Strangclyf Secret (11 page)

“
We will not eat until the
men are freed,” Bernon said, grabbing her by the arm as she turned
away.

“
What is this place?” Geno
asked, his voice filled with awe as he glanced around the
chamber.

Huge ionic columns
supported a vaulted ceiling. In the dim light of a few torches and
several bronze Roman oil lamps, a white marble floor with wavy,
gray veins and an irregular pink marble inlaid design was visible.
Bernon frowned, knowing the Roman’s favored symmetry for such
works. Set off-center at the far end of the chamber, a mosaic
yellow tile sun graced the floor near the base of a dais surrounded
by seven steps on three sides. A large carved marble chair
dominated the center of the dais, with “
ARMA*ET*URSI*TUENTUR*PACEM”
carved
into the wall high above the throne. To the right of the platform a
large copper and bronze gong reflected the fire of a torch,
brightening the area.

“’
Twas the main throne room
used by the tribune who governed for Caesar. I call it Jupiter’s
Hall because of the floor.” Barwolf raked her fingers through her
hair, and Bernon realized it was her main sign of nervousness.
“Jupiter was the Roman sun god. The motto above the seat of state
is Latin and means ‘arms and bears maintain peace.’”

Bernon gave her a sharp
look at the mention of bears, but she faced Geno as she
spoke.

“’
Tis fascinating,” William
said in a hushed tone. “I had no idea anything like this existed in
England.”

“’
Tis because the
labyrinth’s existence is a secret,” she said with a touch of pride
lilting her tone. “Some of the other parts of this structure are
still intact. The living quarters are down two corridors hidden in
the shadows at the corners on this side of the chamber. A corridor
in the corner on the far side of the dais leads to some other
chambers. I do not understand all their functions yet. The stairs
against the far wall lead nowhere, but probably went to the roof at
one time. The Romans built the original settlement into the cliff,
so it could not be seen from the sea. In the year 587, Walerian,
the first man to be called The Strangclyf, had the whole place
stoned over, fashioned a fort above, and made passages into the old
structure. I’m not sure why.”

“
Who carved the maze into
the mountain?” Bernon asked, marveling at the remarkable
preservation of the ruins.

“
Roman soldiers and
captives they turned into slaves. There are grates along the gorge
from some of the passages where they could release lions to attack
their trapped enemies.” She raised a nervous expression to Bernon.
“’Tis best if you eat before freeing your men, Bernon. ‘Tis not
heavy fare and I can tell you more while you do.”

“
She’s right,” Matilda
agreed and ushered William and Geno toward the dais where a small
meal awaited, leaving Bernon and Barwolf alone.

“
Will you eat if I get the
food, milord?” Barwolf asked. “I have fixed the gorge so no one can
get to your men until you free them.”

“
Why did you not tell me
about the trap?” he asked, crossing his arms in front of him and
gazing down at her. “You seem to want me safe, but you not telling
me is suspicious.

“
I told you Strangclyf was
impervious and I would give you the secret. If you had told me you
were leaving, I would have told you more about the holding sooner.
‘Tis not as if we had much conversation together before you...” She
gasped then raised anxious eye to his. “You do not think I wanted
you to get caught, do you?”

God’s bones, she looked
wounded, and how should he answer her? Habit made him think she
had, but her actions showed otherwise. He wiped a hand over his
face.

“
You do!” She fisted her
hands, turning bright red, and her eyes glistened. “Merciful
heavens, I do not know if I should be disappointed or angry. I
never expected you to like me or be pleased with me. All I wanted
was to do my duty and make you The Strangclyf, so the children
would be safe. If I wanted you dead, I would not have sought you
out. I would have stayed here and trapped you myself. I certainly
would not have put myself through the last eight days of pretending
I was not afraid when I have been terrified out of my wits. You
said I am brave, but you are wrong. I am a coward and I am scared
of everything—especially you.” She wiped frantically at her tears
and sniffed then raised horrified eyes to him. She bowed her head
and clasped her hands tightly in front of her. “I apologize,
milord. Please forgive my terrible outburst.”

He was beginning to hate
her submissive pose. “Why do you fear me?”

“
Because you hate me, and I
will never please you, and when you instruct me, I will not be able
to bear it.”

Bernon sighed, reached
out, and raised her face. Her fear unsettled him and he didn’t like
the feeling. “You really do not remember anything after dinner, do
you?”

She shook her
head.

“
I am pleased with you and
I do not hate you. Why do you fear me when you know ‘tis my duty to
protect you?”

She gulped and her eyes
frantically followed his free hand. “You do not know me well yet,
and, for some reason, I require frequent instruction.”

There was that look again.
How many times did he have to tell her he would not strike her
before she believed him? “Did your father beat you?”

“
Nay!” she answered too
fast. Her hand reflexively rubbed her ear and Bernon realized she
did so whenever her father was mentioned. “He instructed me. There
is a difference.”

“
How did he instruct you?”
He dropped his hand from her chin.

“
He slammed his fist upside
my head until Geno told him not to hit me anymore or you would kill
him. Then he just gave me more duties.” A pink tint spread through
her flesh as she admitted her humiliation.

“
I will never instruct you
by hitting you or giving you more duties. ‘Tis a sign of weakness
for a man to treat a woman thusly.”

She raised curious eyes to
his. “You did not kill her, did you?”

“
Who?” he asked, snapping
his brows together.

“
The woman you were
betrothed to in Normandy. I heard someone else got her with child
and you didn’t want her after that, so you beat her to
death.”

No wonder she feared him.
“Who told you this tale?”

“
My father. ‘Twas one of
his main reasons for picking you for my husband.”

“
He truly wanted you
married to someone who would hate you,” he said in a tone of
disbelief, staring at her fragile face. “You will forget his tales
and believe what you learn by knowing me.”

