Velvet & steel (27 page)

Robert swung his sword with a mighty blow, and Tearlach returned it with the same force. Again and again they struck at each other. William watched with what looked like detachment, but his agile mind was working and he missed little that was going on about him.

Royce was captivated by the force of Robert's attack. He had seen Robert fight before, but not quite like this. Robert had a goal, and it was to close Tearlach's mouth forever, to see that he took what secrets he knew to the silence of the grave.

Within minutes of their confrontation, Tearlach knew that he was facing a formidable foe, one who intended to give no quarter. But Tearlach was asking no quarter, for he did not mean for Robert to live either.

They circled each other like two predators, looking for an opening ... a moment unguarded when one would strike home.

"You thought to keep a secret, did you not?" Tearlach laughed tauntingly. "It will be known to the world when I have done with you."

"You would cause bloodshed, and take innocent lives, just to see William dead?"

"Aye, and you as well. I will have my vengeance, and Royce will dance when I command him to dance."

"Because you think you have him in your power?" Now it was Robert who laughed and struck. "Do you not think we knew you were near?" He struck again. "Do you not think we considered all plans? And do you really think Lynette and Cerise are still in your power? You are wrong, Tearlach... wrong." He struck again and again with each word.

Tearlach battered at Robert, but Robert continued to evade the force of the blows, and to respond with a fierce attack that drove Tearlach back... and back.

All watched in admiration and wonder that Tearlach was still standing. He fought like a demon, but it was obvious to everyone that the battle was nearing its conclusion.

Suddenly, in one quick and deadly blow, it was. Tearlach lay dead, and Robert breathed a sigh of relief, for the secret had died with him.

Oriel had tried to escape the room, but Giles had reached to grasp her arm and hold her firmly. She would, for once, face the consequences of her deviousness. She had gazed at him hoping for pity, but when she saw none in his eyes, she remained still.

It was only then, when silence filled the room and William rose from his seat, that Beltane's absence was noted. Royce looked about the room with rising alarm. He and Robert exchanged glances, and without a word raced out of the hall, with many of Royce's loyal men behind them.

Their worst fears were confirmed when they learned that Beltane had ridden from the castle with ten of his men. Royce ordered his men to mount, and led them toward the location where Lynette and Cerise were supposed to be held in safety. His heart was thudding against his ribs, and he refused to entertain visions of what could happen to them if Beltane reached them first.

They rode as if the furies of hell were on their heels, but the sight that greeted them when they reached the meeting point brought a groan of agony from Royce. The three who were to see to Lynette's and Cerise's safety lay dead and both prisoners were gone. There were signs of a violent struggle.

Royce sent men in all directions to find traces of their passage, but it was some time before the trail was found, and then they had to search carefully for each sign. Royce followed slowly and methodically, his mind seething with thoughts of what he would do if... no, when, he got his hands on Beltane.

Lynette had engaged the three men in conversation, hearing the careful and very clever plan Royce had laid to prove, once and for all, that Tearlach and Beltane were traitors.

"He knew that Beltane had something brewing," one man said.

"Aye, just as he knew that Tearlach had to be somewhere close."

The third added, "With William coming, it was not hard to guess who their target was. The three of us weren't known to Tearlach's men, so we were sent to find their force and to work our way within. Tearlach is not a lord who worries about his men, or their welfare. Rape and living off the land by stealing is his way. That kind of leader is not one men confide in, so we were welcomed among them. From then on it was just waiting to see to your safety."

"But Royce did not know that Cerise and I would be taken."

"He did not know that." The first man smiled. "But he managed to get word to us after you were captured. He knows we will not let anything happen to those who are his."

"You are very courageous, and I am grateful. I am sure Royce will reward you well."

"Your safety is reward enough, lady. There is not a one of us to whom the Lord of Creganwald has not done some kindness. We look forward to living on Creganwald land for the rest of our lives and serving you."

"The Lord of Creganwald," Lynette said quietly. "Aye, that is what he is, no matter what his birth."

"Aye," the third man replied. "It takes more than noble birth to make a knight. He will serve Creganwald well."

Lynette was about to reply when the night seemed to explode around them. The three men were set upon so quickly that they had no chance, and within minutes they lay dead before Lynette's eyes.

Cerise screamed and clung to Lynette, who was gazing at the attackers in shock. Then, from the darkness, Beltane strode toward her with a vicious smile of satisfaction on his face.

"So, we are together again, little flower. Let us see what Royce will do now. This is one trick he did not count on, and the one that will cost him all he holds dear." He reached out and grasped Lynette's arm, and dragged her toward him until she rested full against him. Cerise threw herself at Beltane, small fists flying. But with one swipe of his hand he knocked her down. Then he ordered one of his men to take her.

"Let her be! Don't hurt her!" Lynette cried.

