Wild Is My Love (39 page)

“I need no one tonight except you,” she said.

Gavin briefly tightened his embrace and placed kisses on her forehead and hair. “The same is true of me, love. I have never been so scared as when I heard of your bold escape. I know it could be perilous to remain here for the night, but I believe we know the forest better than anyone.” Lifting her chin and looking into her eyes, he said, “I promise you, Alysa, nothing will happen to you or your friends.”

“As long as I have you, I will fear nothing and no one.” She pulled his mouth down to hers and sealed their lips.

They kissed and caressed until Gavin used his saddle blanket to make them a bed upon the dewy ground. They undressed and fused their bodies eagerly and urgently, then Gavin held her securely in his arms while she slept as peacefully as possible.

In the large and torch-lit dungeon of Malvern Castle, Moran circled the suspended body of Teague, clad only in a loincloth, deciding which torment he would use first to extract the information he needed—the hiding place of Princess Alysa. Upon his return, he had questioned the Squire for over an hour, but Teague kept silent. Moran’s fury mounted steadily to an eruptive level. He lifted a whip and seemingly fondled it before violently lashing Teague across his back, chest, and legs. The twenty-year-old redhead groaned and shook his head. He would not speak.

Moran laughed satanically. He read fear in Teague’s blue eyes, fear which the captive could not hide completely. “I will arrest your father, charge your entire family of treachery against the Crown, destroy you all!” He shrieked the words with each lash of the whip and Teague screamed in pain, but revealed nothing.

Moran threw aside the whip and approached a round hearth which held glowing coals. He lifted a metal pole whose tip was fiery red. Wisps of smoke rose from its point as the Prince came to stand before the squire. “You are being brave and foolish for naught,” Moran warned, touching the hot poker to Teague’s vulnerable belly. Teague smelled the odor of his own burning flesh and moaned. Then, when he looked across the dungeon floor and saw Isobail approaching, smiling the same sadistic smile as her son, he knew he was lost.

It was nearing dawn when an exhausted and painriddled
Teague could endure no more torture from Isobail and her son. He had been tormented for long hours, and in great agony, finally revealed the location of Giselde’s hut. Even amidst his pain he did not call the old woman by name, he only called her “the old witch in the royal forest.” He mumbled that Alysa had met the old woman while playing there as a child and liked to visit her, helplessly disclosing that Alysa might have gone there to hide from Moran.

Thinking they had won a victory, Moran and Isobail exchanged pleased smiles. They lowered Teague to a blanket on the stone floor in the dungeon and covered him with another one, but did not untie him.

As they left the guarded underground room, Isobail whispered to Moran, “I will awaken Trahern and send him to find this old witch. If Alysa is not with her, we will bring the old woman here and entice information from her lips. We will let Teague rest all day, then enjoy ourselves with him again tonight. I am sure he knows more than he has revealed.”

After an intensive search, Trahern located the hut, but could not find Alysa or the woman who lived there. He searched the cluttered abode and the area around it, then burned the dwelling to the ground. He reported to Isobail, who was not pleased with his failure to find either woman. She demanded he look for Alysa until she was found.

That day held another annoyance for the weary Isobail, who had not gone to bed until Trahern’s return from the forest: Kyra arrived and related her grim news of Sir Calum’s death. “Some force is working against me, but I shall defeat it!” Isobail raved in fatigue and
vexation. After pondering this new situation, she announced, “I will place Sir Phelan in charge there.”

Kyra argued boldly, “Nay, Mother, it is my castle and land. You promised it to me for slaying Baltair. I came to tell you of this matter in person, for I did not know whom to trust with a message. I will work with you and control that area for you. It is mine by right.”

“Do not be greedy, sister,” Moran said, having been aroused from his light slumber by Kyra’s noisy arrival. “Mother knows what is best. Why not marry Phelan, then you can still have Daron’s holdings?”

“That groping pig? Never, little brother! Leave the room, as this matter is between Mother and me,” the girl ordered coldly, furious because Isobail had allowed him to join their private conversation. It gradually became obvious that Moran was now in her mother’s confidence, that the two were working hand in hand and trying to exclude her.

