Wild Is My Love (38 page)

“I have never doubted her powers, Gavin,” she replied. “I have seen them work too many times in the past. I missed her terribly after she vanished years ago.” Alysa quickly explained her past to him. “You must hurry, my love,” she warned him, aware of the passing night.

The entire time Gavin was gone, Alysa paced and worried about his safety. When he finally returned, she embraced him in relief.

“I aroused him enough to speak with him, Alysa. He knows he is being drugged, but somehow he has been overcoming the potion’s force for the last few days. When anyone enters the room, he pretends he is unconscious or very groggy to fool them. But he is very weak because he eats or drinks very little. He said to warn you not to use the passage to visit him because
he is watched closely and you might get caught, then both of you would be in grave danger.”

Gavin did not tell his love what the prince had told him about the scene in his room with Earnon, Trahern, and Isobail; he knew how that news would distress her. It added more evidence against Isobail, but caused Gavin to be deeply concerned about the man’s safety. If Alric’s ploy was discovered… Gavin did not want to think about that possibility. Hopefully King Bardwyn would arrive soon and end this madness. Gavin also did not tell Alysa about Moran’s true identity, a fact that the prince divulged but had begged him to keep secret.

“I must leave now while I still have the cover of night to shield my escape. I will return in three nights to let you know what is happening everywhere. Be on guard at all times, but do nothing to provoke them against you,” he cautioned.

They embraced and kissed before Gavin left, then Alysa watched him disappear down the spiral steps. When all light from his torch was gone, she closed the panel and unbolted her chamber door. She returned to bed and snuggled into the spot where earlier he had lain.

Just before sunset on Saturday, Prince Crisdean met with Skane. When the bandit assumed Gavin was challenging him for his rank, a bitter fight ensued. The two argued, then fought with swords, then with bare hands, then with knives. Being warriors, both were strong and skilled, and knowing this struggle was to the death, both fought savagely. They circled, slashed, and struck, yet, neither was injured seriously. Then Skane began to weaken. Finally Gavin was able to subdue his adversary, throwing Skane to the ground and slaying him.

Later Gavin met Trahern and turned Skane’s body over to him, and shortly afterwards he entered the brigands’
camp and declared himself their new chieftain. The men were pleased, and easily accepted Gavin and his orders, which were to split into small bands and raid in different parts of Damnonia. What Gavin had in mind, however, was to use his men and trusted peasants to attack and kill the raiders a few at a time. Meanwhile Piaras would keep his eyes and ears open at the castle so he could pass along information about the castle’s soldiers’ whereabouts. Gavin knew he could plan raids that would throw the bandits into the soldiers’ paths, thus making use of them to destroy the outlaws. A stroke of luck placed Giselde’s stolen jewels in his possession; when Gavin went through Skane’s belongings. Later he could return” them to Giselde, as he had done earlier with her wedding ring. Tonight everything seemed to be going perfectly for him and his side, and he dreamed of victory and Alysa.

Sunday afternoon things did not go well for Prince Alric. Feeling better, he tried to sneak a walk in his room. Isobail’s guard saw him and reported to the princess. Earnon solved the mystery of Alric’s recovery when he hypnotized Leitis and questioned her. Discovering he had unwittingly broken the spell, he promptly put her under another one, again ordering her to administer tainted food and wine.

Isobail, the guard, and Earnon then forced another herbal potion into the struggling prince. Afterwards, the guard returned to his duty. Before Alric was subdued by the drug’s power, Isobail scoffed, “Thought you could escape me, you worm! You have seen your last light of day. When next your eyes open, you will be with your barbarian wife. I will slay you with pleasure, like I killed her long ago. I no longer need you to help me obtain my desires. I will rule this land and others as my ancestor Queen Boadicea did.”

In a highly emotional state, Isobail raved, revealing all she had done and all she planned to do. “I even have that weakling daughter of yours in my power. She is to marry my son within the month, then Moran will control her for me.”

Horrified, Alric fought to recover his wits. His slurred mumblings about “sin” and “heir” and “son” and “justice” went past Isobail and Earnon. Alric wept bitterly until blackness encased him.

Near the Logris border on Monday, Princess Kyra ended her brief marriage to Sir Calum by taking her husband’s life. Unable to wait any longer to get rid of him, she used the herbs she had stolen from Giselde and brewed them in her husband’s wine. Calum appeared to have a coughing fit, and strangled before several witnesses.

