Dark Warrior (15 page)

The man hesitated. “I will find out,” he said and was about to leave when Decimus set a glare on him that would chill a man down to his soul.

“You dare to leave my presence without permission?”

The man shivered and quickly sank to his knee in front of Decimus. “Forgive me, my lord, in my haste to correct my error I insulted you.”

“I will not tolerate such a hideous mistake again.”

The man kept his head bowed in submission.

“Stand,” Decimus ordered.

The man quickly got to his feet.

“You will take one other man with you, and you will go find this Roarke and return him to me.”

Mary could only hope they would not find Roarke and she prayed for his safety.

The man hurried to the door and stopped when Decimus said, “Do not return without him, or you shall suffer for your failure.”

The young man squared his shoulders. “I shall not fail you, my lord.”

Found or not, someone would suffer. Would it be Roarke or this young man? Mary knew then and there that there would be peace for no one until Decimus was dead.

You will be the demise of Decimus
.

Mary finally believed the seer's prediction.

M
ary woke early the next morning annoyed that she had fallen asleep before she could warn Roarke. After leaving her bedchamber, Decimus had lingered outside her door. He was speaking with someone, and while she waited she had fallen asleep. Exhausted from her travel and her first night with Decimus, she had slept straight through until morning.

She hurried to find Magnus; he would know Roarke's whereabouts.

The keep was just waking and she was afraid Magnus might still be abed, but as she entered the great hall he was walking to the open front doors. Sunshine streamed in, flooding the hall with light.

“Magnus,” she called out.

He turned and greeted her with a smile.

She hurried over to him. “We need to talk.”

“I walk the small rise just outside the village almost every morning. Would you care to join me?” He offered her his arm.

She took it and they left the keep.

The village was a buzz of activity yet all took time to bid good morning to their liege lord.

They passed the last cottage and were near the small rise when Magnus said, “I am sorry to make you walk a distance after all the traveling you have done, but I felt privacy was called for.”

“You are right,” she said, glad they were away from the keep and away from prying eyes and ears. “It would be best that no one heard our discussion.”

Magnus led them to an area where they could sit on the edge of the rise and look down upon the keep and the surrounding village.

While the view was beautiful Mary had no time to spare to enjoy it. She gave a quick glance over the land to see that Decimus's men were gathered for breakfast around their campfire. She had not spied Decimus and assumed he was still asleep, at least she hoped he was.

“Do you know where Roarke went?” she asked.

“He said nothing to me about his destination. He made mention that it was safer for you both if he left before anyone realized he was gone.”

“I made a terrible blunder last night. I thought to protect Roarke and foolishly made matters worse for him.” She told him what she had done and how Decimus had ordered two of his men to go after Roarke.

Magnus did not appear disturbed by her news. “I would not worry. Roarke can take care of himself. I suspect that he is a difficult man to track, let alone find. What presently concerns me are the plans that Decimus discussed with me last night.”

“Our wedding.” She sighed.

“At least you will wed here among friends. And two weeks gives me time to see if other arrangements can be made.”

“Death would be the only thing that frees me from Decimus.”

“That can be arranged.”

“I thought about faking my demise, but I believe somehow Decimus would know and that would make matters worse.”

“I will do all I can, Mary.”

“You have, Magnus, and I am so very grateful. Fate holds me in her hands now, and I pray she will be generous to me.”

They heard someone approach and Mary wished it was Michael, though she knew otherwise. She would not have heard his approach; he would have merely appeared.

She wanted to cringe when she spotted Decimus, but she kept her disappointment to herself. His dark manner always made him appear angry, and he looked more so now as he approached them.

She turned away to look out over the village and keep. She did not feel like dealing with his arrogance. She was also annoyed with his dress. He donned garments that were impeccably tailored and fit for royalty. He favored dark colors right down to the deep red garnet and blue sapphire rings on his fingers. How he could adorn himself in such riches won off the souls of innocent people she did not know.

He stopped beside her; the bright sun glared over his shoulder. She looked up at him, shading her eyes with her hand.

