Blaze (23 page)

"Maybe it's something I can swallow and not chew."

"Blaze!"

His arm slipped around her and he tickled her ribs. "It's a joke."

Together they joined Lock on the quarter deck. The white-haired captain was munching on something, a look of sheer bliss on his face.

"What is it?" Melody glanced into the wooden bowl he held and her stomach flopped.

"Mmm." Lock took the rubbery gray leg and popped it into his mouth. "Squid. This is good. Nice and chewy."

Melody curled her lip. "Squid for breakfast?"

"Want some?" Lock offered her the bowl.

"Only if there's nothing else."

"Cook made eggs and there are plenty of oranges."

"That's for me." Melody turned away, but not before noticing Blaze snatch a piece of squid from Lock's bowl. Sometimes she truly believed there was nothing the man wouldn't eat.

No sooner had Melody finished her meal than Rain called for all members of their group to assemble for their final orders. They would land in an uninhabited part of the island. Once they and their supplies were off the ship, Lock would sail to meet the rest of the fleet where he would command the waters from the north. Torn and another Knight were in charge of the southern fleet.

Blaze and Melody's group, under Rain's command, would travel to Vivondra in two wagons which they had painted to resemble gypsy caravans. Costumed as carnival entertainers, several of the Knights and Dames on horseback would follow. Once inside the gates of Vivondra, they would use

Mercy and Aura to send word to the rebels that their plan was underway.

As always before a battle, Melody's stomach churned. The feeling was worse than usual because it would be the first time she and Blaze fought alongside each other. He would be entering the field weaponless. Though she respected and admired his decision, part of her was terrified. The thought of facing so many armed opponents with only her hands and feet to sustain her was more than daunting. It surprised her that in so many years with the Green Sash Faction, he had only broken his vow once.

After the meeting, Melody and Blaze guided their horses onto the deck, since her mare and his gelding had been chosen to pull one of the wagons.

"Here we go." She smiled at him, hoping she looked calmer than she felt. After ten years on the island, she was not as accustomed to fighting as she had once been.

His gaze held hers, filled with love, concern, and a touch of excitement. In spite of his gentle nature, Blaze certainly had a wild side. "Luck, Sweet Music."

"And to you, my love."

Sir Lock called for his men to drop anchor.

It was time to put their plan into action.

* * *

Blaze glanced around at the stunned yet curious faces of the villagers. Moments ago, the "gypsy show" had been allowed to enter the city gates. For several tense moments they had waited while the guards on duty spoke with the village leader.

Rain, dressed in a flowing black cape, had introduced himself as Marius, the head of the show, and said that they merely wished to entertain for a day before heading to a new village. Blaze and the others waited quietly, appearing calm in spite of the inner tension he knew everyone felt. It was a

warm day. The soft breeze scented with wildflowers would have been calming had they not been on the brink of battle. On the wagon beside him, Melody offered him a slight smile. He wondered if her spirit,
Tara, was with her. He hoped so. The spirit seemed to bring her comfort in spite of its

somewhat annoying nature.

The village gate creaked open. Ahead, Rain signaled for them to start the wagons rolling. Within moments they reached the square. The plan was to set up their show close to the jail and meetinghouse. If those buildings could be taken first, the Knights and Dames would have the advantage. They not only housed most of the guards, but were the tallest structures in the village.

Positioning archers on the rooftops would be an excellent tactical move. While they fought from the inside, Lock and Torn were to order Knights from their fleets to move inland. Still, Blaze's group couldn't depend on their help until later. If the foot soldiers were spotted and the raiders warned of the coming attack, they would destroy the village. Lock and Torn's men would prevent any escape, but it was up to the gypsy troupe to do the brunt of the work.

"I need to go. The show is on." Blaze kissed Melody's cheek before leaping out of the wagon and into a solo routine of acrobatics. While he and several others performed and set up the mock show, their companions began positioning themselves throughout the village.

Blaze jumped and back-flipped. Landing, he spun with the precision of a toymaker's finest top. He could hear villagers gasping and laughing as a crowd formed around him. His heart pounded from more than simple exertion when he noted that many of the raiders had gathered around to watch.

Perfect. The closer they stood together, the easier they would be to contain and defeat.

He bowed deeply and stepped into the crowd as the dancing Dames took over. Glancing over his shoulder at them, he nearly winced. Lock was right. They were just plain awful. They were young and full breasted, however, so the guards and the male villagers didn't seem to mind that they moved like runaway bulls.

Weaving his way through the crowd, Blaze was stopped several times by admirers of his performance. He made his way to the blacksmith’s shop to ensure that the rebels knew of their plan.

"Excellent." The blacksmith's eyes gleamed with a combination of excitement and anxiety. "The bastards are finally going to get what they deserve. I'll spread the word all over that when the fighting starts all of us must join in."

"Good. The more villagers who are with us, the better. Where has Mercy hidden the children?"

Blaze had told the villagers before he left that the Knights and Dames would most likely arrive today. Mercy was to gather the children for their morning lessons as usual, then find a safe place for them to stay during the battle.

"She's taken them to the valley. We thought it would be better to have them away from the square when the fighting starts."

"The valley?" Blaze's chest tightened. Outside the walls, Mercy and the children were subject to the whims of the raiders who rode around the countryside. Like on the morning he had found her and the children, raiders had probably followed them again, just to harass them. When they

discovered the village was under attack, she and the children would be open targets.