Isobail turned to Moran and revealed the details of her plot to usurp Damnonia and then conquer Logris. Kyra was not surprised, but at first Moran looked shocked. Then greed and pleasure flooded his features. “I am proud of you, Mother. I will be loyal to you in all matters. Command me and I will obey.”

“Kyra, do you feel the same?” Isobail challenged her daughter.

Kyra had a powerful urge to physically attack her mother, but quelled it. “I will help you any way I can, Mother, but that area is mine. Moran has Kelton’s holdings. Why can I not have Daron’s?”

In an unpleasantly condescending manner, Isobail replied, “You are a young woman, so men will not obey you. Surely you realize that a princess by marriage only has no real power? Besides, there has not been enough time since your marriage to win the people’s confidence. I require a strong and loyal knight on the Logris border. You can marry Phelan or remain here.”

“Nay!” Kyra replied with visible hostility. “I wish to marry Earnon and share Daron Castle with him. We can hold that area for you. No one would dare disobey your close advisor.”

“Earnon? You and Earnon?” Isobail said skeptically, insultingly.

Moran quickly interjected, “They have been lovers for a long time, Mother. Kyra coerced me into silence about them. After I was knighted and left the castle, I decided to sever her grip on me by telling you everything when I returned home. But with Kyra gone and with things so hectic here, I truly forgot about it.”

Kyra called Moran vulgar names until Isobail silenced her with a demand to know how her son was being compelled into secrecy. Kyra glared at both of them and insisted on telling her side of this matter.

“Later!” Isobail warned sharply. “Moran, explain this deceit.”

Moran claimed he had discovered the affair by accident, then confronted Kyra with it. His sister had constrained him to silence by threatening to expose his sensual nature and behavior to Alysa. “I could not allow Kyra to destroy my progress with Alysa, so I agreed. But I only planned to keep silent until Alysa was mine and it would not matter what Kyra told her. Then, after I left for Ahern Castle, I realized you could keep Kyra silent for me because you also wanted this marriage between me and Alric’s daughter.”

Not wishing to make a deadly enemy of his sister, Moran cleverly said, “Kyra and I have never gotten along well, but she is my sister and I do love her. I think she truly loves Earnon and should marry him one day. Until that time; perhaps she could keep him as her lover. But first she needs to help you win your greatest victory, by marrying Phelan or anyone necessary. I will do the same, Mother, anything you command of me.
As heir to all you obtain, I will work hard to make your kingdom large and powerful.”

Kyra wondered why Moran was now trying to help her. There had to be a motive. For now, she decided, she would accept his assistance.

Isobail’s face had gone scarlet with rage as she comprehended how Kyra and Earnon had duped her. “Baltair never touched you, liar; you only said that he had in order to conceal your treachery, and Earnon’s!” The moment Isobail made that accusation, she realized that Earnon had probably told Kyra everything. “You and Earnon worked together and deceived me! I shall never forgive either of you. You killed Calum, did you not?” she accused.

“Ask anyone there; he choked to death,” Kyra shouted back.

“With your help, you little witch—yours and Earnon’s! Damn you, Kyra, I needed Calum there and Phelan at Lord Fergus’s! Your greed could spoil everything. You shall be punished, girl.”

Earnon was summoned, and Isobail glared at him and charged, “You betrayed me with Kyra, you fool! I no longer need you. Leave my castle this day or I shall carve out your heart.”

Earnon glanced at Kyra just before the girl shouted wildly, “Place a curse on her, my love! Destroy her this minute! She has used and betrayed us. Slay her and I will take her place.”

Isobail walked to within inches of Earnon and challenged him, saying, “Yes, my powerful sorcerer, place a curse on me. Go before I slay you with these eager hands.”

“You will be sorry to lose me,” Earnon said, his voice low and even. “The day will come when you will beg me to return and help you, as forces are mounting against you this very moment. Give me Kyra and
Daron’s Castle and I will forget your insults and remain loyal to you.”

Isobail’s eyes narrowed and chilled. “You are a fool, Earnon. You sacrificed all I could give you for that,” she sneered, pointing to Kyra. “I could forgive you for most things, but not for teaching her how to slay Sir Calum or for being more loyal to her than to me. You know I needed Calum there for the next few months. If you wanted Kyra so badly, you should have told me. I would have given her to you until Calum claimed her, then I could have arranged secret meetings for you two. Take her with you, for I have no further use for her. I shall announce your banishments today, so never come here again.” Isobail glanced at the sulking girl and laughed.

