Queen of Jastain (37 page)

Abigail spoke up. “I could do it and Implant out before—”

Fear and horror overcame Avant before the words left her mouth. “
No.
You could not.” He thundered. “I will not allow it.”

His gaze traveled the room. Everyone had frozen in silence, staring wide-eyed at him. He had not intended to sound so stern. Schooling his face, he spoke softly, “Abigail, you're too important to risk your life. You'll stay here at the manor during the battle.”

The others looked at her. Her eyes smoldered like a glowing blade on the forger's anvil. “I’m not staying here. I’m going with you.” She crossed her arms over her chest and set her face in determination.

He rubbed his forehead. “This is not up for discussion; you
will
stay here.”

“No…I will not, and there is no way, in this world or any world, you can make me,” she growled petulantly.

His pulse throbbed in his temples. The desire to throw her over his knee compelled him to press his fist into his side and pace to the window.

The group silently watched the volley.

Petra spoke diplomatically, trying to diffuse the tension that clouded the room. “Abby, I don’t like the idea of you being in battle either, but perhaps we can come up with an agreeable compromise.”

“Me either, Abs,” said Lyndsea.

Avant released the breath he’d been holding and turned to look at Chad, who held up his hands in neutrality.
Coward. Perhaps he's not mine after all.

Upon hearing he had reinforcements, Avant’s voice steadied. “This is not something we will decide right now. We still need to determine battle strategy.”

Abigail fumed in his mind.
“You will not allow it, my ass! This is absolutely not decided.”
She stood and stomped from the room, like a spoiled child.

Avant sighed. He would appease her later, but she could not be allowed into battle. And that was that. He turned his attention back to Chad. “Is Abigail’s carriage capable of crossing water two feet deep?”

Chad narrowed his eyes and looked to the ceiling. “I’d have to check the owner’s manual, but I seem to remember that the under-carriage has a specific depth capacity.”

“What are you thinking, Avant?” Petra asked.

“We could travel to the Northern Passage of the River Itehris and subdue the king’s troops there, cross into the Valley of Umbra, and come to the castle by way of the southeastern road. Aesdil will have minimal troops to the south, not expecting an attack from that direction. The key will be to make certain we quickly capture all of the troops at the river. We must contain every one of them from reporting back to him before our arrival from the south,” Avant said.

They mapped out their battle plan in detail. Chad could have the X-terra completed in a week’s time, and Avant could mobilize the troops by then. After the plans were settled, Avant headed to her room.

* * * *

Rap. Rap. Rap.
Abby glanced at the door, and her pulse jumped. She’d already dressed for bed and was now brushing her hair, because her hands needed something to do. If she won this battle, the one to come would be victorious. If she didn’t, something bad was going to happen. She didn't know what, or even how she knew, but that didn't make her any less sure.

“Come in.” Abby sat on her bed.

Avant opened the door and strode into the room. With his usual straight-lipped-no-freakin’-emotion face in place, he calmly turned to her. “Abigail, I understand you do not want to be left behind, but you are too important to risk in battle.”

The tension in his body charged the room even if she couldn’t see it in his features. “You’re wrong this time. I’m too important
not
to go. I need to be there. I feel like something bad is going to happen to you if I don’t go.
Avant, please
,” she entreated, trying to appeal to reason and maybe some of his hidden feelings.

He sat next to her and took her hand. “Abigail, nothing is going to happen to me, and if it does, all the more reason for you to be far from harm. Open battle is no place anyone should have to be, but especially not you.”

Abby placed her other hand over his and pleaded her case. “I thought we were partners. We’ve done everything together. Since when do you get to arbitrarily choose if I go or not? If you would just listen to the Light, you’d know I need to be there.”

He pulled from her grasp and stood, tall and straight. “I do not need to listen to the Light to know that a woman does not belong in battle. You will not go, Abigail. I'm sorry, but that is my final word.”

