Dark Warrior (17 page)

Mary smiled with joy and bowed several times before returning to her seat.

Decimus said nothing to her, though he stared at her with heated eyes. Surely she would suffer for her insolence, but she did not care. Her singing had restored her soul. She felt nourished and complete.

Decimus would impose his punishment, though, and one that was much too costly to her. He kept her at the table while he spoke with Magnus about nonsense. One by one the others drifted off to bed, the hall emptied, and still he would not let her go, no matter how many times she requested to take her leave. He denied her until she herself drifted off to sleep in her chair.

Decimus woke her and she saw the hall was empty and they were alone.

“I give you permission to leave,” he said.

She struggled to stand, groggy from being woken from her sleep. She bowed her head and walked off.

“Mary.”

She turned to face him.

“Never go against my orders again.”

She bowed her head and felt herself close to tears as she left the room. Decimus mattered not, but Michael did, and she feared she had missed his visit.

She climbed the stairs slowly, her body still heavy with sleep. She entered her bedchamber, locking the latch behind her and looking around the room.

“Michael,” she called out softly.

Nothing emerged from the shadows, and her shoulders slumped in disappointment. She walked to her bed discarding her clothes along the way and stopped, her eyes misting with tears. There on her pillow, on a piece of cloth, lay a bunch of berries.

Michael had been there and had brought her berries just like he had done when they were together. And she had missed his visit.

She wrapped the cloth around the berries and held them to her chest. “I miss you and I love you so very much.”

She crawled into bed with a heavy sadness in her heart, and with the cloth of berries snug in her hand, slept.

She dreamed Michael was touching her, kissing her, whispering words of love to her, and she did not want the dream to end. She fought against opening her eyes, fought against letting him go again.

“Open your eyes, Mary. The room is dark and I want you to know that it is me making love to you.”

M
ary slowly opened her eyes, still afraid she was dreaming. The room was dark, the near-dying fire's light barely casting a glow in the room. Above her loomed a shadow.

“Michael?” she whispered.

“I told you I would come.” He brushed his lips over hers.

“I thought it too late, that I had missed you.”

“I could not go without seeing you.”

“Go?” she asked anxiously. “You are leaving? How long will you be gone?” The thought that she might not see him for some time sent an uneasiness rushing through her, settling heavily in her stomach.

“I have work to do, Mary,” he reminded.

“I can help.”

“We will see. Now, no more talk,”
he whispered. “I want to make love to you.”

“I have missed touching you.” She walked her fingers slowly up his arms, over his chest, and then down his hard belly.

“Careful,” he warned, “or this will be a short evening together.”

They both laughed and kissed, their hands reaching out to touch and love each other with a fierce tenderness born of a solid love.

His lips captured her nipples and he enjoyed the taste of her so sweet and tender. He had little time until dawn, but he did not wish to rush. He wanted to linger and savor every inch of her before he took his leave with dawn's first light.

She moaned and he reminded her that she must remain silent. She quickly stifled her heated response, fearful they might be caught.

His hands roamed her soft silky flesh, coming to rest between her legs. He gently enticed her to respond, and she did immediately, stirring his own passion just as quickly. It had not been long since their last time together but it seemed like an eternity. And now he wanted an eternity to make love to her.

She climaxed with a soft sigh and he smiled, though she could not see it. He wanted to please her over and over, only then would he join with her.

Mary attempted to have her way with him, but he was in total control on this night, and she could do nothing but surrender to his love.

After several soft sighs spilled from her lips, Michael slipped over and into her. She grasped his arms as he brought her to the peak of ecstasy, and together they spiraled into oblivion.

It took a while for their breathing to return to normal and for their racing hearts to calm. In the meantime they remained locked in each other's arms, refusing to let go, refusing to allow this moment to end, refusing to say goodbye once again.

Michael rolled off her and shifted her to rest against his side. She went willingly, wanting to remain beside him as long as possible.

When his breathing finally calmed he asked, “How goes it with you and Decimus?”

“He is an ignorant, arrogant fool.”

“He is no fool,” he warned.

