The Lethal Flame (Flame Series) (24 page)

“Damien?” she asked seeing the gray-green eyes of the man she thought to never see again. 

The man did not respond but crushed her to him, taking what breath she had just gained.  Strong arms wrapped around her and she felt as if she might be squeezed in two.  This was the real Damien, she knew within an instant of being wrapped in his arms, it was Damien because it felt right.  Ever the leader he called to the other two men who were with him to get the horse up.  Slowly the animal shifted and Damien lifted Keri from beneath it.  Their clothes were soaked through to the skin but he could care less as he crushed Keri against him, relief so stark it took all his senses away and he allowed it, trusting his two men to guard them.  Reaching the bank, the ground still wet, but out of the mud of the trail they had been on, he lay Keri down and fell on the ground beside her.

“Do you hurt?” he asked, his hands coming out to cup her face with a tenderness that made Keri want to weep.

Her hand fluttered up to cover his.  Unable to form the words she shook her head and rested her cheek against his palm, enjoying the warmth of it.  Not content with only the small contact Damien scooped her into his arms and cradled her while their horses rested from the grueling chase. 

~   ~   ~   ~

“What will you do?” Cyrille asked as they prepared the horses to travel.  Half the day had been spent allowing Keri to rest.  Her fatigue had taken over shortly after a fire had been struck and the men set about drying their gear.  Even now she lay curled up in a ball soaking in the warmth of the flames sound asleep. 

Damien looked away from the woman, scowling at his brother.  “Richard has ordered it, what do you think I will do?”

“So we ride to Winchester?”  Cyrille asked without hesitation.

“I’ve done too many things in my life in the name of my king to stop now,” Damien said with a heavy heart as he went to wake Keri.

Keri rode in his saddle with him, her mare was poorly conditioned and the run had left her severely depleted so had to be left behind.  Even if she had been fit enough to complete the journey Damien would have still insisted she ride in front of him.  They rode in silence that seemed to grow heavier the closer they drew to the city.

“Do you take me to Richard?”

“Aye, I do.”

He felt a shiver run through her and he brought her closer against him.  They rode in silence until they made camp.  Morning would find them at the city and Keri would become the king’s prisoner.  A meager meal was prepared and he noticed right away Keri only distractedly played with her food.  He wanted to admonish her, make her eat to keep her strength but he found he could not eat either.  Much would be decided tomorrow or in the days to follow.

~   ~   ~   ~

The longer Keri lay near the fire waiting on dawn the more bile threatened to rise from her stomach.  She feared to get up, with Garrick the one holding the watch she feared what he would do if she were to be alone with him.  She told herself she was being foolish, Damien’s men had the utmost loyalty to him and although Garrick seemed cold he had earned Damien’s trust.  Finally, she rolled to her feet, pulling on the boots that were still serving her well.  Wrapping a blanket about her shoulders she eased into the nearby underbrush to relieve herself.  Finished she lingered in the quiet shadows for some time, enjoying the coolness of the night against her cheek.  Would she be placed in a tower or a dungeon?  She hoped with a great deal of desperation she would be placed in the tower, she would rather die than find herself in the darkness again.

Even the dungeon was  preferred to the dark power of the witches.  Sylva wielded such a vast evil power it could consume anyone in its path.  Even now her mind was filled with the fear the witches would find her again.  Perhaps the King himself would become their pawn.

“It is time to return to your bed my lady,” the deep voice of Garrick said as the man materialized it seemed from nowhere. 

She started at his sudden appearance but remained standing in her momentary space of peace.  “I am wondering if you would do me a favor and just turn your back so I might slip away.”  What a coward she was, she realized too late as her voice came out as a desperate plea.

“I have not only vowed to the king himself I will bring you to him, but I serve Damien with my loyalty.  It is for him I cannot allow you to leave.”

“Damien knows no loyalty.”

“If he would not be displeased with me I would kill you now for such an insult.  Damien made vows to the crown long before any vows you think he may have given to you.”

“He has given me no vows.  For that would go against his majesty’s order.”

Garrick made a sneering sound and Keri turned to the darkly hulking man beside her.  “He is foolish where you are concerned.  He would give up his honor if you but asked him.” 

“I wish not to take his honor.”

“His vow to his  king is  his honor and is all he has to show for many years of war.  If you have any honor you will go before the king without further trouble.”

“What if he wishes to kill me?”

“Then you will die with honor,” Garrick replied with cold certainty.  “What else do you have?”