“A beautiful day is it not?” she asked.

“I do not recall giving you permission to leave the keep.”

Magnus stood. “I requested her company.”

“You should have requested permission from me.”

“Until she is wed, Mary is still in my charge,” Magnus said in a defensive tone.

Mary did not wish them to battle over her, but it was not her place to step between them. She would undermine Magnus's authority and strengthen Decimus's power if she interfered.

Decimus seemed to consider for a moment and reluctantly said, “You are right. She is in your charge, though I expect proper action from her, which is
your
duty to foster.”

Mary watched as Magnus fisted his hand at his side; that he wanted to punch Decimus was obvious. But she knew he would not demean himself. He would remain a warrior strong in command.

“And what is it that you wished to discuss that requires a distance from the keep?” Decimus asked before Magnus could respond to his chastising.

Magnus held out his hand to Mary and she took it, rising gracefully to her feet to stand beside him.

“It does not concern you,” Magnus said firmly.

“
She
is my concern, especially what she discusses with another man.”

“What I discuss with
Mary
is between Mary and me.”

Mary held back her smile. While Decimus spoke of her with little regard, by not calling her by name, Magnus made a point of speaking her name aloud. He let Decimus know Mary was a person unto herself and not mere chattel to be bargained over.

“I warn you, Magnus, be careful. I do not tolerate insolence well.”

“Then we have something in common.” Magnus held his arm out to Mary indicating that they would take their leave.

Mary took Magnus's arm.

“I wish to speak with Mary alone,” Decimus said.

“Mary has much to do if the wedding is to proceed on time,” Magnus said.

A grateful Mary remained silent. She had no desire to speak with Decimus. It seemed the more she spoke with the man, the more she disliked him.

“I will not detain her for long and I will see that she returns safely to the keep.”

Mary sensed Magnus's reluctance. She knew however that to learn all she could about her future husband, would mean spending time with him, whether she cared to or not.

“I will be fine,” she assured Magnus and slipped her arm out of his.

“As you say,” Magnus said. “I will tell my wife that you will be with her shortly so that you may begin work on your wedding dress.”

Mary nodded. “I will not keep her waiting.” She appreciated Magnus graciously limiting her time with Decimus.

Decimus remained silent until Magnus disappeared in the distance.

“He cannot protect you for long.”

Mary smiled. “I will have you, my husband, to protect me.”

Decimus circled her like a prey intimidating its captor. “You will be well protected. I will
know
your every move. I will
decide
your every move. You will
obey
without question.”

Mary wanted to choke on her own words, but she forced them from her lips. “I will serve to be a good wife.”

“You
will
be a good wife. I will tolerate nothing less from you.”

“You have made yourself clear. I understand perfectly.” Her tongue was slightly sharper than she intended, but his arrogant, self-righteous manner irritated her.

He grabbed her arm, his fingers pinching her skin. “Your mouth is much too quick and you much too foolish.”

She yanked her arm from his grasp and stepped away from him. “I have yet to exchange vows with you, so it is you who speaks out of turn.”

His nostrils flared, a warning she had learned quickly to recognize as anger, but at the moment she did not care how angry he was. She would surrender soon enough to him.

“You dare to be insolent to me?”

She silently reminded herself that she would gain nothing if she did not retain her composure, but it was difficult. He commanded in his every word. She had trouble tolerating his constant edicts—how she would tolerate it when they wed, she did not know. The sobering thought made her rethink her actions. If she were not careful she would worsen her situation.

She forced herself to apologize. “Forgive me, I was inconsiderate.”

“
You
spoke out of turn.”

He could not even accept an apology. How she wished she could tell him how very rude and obnoxious she thought he was. Instead she said, “I am learning.”

“You have
much
to learn.”

If she did not direct the discussion elsewhere, she would soon find herself lashing out at him once again.

“May I inquire what it is you wish to discuss with me?”

He crossed his arms over his chest and took a firm stance in front of her. “I have been informed that you love to sing.”

Who could have told him that? Magnus was the only one aware of her penchant for singing.

