Princess Avenger - Brightcastle Saga Book 1 (25 page)

Ramón stared
at her, his knuckles white on the sword hilt, his other hand
grasping the blanket that wrapped his lower body. “All you ask! It
is too much.”

“Please,
Ramón.”

The squire’s
eyes moved to Vard, anger bordering on hate clouding his gaze.

She was asking
a lot. Would it prove too much? “He is my only chance of a life.
You know what awaits me if I stay.”

Ramón’s eyes
flicked back to hers, all the love and pity he felt for her
evident. Alecia’s heart ached at the wretched situation.

“What has he
done?” Ramón asked. “Other than let the prisoner escape.” His eyes
didn’t quite meet hers. “What foul deed has he committed this
night?”

Alecia
frowned. Would it help or hinder to answer that question? “Finus
and Captain Anton fought. My betrothed took liberties he should not
have…” She found she could not go on.

Ramón grasped
her hand and the blanket covering his nudity fell away. He didn’t
seem to notice. “I am sorry, Alecia. Do not talk if it pains you. I
take it the lord is dead?”

Alecia shook
her head. “I do not know. He was gravely wounded. I never wished
for his death.”

Ramón hugged
her to his chest in a brief squeeze while Alecia tried to erase the
image of his naked body from her mind. What must Vard be
thinking?

The squire
released her, still standing without cover. “Alecia, with Finus
dead, do you not think our union stands a chance?”

Vard growled
and Alecia tightened her grip on Ramón’s sword arm. She glanced
over her shoulder. Vard’s eyes held a feral sheen. A trickle of
blood slid down his throat from the squire’s sword.

Alecia looked
back at Ramón. “My father would never allow it. You know that. Any
hope on your part is baseless. I have already told you, there is a
girl out there who will love you utterly and completely. Just let
us go.”

She felt
Ramón’s grip on the sword tighten and she tensed, ready to stop him
from running Vard through. Then the sword dropped.

“Cover
yourself, man,” Vard said, sounding more angered by the squire’s
lack of clothes than by his near miss.

Even in the
dim light, Alecia watched a slow blush stain Ramón’s cheeks. He
handed Alecia the sword and pulled on a pair of breeches that lay
on the floor. She couldn’t help admiring the smooth lines of his
thighs and buttocks. Ramón retrieved his sword from Alecia before
handing her a candle from his bedside. “Take this and go,” he said,
“before I change my mind.”

Alecia took
the candle and grabbed Vard’s sleeve to pull him with her, but the
stubborn man did not move.

“I won’t
forget your help, Squire,” he said and held out his hand.

Ramón ignored
the hand. “Go and beware, Captain. The next time I see you, Alecia
may not be there to stay my hand.”

Alecia tugged
at Vard who just stared at Ramón. If only he could keep his
temper…

There was a
noise outside in the hall and Alecia hauled on Vard’s arm again.
“They are coming.”

Vard
turned and followed her to the tapestry of the dragon. He held it
aside while Alecia raised the candle, searching the wall for the
hidden latch that would open the passage. Doors along the hallway
crashed open. They must be searching this floor!
There!
She pulled the concealed lever
and a section of wall moved with a loud squeal. Alecia tried to
step through but Vard was there before her. He disappeared into the
dim passage and Alecia followed him.

“Thank you,
Ramón,” she said and pulled the lever that would close the door.
She caught one last glimpse of his forlorn face as the tapestry
fell back into place.

Alecia
hesitated, struck by the enormity of what she was doing. She was
abandoning everything she knew. Yes, she was running from a cruel
father and a miserable life but what future could Vard offer?
Perhaps he cared for her, though clearly his respect had diminished
after the events of this night. Her heart shrank at the thought of
how he must regard her now. If only she had fought Lord Finus
harder: been able to stop his wandering hands. And what of the
beast that lurked within Vard? How could she think of stepping into
the night with him?

Vard faced
her. “It’s too late for doubts now, Princess.”

“I know. It
does not make this easier.” She straightened her shoulders and met
his eye. “Lead on.”

The
passage was dark despite the candle, and the trip to the stairs
that led to the trapdoor outside the castle grounds was perhaps
three times longer than that she was used to.
This part of the passageway had not been
used in a long time and the tacky strands of cobwebs grabbed at her
as she passed, even with Vard leading, brushing them
away.

