The Beast of Renald (The Northern Knights) (24 page)

‘He’s still
wooing
a neighboring lord’s daughter. ‘Tis all for naught, the woman is already smitten with him. He is in for a surprise with that one. If he thinks he will get her without marriage, I fear he will meet with a challenge from her father. He will be wed shortly, no matter if he says different.’

They shared a knowing laugh. Rourke asked. ‘Did you woo Adelay?’

Darc frowned. ‘Nay.  There was no need, we were drawn together. Or so I thought.’ It got quiet between them and Rourke cleared his throat after a moment.

‘Woo Lady Caroline. Goran seems to think women fancy this sort of thing.’

Darc suppressed a smile. ‘Did it work for you?’

Rourke shrugged. ‘Ah, mayhap. Not sure my way was much in the way of wooing with Alexa. I tried it. Not for me and methinks if she were here she would agree. What matters is that in the end, I got the woman.’

Darc could not stop his chuckle at the boasting look on his friend’s face. ‘And here I thought I was the hard one.’

‘You are! I still have the bruises on my hide from our training days. But when it comes to women, you were always better in the handling of them. Whereas Claydon and I were bumbling idiots.’

They shared in laughter recalling memories of the many faux pas they all had made with the ladies and wenches in the Duchy’s court in their youth. Then Rourke’s tone grew serious.

‘Whatever is wrong betwixt you two, you must be the one to fix it. For pity’s sake beg her forgiveness. Crawl on your belly while you’re at it.’ Rourke stood and stretched his thick arms above his head then planted his large fists on his lean hips. ‘Your pride will be the death of you if you let it. It has cost you much already. Do not fall into its trap as I almost did, there is no greater pain. She is not Adelay. Aye, I was stupid too. Lesson learned hard as we know. Your wife is worthy. Admit what an arse you have been then so be it.’

‘No quarter measures saved with you, old friend. However, I will not crawl on my belly for her-‘

‘Aye, you will or you will lose her forever.’

Darc held his gaze. ‘Maybe I have.’

Rourke shrugged. ‘Then win her back and stop sitting around here letting what your brother and Adelay did to you destroy what you might be able to have with this one. Adelay is dead. Do not give her continued life to haunt you in death.  Jealousy will get you naught but more wasted time. My mistake was Jacqueline.’

Darc understood what his friend was trying to tell him, but Caroline and him? There were still too many untruths that lay between them. Grunting in irritation, he changed the subject and said, ‘I am surprised to see Goran not here.’

‘He did put up a fight over it, but I would not allow it. If a man cannot travel alone without looking over his shoulder for every sign of danger, then where lies his strength to be his own man? I am not a sick pup. I have healed well at a speedy rate and as we know suffered graver wounds than the last one.’

‘Aye.’

‘Have you spoken of your brother to her?’  The silence to his question was Rourke’s answer. He sighed heavily and they discussed Raven and the exhaustive searches that had yielded nothing thus far from their scouts.

Darc said angrily. ‘Makes me livid that he is probably right under our noses. How he manages to get those who would do anything to follow and obey him with empty promises, I still cannot fathom to this day.’

‘His evil character only attracts the like.’

‘Aye, there is that. I had thought he’d be at the manor, but nay. His excess will run his resources dry soon enough.’

‘Aye. What he did… my revenge is strong, but that wrong was wrought to get to you. Revenge belongs to you, friend as William ordered. Alexa might not agree just yet, but she will calm, accept it and forgive me. In the end her love will make her understand.’

They discussed Raven some more ere Rourke polished off his wine and turned the conversation back to women.

‘Again, methinks you should tell your wife about Raven and right quickly, my friend. The love the woman holds for you is in her eyes as well.’

‘Married for less than a year and you have become a professor of this love. My wife is nothing like your lady.’

‘Of course not. This one is the lady for you. A second chance.’

Darc grumbled and tore off a piece of tender and seasoned capon and chewed it. God’s wounds! He did not want to think of what Rourke had said or talk about it. Love? After these couple of months she had shown him a softer side, especially after Cedric’s death, nay even before that she had tried. Had she not told him the first eve they had been intimate that she wished to be a good wife?

