Dance of Desire (56 page)

As she watched, he slunk down the log's length to where it almost touched the water. An arrow flew through the air . . . and plowed into his left shoulder.

He cried out in pain.

"Rudd!" She bolted from the ferns.

She heard Fane curse. Heard the arrows whistling past, so close the air burned her skin.

"Rexana," Fane bellowed. "Get back." Sweat glistened on his brow. His face contorted with rage as he circled in a lethal dance with Garmonn.

"I will not leave my brother."

"Do not risk your life for him." His gaze trained on Garmonn, Fane jerked his head. "Obey me. Now."

His tone brooked immediate compliance. She ducked a flying arrow. "I cannot."

"Rexana!" Fane glared at her.

A skin-crawling laugh burst from Garmonn. He lunged.

Rexana screamed.

Snarling a curse, Fane darted aside. Metal clanged. Garmonn yelled, thrusting again. The swords squealed, locked together. Fane's arm shook. As she watched, unable to look away, he jerked back and attacked. He met Garmonn's onslaught with cold, efficient grace.

Fear slashed through Rexana. She glanced from Fane to the fallen log. How could she choose between him and Rudd, when she loved them both?

She prayed for Fane's safety, even as she ran to the tree.

Rudd emerged. Gripping a broadsword, he stood and threw a leg over the log. With an awkward turn, he slid to the ground. He had yanked the arrow from his flesh. His left arm hung limp at his side, blood streaming down his sleeve.

As he straightened, he stared at Fane and Garmonn.

Oh, God. Did he mean to kill Fane?

Rexana crossed to him. She gestured for him to follow her into the trees. "Come. We must tend your wound."

Shaking his head, he muttered, "I am not done."

Rexana snuffed welling panic. "Do not be a fool. Save yourself, so you may tell Linford the truth. Tell him you are innocent."

Rudd's fingers flexed on the sword. He grimaced, as though he fought agonizing pain. "Aye, he will know the truth."

He strode toward the two men.

"Stop!" she shrieked.

Garmonn grinned at Rudd. "Kill Linford. Go on!"

The barest smile touched Rudd's lips.

Choking down her terror, she caught up with Rudd to plant herself between him and the fight. "Do not. I beg you, as your sister."

Garmonn leapt out of Fane's reach. Their swords clashed. "Kill him! Now. He cannot fight us both."

Rudd sidestepped her, and horror clawed up inside Rexana. "Rudd, you are not a murderer."

Steel shrieked. Fane cast her a furious glance. "Get to safety. Go!"

"Aye, go," Garmonn mocked. His blade slashed down, almost catching Fane across the stomach. "Or watch me disembowel your husband."

Rexana looked at her brother, poised to step into the fray, and fought a crushing wave of despair. "Rudd will not fight."

Garmonn laughed. "Does the clever sheriff know Rudd planned to murder him?" As Fane's gaze sparked with wrath, Garmonn's tone turned triumphant. "Rudd's plans for rebellion are under way. Once you are dead, Sheriff, Warringham will be ours."

"Rudd is not guilty of treason," Rexana shrilled. "You forced him to obey you. You wanted Fane killed for your own selfish interests. You wanted to marry me to gain access to the crown's privileged circles. I vow you planned to overthrow the king's trusted men."

Fane growled. "Is that so, Garmonn?"

"
Tsk
,
tsk
, Rexana," Garmonn muttered.

Her nerves jarred. The murderous intent in his eyes promised he might turn his sword on her too when he had finished with Fane.

Stepping forward, Rudd raised his weapon.

She clutched at her brooch.

Fane might die. Her brother might die.

A last, desperate hope flared within her. She stumbled forward. Fought for words. Fought to interrupt the inevitable combat in any way possible, as her fingers closed on her dagger. "I know what you confessed to me, Garmonn. I know
you.
I remember your unspeakable cruelty last winter."

Garmonn flinched. His merciless gaze shifted from Fane to her, then back to Fane.

