Blind Impulse (18 page)

Surprisingly he smiled.  “To be sure I have heard them.  But they intrigue me, Juliana, I like a woman with fire and you certainly hav
e that in great measure as well as beauty.”

Juliana had been nothing short of stunned.

They developed the plan of her fostering with them.  After Naworth left, she needled her father about it, knowing he would never let her go but it was a small bit of rev
enge for his hatred of her.

Then one eve as she launched into her typical wheedling, he threw up his hands.  “’Tis what you want, Juliana?” he bellowed.

“
Aye,” she said blinking at him in shock.

“
Then so be it, at least I will not be present to grow more g
ray hair over your foolish stunts and Simon will probably stay alive.”

The next morning she was summarily packed up and shipped off to Naworth.  If Harold Swein could send his daughter to foster with a family he disliked intensely, Juliana knew he must hat
e her to the core.  Although she never imagined either of her parents succumbing to a tryst, she began to wonder if she was of bastard lineage.  What else could explain her father’s hatred?

Arriving at Naworth’s had been a difficult adjustment, but at leas
t Peter had been kind to her.  She did not care for his father and mother but put on a brave face and stomached the situation.  Yet some of Peter’s actions disturbed her greatly. 

Juliana had befriended a few of the serving maids, finding them more pleasa
nt company than Lady Naworth’s handmaidens.  Peter discovered this and pressed her hard to cease her association with them.

Juliana did not truly obey him, knowing her defiance would have had her father raging at her again, but she liked the girls and one
in particular, Beth, became a dear friend.

Somehow, Peter found out about the continued association, probably through another maid jealous of Beth’s standing.  Juliana had been away with Lady Naworth.  She returned to the castle and entered the great hall
only to discover Peter beating Beth. 

She fought to pull him off of the girl, while his father and mother only laughed.  Juliana suddenly wished vehemently for Simon.  He would be able to stop this.  Finally, she hauled Peter away, horrified he had nearly
beaten Beth to death.  Juliana had tended to Beth’s injuries but the next morning, she was sent home.  Juliana never found out if Beth made it to her destination.

What she saw of Peter had frightened her.  She could not believe the change in him, but he n
ever directed his anger at her, even though she had been the one to disobey him.  He told her he had discovered the girl stealing from his mother’s solar and had every right to punish her.  In fact, the girl should count herself lucky he didn’t order her h
anged.

“
That’s why I don’t want you to be friends with that sort of ilk,” he said sternly.  “She was only using you to get close to the baubles she coveted.”

Juliana had a hard time believing Beth would do such a thing, but Peter had no reason to lie to he
r.

And Juliana found herself without any friends at all.  She grew terribly homesick, missing her mother and brother.  But what surprised her the most, a squire with long black hair and a wickedly beautiful smile possessed her dreams and no matter how hard
she tried, she could not rid her thoughts of him.

When she heard Simon accompanied Garin to the crusades, she had been certain she would die of worry.  But now he was back and she was again under the same roof with him at Kirkoswald.

She marveled at the f
act that no matter where she was in a room, when Simon entered, her gaze always found his.  His dark eyes, intensely brooding, sent a fire through her that stole her breath.  And although his smile was rare, when he awarded it, he fair lit up a room.  Not
even Peter, with his refined good looks, could possess her attention so completely.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself.  No wonder her father thought her worthless, here she was mooning over a man below her station and one who probably hated he
r for putting him through such trials in his youth.

Juliana rubbed her eyes.  She had to stop thinking of Simon and concentrate on her goals.  She had no desire to hurt her brother or squelch his dreams, but if he maintained his course he would find his sp
irit and his heart broken.  And if Juliana did not gain Kirkoswald, she would find herself left with nothing.

Chapter Ten

Alyna glanced over her shoulder, forcing the argument from her mind.  Garin
stretched out in the chair with his chin on his chest.  His soft breathing told her he was asleep already.  She decided to get him to bed in a moment and finished brushing her hair.  She wore only her shift but the necklace still twinkled at her throat.  I
t was very beautiful and she had a difficult time convincing herself Garin had given it to her.  It must be worth a fortune.

The castle again settled for the night.  Alyna heard the mastiffs bark outside.  The soft sound of voices reached her and she frown
ed.  The only people about should be the watch.  She stopped and listened.

The voices were both distinctly male.  They seemed to be coming from the corner turret that formed the north wall of the solar.  Probably two guards shirking their duties and playin
g a game of dice in the turret.  Alyna stood and grabbed her night robe, glancing at Garin.  He still dozed in the chair.  She would tell the guards to move along then get him to bed.

She closed the door silently and walked to the door of the corner turret
at the end of the hall.  She opened it and peeked through.