The blacksmith's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"I have to reach them. Listen to the members of my party. They'll guide you."

"Blaze," the blacksmith shouted, but Blaze had no time for further conversation. He unhitched his horse from the wagon.

"What's wrong?" Crag joined him.

"My sister and the children are alone on the outskirts of the village. I know once the attack starts, the raiders will take them and they won't stand a chance."

"I'll go with you."

"No. You and Melody need to stay here and set up the infirmary once the meetinghouse is taken."

"You can't go alone."

"What's going on?" Rain approached. Beside him, his dogs were dressed in little black cloaks that matched his. The costumes would have struck Blaze as funny had he not been so concerned about the children. "We're going to attack at any moment. Lock and Torn's troops must be on the move

by now."

He quickly explained the situation to Rain who called one of his spies to accompany Blaze.

Together the men rode toward the city gate.

* * *

Melody's racing pulse almost matched the speed of her fingers as she cleaned and stitched injuries.

Outside the meetinghouse, the sounds of battle began fading, muted only because the windows had been boarded against outside attacks. Melody and Crag, the only trained healers available, worked by firelight. Aura and several villagers assisted them in cleaning wounds and changing bandages.

Though the Knights and Dames were outnumbered, they used their superior skills and the element of surprise to advantage. Already they had gained control of the village square.

The door burst open and Sir Rain, an injured Knight draped over his shoulder, stepped inside. He placed his charge on the floor near Melody.

"It looks good out there," he announced. "We've secured the entire inner gate and are moving into the outskirts. We just saw signals from the north and the south, so that means our back-up will be arriving soon."

"Have you seen Blaze?" Melody asked. Since arriving in the village square earlier that day, she hadn't set eyes on him.

"No."

Crag approached, wiping blood from his hands. "He must have kept the children on the outskirts."

"What do you mean?" Melody's pulse quickened.

"He said the children had gone to the valley to hide, but they would be prime targets there. Before the fighting broke out, he and Sir Starr went after them."

"What?" Aura, who stood nearby, almost dropped the bucket of water she was carrying. "Oh my goodness. If anything happens to Mercy. . ."

"They're all right. Blaze and Star can handle just about any situation," Rain said. "Torn or Lock's troops might have already found them by now. I have to get back on the wall."

"Do you really think they're all right?" Aura gazed into Melody's face.

She wished she could offer the woman solid comfort. By the Spirit, she wished she knew for her own peace of mind that Blaze and the others were safe, but she had been a Dame for too long to make false promises. Instead, she spoke from the heart. "Blaze is one of the strongest men I know,

if not the strongest. He would die to protect Mercy and the children. If anyone can help them, he is the one."

That seemed to satisfy Aura somewhat. Crag called to the woman to assist him, once again leaving Melody alone with her work.

For the next hour, Melody found it difficult to concentrate on anything except Blaze. She wanted to run out of the meetinghouse, jump on her horse, and gallop after him. Was he all right? If he had been attacked, had he survived? Even with his strength and skill, the danger of death always

lingered, particularly for a warrior who carried no weapon.

Sweetie, he's spent most of his life fighting without a weapon.

Tara
. Is he all right?

I can't talk right now. All this mortal bloodshed makes me sick.

Tara
, please don't go this time.

Oh, all right. But I can't answer questions about your lover. It will mess up the big plan.

What big plan?

Sweetie, give me a break and just concentrate on sewing up that disgusting, oozing leg wound.

Irritated with her guide and worried about Blaze, Melody finished stitching her patient.

Within the hour, Glenna brought more good news to the meetinghouse. Torn and Lock's armies had arrived, bringing with them the raiders who had attempted to escape.

"Were Blaze and Starr with them?" Crag asked.

"I can find out." Glenna left.

Across the room, Melody's heart pounded in anticipation.

Please let Blaze and the others be safe.

Melody glanced around the makeshift infirmary. No freshly wounded people had been brought in for nearly half an hour. Across the room, Crag stood, keeping watch over the injured. No one seemed to require their immediate attention.

"Crag." Melody approached, wiping her hands on her apron. "Do you need me right now?"

"No. Everything is under control. Go find out what happened to Blaze."

She was just about to leave when Glenna returned and said, "No one has seen Blaze or Starr."

"I have to find him." Melody brushed past her friend who followed close behind.

Outside, villagers, Knights, and Dames were wandering the streets, cleaning up rubble and opening the boarded-up windows of houses and shops.

Rain stood in the square, his uniform bloody, and barked out orders. Beside him, two of his three black dogs stood at attention. One of them wore a bandage around his snout. Another sported one around a hind leg.

Melody joined the rough-looking group. "Sir Rain, I'm going to look for Blaze and the children."

"Good idea."

Glenna nudged her arm. "I'll join you."

"Thank you."

Melody headed for the stable to find her horse, Glenna close behind her.

Within moments the women were galloping out of the gates.

The valley was several miles outside of the village square. Though Blaze's group might not be there, it was at least a place to start.

"Seems empty," Glenna said as their horses climbed down the grassy rim of the valley.

Melody was about to suggest that they search elsewhere when she glanced down and noted the grass had been trampled in places.