exchange you for the prisoners, he plans treachery already. When the portcullis opens to let the prisoners through, he plans to rush the gates.”

“Aye, but we've more defenses than he knows. The oil is ready; our archers will set fire to their arrows, and his men will burn like tinder—they'll have to retreat. He will not gain access to the fortress!”

Jon sighed, looking down.

“Jon, I am my father's daughter, I know warfare. If I were laird here, would you question me?”

He looked into her eyes. “I don't question you. I fear for you.”

She reached out, caught his hand, squeezed it.

“Be ready, be prepared!” he called out to their archers.

“Lady Mellyora! I will kill Ewan MacKinny if I do not see your lovely face very quickly now, and after Ewan, I slay the beautiful Eleanora!”

She saw him conferring with Renfrew once again. Renfrew lifted an arm, and she knew that he was directing different men to rush the gate.

She started down the stairs from the parapets to the portcullis, already being raised. It was heavy; the winches were difficult to man. “This must be closed quickly once our people are in. Have men ready to help them. They may be terrified and hurt …”

May be. She would never forget Walter of Tyne, and the way that he had died, so coldly, so quickly, so mercilessly …

The gates were open. She stood between the two sets, waiting. She stood very still, as if she were incredibly calm.

The tenant farmers, craftsmen, and villagers from the mainland came first. She saw their gratitude in their eyes as they passed her, and saw their pity as well.

The men came next. Garth, Tyler, Geoffrey … half carrying, half dragging Ewan along with them. Tyler spoke to her. “My lady, you can't do this!”

“Tyler, for the love of God, get in. Get Ewan on in, the others …”

She didn't recognize all the men. Eleanora's escort, she assumed.

“Send Eleanora, now!” she shouted to Ulric.

Ulric pushed Eleanora forward, and the woman came. Mellyora saw her eyes briefly, and saw her thanks, and her admiration. Small comfort. She shivered. She would make it back inside, she told herself. But, for a moment she realized that Ulric might seize her. She might die. And Eleanora would be here …

She closed her eyes, waiting.

“Come out, Mellyora MacAdin!” Ulric demanded.

She heard the sudden thunder of horses' hooves. Aye, they were ready to storm the gates!

“Close the portcullis!” she cried, and she raced for it.

She was startled when Mallory suddenly came running out of the gates, toward her. “Mallory, have you lost your mind? Get in—” she began.

But Mallory was grim-lipped. He gripped her hard by the shoulders, and was powerful for a man who had spent his days counting rents earned and monies spent. She was so stunned that she didn't even fight back at first. Then, as she was thrust inexorably toward the front gate and away from the closing portcullis, she knew. She didn't know how or why, but Mallory had willfully and determinedly betrayed her. When Ulric had known about the movements of those in the fortress, it was because Mallory had somehow sent him the information. He had known when Waryk would ride, when he would return. And now …

“You bastard! Why?” she cried, aware that it was too late. The Vikings and Normans were rushing by. They'd be caught in the portcullis …

But she would never reach safety.

“For your father, for the Vikings!” he said.

“Not for my father! My father became Scottish!”

Mallory smiled at her ruefully while men rushed around them. “For the riches then, my lady. All these years, I have counted your revenues … all these years. So much … gold, silver, and coins. Now, lady, riches will be mine. I will go a-Viking.”

Ulric himself came riding hard to where she stood. “I've delivered her!” Mallory said proudly. “I will be rewarded—”

She screamed as Ulric swiftly swung his sword, nearly decapitating Mallory. Blood sprayed over her. She tried to run, but the portcullis had closed. Ulric was on top of her. He reached down and caught her by her hair. She screamed again in pain, but he released her, grabbing her around the waist and dragging her up to the horse. He spun the animal around, racing away from the gates.

She heard the horrible screams of the men caught between gates even as they rode from the walls of the fortress. She struggled against Ulric, fighting fiercely.

She could smell burning flesh.

From atop the wall, her men were shouting. The archers aimed at Ulric, but Jon cried out in fierce command. “Nay, you'll hit our lady!”

And Ulric was free to take her up.

They kept riding. The scent of burning flesh seemed to permeate her nostrils. The screams of the dying rose all around her.

The fortress had been saved, she realized.

But she was lost herself …

C
HAPTER
24

They arrived too late.

With Daro and his men at his side, Waryk realized that he had probably never ridden with such a ferocious force of men before.

But it didn't matter. When they reached the mainland, he saw the burned ruins of the new wall, and of many of the cottages. But he saw no bodies strewn about, and as they headed for the water to the isle, he suddenly heard the cheers that were arising from the fortress at his arrival. He looked anxiously to the wall. Even at his distance, he could see Eleanora, Tyler, Geoffrey, Thomas, Jon, Igraina, Jillian … even Ewan.

But not his wife.

He nudged Mercury and tore across the water. The gates opened as he reached the land and continued across the slope. He rode into the courtyard, and he was surrounded. Jon of Wick, Ewan, Eleanora, all trying to tell him what had happened.

“A traitor within our own gates!” Jon cried to him furiously. “My lady was in command, she had a strategy, she could have saved those he intended to murder, and closed the gates upon him as well. But she was betrayed. By Mallory!” Jon spat on the ground.

Ewan was ashen. He leaned upon Tyler, looked up at Waryk, and shook his head in misery. “Her plan was good. It would have succeeded. And he meant to murder more people, she had no choice …”

Waryk felt as if ice swept his veins, as if he were cold beyond death.

“Where is she?” he rasped out.

And Ewan, pained, shook his head. “He took her. And rode away. And he is in great force; Lord Renfrew has made it into a battle between the Scots and the English. He claims he rides against Peter of Tyne and Eleanora, for betraying King Stephen.”

“Where did they ride?” he demanded.

“North, toward the settlements still largely Viking,” Ewan said. “I'll ride with you—” he said, turning toward the stables.