Trosdan had tossed his sacred runes upon a rock and read them. Their message was clear and inspiring. He sat upright and stared into nothingness as a vision filled his mind. He smiled and gathered several items, knowing what was required to slay a weakened sorcerer…

When Gavin found Giselde’s hut burned, he realized Teague must have been tortured to the point of revealing Giselde’s location to Isobail. He realized he had no choice but to ask Alysa how much Thisbe and Teague knew about recent events, to. decide what Isobail might have learned or could learn from the vulnerable squire. Somehow, he had to free Teague and Thisbe before they were of no use to Isobail.

When Gavin returned to the cave, Giselde smiled sadly and remarked, “I know, Gavin, the hut was burned. When I slept, I also saw fires in the castle dungeon, and much suffering. I will tell your how to save Teague and Thisbe, but it is already too late to prevent
them from telling all they know to Isobail and Moran. You will be unmasked today as Alysa’s lover and Isobail will declare you an outlaw, a wolf-shead. She will pursue you and Alysa with a vengeance, as I warned you. But she does not know your true identity and mission here in this land. Soon she will brand Alysa a traitor…”

Gavin gazed at Alysa’s grandmother and lightly touched her. cheek; he knew that she had also prophesied the deaths of Prince Alric and herself. “You must speak with Alysa before fate strikes, Giselde. The truth should come from your lips, not mine or King Bardwyn’s, after…”

Giselde smiled and hugged Gavin affectionately. She knew he was suffering from his burden of knowledge and responsibility “I will tell her everything, Gavin, but not until the night before our final battle. There are reasons why destiny must work this way, in its own time.”

Gavin left the old woman’s side to inform his men of the plans. He must order everyone to remain hidden until Bardwyn’s arrival—surely within a week or less, he decided optimistically.

At midnight in the Malvern Castle dungeon Giselde’s premonition was taking place. Thisbe was dragged from her bed and taken to the shadowy chamber so that Isobail and Moran could coerce the truth from the lovers. Desperate to protect his love from shame and the tormenting savagery he had recently suffered, Teague spoke up when he saw Thisbe shivering and weeping in the dungeon’s gloom.

“Cut us free, and do not harm Thisbe. Then, I will answer all your questions,” Teague insisted, dreading to trust them, but desperate to save Thisbe.

Knowing the dungeon door was locked and guarded, and Teague was too weak to battle them successfully,
Isobail calmly complied. “Now, tell me where Alysa would go and who is likely to help her.”

Praying this information could not harm Alysa, Teague haltingly related the facts about Alysa, Giselde, and Gavin to them. When Teague and Thisbe had responded to every query from Isobail and Moran, Teague said, “Release us, for there is nothing more to tell.”

Isobail shrieked angrily, “You only weakened because you believe Gavin Hawk can save her from us! You were silent until now to give them time to escape! Unless—” She halted to ponder the infuriating situation. “Unless Princess Alysa Malvern thinks she can arouse the people against me. Yes, they are probably still nearby, working to thwart me. I shall have them captured, flayed, and slain. I will torture and kill Gavin Hawk myself!”

At her behavior and her naming the warrior, Moran asked astutely, “You know this adventurer?”

“Yea, my son, I thought he was my brigand leader. This explains why so many bandits have been killed lately. Obviously Gavin and his loyal band are trapping and slaying them. So, he would rather have Alysa than… work for me.” Recalling Alysa’s abduction, Isobail guessed what had taken place between Alysa and Gavin Hawk. It heightened her fury and madness to suspect that Alysa had possessed him. She concluded that Gavin was trying to win Alysa, defeat Isobail, then get everything by marrying a grateful princess. She remembered how Gavin had deceitfully enticed her the other night, made a fool of her. “How dare he trick me! He must be killed. Perhaps I can set a trap for him, since he does not know he is unmasked.”

“What about these two?” Moran asked, assuming they would not be freed. “Shall I slay them?”

Isobail eyed the two lovers who were clinging together and watching her pitifully. “Come, we have much work to do. We will deal with them shortly. Prepare to die, fools.”