Keri numbly moved back to her blankets and lying down lay awake, Garrick’s words doing nothing to help drowsiness to take hold.  She listened to the watch change hands and wondered which brother it was.  The clouds obscured the stars and made the glowing light of the fire the only light that chased the shadows to the fringes of their small camp.  What was out there they couldn’t see?  Was there something out there stalking them, waiting for a moment to attack.  A shiver ran up her spine and she nearly screeched when Cyrille dropped awkwardly to his knees beside her. 

On her inward take of breath the big man clamped a hand over her mouth to keep her quiet.  She nodded exhaling quietly as he removed his hand.  He motioned for her to follow so she climbed from the warmth of her blankets and crept after him.  All the way to the horses they went then Cyrille immediately plucked her from the ground and sat her atop his horse.

“What are you doing?” she whispered trying to keep her voice as low as possible so she wouldn’t awaken the other two men.

“Taking you away from here.”

“No,” she said trying to swing a leg back over in order to slide from the horse.  Cyrille pressed her back down as he swung up behind her.  “I have to go to Winchester,” she said firmly.  “Put me down.”

“No, Damien would want me to.”

Keri settled quietly to ponder the short statement.  Would it really dishonor Damien if she just couldn’t be found?  As for her own honor she never professed any loyalty to anyone other than her husband and he was dead.  Why not try to save herself?   It would mean she would be alone for the rest of her life as she tried to remain hidden.  What kind of life would she be gaining?  She almost told Cyrille to turn back around but the instinct for survival left her mute as she clung to the quickly moving horse as they covered ground already covered.  Some time before dawn Cyrille dropped her by the road and bid her seek refuge in the next town before turning and thundering back toward his brother’s camp.

Keri stood on the road the dark night enveloping her, the fear of what lay ahead overshadowing her will to be gone from the place.  The sound of the hoof beats soon faded and she wondered if she would ever see either of the brothers again.  Slowly she turned and headed for the town.  A village really.  She did not pretend she would not stick out like a sore thumb and had no ready answer for her presence in a place where everyone would know everyone.

She should just keep walking, that’s what she should do.  What if Cyrille was right and Damien would be glad they had saved him from making a decision he would never be able to live with?  What if he wouldn’t be and Cyrille told him just where to find her?  Was she really going to be foolish enough to let them decide her future?  Her feet came to a slow halt.  She could try to make it to her father, he might help her.  What if he did and Damien or the king found out?  She couldn’t put him in jeopardy.  As she came to the little village she kept walking silently so she would not wake the sleeping villagers.  She was able to travel three days before seeking refuge after sheer exhaustion and the sparse food she was able to supply for herself wore her down.

Chapter 17

Four months later

Keri stepped back and scowled at the work she had just completed.  She looked to Grigson, who stood nearby watching her.  The old man probably could see little of what she was actually doing but he had stood by diligently while she made her first saddle.  For four months she had been learning the trade, enjoying the land of the Cotswolds and the freedom peasants ironically had.  The village had little to offer to anyone but herself, “a long journey from anywhere,” the people were fond of saying

The people here were so kind, welcoming her in and immediately suggesting her employment with Grigson the saddle maker.  They had asked a thousand questions or more about where she was from and how she had come to be among them.  Her weak claim was she had woken up on the road to the village and did not know who or where she was.  She reasoned total ignorance would be an easier story to keep straight than an elaborate one. 

Grigson had been depleted by age which had taken the strength in his hands and the sight to be able to see the fine details that had made his reputation as a fine saddle maker legendary.  It was something the man had apparently denied happening for it took some convincing from the village, by this time surely the entire village population in its entirety had all turned out to help the poor wandering waif.

Though it got monotonous at times she had grown fond of the old man if not the work.  Grigson had a soft spot that his gruff attitude hid but everyone in the village knew him and adored him.  It didn’t take the two long to settle into their daily lives and it didn’t take Grigson long to accept her and even come to appreciate her help which allowed the kindly man to turn out beautiful work once again.

“You did an adequate job,” Grigson said patting her on her back.

“How do you know, you can’t see the hand in front of your face,” Keri teased.  “Besides it looks ridiculous.”  She looked at the side saddle contraption that looked as if it would be a plush chair that sat sideways on the horse and thus the lady.  The royal blue velvet covering the saddle and seat glowed from the light streaming into the workshop from the open windows.  She knew some ladies rode in such a fashion but she had never tried.  This saddle only made the lady a passenger.  There was no way she would be able to stay on the animal if it became frightened and reared.  Keri didn’t even see how the woman could stay on at a trot let alone a canter.

“But her husband will pay us good money for such a fine piece of work.”

