De Warenne Dynasty 01 - The Conquerer (15 page)

"Ceidre, you may have an idea," Morcar exclaimed. "Could you not give him a potion to make him deathly ill?"

"You want me to kill him?" She gasped, appalled.

"Of course not," he said. "I am no murderer-nor are you. I mean," he said impatiently, "a potion to make him sick so that the wedding is postponed."

"Morcar do you intend for me to keep him sick from now until the day you andEdwin are victorious?"

"Damn," he said. "That would probably kill him, would it not?"

"Most certainly, and 'tis not right, not godly. I cannot. I have never harmed anyone."

He cupped her face tenderly, his tone urgent. "Ceidre, a potion then to make him impotent? If the marriage is not consummated when we retake Aelfgar it can be annulled, and he has less legitimacy as lord here, now and when 'tis done. A simple potion, Ceidre?"

"Oh, Morcar," she said reluctantly, yet . . . What harm could it do? The man had more potency than a stud stallion, surely it could not harm him? Just something simple, to take away his desire. . . . To take away his desire forAlice .

Morcar saw her capitulation, and he laughed, sweeping her into his arms. "I love you, Ceidre," he said.

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"You have more loyalty in your little finger thanAlice has in her entire heart."

Still unsure, yet strangely elated too, at the thought of keeping the Norman away from her sister, Ceidre hugged Morcar fiercely back, burying her face in his chest.

Rolfehad eyed Ceidre as she carried the basket, heading toward the orchards, every so often glancing over her shoulder. She was up to something, but what? Although immersed in the final stages of the destruction of the village, he kept one eye on her-and watched her disappear into the forest. He had a suspicious feeling, and he did not like her wandering alone.

She was too enticing a wench for any passing stranger or brigand.Rolfe spurred his destrier after her.

From a distance, he watched her rendezvous with a tall, dark man. It was a reunion, this he could see, and see well. He was stunned as she leapt into her lover's arms, stunned, and furious. But the embrace was short, fortunately, forRolfe would have killed the man then and there. Instead they spoke quickly, seriously, urgently. His anger seeped and seethed and he edged his mount as close as he dared without their hearing him-but neither could he hear them, as he desperately wanted to. And then the man laughed and swept her up into his embrace again, and this time Ceidre clung, burying her face in the folds of his mantle. The man rocked her.

Rolfedrew his sword and, with a war cry, galloped into the glade.

Ceidre screamed as Morcar threw her aside, drawing his sword to meet his attacker. He was of fast reflex, but could barely get his sword up beforeRolfe swung his own weapon, blade crashing against blade. Yet Morcar did not release his sword. He was knocked by the force ofRolfe 's charge to the ground, but nimble as a cat, he jumped to his feet and was poised to fight.

Rolfereined in and leapt to the ground, weapon held high. His eyes went wide. "Morcar!"

Morcar smiled grimly. "I shall enjoy this,Norman ," he said. "I have dreamed of this day!"

"Stop!" Ceidre screamed, frantic, knowing that two such powerful men could not both survive this encounter-one would die. "Stop, please, God, stop!"

"Come to me, Saxon,"Rolfe said softly.

Morcar thrust;Rolfe parried. The two men's blades clashed again and again, echoing in the forest, as they lunged and feinted, thrust and withdrew.Rolfe 's tip sliced open the sleeve of Morcar's tunic, and his forearm, trailing blood. Morcar opened a gash aboveRolfe 's right eye. Again and again they danced around each other, their blades ringing.Rolfe scored again, upon Morcar's thigh. Morcar responded with a vicious thrust that forcedRolfe backward, until theNorman feinted, pretended to fall, and then reversed the process, relentlessly driving his foe backward.

The minutes stretched away. The glade was silent except for the sound of their harsh, heavy breathing.

Sweat drenched both men, causing their tunics to stick damply to their frames. Blood trickled intoRolfe 's eye, but he did not wipe at it. Their movements became slower, like a dream, heavy with the sustained effort. Morcar swung his blade,Rolfe 's turned it back. At least fifteen very long minutes had passed, and it was apparent that the two men were evenly matched.

Ceidre watched, mesmerized, terrified. She could not go for help 'twould be the end of Morcar. Her brother had to win-so he could escape. And then theNorman 's strength proved superior.