Unable to sleep after hearing Thisbe speak of “Alysa’s old teacher” as the “witch in the woods,” Isobail had paced her chamber until mid-morning. It had come back to her that in a moment of weakness long ago, Alric had confessed the identity of Alysa’s guardian and servant: Catriona’s mother. To learn the Viking half-caste was still close at hand and in contact with Alysa alarmed Isobail. She speculated that somehow Alysa had found the old woman living in the woods, but doubted that Alysa had guessed the truth about their relationship, for it was a closely guarded secret.

A few hours after she finally fell asleep, Isobail was awakened by Trahern with grim news. She followed him into the inner yard and gaped at the two bodies on a cart. A brass rod had been driven into Earnon’s heart and his hands had been set aflame, then doused quickly: the ritual for slaying a sorcerer. Isobail eyed her deceased child with intrigue, and fear. Never had Kyra looked more like her than she did at this moment. It was like looking at her own lifeless body!

“I found them in the forest, near the hut we burned,” Trahern said. “I was checking it again to see if the old witch and Alysa had returned to it. They have not been dead long. I cannot say how Kyra was killed. I have
never seen wounds like these before. She was beautiful, Isobail. Why did you hate her so much?” he asked abruptly, glancing at the quiet woman.

One of Trahern’s words had seized her attention: witch. She tossed the cover over the bodies and said, “Bury them immediately. And find Alysa and Gavin for me! Have him declared an outlaw, and her a traitor. Spread the word Alysa has been poisoning her father to steal the Crown. Tell everyone she and her wolf-shead killed my advisor and daughter. Offer a large reward for them. But make certain Gavin Hawk is not killed. Bring him to me alive. I plan to torment him until he begs for death.”

“You still want the old woman?” Trahern asked, worried over the wildness that glazed Isobail’s eyes.

“Yes, bring her to me,” she ordered coldly. At last she knew who was working against her. Perhaps Giselde had bewitched Gavin into working for her and into yielding to Alysa. Perhaps that handsome rogue was not to blame for his actions of late. If only Earnon were still alive…

Isobail stormed around her chamber as Earnon’s last words filled her ears. She should not have sent him away, to be slain by that powerful woman. She had to calm down and think clearly, or all was lost. She rushed to the stable and caught Trahern before he left.

“Offer a reward for the old witch too. Say it is she who is helping that traitor and wolf-shead. Find her and bring her to me, Trahern. Only her blood can prevent our defeat.”

“The peasants fear her, Isobail. No one will capture her.”

“Tell them a reward will be paid for revealing her hiding place, then we will seize her. I am not afraid of Giselde.”

“Giselde? Is that not the name of Catriona’s old servant?”

“One and the same,” Isobail said with a sneer. “She knows about herbs and potions, but she lacks the power to harm us.”

“Do you think everyone will believe our charges against Alysa?”

“There is no way anyone can prove them false, and I doubt anyone would dare challenge us after we slay the brigand leader.”

Alysa was glad she had worn boots into the secret passage to protect her feet from the thick mire. She was wearing pants, and the torch she carried prevented rats from running up her legs, since this section and the one adjoining it were food storage areas and animal shelters and were likely to be infested with the rodents. There seemed to be more air shafts and light in this section, which pleased Alysa, for it made it an unlikely home for bats. As Gavin walked before her and Weylin behind, they sent the furry creatures to squealing and scampering. With company the passage was not frightening, but their mission was. Finally they reached the hidden panel to the dungeon.

Torches were placed in holders and swords were drawn. The concealed ingress groaned and squeaked when Gavin shoved against it. Unused since its construction, the panel resisted opening. Weylin lent his shoulder to the task, and it slowly yielded. The tension mounted.

The three rescuers stayed in the passage for a time, waiting to see if soldiers charged them. When all remained quiet, Gavin peeked into the dim chamber. He saw two people lying on the floor: the redheaded Squire Teague, and a brown-haired girl. He suspected the two imprisoned lovers could be drugged or dead, since the captives had not reacted to their noisy arrival; or perhaps this was a trap. Just above a whisper, Gavin insisted
that he enter alone to check over the situation. Alysa seized and held his arm as she shook her head.

Gavin embraced her before easing her into the other knight’s firm grasp. “Weylin, be ready to close the panel and flee if trouble strikes. I will fend them off until you two have time to escape. Protect her for me.”

