Midnight Warrior (27 page)

Alice chuckle. It didn’t surprise her. The impudent scamp could probably make a dying woman laugh.

As if he felt Adwen’s gaze on him, he looked up and met her eyes. He smiled brilliantly and his expression was filled with understanding and a little wistfulness that was near irresistible. He wanted her to come to him.

Too high a price, she reminded herself desperately. Much too high.

Gage did not return to the camp until just before dawn.

Safe! Relief surged through Brynn as she saw him. Even in the half-darkness no one could mistake Gage’s giant silhouette. Brynn watched the riders trot up the hill; no pennants flying this night. The company looked as weary as Brynn felt.

Brynn walked forward to meet them at the edge of the camp.

Gage’s stallion reared as she stepped out of the bushes, but he was weary too and Gage quickly had him under control. Not so his temper.

“Haven’t you been to sleep?” he asked roughly. “How much do you think you can stand?”

“As much as you.” She braced herself, afraid to ask the question.

She didn’t have to. Gage shook his head and said, “We didn’t find him. So you may go to your rest with a clear mind. No blood has been spilled to taint you.” He turned to LeFont. “Have the men get a few hours rest and then go back to Redfern and see what you can salvage. Blankets, food, anything.” He glanced back at the smoldering, blackened ruins. “God knows, it won’t be much.”

“And what do we do with them?” LeFont asked.

“We try to make these people as comfortable as we can while you rebuild their homes.”

“Build?” LeFont recoiled in horror. “I am a soldier. I do not build.”

“Then it should give you reason to find craftsmen who can do the task for you,” Gage said. “Quickly. I want dwellings here before the first snow. Stone dwellings and the castle will also be stone. As strong and impenetrable as Bellerieve.”

“Why are you doing this?” Brynn asked in bewilderment. “Are you going to accept Redfern from William as your own?”

“Perhaps. It’s close enough to the sea for trade. The ground is fertile.”

“Perhaps? You’re expending a great deal of effort and money if you aren’t certain.”

“Then I’ll have to have my coffers replenished, won’t I?” He turned to LeFont again. “If you can find craftsmen and workers within the week, I’ll put Gillaume in charge of the building and you can accompany us on our journey.”

LeFont did not even ask their destination. He was too relieved to be rid of the ignominy of relinquishing his sword. “I’ll find them. If I have to send back to Normandy, I assure you that you’ll have your craftsmen.” He dismounted and motioned the other soldiers to follow suit. “Four hours rest. No more.”

Brynn watched the men disperse. “This is most strange. Why?”

Gage dismounted. “I don’t like random destruction. It offends me. There’s destruction in war, but it’s done with a purpose in mind.”

“Tell that to the innocents who get in the way of your purpose.”

“There are few innocents left in the world.” He wearily rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll not make excuses for myself. I do what has to be done to live and prosper in this world.” His gaze searched among the sleeping bodies. “Where is Malik?”

“Over there.” Brynn gestured to a pallet beneath the tree. “He’s exhausted. He and Adwen insisted on helping me.”

“But he had the good sense to lie down and go to sleep when his strength ran out.” His tone roughened. “For God’s sake, go and rest.”

“I will.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “I was only waiting for you to return.”

“To see if I brought you Richard’s head?”

“No, I wanted …” She was too tired to hide and protect herself. “I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

He went still. “You did?”

“Of course I did. Do you think me so hard that I would wish that monster to live and you die?”

“I don’t know what to think of you. I’ve never met a woman who would cast off a man for saving her life.”

“I wasn’t in danger.”

“Delmas nearly killed you,” he said savagely. “The next time he might have done it.”

“It was wrong.” She swallowed. “I will not be Bathsheba. I will not live with you with that sin on my soul.”

“The hell you won’t!” His eyes blazed down at her. “I won’t be cast off, Brynn. I will have your body. I’ll worry about your soul later.” He was silent, struggling for control. “We will leave for Gwynthal in two weeks. I give you that much time to heal, mourn your pig of a husband, and prepare yourself to come back to my bed.”

“You are too generous, my lord.”