Kyra wailed and grieved artfully, then told the castle guard to bury Sir Calum before escorting her to Malvern Castle. In her room alone, she rejoiced, eager to reclaim Earnon and to bring him here where she could learn more from him, learn all he knew. There was no way her mother could deny them Lord Daron’s castle and land grant, she thought, not after all she and Earnon had done to help Isobail. If her mother refused, then she would die too….

Monday night Gavin sneaked through the secret passageway and visited Alysa and Alric again. His time with Alysa was spent loving and talking. He told her how he was foiling the bandits and duping Isobail. Alysa was delighted to hear that he had found some trustworthy peasants to help dispel the raiders. From village to village news of an imminent battle spread, and people prepared to join the King upon his arrival. Gavin had sent word to Lord Fergus, but he was reluctant to trust Lord Orin at this point.

Gavin’s second visit with Alric did not go well at all. Clearly the prince had been heavily drugged. Gavin prayed that the man had not revealed anything about him and Alysa to Isobail, or about Moran. “Only another week, two at most,” he reminded Alysa when she wept over her father’s sorry condition.

“What if he does not survive that long, Gavin?” she asked, her blue eyes red and wet with tears. “Isobail is getting bold.”

“If I could sneak him out of the castle, m’love, I would do so. He is too weak and ill to make it through the passageway and down the river, even with more help. Such an attempt could kill him faster than Isobail can. And you know we cannot get him through the gates
and away before one of the guards on the battlement sighted us and sent out an alarm. We would all be captured and slain. We have no choice,’ m’love; we must wait for your grandfather.”

All of Tuesday Moran persistently trailed and wooed a nonreceptive Alysa. He would not even allow her peace and privacy in her chamber. When she could endure his irritating gropings no longer, she told him, “I do not love you and cannot marry you, Moran. I have tried to make a relationship between us work, but it cannot. The more you press me, the more I want to withdraw from you. Please do not distress me further by continuing this futile pursuit.”

“You are… rejecting me?” he stammered in outrage. His scowl melted into a look of fury which reddened his face. His green eyes became wild and cold. He glared at her, then turned and left without another word.

Alysa knew he would not let her off this easily. She wondered what he would do next. She had not meant to spurn him so soon or so frostily, but he had pushed her to a breaking point. Surely Isobail would know within minutes that she had rejected Moran.

Alysa quickly summoned Thisbe and related her action to the frightened servant. “If anything happens to me, alert your father at once and he will help me. Watch over me, dear friend, for I am in terrible trouble this time.”

While Alysa paced her room, Thisbe sought out not her father, but her betrothed, and informed him of Alysa’s possible dilemma. Squire Teague told his love, “If any danger befalls Princess Alysa, come to me swiftly. We will find a way to help her escape.”

That evening Moran came to Alysa’s chamber, carrying a jug of the castle’s best wine. He looked at her apologetically and asked, “Will your forgive me, little mouse? You are not to blame if you cannot love me as I do you. I will return home to Ahern Castle and give you time to recover from those bandits’ cruelty. I am sure that is what has distressed you. I realize I have been too eager, and I have frightened you away. All I ask is that you rest easy and think kindly of me. If your answer is still no in a month or two, I will cease to court you. Come, let us share a parting drink as friends,” he coaxed, and filled two goblets.

Alysa understood her danger. If she declined to drink, he would try to force the drugged wine into her. If she accepted the goblet, she was doomed. She had to escape, now.

She pretended to sip the wine, then walked to the window and gazed at, the starry sky. To make certain Moran did not join her there, she asked him to hand her the cape on her bed. As he complied, she dumped the wine out her window but appeared to be drinking it when Moran approached her.

“Shall we go for a walk? It is so lovely outside tonight.”

“I prefer to remain here, little mouse.”

Alysa walked to a chair and took a seat, placing the empty goblet on the nearby table. “Will you be leaving at first light to make full use of tomorrow?” she inquired, sounding nothing more than polite.

The devilishly grinning Moran leaned against the window, watched her intently, and did not reply. His behavior told Alysa that he expected the drug to act quickly. If she could get him out of the room, she would lock her door. “I am tired, Moran. I will rise early to see you off in the morning. Will you excuse me so I can retire for the night?”

