Her Knight's Quest: A Warriors of the Mist Novel (16 page)

“Sigil, if you’ll excuse us, I need to talk to these two.”

Murdoch interceded. “Why don’t you wait for me over by the gate to the pasture? I told Jarod the two of us would give him a hand with the horses. I’ll be along shortly.”

Sigil nodded a second time. “If you’ll excuse me, Captain. Kane.”

Gideon waited until he was well out of hearing range before speaking again. “Kane, whether we hear from Duncan or not, you and Averel leave at dawn. It should be safe for the two of you to ride together for a while, but closer to the city, you’ll need to separate. No one should see the two of you together.”

Kane gave him a long, hard look. “We’ll be fine, Gideon.
I’ll
be fine.”

He should’ve known Kane would sense Gideon’s real worry. “I know that, but I’d feel better if one of the birds was going to be with you. Averel’s dogs run fast, but it will still take them longer to bring back messages.”

“Scim can find us if need be. He’s done it before.”

True, but the gyrfalcon had already been attacked by the duke’s magic. Gideon hated to put him at risk again. He loved his feathered companion, but he loved Lady Merewen even more. Besides, it was her safety that the Damned were sent to ensure. Any and all of them were expendable when it came to carrying out their mission.

Suddenly, he needed to see Merewen, to hold her while he could. “Let me know if you need any help getting ready, Kane. Murdoch, you’d better catch up with Sigil. The men seem to have accepted him since he’s started helping with the training, but let’s not tempt fate.”

Kane waited until Murdoch was gone to speak again. “If you don’t hear from Duncan soon, send Scim after us. The route to the capital closely parallels the one Duncan was following to the abbey for the first two days at least. It would be easy enough for us to change directions to check on him.”

“True, but it would also delay your arrival in the city. As you said, it will take time for you to find a way to join the duke’s guard.”

Then Kane asked, “When are the other landholders coming to meet with you?”

“In two days’ time. It would be nice to find some allies in this fight, but I don’t hold out much hope. Most will be reluctant to lend me their best fighters because that will weaken the defense of their homes. If I can’t convince them that the only way they’ll rid Agathia of the duke’s predations is to band together, then I fear for the success of our mission.”

And that would cost not only the Damned but Merewen herself dearly.

“You’ll convince them.”

Gideon wished he had Kane’s confidence. The one positive was that after he spoke to the leaders, he would know one way or the other if the Damned would be facing Keirthan with an army at their back or on their own. And from there they could plan their attack.

Kane had started to walk away but turned back one last time. “Gideon, trust in the Lady and in us as we all trust you. We’ve never failed before, and we won’t this time. Have faith. Doubt only weakens us all.”

Once again Kane was right. In battle, doubt and fear could kill as many warriors as the enemy did. He watched Kane round up Averel to start packing while Murdoch caught up with Sigil to help with the horses. It was definitely time to find Merewen and steal a few minutes from planning and plotting to be with the woman who held his heart in her hands.

Chapter 17

L
avinia quietly stepped into the library. Duncan was right where she expected him to be, hard at work, his fingers stained with ink as he took notes. When Duncan finally reached the end of a page, she spoke. “I thought I’d find you in here.”

Duncan looked up at her, obviously surprised to see her standing there. His pale eyes blinked rapidly against the brightness of the mage lantern she carried with her. “I didn’t get started as early as I’d meant to. It took a while to get the new guards settled in.”

“What are your first impressions? Are they what you expected?”

She knew he wouldn’t be sequestered here in the library if he was at all concerned about the men Musar had sent to her. Yet it provided an excuse to talk with Duncan.

“They are fine.” Then he smiled. “Actually, better than fine. I couldn’t have done a better job picking them myself. Over the years, I’ve known their kind before and recognize the type. They take their duties seriously but don’t have anything to prove.”

The burden of worry she’d been carrying lightened at the news. “I am most glad to hear that.”

Duncan continued. “After I leave, Josup will make a fine captain for your guard. The other men listen when he speaks and respect his opinion.”

She focused on what Duncan was telling her, trying her best to ignore the stab of pain that came from knowing he would soon disappear from her life.

“I’ll be sure to thank Musar. Having him handpick the men was a definite gift from the gods.”

She wandered closer to the table. “Have you found a new thread of information to follow?”

“I think so. I’ve found a few references to a blast of power that can kill at a distance.” Duncan frowned and shuffled through his notes. “I’m sure I wrote down which book to read next. It’s here somewhere. Once I track down that spell, I am hoping it will also indicate how to counter it.”

When he reached for another book, she stopped him by capturing his hand in hers. “You’ve done enough for one night, Duncan. You’ve had a long, busy day. So have I, and I cannot seek my own bed knowing you are still in here working.”