Keri knew she should be proud of it, it was a beautiful saddle, she just found it hard to think of such an atrocity as anything of the sort.  She grumbled some more about the ridiculous waste of a good saddle and horse before picking up the empty bucket by the door and telling Grigson she was going to the well for more water.

The sunny day put her in a better mood as soon as she stepped out into it.  The cobbler’s wife was just returning from the well and smiled broadly enquiring of Keri’s day.  Life seemed to be of no hurry in this small place and she took a moment to pass some light conversation with the woman before continuing with her task.  She reached the well to find two of the baker’s daughters pulling a bucket from the depths of the village’s water source.  “Good afternoon Patti,” the two blond girls chimed in together.  Though she did not like the name the villagers tagged her with she couldn’t very well argue with everyone standing around staring at her when they had agreed that was what she should be called since she did not know her own name. 

“You can have this water,” the youngest said, as she pulled the bucket onto the ledge as her sister lugged it up.

“I’m in no hurry,” Keri advised them. 

“Neither are we, mamma just told us to go be helpful somewhere else so we came to see how many buckets we could pull from the well.”

“And how many have you girls pulled up?” Keri asked lifting the full bucket to pour into her own.

“Ten, but only two for other people.  The rest we had to dump back down the well because no one was here to get them.”

“That’s quite impressive,” Keri said sitting their empty bucket back on the ledge.  She pulled her bucket now full from the edge of the well, sloshing water on herself as she took the full weight of the load onto her already tired arms and shoulders. 

“Perhaps you two can help everyone pull their water today,” Keri suggested starting to turn away. 

“Oh no, my arms are already getting too tired to pull on this rope anymore and Alease is too little to be able to get them up.”

“Well, I do appreciate the help you gave me and be sure to tell your mother as well.”

Turning she took a step toward the little shop that had become her home when she looked toward the road leading into the village square.  All feeling flowed from her body as if the blood drained from it.  Belatedly she felt the bucket slip from her fingers to land in the dirt splashing her legs with both water and mud.  Only then did the man turn her way and she saw Garrick recognized her immediately.  He moved his horse in her direction his dark features impassive.  She had the urge to flee but hard lessons had taught her such an action was foolish as well as futile.  His cold eyes held hers as he slipped a leg over his saddle and slid nimbly to the ground.  In three quick strides he was to her, his boots made splashing sounds as they came to rest side by side in front of her like the good soldier he was.  Like lightning his hand struck her cheek making the pain explode inside her own skull.  Her ears were ringing and she had no time to recover before the man had thrown her atop his horse and mounted behind her.

She heard the screams of the girls then some of the villagers who had come to see what the commotion was.  No one could save her, not even if there was a soldier among them, which there was not, she was a prisoner once again.

“Use caution wench, I want to kill you,” his voice was cold and hard as steel sending a shiver up her spine.   She knew with all certainty this man meant what he said.  “You have no honor,” she heard Garrick accuse as his horse easily began to lap up the miles. 

She turned her neck sharply to look up at him.  “I am not the one who can be bought when a king dangles a title before me.”

“Do you think I am one that such an accusation would make me feel guilty and regret my words?  Think again for I care not a whit what you may think of me.”

“What kind of man are you who so easily casts judgment upon another.”  With that statement she turned quickly away to watch the fields pass by them.

Garrick bent to her ear, “My lady, I am without honor.  How else could one such as me rise to such an elite level as lord?”

He straightened and encouraged his horse to an even faster gate.  Garrick did not stop until he reached Winchester the next day.  She was disappointed and relieved all at the same time to ride down the streets heading straight for the King.  Someone came immediately to take the tired horse to the stable then Garrick was dragging her into the palace.  All the way to the throne room where their presence had already been announced and they were ushered with all do haste into the empty room.  Only then did Garrick release her arm, thrusting her away so that in her exhausted state she staggered away struggling to keep her balance.  Then the door behind the throne opened and Damien was shoved through, his arms and legs bound in shackles three burly men surrounding him.  He looked tired and hungry, his frame had diminished and she wondered how long he had been without food.  Despite his bonds he remained upright and was every bit the proud man Keri had been missing.  She made to move toward him but Garrick caught her by the elbow and pulled her back.  Damien’s eyes fell on her, his look of surprise was quickly masked as he glanced to Garrick then back to her.  He appeared as if he were going to say something but his eyes darted to the door on the other side of the throne which opened to allow Richard and his men to flow through.

“Our little rabbit has been run aground at last,” the man sneered as he took his seat and Damien stood his ground on the dais near the throne while Garrick grabbed her arm again and thrust her forward as if he were offering his king a sacrifice.  Richard cleared his throat and looked to Garrick first.