On the third floor landing, tiny slivers of moonlight gleamed from two archer slits.  She saw two shadowed figures talking softly.  Both wore armor.  But they were not guards playing dice.  What w
ere they doing up here this late?  Alyna intended to tell them to move along, they weren’t supposed to be here and their voices were a nuisance.  But she paused when one of the men leaned forward, the moonlight falling on his face. 

Peter Naworth.

“
I tell
you it is simple.”

“
Do ye ken what ye ask?”  The other man with his back to her said.

“
Aye, but this will work.” 

Alyna frowned, the second man was one of Garin’s guards, that was certain.

“
At best, I could muster a handful of men,” the guard said.  “The
moment we move toward the gates we would be slaughtered.”

“
Not if you move in the mass of the confusion.  Once we bring our forces to the field, the garrison will mobilize.  You and your men only need to damage the gates and jam the windlass of the portcu
llis open.”

Alyna blinked in horror. 

“
Once you do that,” Peter continued.  “Our forces can easily take the castle.  Bloodshed will be minimal.  When we prove Swein cannot defend Kirkoswald, the church will uphold our claim and the king will be forced to
award the inheritance to Juliana.  That’s what should have happened in the first place.  You know as well as I do a
blind man cannot be baron.  My father and Baron Vaux will honor those faithful to them.  You and your men will be rewarded with lands.”

“
All
right,” the guard said.  “When ye take the field I will do as ye ask.”

Alyna’s breath caught in her throat.  She could not believe this.  Subversion in the barony’s own guard.

Peter’s eyes flicked in her direction.  “What was that?”

Alyna froze, not darin
g to move.  She was in shadow in the doorway, they would not be able to see her.

“
What?” the guard asked.

“
I thought I saw something flash.”

Alyna, her heart pounding, glanced down.  Moonlight fell on her robe but it was dark material, she would appear as
part of the door.  But a glimmer at her throat sparked. 
Oh God, the necklace!
  The sapphires shined with the soft light.  She quickly covered it with her hand.

Peter drew his sword.  “Someone is at the door.”  He charged forward.

Alyna turned and ran.  A
hand tangled in her long hair and yanked her back.  She screamed as someone struck her.

****

A scream sent Garin bolting to his feet.  “Alyna?”

No answer.

“
Alyna?”  He charged for the door and threw it open.  Simon, in the room across the hall, opened h
is door.  “What is going on?”  Garin barked.

“
Two men at the end of the hall,” Simon growled then cursed.  “They have Alyna.”

Garin’s heart dropped.  His hands clenched in rage.  Without his sight he could not defend her.  But Simon could and no doubt he h
ad his sword in hand.

“
Can you see who?  Is she hurt?”

“
Nay,” Simon replied.  “It is too dark but I can see that one holds a blade to her throat.”

“
Change of plans,” a voice muttered.  Garin knew that voice but couldn’t place it.

“
One of our guards,” Simon
growled.  “But the other man holds Alyna.”

Footsteps sounded behind him.  “What goes?” Geoff asked.  Garin didn’t explain, he didn’t have to.  Geoff muttered a vile oath.

“
Baron,” the guard said.  “Grant us safe passage out of the barony. 
Yer
wife will b
e released unharmed.”

Garin had no reason to believe the churl.  “Release her and I will spare your lives.”

“
Now that be a quandary,” the guard said.  “For if ye do not let us go, my friend will slit her throat.”

“
They are backing up to the turret,” Simon
whispered.

“
Get ready,” Garin replied.  He could not fight with a sword but his wrestling skills were still sharp and did not require him to see. 

But a charge down the hall would give them enough time to cut Alyna’s throat.  He had to figure out a way to
get her free first.  An idea stirred.  It just might work and he
knew the keep better than anyone, especially in the dark.

“
Simon, Geoff,” he whispered.  “Do not let them pass you.  I am going to the turret.”

“
What are you planning?”  Geoff whispered back
.

“
A small surprise for them.”

He waited a heartbeat then heard Geoff’s low chuckle.  “Aye, Swein.  Hurry.”

Silently, he slipped back, away from Geoff and Simon.  He descended the stairs and faded like a wraith into the dark corridors.

The blood roared thr
ough Garin’s veins and his heart rattled as loudly as a drum.  Silently, he moved toward the door of the turret on the main floor.  Never had he been so grateful for Alyna’s constant work.  He knew the keep better now than ever before.  He stalked silently
through the blackness
, knowing his vision would be a liability right now.  He would depend on it too much and that would cause him to make a mistake.

Carefully, Garin opened the door to the turret, hearing movement on the stairs above him.  Simon and Geoff threatened the stran
ger and the guard, keeping their attention focused.

The noise moved closer.  He heard Alyna’s muffled voice and Garin’s heart twisted.  But which one had her?  One mistake and they would kill her.

Abruptly a voice snapped a sharp curse.  “Vile whore,” a ma
n snarled.  A slap resounded and Garin clenched his fists.