“No, Alysa, I will not excuse you, nor release you,
tonight or ever. After we spend a few hours in your bed, you will have no choice but to marry me tomorrow,” he said calmly; too calmly.

“What are you saying?” she demanded, glaring at him.

Moran rapidly covered the distance separating them. Clasping the arms of her chair, he imprisoned her in it. He bent forward until he was nearly nose to nose with her. “I am saying you will become mine tonight, all mine. Do you feel strange, Alysa? Perhaps a little weak and hungry—hungry for me? Come to bed and I shall feed you.”

Alysa gaped at the crude man who suddenly looked ugly and vile to her. “Nay, I feel fine, my wicked stepbrother.”

“Not for long,” he vowed, then snatched her into his arms, carried her to the bed, and tossed her upon it.

Alysa scrambled off the other side and yelled at him, “Get away from me, you vulgar beast! I detest you. I will never marry you or surrender to you, with or without your seductive potions!”

The truth that she had eluded the drug dawned on Moran, and it infuriated him to be outsmarted. “With or without magic potions,” he sneered, “by the devils below us, I will have you!”

“Come near me and I will slay you, vile dog.”

Moran laughed sardonically. “We shall see, little mouse, we shall see.” His menacing look intimidated her, as he knew it would.

Alysa wished Gavin would appear and battle this enemy, but he was not to return to her side for two days. She feared that even if she screamed for help, no one would rescue her. Still, she had to try, as Moran was strong and determined to ravish her. She ran to the window and got out one cry for help before Moran yanked her away from it. They struggled wildly as he ripped at her clothes, casting entangled shadows on the
wall from her lamplights. His hands were rough and painful as tried to subdue her, meanwhile laughing and taunting her, and her terror mounted. Then her reason returned, and as Piaras had taught her long ago, Alysa entangled his leg and flung him to the stone floor. She seized the wine jug and slammed it against his head, knocking him unconscious. Almost immediately the door opened and she jerked around to see who had entered.

Thisbe and Teague surged forward and gaped at the fallen knight with a bloody temple. Teague checked him and told her, “I heard you scream and I saw Moran in the window. He will come to his senses soon, Alysa, You must flee. Come, I will help you get away.”

Alysa sneaked out the door and into the outer ward. She hurried to the south gate behind her tower, she concealed herself under the torch-lit portcullis, and waited for Teague to fetch Calliope. To make it appear he was only walking the horse, Teague did not saddle him, as instructed by Alysa, who could ride bareback skillfully.

Teague had left Thisbe in the stable saddling two horses for them. As Thisbe had confided all she knew to her betrothed and things appeared to be getting worse, they planned to get away with Alysa. Since the princess’s safety came first, Squire Teague walked Calliope around the inner wall near the steep embankment to the river, Moran shouted an alarm from Alysa’s window, “Seize Princess Alysa! Do not let her leave the castle!”

Without delay or second thought, Teague ran the horse to Alric’s daughter. “Go quickly, Princess. They will be upon us in a few moments. I will guard your back.”

“Nay, Teague,” she protested. “I cannot leave you and Thisbe to face Moran and Isobail.”

“If Prince Alric dies at their hands, you are our ruler. You must stay alive to defeat them. Do not argue! Go!”

Alysa hated to desert him in such danger, but she obeyed. She mounted Calliope as Teague raised the small gate. To make certain no one galloped after her, Teague used his sword to cut the ropes. The gate crashed down and locked in place. Knowing the futility of battling the four guards coming at him, Teague lay his sword on the ground and lifted his hands in surrender. He knew a dead man could not find a way to escape.

As ordered if an alarm was sounded, Thisbe concealed herself until she could slip to her room. She could not bear the uncertainty of her love’s fate, but had to remain free to help him later.

News spread quickly of Alysa’s flight. Moran alleged she had fled because she was sick and confused, and had not been herself “since those barbaric brigands abducted her.” He claimed she had ranted wildly about hunting them down and killing them this very night. Moran asserted his fears that she would fall prey to them again. He gathered his mother’s faithful men and raced off after Alysa, who had a good head start. Teague was captured “for allowing the disoriented princess to trick him into aiding her to imperil her life.” He was taken to the dungeon and imprisoned there, to await Moran’s return and torture.