"Do as you're told and no harm will come to her," Beltane snarled. "Cause me trouble and she'll pay for it. Just remember, she is excess baggage."

"Royce will kill you for this."

"He will never find us. I have a safe place to hide until a ship can take us from here. Then he will never find you."

Beltane took Lynette before him on his horse, and ordered one of his men to take Cerise. They rode into the night, and Lynette was too disoriented to see where they were going.

It seemed to her they rode for hours, and when they did stop, Lynette could hear the sound of the sea in the distance. They were dragged from the horses, and their hands were tied before them. When Lynette could see where they were being led, she felt a shiver of disbelief. Cerise's dream came to her full force, for they were surrounded by huge rocks, and on the other side of them lay the sea.

They were taken to the shelter of the rocks and forced to sit in the sand, side by side. Cerise cuddled against Lynette, who could feel her body trembling.

"Don't be frightened, Cerise."

"Do ... do you think Papa will find us in time?"

"He will not rest until he does."

"Will... will Beltane kill us?" In the darkness Cerise's eyes seemed large and terrified.

"If he meant to kill us, he would have done it when he first came. No, he has other plans, but the longer they take, the more dangerous they become to him, for your papa is not far behind."

"I saw him and this place in my dream, remember? I saw Papa too, and he was sad. Maybe he won't get here in time."

"That was a dream, Cerise, just a dream. We'll be all right." Lynette spoke with confidence, but her confidence was badly shaken when she realized that it was boats they were waiting for, and from the sounds on the other side of the rocks, the boats were landing. If they were taken aboard a ship, it might be impossible to trace them. They would truly be lost to Royce.

The moon was high, and she could see Beltane's face clearly as he walked toward her. He was accompanied by one man. "Take the child to the beach. I'll bring the woman."

Both Lynette and Cerise struggled, but they were torn apart, and the man carried a crying, thrashing Cerise away. Lynette stood, facing Beltane.

"Stop dreaming that he will come in time to save you, Lynette. It is too late for that. It is quite possible that he does not know that we are gone from the castle yet. His attention was elsewhere when I left, and I was smart enough to see through his plans before he could stop me. Come peacefully, and it could be pleasant for you."

"With you? I would rather die here."

"And the child? You wish her to die here too?"

Lynette swallowed heavily. She had to buy as much time for Cerise as she could, for she would never give up hope that Royce would find them. "Where are you taking us?"

"That bastard spoiled all my plans, so I must find other goals. You will be my... companion until then... perhaps after, if you prove satisfactory. It would be well for you to try to please me."

He moved closer to her, and with her hands bound together, there was little she could do. She fought as hard as she could, but he took her into his arms and kissed her roughly. Lynette writhed in his arms, fighting the hard, seeking mouth that ravaged hers.

"Beltane, turn and face me you traitorous thief." The voice was cold and hard as a steel sword. Lynette thought she had never heard anything so wonderful in her life.

With a curse, Beltane thrust her from him, and she stumbled back against the rocks. Washed in white moonlight, the two men faced each other.

Beltane felt the blood grow chilled within him. He had faced Royce before ... but not with this look in his eyes. Without another word Royce attacked, and Beltane had little chance to do more than raise his sword before Royce was upon him.

Within minutes Beltane was panting and beads of sweat were blinding his eyes. He had called once for help, but when none came, he knew the finality of this struggle. Royce's men were all around. It seemed as if his strength was being drained as he continued to back away from Royce.

Royce knew nothing of where he was. He did not see the moonlight or feel the sea breeze. He knew only one thing: Beltane had to die. Lynette watched and knew the reason for the rumors that Royce was mad when he fought, for now he looked mad. In truth he was.

Like two black-shadowed goliaths they fought, but any onlooker could have told the outcome. Beltane was trembling before the onslaught, and his eyes were darting about for any chance to escape. There was none.

"How did you come here?" he gasped.

"Does it matter to you?" Royce growled.

Beltane felt his arm grow heavy. His breath was labored. He could have wept in frustration, for Royce seemed like a ghostly shadow he could not touch. His last sight was Royce's grim face as he drove his sword home, and Beltane fell to the sand.

Lynette could only gasp Royce's name once as he came to her and took her face between his hands. He kissed her feverishly, over and over again.

"Lynette... Lynette, I thought ... oh, God." He kissed her eyes, her cheeks where salty tears coursed, then her mouth. Lynette could not hold him with her hands bound, and she could not free her mouth long enough to beg him to untie her.

"Royce." She finally got his name out in a smothered sob. But it sounded pained to him.

"Are you hurt?" He groaned. "Did he touch you?"

Lynette did not know at this moment if he was capable of mutilating Beltane's body, but she would take no chances.

"Nay, I'm not hurt. Royce, untie me."

It was as if he had just noticed. He quickly unbound her hands, and in seconds found his arms full of woman. A woman who was kissing him and embracing him as fiercely as he had held her. It was several minutes before she could find the breath to ask, "Cerise?"