She shut out the inner voice that screamed for her not to speak, the fear gusting inside her like a blizzard. "I will no longer be silent about what you did to Thomas."

"Thomas?" Fane and Rudd said together, sounding stunned.

"Garmonn shot him like an animal and left him in the snow to die. You will answer to Sheriff Linford for your barbaric crime. You will be punished by law."

"I warned you, Rexana, what would happen if you told." Garmonn's pitiless gaze slid to Rudd. "I keep my promises."

"And I will see you pun —" Before Fane finished speaking, he tripped on a fallen bow.

Garmonn roared. His blade arced down, straight for Fane's ribs.

Rudd darted forward.

Rexana screamed and plunged down the dagger.

The blade buried deep in Garmonn's forearm.

With a blood-curling howl, he dropped the sword. She froze. Her shaking hand flew to her lips. She stared at the knife's hilt, protruding at a grisly angle.

"Well done, love." The flat of Fane's sword crashed down on Garmonn's head. The howling stopped. Garmonn's eyes closed and he slumped to the grass.

Blinking back tears, Rexana stared at Garmonn's limp body. Bile flooded her mouth. At last, 'twas over.

She raised her head and looked at Fane. Shock wrenched through her.

His expression grim, Fane pointed his sword at Rudd's chest. "I have waited long for this moment."

 
Fane ignored
Rexana's
desperate wail
. His blood pumped with resolve. Need. Fury. Her brother would no longer stand in the way of their marital happiness, or elude justice.

To Fane's surprise, no foolish arrogance shone in the lad's eyes. Only resignation. Mayhap he realized this would be a hard and bitter fight.

As he adjusted his sweaty grip on his sword, Fane drew a breath. He steeled his concentration and waited for Villeaux to make the first strike. He would not underestimate the lad's murderous intent.

Rudd dropped his blade. It thumped on the ground near Garmonn's unconscious body. "I will not fight you."

Rage slammed through Fane. "You will dishonor me? Do you dare me to attack when you are unarmed?"

Rexana clutched Fane's arm. "He is innocent. Rudd, tell him."

Scowling, Fane shook off her hold. He shut out her plea and the painful war of emotions it roused. He lunged forward, so his sword's tip pressed against Rudd's tunic. "Aye, tell us. Tell how you plotted to undermine the king and rule Warringham with the traitors."

"Wait.
I—"

The glade blurred around Fane in a haze of angry red. "Your sister deserves answers. Tell her how you deluded her with lies and deception. Tell her how you betrayed her pure, unselfish love. Speak! She will hear it from you."

Rudd swallowed, then looked at Rexana. "I am not a traitor."

"You
lie!
" Fane bellowed.

Rudd shook his head. He stepped backward, stumbled, and fell to the ground. Crying out, he clutched at his bloody arm. Fane followed him down. Straddled him. Tossed aside his sword, drew his jeweled dagger, and held it to Rudd's throat.

Choking a breath, Rudd said, "I surrender!"

"Tell her the wretched truth," Fane snarled. "Now."

The lad's green eyes, so like Rexana's, blazed. "I did. I am not guilty of treason."

Fane heard the rustle of footfalls. His heightened senses buzzed a warning, an instant before steel pressed against his neck. Rexana had found another knife.

"Let him up," she rasped.

"I do not wish to hurt you, love, but God help me—"

Her hand did not waver. "Let him up, and let him speak." Her tone softened. "If you look, you will see the traitors are defeated. Kester and his men surround the glade. They are tying the prisoners. Rudd cannot escape."

Fane's face stung. His wife had outwitted him. He doubted she would use the knife, yet her feelings for her brother ran deep.

Muttering an oath, Fane rose. She eased away. As he straightened, he glared at her, but she quirked an eyebrow. Saucy wench. Later, he would deal with her willfulness.

Rudd shoved to his feet, rubbing his neck, and smiled at Rexana. "Thanks."