Alysa protested, “Nay, my love, do not enter alone.” She tried to get free, but could not. “If this is a trap, we will not close the panel and leave you,” she informed him sternly. “We have swords and can use them. Let us come with you as guards.”

Gavin smiled encouragingly at her and caressed her cheek. “Have you forgotten you promised to obey my every command?”

Alysa recalled her vow of obedience to prevent endangering any of them. She, nodded, and ceased her struggles. “Please be careful. I love you,” she murmured.

“As I love you, Alysa,” he replied tenderly.

Gingerly he stepped into the dungeon and looked to both sides. All was still, except for the flaming torch near the steps. He walked slowly toward the prone bodies, alert to every sound. His keen eyes darted here and there, watching for any sign of danger from the numerous shadows. He knelt beside the captives and called their names as he shook each one.

As if his voice and touch broke a spell over them, Teague and Thisbe awakened and looked at the man leaning over them. They sat up and looked around in confusion.

“We must escape quickly before a guard comes to check on you,” Gavin said urgently. He helped them to their feet and led them to the passageway. As Alysa, Teague, and Thisbe exchanged hugs and words, Gavin cleared away the evidence of his entry and departure. He and Weylin closed the panel securely.

Since this section of the passageway was drier and
airier, Gavin said they would remain until dusk before trying to slip away in the river. Following Giselde’s plan, the rescue had gone perfectly. Sitting on blankets they had taken from Alysa’s chamber, the five exchanged information while the hungry Thisbe and Teague devoured the fruit and cheese Gavin provided. To relax and to quench their thirst, all shared the wine in Gavin’s leather skin.

When Teague had recovered somewhat, he implored, “You must help me get a warning to my father.”

Gavin assuaged his fears saying, “Sir Piaras has taken a warning to your father.”

“After you risked your life to rescue us, Princess Alysa, how can you forgive us for betraying you?” Thisbe asked, then wept.

Alysa comforted her, and entreated, “Do not cry, dear Thisbe. I would have done the same to Save Gavin.”

They continued to talk in the near darkness, providing information and comfort to each other. Gavin mused over the accuracy of Giselde’s premonitions again and, without thinking, asked Alysa, “Do you have the same powers as it was said your mother had, and Giselde?” He was relieved he had not slipped and called the old woman her grandmother.

Alysa pondered his question and shrugged. “I do not think so. If it comes from Viking blood, it must be weak in me. Nay, that cannot be, for Granmannie is Albanian. Though once I did think my mother came to me, and told me my father would join her soon. But as far as I know, I have no magical powers or dreams of foreboding.”

“Aye, but you do have magical powers,” Gavin teased to lighten everyone’s mood. “You bewitched me, did you not?”

“Nay Prince Crisdean, you enchanted me,” she retorted.

Thisbe snuggled against Teague, Alysa cuddled with
Gavin, and Weylin decided it was time to find himself a special woman.

When Isobail and Moran approached the entrance to the dungeon, the guard was asleep and the door was open. The man was aroused, and the chamber found empty. Swiftly the alarm was sounded, but the prisoners could not be found within the battlement. Isobail ordered soldiers to search for them at first light, as dusk had fallen.

Returning to the dungeon, she shouted at the confused guard, “Fool! You let them escape from under your nose while you slept!” She seized a poleax from the wall and madly attacked the man while several of the soldiers who had accompanied her looked on in horror at her fury.

Trosdan’s cave was a merry place when Gavin and his party returned, wet but safe. They sat near a roaring fire to warm themselves as they shared their tales with the others. Upon hearing the news of fire and pillaging around the land, Gavin glanced at Giselde. All but two of the eight prophecies had come true. He absently rubbed his tanned chest and wondered how such powers could exist, and how he could defeat them to save Alysa’s father and grandmother.

If only he had the skills and wits to fight magic, then… When he realized his line of thought, he again recalled Giselde saying, “You will question your instincts, prowess, wits, and skills,” and, “As each one takes place, you will come to trust me more and more.”

When the others were asleep, the Cumbrian prince approached Trosdan and said, “I need your help, wise man.”

Without speaking, Trosdan shook the bag of runes
and tossed them on the ground. “I can tell you how to prevent one death, but not both,” he informed Gavin, who wondered how the white-haired man with gentle blue eyes read the question in his troubled mind.