“
Take her,” the stranger said.

“
What happened?” the guard asked.

“
The foul wench bit my hand.”

Garin grinned viciously.  Again he heard the sounds of struggling.  “Let me go!” Alyna cried.

The stru
ggling continued until they reached the bottom stair.  Alyna cursed in fury.

“
Be silent,” the guard barked.

Garin knew their exact positions.  He grabbed the guard from behind.  One hand locked on his shoulders, the other his chin.  With a sharp jerk, Gari
n snapped his neck. 

Alyna screamed.

“
Alyna, to me,” Garin shouted.

“
Garin!” she cried.

He stepped forward.

“
Stop, Swein,” the second man barked.  “Or she dies.”

His heart lurched.  Had the second man been able to grab her?

He heard the sound of a slight
scuffle and Alyna cried in pain.

“
Alyna!”

She sobbed.  “Garin, please, don’t move.  Peter will kill me.”

Shock and horror coiled through him.  Peter?  He knew Peter would do anything to gain Kirkoswald but Garin never imagined he would murder Alyna.

“
Silen
ce, wench!”

Suddenly Geoff and Simon charged down the turret stairs.

Peter cursed and hauled Alyna out the door.  Simon and Geoff reached Garin and they followed.

“
Damnation,” Geoff roared.  “He’s already into the great hall.”

Garin, with Simon’s hand on h
is arm, sprinted forward.  “Guards!” Garin bellowed, and heard the sound of heavily armed men running toward him. 

“
Sir?” one asked.

“
One man has the baroness.  Lock down the keep.  I want a guard for my mother and my sister.  Arrest Vaux and Naworth, bri
ng them to me at once.”

“
Yes sir!”  The man turned and barked orders to his men.

They reached the door of the keep and entered the bailey.

“
The postern is open,” Geoff snarled.  “Peter has reached it.  Vaux and Naworth ride away.  Peter still has Alyna and
is mounting his horse but Alyna fights.  The gap between Peter and his men widens.”

“
God’s teeth!” Garin snapped.  “Gather our mounts.  We ride now!”

“
Garin,” Simon said, stunned.  “You can’t--”

“
I can and I will.  I will catch Peter and break him in half
with my bare hands.”

The horses were quickly saddled.  Someone handed Garin his sword belt and threw a cloak over his shoulders.  He didn’t have time to don his mail.  He swung up on his mount as Geoff and Simon did the same, from the sound, he gathered t
hey wore at least mail shirts, but they were woefully unprepared for a fight.

“
Simon, how bright is the night?”

“
Full moon, Garin, our mounts will be able to see quite well.”

“
Good.  Lead the way through the postern, I will follow you.”

Simon turned and sp
urred his horse forward, with Garin right behind.  Geoff and a half dozen serjants followed.

A large area around Kirkoswald was kept clear of trees, shrubbery, rocks, and tall grass.  Workers constantly filled outlying ditches caused by water runoff in an
effort to deny cover to enemy forces who might lay siege to the castle.

But Garin was grateful for a different reason.  Their horses could negotiate the dark land without worry of encountering obstacles or hazards.  Garin pushed his mount hard behind Simon
’s, terror at the blind rush coiling through him, but greater still was his terror that Peter would kill Alyna.

****

Fear numbed Alyna’s thoughts.  Peter’s arm remained firmly around her waist as she sat in front of him, clinging to the saddle bow of the
charging mount.  Fortunately, he had to put away his knife in order to hold her and control his horse.

His mount, burdened with two people, consistently lost ground to Naworth and Vaux galloping ahead of them.  She stole a glance over her shoulder and saw
the horses stream from Kirkoswald.  Men rode after them, many bearing torches, but her gaze locked on three riders in the lead.  Her father and Simon no doubt.  Her eyes widened and her mouth went dry as she focused on the third, clearly recognizing Garin
’s gray destrier in the bright moonlight.

She straightened and stared at the black trail before her, her mind tripping over itself.  She was certain Garin and the others would catch up to Peter.  But they would be
in the same situation if Peter managed to
get a knife to her throat again.  That meant there was only one answer.  She had to escape Peter’s clutches long enough for Garin reach her.

Alyna squeezed her eyes shut and sent a terrified prayer to the heavens.  She took a deep breath and summoned every
ounce of strength she possessed.  Her elbow shot backward, landing solidly in Peter’s gut.  She heard a muffled groan and his arm loosened around her waist.  Certain she would die, Alyna dove from the horse.

She slammed into the ground, blinding pain expl
oding through her body, and knocking the air from her lungs.  She rolled over rocks and hard dirt then slid to a stop.  Fighting the blackness crowding the edges of her vision, she spat the dirt from her mouth and tried to suck in a breath.

Peter cursed vi
olently and hauled his horse to a stop.  The animal squealed in protest and reared, but turned and charged after her.