Her eyes widened in
amazement at the command. “I will?”

“
And I will forget the
women in my past and do the same for you.” He nodded to reinforce
his order to himself. “When did you eat last?”

“
I ate a mite this morning
before we docked. I have been too worried about you to eat much the
last few days.”

A warm feeling settled in
his chest at the concern in her voice. He caressed her cheek and
gave her a tender smile. “Then we will eat while you tell me what I
need to know to free my men.”

She bowed her head as a
blush sailed over her cheeks. “If you will join your king, I will
be with you soon. I have an urgent need that I must attend
first.”

“
All right.” Bernon walked
toward the dais and slowly smiled. He liked her blush.

~ * ~

Barwolf watched Bernon
cross the sun. Then she squared her shoulders and sucked in a deep
breath. A militant resolve stiffened her spine as she turned and
entered the southwest corridor. No matter what he said, she knew he
wasn’t pleased with her. She was short and hideous, and she had
lost control of Strangclyf. Well, she would take back the holding
without endangering him further. Bernon was much too important to
the future of the holding. ‘Twas her duty to protect him whether he
wanted her to or not.

Arriving at the end of the
passage, she stepped through an archway into a chamber that she
used as an escape from her worries. She crossed to the far wall,
turned an ornate molding, and entered the maze. She navigated the
dark tunnels then opened the access she sought.

A hand pushed her back,
and a wiry Saxon with shaggy deep-brown hair and shrewd blue eyes
entered. “Quickly, milady, close the entrance.”

Barwolf pushed back the
lever and shut the wall. She noticed the lit tallow he held.
“Padarn, you know I am not supposed to let you see in
here.”

Padarn held the taper
aloft, so she couldn’t blow out his light. “I’ll not look around
much. I just cannot bide the dark, and I need to stay here until
your husband takes the keep. Hadwyn watches me like a fox at a
rabbit hole.”

“
Were you able to get it?”
she asked, threading her fingers through her curls.

“
Aye.” He nodded. “Hold my
tallow and don’t douse my flame.”

Barwolf accepted the
taper. Padarn reached under his tunic, unclasped the metal belt
around his chest, and pulled Intrepid from the back of his tunic.
He took the tallow and handed her the sword. “Here you go,
milady.”

“
Thank you, Padarn,” she
said, double-looping the belt around her waist and securing the
weapon at her side. “Is Ardith all right?”

“
Aye. She and Betia are
hiding in the shed, watching over your special project.”

“
I will make sure your new
lord knows what you risked for him.”

“’
Twas not for him, milady.
‘Twas for you,” he informed her in a straightforward manner unusual
for him. “Try to remember I’m here after this is over, else someone
finds themselves walking over my bones two hundred years from
now.”

She smiled at the faithful
serf who risked so much for her and swallowed back tears. “I could
never forget you, Padarn. I will see you as soon as this is
over.”

Barwolf left Padarn and
followed another series of twists and turns. She entered a tunnel
where light showed through low iron grates on one side. Proceeding
to the fourth grate, she looked out at the angry Norman army.
‘Twould definitely be safer not to leave the maze. She saw a bulky
soldier with cropped blond hair sitting against the gorge’s stone
wall on her left.

“
Excuse me, but who is in
charge?” she called in French.

The soldier turned
astonished brown eyes on her and gawked.

Maybe he didn’t understand
because of her accent. “I need to talk to whoever is in charge. Is
my French so bad or do you speak another language?”

A sandy-haired soldier as
big as Bernon turned toward her and glared through angry hazel
eyes. “Why do you seek the one in charge?”

Barwolf looked up at the
huge warrior and gulped. He didn’t look pleased to see her. “I am
Lady Strangclyf, and I have a message for him.”

“
I am Medwyn, Bernon’s
first commander,” he replied, raising a suspicious brow and placing
a fist on each hip.

“
Then I will tell you. I
have released Bernon, Geno, and the king and put them someplace
safe. Have you a soldier I can borrow, please? I need help with the
portcullis. I am not strong enough to raise it by myself. After
‘tis up, you and your men can take Strangclyf back from
Hadwyn.”

Medwyn’s eyes narrowed to
slits. “This is a trick. Bernon would never allow his wife to take
such a risk.”

“
He doesn’t exactly know I
am here.” She looked away from his penetrating stare and raked
shaky fingers through her curls, almost pulling them out. “I told
him I had an urgent need and slipped away. I do not want to take a
chance on him getting hurt. I decided I would kill Hadwyn for him
if your men can handle the others for me, please?”

Medwyn moved closer to the
grate and sat on his haunches. “What a gorgeous little woman you
are.” He suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of bright white
teeth in his bronzed complexion. “You must be driving my liege daft
if you pull stunts like this.” He chuckled. “Your risk is bigger
than I thought, milady. Can you take me to Bernon? I would like to
have a better plan than just raising the portcullis and facing
whatever.”

“
You’re not going to let me
talk you into this, are you?” She cast him a disgruntled
frown.

He shook his head while
merriment danced in his eyes. “Bernon would kill me if I
did.”

Barwolf sighed and rubbed
the side of her head. “Will you let me stand behind you while I
tell him where I have been?”

“
Aye, but I doubt if ‘twill
spare you his ire.”

She crinkled her nose and
shrugged. “Bernon is not weak. He told me only a weak man would
instruct a woman with a fist. ‘Tis just that I have only one good
ear, and I do not want him shouting my hearing away.”

“
Give me a moment.” Medwyn
spoke a few words to another warrior then returned to the grate.
Barwolf pulled a lever above the iron slats. The bars rose, and the
soldier slipped inside.

Barwolf closed the
entrance then grabbed his wrist. “Come this way, Medwyn, and do not
leave my side.”