His final word?
Oh. Hell. No. Her blood bubbled and churned. She fisted her hands at her sides to keep from slapping him. “I’m the one who's sorry, Avant, because I don’t see how you have any authority to order me to do anything! You’re not my father or my husband, and you certainly are not my king!” She winced as the hurtful words sliced their intended target with rapier skill. Her chin fell to her chest, and she covered her face with her hands.
Shit.
Sometimes he brought out the worst in her. She could pull her entire body weight up by the tips of her fingers, but that little muscle in her mouth she could not hold. She peeked up at him and bit her lip.

The hurt in Avant’s eyes turned to smoldering rage. “
My authority
is that I am still the Lord of these lands and Commander of these armies, and as such, I decide who goes into battle.” He cocked his brow and smirked. “If I have to, Abigail, I will chain you hand and foot to this house and post a guard at your door. Your Implanting will be of no use in this argument.”

Her stomach fluttered with need. She couldn’t help herself. An overwhelming desire for him flooded her. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her body throbbed at his show of dominance. She caught a twinkle in his eye. The blue-eyed devil was using her desire against her as a battle strategy.
Oh, he's good!
She took a deep breath and tried to settle her thumping heart. He wasn’t the only one who knew how to use an advantage. She’d done a little strategizing of her own, and he wasn’t playing the right game. This wasn’t chess—it was poker, and she held the cards.

Schooling her face, she smiled sweetly. “I’m disappointed in you, Commander, for not thinking this through before making threats. You need me, Avant. In fact, you can’t do this without my help.”

He met her gaze with intimidating confidence. “Abigail, I can assure you, I do not require your help to fight the king’s armies, and I do not wish to argue any longer. You will be safe here until I can send for you.”

She stood from the bed and sashayed past him toward the window then spun to face her opponent. “Really? Would you care to wager where I’ll be during the battle?”

Realization flashed in those blue eyes; he’d walked straight into the ambush.

Abby held out her hand and studied her fingers in mock boredom. “Since you don’t require my help, out of curiosity, how do you intend to get
my
X-terra here? And, assuming you can get it here without my Placement Implanting, how will you make it run when I’ve hidden the keys where,
I can assure you,
they won’t be found?”

Abby grabbed Avant's rigid hand and Implanted to the X-terra then back with it in less than a minute. It took hours to get the SUV started after sitting dormant for almost a year, but, with Chad’s knowledge of battery power, it finally cranked. It had just under half a tank of gas. Chad immediately took it to the blacksmith’s shop and got to work.

Avant and Petra rode to meet with the captains at the military compound, and everyone in the house breathed a sigh of relief. Avant had acted horribly all morning, yelling at Saundra and making her cry, slamming doors and dishes, and not speaking to or looking at anyone except to growl or scowl.

Abby smirked, but a shiver ran down her spine. Eventually, Avant had relented and agreed to allow her into battle, but only after he had wracked his brain trying to think of another way to storm the castle without using the X-terra. He’d paced and sworn. Then he stomped his foot like a child and absolutely refused to let her drive the SUV as a battering ram, saying
the Darkness could consume all of Jastain before that would happen
. It was his version of a compromise. All she knew was she had to be there.

* * * *

The following week was filled with preparations and time passed quickly.

Abby rode Imperial into the village. She planned to meet with Chad at the blacksmith’s and to stop by the military compound to see Avant before the battle began the next day. He’d slept with the troops for the last five nights, but the doubting voices in her head screamed there was more to it than mere battle strategy.

The villagers called out in greeting as she rode through the main square. She smiled and waved back. This place had captured her heart, and she wished for nothing more than to live here with them for the rest of her life. Maybe the city near the castle would be nice too. But sadness brewed. More change, more upheaval. And no definitive word from Avant.

She dismounted and walked to her reconfigured X-terra. Tears welled in her eyes. She loved that SUV almost as much as Imperial. Knowing it would be smashed against the castle gates broke her heart. Leaning against his handiwork, she smiled at Chad. Creating and inventing, he was in his element and this world needed so much of what he offered. “Looks like you’ve pimped my ride, college boy.”