Darc gritted his teeth and rose to his feet. ‘No more talk about women. I need a ride.’

Rourke said nothing but Darc heard his chuckle behind him as he followed him out of the hall.

CHAPTER THIRTY

A little while later, they were mounted and riding out past the gatehouse. As they were passing, a group of guards walked inside past them. One caught Rourke’s eye and the guard looked away from his intense gaze.

Rourke spoke with distaste in his mouth. ‘I never cared for that man. Why do you insist on keeping him with you?’

Darc nodded at his friend’s strong objection. ‘Aye, you have always made that clear.’

‘I do not trust him. He smells ripe and I do not refer to his odoriferous body.’
‘Aye, Rourke. I’ve had my eye on him since the war. He’s been faithful thus far. I live by what I preached to you. Keep your enemies and suspects close. Always.’
Rourke nodded, his eyes drilling into the nervous Gan when the thick-necked man looked back over his shoulder quickly. ‘Aye. For that man is indeed a king of snakes.’

Darc turned his horse around back toward the river. ‘You up for a long ride?’

‘Aye,’ Rourke said. ‘‘Twill give us time away from any unwanted ears for you to tell me the news of these murders that have reached my ears.’

A handful of Renald’s assembled knights rode a few feet ahead along the river trail scouting for unsavory characters that might be lurking about and for their chance to pounce.

Darc sensed the danger first.

Watching his men pass under a copse of trees drew his attention.

He made a distinct sound with his mouth and Rourke looked over. Darc gave him a look and Rourke glanced in the direction of the trees.

The trees lining the trail hung too low over the road. A telling sign to Darc that someone was in them.

Fools! Night had fallen and the darkness was closing in fast but they could easily see yet.

The first group attacked from his left flank. In preparation he had tightened his calves under Gray’s belly. Trained for combat, the warhorse would not rear from the sudden movements.

The brigands’ shouts shattered the night calm and Darc cut down two of the three. His sword met no mail and cut through shoulder and neck bone as easily as if he’d been slicing through ripe melons. Blood soaked the ground.

Two more emerged and rushed Rourke’s side. The Dark Axe’s sword cut down the men in like fashion. 

The ones in the trees jumped down from their hidden perches. Five in all now stood in front of them. Over their heads Darc could see that his men had turned around and were charging back towards them, bearing down the small rise at a thundering pace. 

Darc and Rourke dismounted. Rourke left his axe strapped on to the side of his horse.

‘You ready to die Norman pigs?’ One bandit shouted.

Darc studied the men. He’d been correct. None of them had on mail. They wore peasant garb and one man was barefoot. His white toes even more stark in the dimming light. As if he felt Darc’s eyes on him, he spoke.

‘Your money and jewels.’

‘I think not.’ Darc said.

‘You must be ready to die this night are you then? And right you should for killing my friends back there,’ barefoot raged on.

‘Methinks you will be joining them soon.’ Darc shrugged his long sword at his side in a non-threatening manner and struck a calm stance. The men backed up slightly from the look on his face and the tip of the Norman sword stuck in the ground.

Rourke stepped forward. ‘Do you poor fools not know on whose land you have trespassed?’

Silence.

Then one bandit off to the side loosed a wild cry that stunned even his fellow thieves. A second man soon joined him.

Not taking his eyes off the men, Darc spoke out of the corner of his mouth to Rourke. ‘A nice way to finish off this eventide. A bit of sport then. What say you?’

Rourke got his meaning. They would let the rest keep their lives.

The men were beggars.

The two who were huddled together stepped back further into the shadows. But the other three held their stance of attack, short swords at the ready.

Rourke replied, ‘I think not for these three have death wishes around their necks.’

In less than a minute all three lay dead.

Darc’s men had reached them and were dismounting. The clink of mail and swords being drawn filled the air.

As Darc approached the remaining two in the shadows Rourke’s voice stopped him.

‘Nay. Those two are free to go.’

Darc didn’t question him but would later. He pulled a swathe of cloth from inside his tunic and wiped his blade clean of blood. He gave a nod and let the two men go. ‘Get off my land,’ he ordered.