Finally, they
arrived at the stairs that led up to the trapdoor. Vard surprised
Alecia when he undid his sword belt and pulled the servant’s dress
from his body so that he stood in his boots and all-too-revealing
hose. She knew she should not stare, but her arm raised the candle
of its own volition, painting Vard’s glorious body in burnished
russets and golden hues. If she had admired Ramón, Vard’s form
pushed all thought from her head.

“The dress
encumbers me and we can’t risk anything slowing us down,” he said,
taking in her rapt attention. “My clothes are hidden in the park.
You’ll excuse my undress?”

Alecia’s
eyebrows shot upwards. “Excuse?” No other words came to mind.
Jumbled thoughts played leapfrog over one another in her brain. She
struggled to sort them, her eyes drinking in every line and plane
of his form; she was mesmerized by this half-naked man and yet
nervous of being alone with him.

He frowned at
her and slung his sword and belt over his shoulder. She admired his
thighs and buttocks as he climbed the stairs and the way his broad
shoulders and muscled arms heaved the trapdoor upwards. Dust sifted
from the ceiling as the door banged on the stone above and he
disappeared.

His head
reappeared seconds later. “All clear,” he said. “Climb the stairs
and snuff the candle before you exit.”

Alecia did as
she was told and Vard helped her out before lowering the trapdoor
into place. He grasped her hand and moved off towards the trees
that signalled the beginning of the forest. The darkness now hid
his form from her but Alecia did not need vision when she had
imagination. She berated herself for her distraction when the
danger was so great.

Vard led her
straight to a pile of clothes and Alecia marvelled at his ability
to find his things in the dark. Then she remembered that he must
have been able to track them by smell and felt the familiar
tightening of her stomach. It was cowardly to fear this side of
him, but she could not alter her reaction to the beast within.

There came
thuds and a rustling as Vard removed his boots and donned the
clothes he had left there. Howling eddied from the direction of the
castle and Alecia looked over her shoulder. Lights bobbed towards
them.

“They’ve
loosed the dogs,” Vard said, his voice muffled as he drew his shirt
over his head. “I feared the squire would betray us.”

Alecia frowned
in the darkness. “He would not!”

“He hasn’t
given up on you, Princess. He deludes himself that he can have a
future with you. Of course he’d betray you if he thought he could
get rid of me and raise his standing in your father’s eyes. It’s a
good plan.”

“Except I have
told him we have no future,” Alecia hissed through her teeth. “My
father would never allow it.”

“We’ve no time
to stand debating.” Vard grasped her hand and pulled her after him
into the trees.

Wounds and days of
confinement had sapped Alecia’s strength and she was no match for
Vard, or those who followed. The dogs and horses were gaining
ground and the only thing that kept her moving forward was Vard’s
grip on her fingers. Finally, chest burning, she pulled her hand
from Vard’s. A fit of coughing shook her. “I can’t go on,” she
gasped. “Leave me here and I will face them.”

His hand
grasped her shoulder. “I
will
see you to safety, whatever happens. Now come!”

“I cannot,
truly I cannot. Do not sacrifice yourself for me. Go!”

Alecia thought
she heard Vard grind his teeth. “There’s a way out, if you dare,”
he said.

“What?” She
was not sure she wished to hear, by the tone of his voice.

“You know what
I am. As the wolf, I can carry you, and the dogs will be less eager
to follow. Horses also hate wolves. You’ll have nothing to
fear.”

Alecia
stared, her thoughts frozen. “Wolf? I thought… you are the bear.
How can you also be a wolf?” In the midst of her shock, anger
flared.
Will
I ever truly know him?

Vard’s hands
caught hers. “Princess, they’re almost upon us. I have three animal
forms, but we don’t have time to talk now.”

“You should
have told me about the wolf, about all of it!” So much made sense
now; his horse’s fear, his uncanny grace of movement.

“Would it have
made you feel any better?” His words were ground out, his fingers
tight around hers. “Your decision, Princess.”

“Will I be
safe?” Could she ride a creature that might tear her to shreds in a
heartbeat?