Trosdan smiled and replied, “Because the runes tell me all things.”

“But I did not ask my questions aloud,” Gavin stated in wonder.

“There is no need for words when my runes can reveal a heart and mind to me. This is what will take place before and after Bardwyn arrives in five days, and how to save one near to her by blood,” the Druid master began, then revealed terrible and wonderful things.

On Saturday Isobail’s men were searching everywhere for the lovers and rebels, but could find no trace of them. The evil princess became wild and furious at her defeats, which worried her son.

Trahern located the remaining brigands and hired a new leader from among them, the crude bandit who had led the first attack on Alysa on the road. The bandits knew by now that Gavin and his men had duped them and tried to destroy them. By nightfall, soldiers and bandits alike were seeking Isobail’s foes.

Gavin, Alysa, and their friends remained in the large cave, hoping their enemies would believe they had left the area after rescuing Teague and Thisbe. Amongst Gavin’s men guards were posted and rotated, but time passed slowly for everyone.

When this new trouble began, Isobail had tried to break Earnon’s hypnotic spell over Leitis so she could arouse Alric to question him. She quickly learned that
Earnon’s second enchantment carried a different breaking word. Finally she decided that it was best to keep Alric under heavy medication, and to increase his dosage in order to kill him. Isobail knew what Earnon had been giving Alric, but she did not know by how much to increase it to bring about the prince’s natural-looking demise within a week. On Sunday she began to pour an extra daily potion down his throat.

Orin was delivered to Isobail on Monday, and she sent out the word that the feudal lord would be executed if his traitorous son did not surrender. Dressed as a peasant, Lann, one of Gavin’s six men, had visited the local village pub to pick up information. Upon his report, all knew that Isobail was plotting, to torture the truth about them from Teague, who paced the cave and worried.

Gavin said, “I will let you decide what to do.”

Teague glanced at Thisbe before replying, “Isobail cannot be trusted to keep her word. Even if I surrendered, my father would be slain. I know I could endure my own torture and hold silent, but I could not endure his agony and hold my tongue,” he stated sadly but honestly.

Gavin slapped him on the back proudly and fondly. “To give you time to learn about her threat, she set Saturday to execute Orin. I am certain King Bardwyn will arrive no later than Wednesday and we will attack at dawn on Friday. Before the siege, we will sneak into the secret passage and rescue your father and Prince Alric, then open the gates for the King’s men.”

Indeed, Keegan returned from his journey on Tuesday to say the King of Cambria and his large band would arrive by morning. Keegan had ridden ahead to report that the King and his troops were covering these
last miles carefully to avoid alerting Isobail and her forces to their approach.

Alysa and Gavin snuggled together near a small fire to the back of the cave. Each was aware that the next three days would bring about a resolution to Damnonia’s miseries, if all went favorably. But each could not help but wonder what to do if Isobail got wind of their plans or if she learned of the secret passage from Alric.

Alysa trembled at the unknown, and Gavin cuddled her closer to him for comfort. He stroked her arm and back soothingly, and his mouth brushed against her hair. Alysa’s lips pressed kisses to his bare chest and her fingers lightly grazed his powerful shoulders. Surprisingly there was no draft or chilly dampness in the enormous cave.

Alysa and Gavin were warm and safe and together, tonight and beyond. Their small fire gave off just enough light and heat to encase them in a romantic setting, despite their companions presence not far away. It seemed that everyone was asleep except the guard outside. The few noises that reached their ears were muffled. They were nestled together and very much in love, but no raging hunger to unite their bodies tormented them. Instead, this was a time for sharing emotions, strengths, encouragement, and solace. It was a tender moment when only soft kisses and caresses could be shared, when a gentle passion had to control them.

Alysa shifted her head to look into Gavin’s face. Their eyes melted together as warm honey and fused for a long time. Neither spoke for a while, then they did nothing more than murmur exchanges of love. His lips drifted over her face until they lightly touched her lips. Each nibbled and played without kissing the other. Then his mouth locked with hers and they enjoyed a
lengthy kiss which caused them to flame and tremble. They parted and looked at each other, smiled knowingly in caution, and cuddled to sleep. A special tranquility washed over them and bound them snugly.