“You are right,” she reluctantly admitted. “His beliefs are so strong that it makes him dangerous.”

“Can you wed a dangerous man?”

“Do I have a choice?” She tapped his chest. “You are a dangerous man but I would wed you willingly.”

“Do you propose to me?”

She walked her fingers over his chest, up to his mouth, to slowly stroke his lips. “Would you wed me if you could?”

He took hold of her finger. “I would wed you as fast as I could and forever keep you mine.”

She locked her fingers with his and held them firm. “Then know this now, this moment, this day, I pledge my love to you. I will give my love to no other, my heart is yours, my soul is yours, and I am yours
forever and always.
”

“We exchange vows then here and now, I pledge my love to you. My heart and soul are yours now and beyond time. I give them freely to you. I will keep your love safe in my heart and see that no harm comes to it, and I swear by our love that I will see no harm come to
you.
”

They kissed to seal their vows and Mary felt at peace. It did not matter now what vows she exchanged with Decimus for she had already exchanged vows with Michael. In her heart Michael was her husband forever and always.

“Sleep,” he said and held her tight.

She knew he did not wish to say goodbye again, and he would leave her in sleep as he did the last time. She wanted to ask when she would see him again, but kept silent. She was content at this moment and she would leave it so.

She snuggled against him and fell asleep with a peaceful heart.

Morning dawned with beautiful skies and Reena asked Mary to join her as she walked the woods to draw plants. Old Margaret the healer had asked Reena if she would record the plants and their properties so that she could teach others her skills.

Mary was thrilled to participate in Reena's project and glad to be away from the keep and Decimus. It would also give her time alone to talk with Reena.

Mary dressed in the plain skirt and blouse Glenda had given her. She felt comfortable in the clothes; they were who she was. The richer materials did not suit her, and she was uncomfortable wearing them.

Her wedding dress held no interest. She was grateful Brigid had the project well in hand.

After she slipped on her soft leather boots and grabbed her brown shawl in case the weather should change, Mary left her room and hurried down the steps to meet Reena at Old Margaret's cottage.

At the bottom of the steps she turned the corner and ran into Decimus. Their bodies hit, and Decimus reached out to grab her arms and steady them.

She almost recoiled from the sweet scent that permeated the air around him. She could not quite place the scent, though she had smelled it on him before, but not as strongly. The strength in which he held her reminded her of his power and how truly imprisoned she was.

The thought made her want to flee.

“In a hurry?”

Had he sensed her eagerness to be gone from him?

She kept her calm, not wanting to diminish her chance of joining Reena for her outing. “Aye, my lord.”

“Where do you go?”

She should have known he would want to know her whereabouts. Would he question her plans? Not if he did not know them.

“I go to meet Reena.”

“Good, you work on plans for the wedding.”

If he said so that was fine with her.

“I wish to talk with you later.”

“Have I done something to offend?” she asked, not wanting to concern herself with the reason for their talk.

“It is time for you to know exactly what I expect of you as my wife.”

Mary nodded. “As you wish.” It would be better for him to detail her duties, then she would know what to expect and how to behave, and how she could use both to her advantage.

She lowered her head, averting her eyes from his, and waited for him to dismiss her.

To her surprise he slipped his finger under her chin and lifted her head until their eyes met.

“Tell me, Mary, have you ever kissed a man?”

He played with her and she intended to win the game.

“My lord,” she said, spreading her eyes wide. “It would not be proper to kiss a man who is not your husband.”

His nostrils flared; she had won.

“Go, I will speak with you later.”

“Have a good day, my lord,” she said with a slight bow of her head and stepped around him, keeping her pace unhurried, though she wished to run. She did not want him to know she wanted nothing more than to escape his presence.

“Mary!”

His booming voice stopped her cold, shivers running through her. She turned reluctantly and he waited for her to return to his side. She walked over to him.

“My lord?”

“Why do you wear peasant clothes?”

Her hands grabbed at the sides of her plain brown skirt. Her mind thought fast. “Reena and I are foraging the woods for flowers and greenery appropriate for my headdress. I did not wish to soil or ruin my fine garments.”