“I believe
so.” Vard squeezed her fingers.

In that
moment, she loved him for giving her time, for not rushing her. But
what choice did she have?

The barking of
the dogs gained intensity as a gust of wind buffeted them. She saw
the lights of torches through the trees. Alecia closed her eyes,
reaching inside for strength. “Go ahead,” she said. “Do what you
must.”

Heat bloomed
beside her and she reached out her hands toward the warmth. Her
fingertips encountered soft fur. A deep growl rumbled at her touch
and she snatched her hands back. A cold, wet nose brushed against
her face and a tongue licked her cheek. Her intake of breath caused
another growl but a large shaggy body shoved against her. Could she
trust him?

She
must. Alecia reached out again and felt along the wolf’s neck until
she came to the shoulders. She took a deep breath and vaulted onto
its back, onto
his
back.

“It is Vard,”
she said to herself. “It is only Vard. All will be well.”

The huge wolf
bounded away, the gait like that of a horse, only smoother. The
powerful muscles of his limbs bunched and stretched beneath her.
She clutched his long hackles and gripped with her knees, becoming
one with the wolf. Sounds of pursuit fell away as they raced
through the woodland and entered the denser forest that lay north
of Brightcastle. The wolf stopped once for a drink at a stream and
Alecia strained her ears for sounds of pursuit, but the wind in the
trees and her racing heart were all she heard. When they continued,
they splashed in the shallows for some distance before gaining the
bank once again.

Finally, when
she felt she couldn’t hold on for another minute and her body was
slumped with exhaustion, her mount stopped. He whined. Alecia
didn’t need any further invitation to slide to the ground. Her legs
folded under her and she sat on the damp earth. It was too dark to
see her surroundings but she sensed Vard pad away and crawled after
him. She could have been crawling over a precipice, but Vard’s low
whines kept her shuffling forward until she felt dry dirt under her
fingers.

The air was
cold here but the wind had died. She shivered. Where had he taken
her? The panting of the wolf sounded a few paces away. He whined
once more. What would he do now that the danger was over? Would he
remember her? As she sat, her fingers fell upon the rough cloth of
a sack. She drew it into her lap and hugged the bag to her. They
appeared to be in a cave, the entrance to which was outlined by the
creeping light of a new day. When she looked in Vard’s direction
she could make out the huge form of the wolf. He licked his feet,
his eyes flickering to her uneasily.

The cave
continued to lighten and Alecia was able to see the magnificent
creature that had rescued her. He was massive, the largest wolf she
had ever seen. His thick pelt was a dark gray with lighter belly
hair, and his feet were the size of small dinner plates. Golden
eyes watched unblinking, glowing softly, as Alecia shuffled back
against the opposite wall of the cave. It was foolish to stare but
she couldn’t take her eyes from him.

The wolf
bounded to his feet and let out a whimper. Alecia yelped too and
flattened herself against the rock wall. The wolf padded towards
her, eyes fixed on hers. She had no weapon if he decided to attack
and even with one, she would have felt as helpless as a babe. Those
eyes were mesmerising; the pink tongue licked the black lips and
the mouth opened to reveal fearsome teeth, much larger than a
dog’s. In seconds, the wolf stood close enough that his hot breath
brushed her cheek. He stared for a moment then lay down, his belly
facing her. He whined again and began to lick his pads. Bloody
gashes marred the pads of three paws.

“I’m sorry you
suffered for me, Vard,” she whispered. She put her hand out and
rubbed the side of his chest. The wolf went on licking the pad of
his front foot, and as Alecia became more confident in her
stroking, the wolf sighed and lay back, eyes closed. She smiled and
shuffled closer to the beast that was Vard, finally laying her head
on his shoulder. He was so soft and Alecia was exhausted. In
moments, she fell asleep in the warm embrace of her rescuer.

When Vard awoke, he was
himself again: the human who was not quite human. The sharp pain of
loss hit him, and fear at feeling the loss. That hadn’t happened
before. His only teacher had warned him that with each
transformation he’d lose a little of his human self and become more
animal. The trouble was that Vard could phase into three different
creatures. Which one would he ultimately become and how long would
it take? Could the change be slowed or halted? The time had come to
find the answers.