“Yes, I am.” He turned and strode away from her.

She would not do it. She must fight him. If she allowed herself to fall once again under that sensual spell, she did not know if she would have the strength to walk away from him when they reached Gwynthal. He knew her body so well, how to please it, how to make it crave and burn. Sweet Mary, even the memory was making her breasts swell. She must forget him, block the thought of him away from her.

She turned and walked to the pallet she had prepared for herself beside Alice. Think of Alice. Poor Alice, who would bear Richard of Redfern’s child.

Brynn could have a child. If she went again to Gage’s bed, within a year she might bear his child. The idea brought no revulsion, only a melting, aching tenderness. Gage’s child …

She should feel fear and despair at the thought of bearing a bastard. Not joy. Not love.

Love.

Dear God, save her. Let it not be true.

She did not want to love this warrior, who was so foreign to everything she believed. She did not want to accept the truth that because she had loved and yielded, a man had died.

But it had happened.

And she did love Gage Dumont with all her being.

She was not even surprised. How long had she been fighting the knowledge that was now here before her? It did not change anything except make the sorrow more intense. She could not have Gage. To take him into her body and her heart would be to reward herself for an act that she must not condone.

Gage’s child …

Perhaps she could not have Gage, but what of his child? Something of him could be her own. Surely she could be granted this boon?

But could she bear to leave him after the child was born?

The answer was a swift and violent no, and she felt tears sting her eyes. No, she could not have even this gift. After they reached Gwynthal she must leave him and make the cut clean and final.

“We must talk,” Gage said as he dropped down beside her before the fire. “Rather, you must talk.”

“About what?” Brynn asked warily. It was the first
time he had approached her during the past ten days. They had both gone their separate ways: she caring for the refugees and helping to erect shelter here on the hillside, he supervising the start of the rebuilding of Redfern down in the valley below.

“Tell me about Gwynthal.”

“I’ve told you about Gwynthal.”

“Not enough. I have no intention of starting a journey to a land that could be beset with enemies without my knowing more about it.” He paused. “And if there is true reason for the journey besides your desire to go home.”

“You still think I lied to you?”

“No, but I need you to tell me. You were not entirely honest with me regarding your reasons for coming to Redfern.” He stared into the flames. “You’ve led a hard life. I wouldn’t blame you for saying anything that would rid you of your enemies. I won’t be angry or condemn you. If you wish so desperately to go to your Gwynthal, I will take you there. Treasure or no.”

Warmth flooded through her as she looked at him. She did not want to feel this softness. She wished he would be hard, unfair. It was difficult to keep armor in place when he displayed such generosity. “I didn’t lie. There is a treasure.”

“Where did it come from?”

“Plunder. War.” She smiled sadly. “Where do most great treasures come from? I’ll not be sad to see it gone from Gwynthal.”

“Whose plunder?”

“Hevald’s. He was a great warrior who lived many centuries ago. He came from Wales but fought and won many battles from the Saxons here in England. He was much renowned and many legends and tales were told about him. But he grew weary of battle and blood and decided to renounce all he had been before. He took his
beautiful new bride, his officers and wagons filled with gold and jewels, and returned to the land of his birth.”

“Gwynthal?”

“No, Kythe in Wales. But Kythe was also torn by war and dissent. So he left Kythe and traveled farther west to the sea. He stayed at the village of Selkirk for four months while he built a ship. Then he and his followers set sail, seeking a place to settle in peace.” She added simply, “He found Gwynthal. An island without war because it had no people.”

“And how far away is this island?”

“Two days by ship after we leave Selkirk.”

“So close?” He raised his brows. “And yet this treasure has remained undiscovered for centuries?”

“Gwynthal is guarded by high cliffs. From the sea there appears no way to dock a ship near it.”

“But you know a way?”

“Of course, it’s where I was born.”

“Then why didn’t you stay there?”

“My father was not content in Gwynthal. He said it was too serene.” Her lips curved bitterly. “He was like you. He found life without conflict like meat without salt.”

He did not answer the challenge. “But you said he left your mother and you.”