“You may go,” he said satisfied with her explanation.

This time she hurried her steps, though not so anyone noticed, and once outside the hall doors she picked up her pace and made a dash for Old Margaret's cottage.

Mary entered the cottage; the front door was open, welcoming all.

“You look well this fine day,” Old Margaret said.

Mary smiled. “How could I not on this beautiful day.”

“I am pleased that you will be helping Reena record my plants.”

“I look forward to learning as I help,” Mary said, always eager to gain new knowledge.

“Good, go then and enjoy, though be careful of the storm.”

“And here I thought the day would remain sunny,” Reena said, handing a basket covered with a cloth to Mary and slinging a leather pouch over her shoulder.

“The tempest begins,” Old Margaret warns. “And does not settle soon.”

The two women took heed of her warning and walked to the door.

“Mary,” Old Margaret said, “a moment of your time?”

Reena walked out the door leaving the two women to talk.

“Be careful, Mary, you glow with love.”

Mary placed her hand to her heart. “It shows.”

“I see what others do not, but your love is strong and will refuse to remain hidden. Others will soon see.”

“Thank you for the warning.”

“God be with you, Mary. Your task will not be easy.”

Mary joined Reena and they spoke not a word until they entered the safety of the woods.

“Is everything all right?” Reena asked.

“I pray so.” Mary did not wish to burden Reena with more problems nor chance her knowing anything that could bring her harm.

They set to work searching for plants. Reena would do quick sketches of the plant while Mary recorded the conditions surrounding it.

“It is good that you can write and read, few do,” Reena said.

“My parents felt it was important for me to understand many written and oral languages.”

“My mother felt the same,” Reena said. “And while I protested when I was young, I am grateful for my knowledge now.”

They stopped to eat, the basket packed with bread, cheese, and cider.

“You carry more of a burden than you tell,” Reena said, the large tree branches shading the spot where they sat. “Did Old Margaret see something that upset you?”

“She is a seer?”

“More a healer, though at times she sees things,” Reena said. “Perhaps she saw what is obvious. You look different this morning. Happier, more content.”

Mary silently chastised herself for being foolish. She had felt happier this morning. Though Michael had been gone when she woke, his scent had remained on her pillow and she had hugged it to her. The memories of the night before brought a smile to her face that she could not shed. She had not thought that others would see a change in her, but there had been a change. She had made love with the man she loved, and it had filled her with joy and peace.

Reena reached out to her. “I keep a good confidence.”

Mary trusted her; she needed to. She needed a friend to share her burden with. “The Dark One came to me last night.”

“You love him very much?”

Mary nodded. “I have never looked upon his face, but it matters not, for I know his heart.”

“You must be careful; he must be careful.”

“I know. I worry that our love will place him in jeopardy. I worry that he will take chances that he should not take, and I worry that we will not be together.”

“Too much of a burden for one to carry alone,” Reena said.

“I have carried many burdens. I had hoped one day my load would be lightened.”

“Miracles do happen.”

“All the time,” Mary said.

“I have been thinking,” Reena said. “The information we have gathered has been insufficient in finding out how Decimus tracked you down, and it appears that you and the Dark One remained barely a few steps ahead of him in his pursuit. Is there anyone you know that may connect the Dark One, Decimus, and you?”

“I have met a few people who know both men, though they knew naught of me. And then there is Roarke, but again he did not know me. I thought Magnus sent the Dark One to help me, but how did he learn of my need?”

“We've learned a man overheard two others who spoke of your plight and contacted the Dark One. When the Dark One learned that it was Decimus who searched for you, he knew that Magnus was your protector.”

“Who was this man who contacted the Dark One? And what interest did he have in me?”

Reena shook her head. “I do not know and the Dark One never told Magnus the man's identity.”

“Perhaps this mysterious man is the link to my being betrayed,” Mary said.

“And why now after all these years would someone betray you?”

“Perhaps he is more foe than friend,” Mary suggested.

“Then that would mean another hunts you.”

“Or that another looks after me?”

“There is only one person who can answer that question,” Reena said.

“The Dark One,” they said in unison.