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Morcar tripped on a root. As he- lost his balance, theNorman lunged for his heart. Ceidre screamed, loudly, shrilly. Morcar, one knee on the ground, froze, asRolfe 's blade pressed against his breast. But theNorman did not break his flesh.

"Why do you hesitate,Norman ?" Morcar gasped. He was still holding his sword, but at an angle impossible to lift to defend himself "I am not afraid of death."

"Drop your blade, Saxon,"Rolfe said, panting. "Drop it now, or you will be at her pearly gates."

"No, don't," Ceidre cried, running to him. "Please, my lord, do not run him through."

Rolfeignored her. "Drop it now, if you wish to live. If not, I will send you on your way."

Morcar stared boldly back atRolfe , fearless and unflinching.

"Please drop it," Ceidre cried. "Please, Morcar, please!"

Morcar dropped the sword.

Rolfe, without removing his own blade from his enemy's heart, kicked it away. Then, exerting pressure, he forced Morcar onto both knees. "In the name ofKingWilliam ," he said, "you are my prisoner."

Ceidre was standing almost directly behindRolfe . She did not think. She picked up the heaviest stone she could find and raised it, to send it crashing down upon his head.

Rolfewhirled and grabbed her wrist, almost breaking it. The stone tumbled from her grasp, and he sent her sprawling to the earth. Morcar was on his feet, but before he could pick up his sword,Rolfe 's blade jabbed his abdomen. The two men stared. And at that precise moment,Guy and five knights came charging into the woods, alerted by Ceidre's screams.

Rolfesmiled coldly, his eyes never leaving Morcar's. "Place him in the dungeons,Guy ," he said. And without looking at Ceidre, he added, "I will deal with you later."

Chapter 20

Ceidre was escorted byGuy back to the manor and into the hall. He did not leave her side.Alice , amusing herself with her two lapdogs, looked up, startled.Guy turned to Ceidre. "Await him here."

Ceidre looked away, desperation cloying. Morcar was at this very moment being thrown into the dungeons below the manor-and he was hurt. He must be cared for, and he must, somehow, escape.

Alice, her hand in one terrier's long white fur, said shrilly, "What passes? Why does my lord wish you to
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await him here?"

"Morcar has returned,Alice ," Ceidre said. "And theNorman has taken him prisoner."

Alicegasped. "AndEdwin ?"

Ceidre shotGuy a dark look. "At this very moment,Edwin rides with a hundred men to chase theNorman into the sea!"

Rolfe's spurs clinked as he entered and strode to her. His face was rigid, his eyes blazed. "Tell me more, mistress," he said softly.

Ceidre whirled, taken by surprise. "You heard well enough!"

"Is it true?"Alice cried, standing, hands clasped tightly.

Ceidre turned to her. "You sicken me! You are afraid our brothers' return will ruin your wedding! Have you no thought for anyone other than yourself?"

"Whom shall I think of, Ceidre? You? You who play the whore with my groom? You think I do not know? You wish to stop this marriage for yourself! Not forEdwin 's sake!"

"Enough,"Rolfe said with a growl. "LadyAlice, leave us. And you,Guy ."

Alicewent pink with anger, then, snapping her fingers at her dogs, she stalked away.Guy exited more gracefully. Ceidre, her heart picking up a quick, frantic beat, wondered what theNorman would do now.

His look was ice. "My scouts have seen nothing of a hundred Saxons, Ceidre. The truth!"

Ceidre swallowed a lump of fear. "They are in hiding, I know not where."

He said nothing, just stared. Ceidre's hands were shaking. She tried to hide them in the skirt of her gown.

"You should be afraid,"Rolfe said grimly. "Very, very afraid."

She should beg his mercy, even if it meant getting down upon her knees. But she would not-she could not. So she watched him, her eyes huge and purple and frightened.

"I fear greatly,"Rolfe finally said, "that your presence here shall always be that of a serpent in the garden."

She did not respond, she could not respond.

"You understood,"Rolfe said heavily, "as well as the next, the punishment for treason."

Her heart leapt up to choke her. He would have her whipped? Or hanged? She wet her lips. Somehow she managed to speak, her voice trembling. "Yes."