“Hey, Abs. What do you think?”

The entire front end of the car supported a large phallic mace that protruded out of the radiator grill. Two and a half feet in diameter and two feet long, the iron covered tree trunk was built to penetrate and weaken the gates upon impact. Just the visual effect made the little muscle car look formidable—and X-rated. She giggled. “Great job. Very subtle. Let’s hope it works.”

“I've reinforced the radiator and front tire wells, just in case. If the mace doesn’t pierce the wood to the point of splintering, the force of impact will. I'm confident the weapon will obliterate the gates.”

Watching him show her the mechanics of his creation reminded her of his love for Q’s gadgets in the Bond novels. She shook her head and smiled. Boys and their toys. “Has Avant seen this?”

“Yeah, he came by earlier to see if the car was ready.” Chad’s face beamed with pride. “He seemed impressed.”

“I’m sure he was.” Abby was glad they'd forged a relationship under the strange and difficult circumstances. Now that Chad and Lyndsea had decided to make a go of their relationship, the tension had eased. It still freaked her out to think about the situation, so she just focused on the task at hand. “Did he say where he was going?”

“No, sorry.” He continued to put the finishing touches on his erotic monster.

Abby walked across the path to the compound. Built with large logs and surrounded by a sturdy wooden fence, the main structure looked like an Old West Outpost. When she entered the fort, the youngest of Avant’s captain’s greeted her. “Lady Abigail, what brings you here?”

“I’m looking for Avant. Is he here?”

“No, I apologize, My Lady. The commander said he had business away this afternoon.”

She paused and scanned the large open room with long rustic tables and wooden benches. Soldiers were scattered around. Some polishing weapons others drinking and playing games of chance. “All right. Thanks, Captain.”

He nodded and smiled as she walked out the door. Her shoulders fell. Oh well, it seemed she wouldn’t have the opportunity to see him before tomorrow night after all.

She rode to the falls. The summer flowers bloomed around the trees, and sweet fragrance filled the air. She dismounted and walked Imperial into the clearing where the water spilled with roaring force. Spiritus stood patiently by a tree, and Abby’s heart leapt with happiness. She dropped her reins and glanced around.

Avant sat on a rock by the pool’s edge, one knee propped up. He tossed small stones in the water. It had been just five days, but she missed him like it’d been a month. Longing to run and wrap herself in his arms, she resisted. His strong proud shoulders strained under the burden he carried.

He put his head in his hands. The agony his body expressed broke her heart, and she could just catch the tenor of his thoughts. His men. Death for the Light. He'd never want her to see this. She quietly left him to his warrior’s lament.

* * * *

Avant called loudly to his captains, ordering them to move the troops. He led half the men to the river while Petra remained with the other half a short distance behind. They struck out from the compound shortly after dawn in an effort to make it to the Itehris by sunset. To subdue the nine hundred soldiers, Avant was relying heavily on both the element of surprise and the cover of night. Though it would be difficult to conceal three thousand troops, the king’s soldiers would not suspect a late night attack at the Northern Passage. After the king’s men were overtaken, the two forces would reunite and march to the castle.

Abigail would drive the X-terra behind Petra and the other half of the troops. Avant closed his eyes and let the thought of her beautiful face engulf him. By the Light, he'd missed her. He'd foregone female companionship for twenty years, but being away from her for five days had been torture. Not to mention the physical need that raged in his body since making love to her more than a month before.

It had been his intention to see her before he left but time had not permitted it. He made certain she would be as protected as possible during the battle. If something happened to her…. He shook the thought from his mind. It served no purpose to dwell on it.

He still fumed when he thought of how insolent she'd been, but had to smile at her smugness in besting him. She was a woman like none he'd ever met, and he loved her for it. Of course, she had no idea of the horrors she would see or endure during this fight. Nothing in her experience could prepare her for the brutality of hand-to-hand battle. Avant had wanted to protect her from that, but perhaps she was right about the Light wanting her there. He snorted bitterly. How was he to know what the Light wanted?