“She was hiding in the Cotswolds.”

Keri found it difficult to concentrate on what was being said because all she could seem to think of was Damien was there, chained with his gray-green eyes boring into her.  Was he furious with her?  The door Garrick had pulled her through a moment ago slammed open and Cyrille entered and he closed it again in the face of Roland and the other men who gathered outside the chamber.

“What say you witch?”

Keri’s attention was dragged from Damien and back to the man before her.  Despite her resolve to remain meek her chin raised a notch.  “I am no witch.”

Brows came down in anger before muttering, “We will soon see.”  Then in a louder voice, “Rumor has it you and my loyal knight Damien grew quite cozy at Haltwhistle.”

Keri’s eyes darted back to Damien who still looked at her with the inscrutable expression she abhorred. 

“So cozy it is thought my loyal subject is not so loyal and went against my orders to let you escape,” Richard said his voice deadly and Keri knew either path she chose she would have to tread carefully.

“I appeal to you again your majesty to believe me when I say it was I who took her from our camp,” Cyrille stated stepping up beside her.  His voice rasping to a hoarse grating sound by the end.

“That is ludicrous,” Damien said firmly, his eyes now darting to the king. 

“He tries to protect me,” Cyrille insisted taking a step closer.

Damien opened his mouth to contradict his brother when Keri stepped forward.  “If you would allow me your majesty I would settle this dispute.”

The man studied her for a moment then waved his hand at her to continue but looked as bored as one could possibly look and still draw breath.  “Neither of these men helped me to escape.  It is not the first time I escaped from Sir Damien and his men and I think they are too embarrassed to admit I could do such a thing.  If you consider me being chained to Damien’s wall and forced to endure his presence cozy then cozy it was.”

The king nodded thoughtfully, looked to Damien then back to Keri.  “What say you on the charges of being a traitor?  It seems quite unlikely you would be found innocent of black magic as well as plotting against my title.”

“I say I am no traitor.  When I discovered Bryson was not loyal to anything but that which would make him wealthier I could say nothing for he was my husband.”

“And what is this about you and Liam?”

“He kidnapped me your majesty.  He is the son of Lord Howell of Flamborough and had a vendetta against Damien and myself.”

“I know my loyal knight Damien killed your first husband but I am still quite unclear as to what became of Liam.”

He motioned to the man holding Damien prisoner who stepped forward and unchained Damien and relief flooded Keri.

“I can clear that up for you as well.  It was your loyal servant again, since Liam had taken me when Damien was to bring me to you.  I don’t have to tell you it was a trespass one such as the mighty Sir Damien would not likely forgive,” she made her voice full of malice as if she scoffed at Damien’s confidence in his strength.

The king nodded again then ordered, “Take her to the tower.  She will begin her trials when Bishop John returns.” 

Keri did not fight, she did not try to run from the hand that came out to clamp on her elbow.  How quickly a person’s circumstance can change.  She watched Damien’s face for any
sign that he might hold some sympathy for her plight, even the barest of emotion other than indifference but his face revealed nothing. 

To the tower they went and she prayed a most gracious of thanks to the Lord that she was not sentenced to the dark dungeons.

~   ~   ~   ~

“I have a matter for you to take care of,” Richard said sweeping into the room he had kept Damien waiting in for hours.

“What might that be?” Damien asked with a slight bow.  Richard looked askance at him as if they were old friends and comrades where such formalities were not necessary.  It seemed as if Damien were to forget all about his “friend’s” accusation of disloyalty.

“I have enemies hiding in Northumbria like the cowards they are.  I want you to round them up and bring the leaders back here to be hanged.  If you cannot bring them to me, bring me their heads so I know the task is complete.”

“As always I am your humble servant your highness.”  Damien said with a bow he hoped would make it clear his statement was true if all his previous years of service had not been enough to confirm this.

The king nodded with satisfaction.  “I have fully pardoned you,” the king announced as if he should be grateful to him this was so.

“England is my home and I am forever the humble servant of the crown.  However, my duty has ended,” Damien said choosing his words carefully so he did not yet find his head upon the block.

“Yes I believe it has,” Richard said his keen eyes studying him.

“If I were to bring these rebels to you, would you consider granting me a boon from the crown?”

Richard rose to his full height and Damien had a sinking feeling that the king would deny his request before even hearing it.  Finally, the man nodded for him to go on.  “The lady Keri.  I ask as payment for my service that you would consider excusing her from trial.”