Rolfturned away to pace. He was like a caged lion, barely contained. The silence and the anticipation stretched endlessly, torturing her. He finally turned, piercing her with his gaze. "'Tis not treason to stumble upon one's brother by chance in the woods."

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Relief, vast, vast relief, swept her.

"Ceidre."

"Yes, my lord?"

"You have surely bewitched me, but I warn you, do not test my clemency again. If you commit treason, you will suffer the same as anyone. Do you understand?"

She could hear her own heartbeat. She swallowed. She said the word yes, but it was so low as to be inaudible.

"Do you understand?" he repeated harshly. A vein throbbed in his temple.

"Yes," she whispered.

"Then get you from my sight, before I come to my senses."

Ceidre clutched her hands to her bosom. "My lord?"

His eyes were blue fury. "Ceidre ... "Please-may I attend my brother?" "No! Now get!"

Ceidre. turned, took a step, then with a breath ran from the hall. Once outside in the fresh air, she leaned against a trough, shaking. She had come so very close to a severe punishment, but had somehow-and she thanked God,St.Edward in shrine atWestminster , andSt.Cuthbert evaded it. Yet there was still the awful reality to face: Morcar was theNorman 's prisoner.

And it was up to her to do something about it.

Immediately Ceidre began to plan Morcar's escape.

She would slip a potion into the guard's food. When he was asleep, she herself would unlock the dungeon and free Morcar. She would have a horse ready and waiting. And then it would be up to him.

And she would not think of theNorman 's threat.

But when she left the manor to gather more of the herb, she was startled to findGuy at her side. He glanced at her sideways, but stopped as she had. "Sir," Ceidre said, spirits sinking, "why do you play the shadow?"

"LordRolfehas commanded I be your escort,"Guy said.

Ceidre turned her face away before he could see her consternation. Then she continued on. She would gather what she needed, and worry later about how to shakeGuy this night to free her brother. Yet that evening, to her utter dismay,Guy pulled a pallet next to hers and stretched out beside her. Ceidre could not believe that she was to be guarded so, day and night. Amulet around her neck, she got up.Guy followed.

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"Nature calls," she hissed furiously.

"I am sorry, mistress," he said, "but where you go I go as well."

She would test him. She stomped outside, he was on her heels. He would not leave her to seek any privacy other than to turn politely away. Ceidre stormed back into the manor, and careless of the hour-past midnight-she stomped up the stairs and crashed her fist down hard on theNorman 's door.

It opened immediately. TheNorman stood there, stark naked, keen alertness fading and being replaced with a flicker of amusement. Ceidre blushed and looked at his shoulder. Behind her,Guy coughed.

Rolfegrinned, unable to prevent himself, and then he chuckled. " 'Tis my lucky night," he said. "The lady of my dreams seeks me out just when I need her most." .

'Twas not funny, not at all. Ceidre lifted her gaze to his, red-faced. "Have you no shame? Or are you flaunting now for me?"

Rolfethrew back his head and laughed. "I gladly flaunt myself for you, Ceidre any time, any place."

His tone was so seductive, her heart tripped.

Rolfegrinned atGuy . "Await her downstairs."

"No, stay!" Ceidre cried. Of course,Guy didn't hesitate, he was already trotting away. Ceidre, looking fromGuy toRolfe , managed to glimpse a goodly portion of naked flesh-and to her dismay, she noted he was becoming aroused. "Can you not clothe yourself?"

"But you seek me out," he teased.

"Not for the reason you think," she managed, staring at his shoulder again.

He gave her a last look, then turned and went to retrieve his hose. Ceidre could not help it, she studied his back, taut and ridged with muscle, and his backside, high and hard. She realized she had almost forgotten why she had sought him out in his chamber.

Rolfeturned to her, shrugging on a thin undertunic. He gestured to the hearth. Ceidre stepped inside the room, but hovered near the door, for safety. Now that her senses had returned, she realized he was in rare good humor, and seeing the near-empty bag of wine, she wondered if this was the cause. He noted her gaze and grinned.

"Some wine, Ceidre?"

"I detest your Norman grapes," she said haughtily. He grinned. "Do you? Truly?" "Yes."

"But the Norman fruit bears seed more potent-did you not know?"