“I raise my voice in song on occasion.”

“Let me hear you.”

She looked at him oddly.

“I wish to hear you sing.
Now.
”

She had always sung when she was happy and at peace with herself. Troubling times found her voice dormant, having no desire to raise it in song. And she certainly had no desire to raise it now for a man who would have no appreciation for the beauty of song.

She raised her hand to her throat. “My throat remains tender from your man's attempt to strangle me.”

“You would not have incurred his wrath if you would have surrendered.”

She shrugged. “As I said, my throat remains tender.”

“Try anyway.”

He was adamant but then so was she.

“I am sorry to disappointment you, but I cannot sing now.”

“Did you sing for the Dark One?”

His question startled her. It was his tone more than the question itself. Or was she wrong to think she heard jealousy in his voice?

She rubbed her throat. “I raised my voice in song for no one.”

He stared at her until she grew uncomfortable.

“I do not think you tell me the truth, especially about the Dark One.”

Was he fishing for information about Michael? Did he hope she would unwittingly supply him with information? Was he using her to get to Michael?

“I have told you what I know of the Dark One.”

“It seems that no one knows a thing about this mysterious shadow. He appears out of nowhere and vanishes without a trace. He must certainly practice the dark arts to be able to perform such magic.”

“I would not know.”

“You did not see him work any magic?”

He was searching for information to use against Michael if he ever caught him, and who better to get it from than the woman who would be his wife.

“I saw nothing out of the ordinary.”

“You think him a mere man with no extraordinary powers?”

Michael was no mere man to her. He was strong, brave, and unselfish, surrendering his own life so that tortured and condemned souls could know freedom.

“You hesitate,” Decimus said, gleefully, as if he had learned something from her.

“Of course I hesitate. How do I explain a man I know nothing of? We barely spoke since I had no voice. I simply followed him. As for extraordinary powers? I saw nothing that would make me believe he practices magic.”

“Good,” Decimus said with a single nod. “The Dark One is then an ordinary man and ordinary men make mistakes. I will be there when he makes his.”

Mary felt as if she had just betrayed Michael. She should have remained silent offering Decimus not a word. Instead she felt the need to defend Michael for she loved Michael with all her heart.

Unfortunately her love could do more harm than good. She had to remember to hold her tongue when Decimus queried her about the Dark One.

He held out his arm to her. “We go so that you may see to your wedding dress.”

He forever issued commands, never once asking but constantly telling what would be done. And she had no choice but to obey him; to refuse him would only cause anger and retribution.

She took his arm, keeping her touch light. By the time they reached the keep she was anxious to leave his side. The fearful looks he received as they walked through the village had upset her. How often would she see similar looks on other people? How could she tolerate a husband who caused such misery to so many?

Mary was quick to excuse herself.

“I will see you at supper.”

Another command by him, another performance by her. Only one day and she was already tiring of the act. What was she to do?

She voiced the troublesome thought as she entered the tower room where Reena and Brigid sat with piles of material.

“He is more obnoxious and demanding than I thought possible.”

“He is dangerous,” Brigid said. “You must be careful.”

Mary plopped down on the wool carpet where the women sat. “Decimus does not wish to hurt me. He wishes to tame me, bend me to his will, make me an obedient wife for all to see. Then he can bask in the glory of his achievement.”

“How long do you think you will be able to continue your masquerade of a dutiful wife?” Reena asked, examining the material.

“She does not have a choice,” Brigid reminded. “Her safety is at stake.”

Mary picked through the various materials and colors without notice. “You are right and perhaps that is what is so very frustrating. I have no choice.

“There is still time,” Reena said, attempting to offer hope. “Did you learn anything from him?”

“I think someone is betraying me though I cannot imagine who. Decimus implied that someone alerted him to my whereabouts, and then just moments ago he made mention of my penchant for singing. No one but Magnus knew of my love for raising my voice in song. And I know without a doubt he did not betray me.” Mary shivered and rubbed the gooseflesh that raced along her arms. “It does make me wonder, though—who else knows these things about me? And how?”