All right, that was a bit of a stretch of the truth, but he wouldn’t stop unless she made him. That much was clear.

She gave his hand a tug. “Tomorrow will be here soon enough, and you’ll think better after some sleep and a good breakfast.”

He stared down at their joined hands and then slowly raised his gaze to hers. There was a flash of heat in those pale eyes that hadn’t been there a second before. She really should let go and step back. It would be smarter than standing there wishing the table would simply disappear, leaving nothing standing between them.

Telling herself that he needed to straighten his notes and return the books to their shelf, she released his hand. As soon as she did, she missed that small connection.

Duncan didn’t say anything as he stowed the books and papers where they’d be protected, saving back one page covered with his neat script. He folded it until it fit in a small pouch he then tucked into his belt. How odd. When at last he was finished, she started to restore the wards, but he stopped her.

“Let me.”

Surprised by his request, she lowered her hands and let him take over, even though he was clearly uncomfortable using magic, even such a simple spell. This time the wards popped back into place smoothly. Despite his obvious misgivings, he had a knack for it. Deciding that particular opinion wouldn’t please him, she kept it to herself.

“I wanted to make sure that I have that spell memorized.”

Duncan sounded a bit gruff, maybe even a bit embarrassed.

She blew out the candles and picked up the mage lantern to light the way for them. He picked up his shield as they walked out. He eyed the light with a frown.

“How does that work?”

“It’s another small spell. I like it because it doesn’t carry the same danger as open flames do around books and papers. Touch it if you’d like.”

When she held it higher to give Duncan a closer look, he cautiously tested the glass with his fingertips.

“Warm but not hot.” He tipped his head to the side to better study the lantern. “If they’re safer, why don’t you use them throughout the abbey?”

She shrugged. “Not many can command the spell, and not everyone is comfortable around magic. I use it only when I’m alone or in my private quarters.”

As they started walking again, she added, “The spell is similar in nature to the one you’ve mastered for the wards. I can teach it to you if you would find it useful.”

She could see that he was clearly tempted by her offer, but finally he shook his head. “Let me think about that. I certainly can understand the value of such a spell when working around rare and fragile manuscripts and books.”

They’d reached the door to her private garden. “If you decide you’d like me to show you the spell, let me know.”

When she started outside, he remained where he was. Was something wrong? “Duncan, aren’t you coming?”

“I’m sorry, Lavinia. I think I should move back to the guest quarters with the other men. I’ll gather up my things and go now. If you don’t mind, there’s one thing I need to do here in the garden first.”

Rather than merely nodding, she asked, “Were these quarters unsatisfactory?”

He stared down at her before looking past her toward the door on the far side of the garden—hers, not his. “Not at all. I worry what the men, as well as the sisters, will think if I continue to share your private quarters, even if I am sleeping in a separate room. I would not want to call your reputation into question.”

“But I trust you.” She sounded needy to her own ears.

Those oddly pale eyes flashed hot again. “Mayhap it is myself I don’t trust, Lavinia.”

How was she supposed to respond to that? No doubt a wiser woman would thank him for his concern and then stand back out of the way while he gathered his things. He was right. Having him move back to the guest quarters would be the best thing for both their sakes.

But right now, she didn’t want what was best for her. Not if it meant seeing Duncan only from across the dining hall at meal times or the odd moment they could share in the library.

Before she could say anything, Duncan brought his shield out of his room over to the bench and propped it against the wall. Turning toward her, he said, “You might want to cover your eyes.”

“What are you going to do?”

He gestured toward the shield. “That’s not simply a painting of an owl. It truly is Kiva, my companion and avatar.”

Before she could think of a coherent thing to say, Duncan murmured a series of words in the old tongue. She’d wielded enough magic herself to recognize the power in each word he uttered. After he said the last word, there was a heavy silence followed by a flash of light that nearly blinded her.

She threw her arm up to shield her eyes, but it was too late. When her vision cleared, Duncan was standing there with an enormous owl sitting on his arm. Where had that bird come from? But a glance at the shield, empty now except for the black outline of an owl, answered that question.

“Duncan, what kind of magic is this?”

“A gift from the gods.” He smiled as he stroked the bird’s chest feathers with his free hand. “I found him when he was but a young fledgling and barely able to fly. When the Lady of the River took me into her service, she allowed him to come with me.”

Despite the evidence right there in front of her, Lavinia struggled to believe what her eyes were telling her. “I saw him in the scrying bowl. He’s real.”

Duncan chuckled. “Very. Come pet him. Kiva has always liked the ladies.”