“Not before she followed him to Kythe.” She was silent a moment before she blurted out, “What could he expect of her? He knew when he wed her she was not like those other women. She was a healer. She had to give to them. In Gwynthal it was accepted, but in Kythe …”

“They called her a witch.”

“Not at first. They merely thought her odd and unwomanly. Then, over the years, it changed. She was too strong, too strong for them, too strong for my father. I think it was when they saw my father desert her that they truly began to fear her.” She closed her eyes, shutting
away the memories. “I don’t want to talk anymore. Is it enough?”

“Yes.” She thought she sensed him reaching out to her but felt no touch. “Answer one more question. Who on Gwynthal will I have to fight for this treasure?”

“No one.” She opened her eyes and swallowed to ease the dryness in her throat. “No one knew of the treasure but my mother. She was descended from Hevald’s chief adviser, Bentar, who was given the task of hiding the treasure when they reached Gwynthal. When Hevald died he gave his treasure to Bentar and since then the knowledge of the hiding place was passed on from eldest child to eldest child in the family.”

“And she told you of its whereabouts?”

Brynn nodded. “And gave me her ruby talisman to wear around my neck. I was wearing it when Delmas found me in the forest. He took it from me.”

“And I’d wager Richard took it from him.”

“Perhaps. There’s been no sign of him?”

“No.”

“He will follow us, won’t he?” she whispered. “He’s waiting somewhere, watching us … I can feel it.”

“I hope he does follow us.”

So he could kill him. She shivered and drew her cloak closer about her. “I do not. I don’t want him near us.”

“Because he’ll taint your beautiful Gwynthal?”

Let him believe that if he wished, she thought. Let him believe she cared more for a place than for him. Don’t let him realize that every time he appeared on her horizon, Gwynthal appeared to be fading farther and farther in the distance. “He has no place at Gwynthal.”

His lips curved in a bitter smile. “Another intruder to be cast out of your Eden?” He made a motion with one hand as she opened her lips to reply. “Oh, I agree he has no place there, but he does have a place in hell
and I shall endeavor to send him there.” His glance shifted back to the fire. “We leave for your Gwynthal at dawn the day after tomorrow.”

She was finally going home. It was difficult to believe. “Truly?”

“Providing you’re sure you remember the way to your Gwynthal. I have no doubt I could find a guide to this Wales, but after that we’ll be at a loss.”

“You need not find a guide. I remember every tree, every turn of the road of the journey.”

He raised his brows. “It was a long time ago.”

“It’s the way home,” she said simply. “When Delmas brought me here I knew I’d find a way to go back.”

“But you had no idea you’d be so unfortunate as to be in the company of a lowly Norman.” He paused. “You should know I have no intention of giving you your freedom once we reach there. No one ever said I wasn’t greedy. I want the treasure and I want you. I intend to have you both.”

“You may have the treasure, but when we reach Gwynthal I’ll take my freedom and you won’t be able to stop me.”

“We will see.” He rose to his feet and stood looking down at her before he said, “But we are
not
alike.”

“What?”

“I’m not like your father. Like him, I may grow bored without a challenge but that is our only similarity. No matter what you did, I would stand firm. I would never leave you.” His low voice rang with intensity. “I would fight in your cause. I would let no man, woman, or creature on this earth hurt you. I would battle all your dragons, Brynn of Falkhaar.”

Before she could reply, he had turned and walked away. It was just as well, she thought dazedly; she did not know how any woman should respond to such a declaration.

Shut it away. Don’t think of those impassioned words.

Easy to say. Impossible to do.

I would battle all your dragons, Brynn of Falkhaar
.

The day of their departure dawned clear and cold but no colder than Gage’s expression when he saw the wagon. He rode across the camp to where Brynn and Malik were stowing blankets and food in the wagon’s bed.

“What is this? Unload this wagon. We’re taking only mounts and pack horses.”

“We’ll need the wagon.”

“Wagons break down, their wheels get stuck in mud and snow. I want to travel fast.”

“We’ve waited this long.” She placed another folded blanket in the wagon. “A few days longer on the journey won’t matter.”

“It will be more than a few days if it starts to snow. Tell her, Malik.”