Their eyes shifted to Rourke for a scant pause as they backed away.

‘Mercy. Thank you, my lord. Come on, Johnny.’ The man said and disappeared quickly into the night through the trees with his friend at his side.

Halfway down the road later, Darc put his question to Rourke. ‘Those two meant something to you?’

Rourke’s green eyes glittered in the dark. ‘Aye. They were the ones to release the chains in Raven’s dungeon and returned my axe to my side.’

Darc said no more and gave a nod of understanding. He remembered all too well that day he’d found his friend on that cold winter afternoon barely clinging to life. Yet his near death grip had to be pried from the weapon of his namesake.

He’d healed so well from the dire wounds he’d receive. Were one to look at him now one would never know the trauma he had suffered. But Darc would never forget for it had been his brother that had done the deed.

Anger welling up inside him, Darc shoved it aside as he reached out and clasped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘Come. My bones are aching and some warm ale will bring it back some comfort. Let us be gone from here.’

The third and last night of Rourke’s visit Caroline made certain only the finest of fruits, breads and meats were served.  Kelbie had surprised her in liking the man the moment he’d met him. And she found herself this eve blushing heavily over the compliments Rourke bestowed him. 

‘You have been blessed with a fine son, my lady. He is most eager to learn I noted during his practice. Well done.’  Rourke continued on.

Caroline’s surprised gaze had gone to Darc. He’d not told his friend the truth of Kelbie’s birth. Something in her she could not name fluttered in her stomach. Rourke’s voice drew her attention away from Darc’s unreadable expression.

Over the past three days they had been nigh inseparable and she had been amazed at the differences in her husband. His attitude towards her had changed. A part of her liked it.  The other part, she suspected was just a display for his friend. Or was it?

She knew not for certain. If it proved to be unreal, she knew it would hurt her. Of this she was sure, for the thought alone already had.

She could easily see that these two men were very close. The friendship they’d built as William’s men and on the battlefield was evident, but there was more to it than that. ‘Twas like they were brothers and it left her wondering about this Aric Claydon they spoke of with deep affection who had shared part of their childhood as well.

‘Twas much she did not know about her Norman husband and she was envious of the openness he shared with Rourke. Darc knew much about her, but she knew so little of him.

Rourke had eaten most of the sweetmeats and his hand bumped hers when she reached for the last one.

She drew back with a gasp. ‘‘Tis yours, my lord.’

‘Nay,’ Rourke said smiling wide at her. ‘It belongs to you.’

His nudge to her husband’s ribs did not go unnoticed by her and she did not know what to do next.

Darc’s searing gaze burned into hers as he reached for the sweetmeat and gently placed it at her lips.

Caroline’s eyes widened, knowing the few eyes in the hall watched for half the room had gone deathly quiet. When Darc licked his lips, she forgot all else and opened her mouth.

He slid it in slowly and her insides went wild, her leg jerked against his thigh and she heard him moan when her mouth closed on the treat. He watched her until she’d chewed it all. Swallowing it was entirely another matter seeing the passion flaring in his eyes. She reached for her goblet and in her haste, her shaky fingers almost spilled it.

He caught it, his hand wrapping around hers along the thick stem. His skin was hot. Caroline mumbled, ‘My lord?’ Her eyes going wide shifted in Rourke’s direction. Her mouth had gone desperately dry and it had naught to do with the sweetmeat.

Darc’s dark brows dipped as he leaned near her ear drawing the goblet closer. ‘It is his fault.’

Caroline swore she heard the Dark Axe chuckle beside her husband as she accepted the drink and finished it. ‘Twas not much, the glass was half full but the heady sensations she was feeling had her look down to make sure. Nay, it was Darc. She was drunk on him.

She was pulled from her musings when Rourke drew her back into the conversation to listen to some of the light-hearted memories of machinations they’d gotten into during their younger years.

She was surprised to see Darc actually flush under Rourke’s tales he told with much relish until her husband turned the tables on him and told of his not so light-hearted troublemaking days as a page and squire.  

Rourke grunted and stood, affecting a serious tone though a grin played at his lips. ‘I fear we bore your wife with these petty stories and besides I’m feeling a bit parched.’