Alysa molded herself against Calliope’s back and held securely to his mane. Sensing his mistress’s urgency, the horse raced as swiftly as possible toward the concealing woods. Alysa knew her foes could not trail her easily in the dark, but she made deceptive tracks to mislead them at first light. To hide her true direction, she used two streams, blended Calliope’s tracks into other sets of hoof prints on the dirt road, and doubled back a few times. When she thought it safe to proceed, she rode to the tree where she and Gavin had left messages for
each other. Surely her love would come here when he heard of her escape. She paced for nearly an hour before sitting down and leaning against the special tree. She rested her forehead on her raised knees, closed her moist eyes, and prayed.

Wednesday morning Gavin gingerly approached Trahern, as he had seen the sheriff galloping here and there with a red sash tied to his arm: the signal for an urgent meeting. “You summoned me?” Gavin inquired, nodding to the blood-colored cloth.

“Yes,” Trahern stated, clearly relieved to see him. “I was afraid you were not in this area today. We have more trouble with Alric’s daughter.”

Gavin struggled to remain calm. “What kind of trouble this time?” he asked, trying to sound annoyed with her.

“Moran got a little too … friendly last night, and she ran away. We have to get her back to the castle before she runs her mouth and causes problems for us. If you see her, catch her and hold her for me. You will receive a big reward this time.”

“How did she get away from Isobail’s son and out of the castle?”

“The little enchantress clobbered Moran with a wine jug and sneaked outside. She had help from a friend getting away. Squire Teague let her out the back gate, then chopped the lift rope to impede our chase. We have him in the dungeon. I am sure the prince has plans for him when he gets back to the castle; Moran has been searching for Alysa all night. As far as I know, she has not been found. Damn clever wench, if you ask me.”

“Any idea which way she headed?” Gavin asked. He prayed his tone revealed a nonchalance he did not feel.

“I told you she is a clever girl; we found her tracks everywhere. I think she set up false trails to fool us. She could be anywhere by now. Find her, Gavin, or Isobail will flog us both.”

Gavin chuckled slyly. “I promise you I will have her within my grasp before she can convince anyone of her tales. When I have her back, I will hang a red cloth on that last tree in the meadow before reaching the castle. Check it every morning and night for my signal. After you see it, meet me near the edge of the forest at the next dawn or dusk to retrieve her. She will be safe, if she behaves.”

“Make sure she is not harmed, if you grasp my meaning.”

Gavin scowled effectively. “If I wanted the little enchantress, as you called her, I would have taken her the last time I had her. Who could notice a silly young girl with a stepmother like Isobail around? The princess is what I call a real woman, a matchless beauty. When she moves or talks or smiles or speaks, I get all hot. Why not make my reward a night with her?” he suggested, hoping his feigned interest in Isobail would enflame Trahern.

Trahern’s face glowed with anger as he eyed the virile outlaw who stood before him. “Keep away from Isobail, Hawk.”

Gavin lifted his brows in faked enlightenment and grinned. “You lucky devil, Trahern. She belongs to you! I should have guessed from the way you treat her. Surely you realize she is a woman of fiery blood and great passion, the kind of woman a man finds hard to keep and sate. She is mighty tempting. If I were you, Trahern, I would stick close and hold her tightly.”

“I plan to do both, Hawk, and you remember it.”

“You give the orders,” Gavin remarked genially.

Alysa hugged Gavin tightly and cried softly in his comforting embrace. She had told him she was uninjured, just frightened. She lifted her tear-streaked face and murmured, “Dear Teague must be in such danger, my love. We must help him escape. I cannot imagine what they will do to him. The secret passage has an entry to the dungeon. I am sure they will imprison him there. We must free him, Gavin.”

“Not today, m’love. They will be guarding him closely this soon. No doubt they are questioning him about you. We cannot risk capture. I promise to rescue him,” he swore, and recalled Giselde’s premonitions about him saving the man he had once viewed as his rival.

“I wonder if Thisbe is in peril, too, and her father Piaras,” Alysa said. “They are in danger because of me, Gavin. I must help all of them.”

“I saw Sir Piaras before I came here to look for your. He was. heading to Lord Grin’s to relate his son’s trouble. I asked him to explain everything to Lord Orin and demand the man’s loyalty and help.”

“At least he is safe, but what of Teague and Thisbe?” she pressed.

“Come, I must take you to safety at Trosdan’s cave. Then we will decide what to do about your friends. Giselde is there; she can advise and comfort you.”