She did as he suggested, enjoying the soft tickle of Kiva’s feathers against her fingers. The bird’s huge amber eyes stared at her with an unsettling amount of intelligence, as if he could read her thoughts.

“He’s handsome.” Like his owner.

“He certainly thinks so. I swear, he spends half the night preening.” Duncan carried Kiva over to the bench and waited for the bird to hop down. When he reached for the small pouch containing the note, its purpose became clear.

“You use him to carry messages.” Amazing.

“Yes. I’m already late in sending a report to my captain. Kiva will get it to him faster than the fastest courier could.”

When the pouch was securely tied to Kiva’s leg, Duncan once again offered the bird his arm. He stroked the bird’s head one last time before flinging him upward. With a quick series of powerful strokes, Kiva caught the night air under his wings and soared up into the darkening sky. He circled overhead several times before winging his way westward. She thought she heard him call out right before he disappeared from sight, as if saying farewell.

“That was amazing.”

Duncan continued to watch the sky for several seconds. “I know. Even after all this time, I feel blessed to have him in my life. It will take Kiva at least two nights to reach Gideon and return. That’s the longest we’ll have been apart in centuries.”

Then he looked a bit embarrassed, as if he’d revealed too much. “I should get my things now. The hour grows late.”

“You don’t have to be alone, Duncan. Stay here tonight.” Then, to make sure he understood what she was really offering, she walked over and bolted the door to her office, ensuring no one else could enter her private garden. Then she added, “Stay here with me.”

He’d already started for the small room where he’d slept the past couple of nights. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Maybe.” Then she admitted the truth. “But I’m scared of what I feel for you.”

To make sure he understood that didn’t mean she’d changed her mind, she once again took his hand and tugged him farther out into the garden. With a shy smile, she whispered the words to dim the lantern.

Then it was just the two of them, alone in the shadows, the only illumination coming from the moon overhead. The spicy, sweet scent of the flowers and the silvered light gave the whole garden its own magic, a small world to be shared by only two.

If Duncan was willing. He’d yet to do more than stand there, the sharp edges of his handsome face stark in the pale light. She turned away, on the verge of retreating to the safety of her room when he finally spoke.

“You weave a powerful spell, my lady, with nothing more than a smile.”

Duncan eased close to stand behind her. “I dreamt of your beauty that first night after I saw your face in the moon overhead. You have haunted my dreams ever since.”

His hands began to gently unbraid her hair, letting it tumble down her back. Odd that such a simple thing could feel so intimate, more so than even a kiss. Then she felt the tickle of his breath against her skin as he nuzzled the side of her neck.

“Your beauty is something to be savored slowly.”

Her scholar possessed the words of a poet. She leaned back against the hard strength of his warrior’s body and arched her head to the side in encouragement. He murmured his approval as his fingertips trailed down her shoulders to settle at her waist.

“How far do you want this to go, Lavinia? Although I would be grateful for even this much, I want so much more.”

If it hadn’t been for the deep huskiness in his voice, she might have doubted the truth of that. What would it take to rattle his incredible control?

She turned to kiss the side of his jaw and was rewarded by a small tremor that rolled through his big body. “I want it all, Duncan, everything you have to offer.”

“I can’t offer you everything, Lavinia. My life and soul belong to the goddess. However, I promise to give you every minute that I can.”

She understood being bound by the chains of obligations and promises. “Then that will be enough, Duncan.”

For the first time, she faced him directly. As he watched, she unfastened the belt of her robes and loosened the ties to let it slide down off her shoulders to pool at her ankles. Duncan offered her his hand as she stepped out of her slippers.

Wearing nothing more than a chemise left her feeling a bit chilled in the evening air, her nipples pebbling up, the soft cloth abrading her most sensitive skin. Yet she found herself reluctant to immediately retire to her bedroom.

Duncan stepped back to remove his belt and sword. His own tunic quickly followed; yet he hesitated before removing anything else.

She tested the smooth strength of his shoulder with the palm of her hand. “Kiss me.”

“Anything you desire, my lady.”

Duncan caught her up in his arms, holding her tight against the heated flesh of his chest, yet making her feel so fragile and feminine in his embrace. His mouth found hers and then all ability to speak or even think disappeared completely.

*  *  *

Duncan swept past the barrier of Lavinia’s lips with his tongue, plunging deep, savoring the sweet flavors to be found there. As he tasted and explored her mouth, his hands learned the lush curves of her body. The robes had done little to disguise how perfectly she was built, but exploring all that soft, womanly flesh with nothing more than a whisper of linen between them had him aching for more.

She deserved a gentle wooing, not a mad rush to have her on her back. He lifted her up without breaking off the kiss and retreated to the bench that ran along the wall behind them.