"She is well, and with Giles and Ferragus. The rest of my men are cleaning the beach of scum."

"How did you find us? How did you know?"

"We were on quite a chase, and I had almost lost hope of finding you. It was only when we remembered that Beltane had ships of his own that we considered how he meant to escape, and where he was likely to do it."

"Neither Cerise nor I had any doubts that you would come for us."

"My life, my heart, I could not have lived if I had lost you."

"Tearlach?"

"Dead, at Robert's hand."

"I do not understand their scheme. They meant to kill William, but that would have caused chaos."

"What they planned to do about that is a secret that has died with them. I only know that you, Cerise, and Creganwald are enough to fill my life to capacity. You are all I will ever need. Let William rule England. We will rule here."

"Aye," she breathed. "Take me home, Royce. It is time to fill our lives with peace."

He took her in his arms and kissed her again, a kiss of promise and of joy.

William and Robert sat alone, sharing a horn or two of ale and considering all that had passed.

"It seems this is where it all began." William smiled.

"Aye, we were discussing the safety of Creganwald."

"And you were discussing the well-being of Royce. It seems that all worked out to everyone's satisfaction." William paused. "With the exceptions of Tearlach and Beltane."

"Aye."

"Robert... something has been left in the shadows, and I had thought you might have an answer."

"I will answer what I can."

"There was something between Tearlach and you that escapes me."

"You think it wrong the way I dealt with traitors?"

"Do not be a fool, Robert."

"There is nothing else that matters now, and I have told you before, I am sworn. I—"

"Robert." William's voice stopped his words. "I know of both your loyalty and your ability to hold a trust. I ask... does it have to do with my crown?"

"You can trust me in this ... No one is a threat to you now."

"Then that is well and enough. We will not speak of it again."

"Then let us speak of Royce's heir," Robert laughed.

"Do you bargain for the lad already?"

"While you are in your cups, and mayhap of a good frame of mind."

"All right, you brigand, let's speak of Royce's heir."

Royce gazed down on Lynette's peaceful face as she slept. He could not resist a touch, and bent to kiss her lightly, filling himself with the warmth of the love she shared with him. He wanted to give her all that it was possible to give, to cradle her, and breathe his love into her. He wanted her to know how deep the love he had for her went, but if he told her for all their lives, it would only scratch the surface.

Even now his heart ached when he thought of the agony they had both gone through just two days before. Their child had come into the world, and Lynette had suffered. He had been at her side every second, to the distress of doctors and all who attended her. Royce would not leave her. He had held her hand, feeling the force of her grip and hiding his terror.

With every moan, every cry, a little of him had died. Then the small bundle was laid in his arms, and he wept with the joy of it. They lived, both mother and son, and he had begun to live again.

He walked to the cradle that held his son and bent over it. He had never felt such pride and wonder in his life. He reached out to take the tiny hand in his, and felt the perfectly formed fingers close about his.

"Royce?"

Royce turned to meet the warmth of Lynette's smile. She reached up a hand to him, and he crossed the room and took her hand in his. He kissed her fingers as he sat down on the bed beside her.

"He is beautiful, isn't he?"

"Aye, he is perfect. You are beautiful."

"Have you seen how black his hair is, and how strong he is?"

"He is big, and strong, and healthy... and last night I received an example of how lustily he can make his wants known."

"Yes," Lynette giggled. "He is much like his father. Cerise?"

"She has taken to him like a duck to water, and you will be hard put not to let her be second mother."

"She will be the most perfect of sisters."

"Which he will not appreciate until he is older." Royce's eyes grew serious. "Lynette, I love you, and I thank you for our son. I do not think I have ever been so afraid in my life."

"I was afraid too. But, oh Royce, look at what we have made together. I love you so much, and now we will be a family."

"You have not named him."

"I thought you would name our sons and I would name the daughters."

"Sons! Daughters!" His face registered shock. "You would not put me through that too often?"

"Oh, my courageous knight. Do not worry. They are God's gift, and will come when He pleases."

"I must attend Mass more often, and convince him to go slowly here."

"What name would you choose?"

"If you agree ... Robert William."

"How wonderful. Robert will be so pleased. And if there is another boy we will name him for my father." She laughed at his groan, then grew serious. "It is as if the babe is Robert's grandson. ... Is he, Royce?"

"Nay, Lynette. Only in honor, not in blood. But he will be in all ways ... in every way I can make it so. Lynette, I would keep no secrets from you, but ..."

"I would not have you say it, Royce. Robert is the grandfather, you are the father, Cerise is his sister... that is enough to give us a complete life. That is enough. I love you."

"Then we will make Creganwald a place of happiness."

"Aye," Lynette whispered as his lips met hers in a soft and promising kiss.