The Shades of Time (30 page)

"I, we, decided
to meet. I remember," his voice took on a dreamlike quality, "it
was high summer, so hot the air felt thick and heavy. We'd ridden
to an abandoned hovel, not wanting to risk being discovered. She
was … different. More rounded, her belly so softly bulging I wanted
nothing more than to stroke it and follow the curves with my
fingers, and imagined planting new life in her womb. Isabella's
breasts were heavy with milk, creamy white, the tips dark … she was
the most beautiful creature I had ever seen and I knew I would love
her for all eternity."

The man buried
his face in his hands. Lost to her. Lost to a private hell he would
never escape.

"It was not
'til next morn, the sky just barely lightening, when we were
finally sated. We agreed to separate, I to my quarters, she to the
hacienda. For all that I claimed to love my child, it never
occurred to me to ask about her. To inquire as to her well-being. I
assumed a nursemaid had been employed to see to her security that
night. I was wrong."

Nico turned and
looked at her, tears streaming down his face. "She'd gotten tangled
in the bedding, my sweet daughter, and suffocated. There were none
to hear her cries."

Veluria
suppressed the urge to gather the man in her arms, fearful still
that his anguish could turn to fury in a heartbeat. She understood
why but caution stayed her.

The pain in his
voice cut like a knife. "She blamed me for luring her away, for so
tempting her, for appealing to her baser nature. She said it was my
fault our daughter was dead, that I was not to attend mass or the
burial, nor could I mourn my child in public."

"Nico, no…"

"She was right.
It was my fault. All of it." He brushed at his eyes with his sleeve
and lunged to his feet. "Get some sleep. I shall stand guard. My
men are weary and I will not close my eyes this night."

Veluria wanted
to find some words of comfort but there seemed little she could
say. He needed someone to tell him to move on, that Isabella was
unworthy of his love. She could voice the sentiments, but as a
stranger to the man, they would offer neither comfort nor would
they carry weight. She fervently hoped that since he had finally
unburdened himself, perhaps the healing could begin.

Her heart
heavy, she watched the tall man stride into the darkness, shoulders
rigid with grief.

She whispered
into the still air, "We'll find Tonio, I promise. I will not allow
you to lose one more thing that you love."

Sweet Reverend
Mother, please help me bear the weight of this sorrow, for I fear
for both our souls.

****

"Come, my lady.
It is time to go." Nico had sent his man, Luca, to find her.

She'd been up
since first light pacing the river bank, using the water's energy
to focus her abilities. Not for the first time she rued having left
her few talismans behind at Nico's hacienda. But her exhaustion and
the need for haste had overcome other considerations. All she had
was her stiletto concealed in her boot. When the time came, it
would have to do.

For now she
must rely on her own resources. Antonio was close. But … in which
direction?

"M'lady?"

"Yes, I'm
coming, Luca." She waved him off and returned to the slippery
bank.

Where are you,
Tonio? Speak to me.

It all flows
downhill, the water flows down—

If you die, you
bastard, I swear on the Holy Mother…

"Veluria?" She
nearly jumped out of her skin as a large hand landed like a dead
weight on her shoulder, nearly bearing her to the ground.

"Nico! You
startled me."

"I found him. I
know where he is." Nico spun her around and gripped her arms hard
enough to leave a mark. His face was haggard from lack of sleep and
anxiety but his sapphire blue eyes glinted with hope. "Don't worry,
M'lady, my brother's too big a bastard to die. God doesn't want him
anymore than the devil does."

Veluria pointed
downriver, then swept her arm to the south and west. "There's a
hollow with some kind of a feeder stream to this river. I think he
is there."

Nico grinned.
"I think you may be right. Come. There is a town nearby. I think it
is time for us to join forces, madam, don't you agree?"

It's about
fucking time…

"I heard
that."

For the first
time in weeks Veluria laughed out loud. As she trotted to keep up
with the tall man's stride, she allowed a small kernel of hope to
take seed. It wasn't much but it was all she had left.

Luca had her
mount saddled and ready. Nico lifted her effortlessly into the
saddle and settled her boot in the stirrup. With a flourish he
bowed from the waist and said. "Would madam care to instruct us as
to the day's activities?"

Nico's men
stared at him and then at her, open-mouthed. She urged her horse
forward until she came even with the small group of horsemen. They
were a ragged troupe, near the end of their endurance, yet their
tired faces lit with anticipation, awaiting her command.

"I believe,
gentlemen, that today will be a fine day to go … demon
hunting."

One-by-one they
nodded and moved into formation behind her. Nico came alongside,
his face set in a stern line, every fiber of his being prepared to
do battle. She had no doubt that by the end of the day blood would
be spilled.

And when Nico's done with them, I want to cut their balls off
with a dull blade and make those sons-of-bitches eat them
raw
, she thought.

Your wish is my
command, M'lady…

Veluria kicked
her horse into a canter and called out, "I heard that, Nico!"

Chapter
Twenty-Two

Nico felt the
weariness bleed away, every sense on high alert. Tonio's signature
had weakened to the point where it was but a memory, a faint
stirring in his chest, heartbeats once synched but no longer.

The hollow lay
below his position. Little of the hacienda was visible from his
vantage point. Instead he gazed upon a poorly tended orchard, trees
branched helter-skelter forming a thick, impenetrable mat that
could hide his men's approach.

But he needed
to find a way down to the flats without resorting to the rough path
on the rocky slope opposite his position. Either that or simply
march up the road and knock on the door. With the town so close,
almost within viewing distance of the compound, a weary traveler
excuse would not suffice and would leave him and his men exposed to
potential lookouts.

That he
detected no guards along the ridge was not surprising. Veluria
recalled there being six or seven men in total, their presence at
the inn sheltering her and his brother pure happenstance. They'd
taken Antonio only after someone had recognized him, either by
reputation or from having had an unfortunate encounter with his
brother's unorthodox methods of interrogation. However, whenever,
they'd recognized the value of their acquisition, the truth was
they'd had him long enough to grow lax in their diligence.
Especially if Tonio had become weak enough to no longer require
constant surveillance.

The hour grew
late, the sun already below the ridge, casting long shadows and
obscuring details. It would be foolish to attempt negotiating the
steep descent, the loose rock and soil, in full sunlight, never
mind in the dark with no moon to offer even a hint of light.

He could see
better than most in the dark, given his unique senses, but his men
could not. Backing away, he ran at a crouch, keeping low, his
joints protesting at the unnatural gait. He and Paulo had left
their ragged group a half mile distant in a parallel gully to avoid
chance meetings with townsfolk.

Still light
enough to see, he met Paulo, waiting at the narrow entrance to the
gully.

"What did you
find?" he asked, keeping his tone low though the rough terrain
dampened sound.

"I went to the
ridge opposite. You were right, Commander. The track's too steep,
too loose for safe passage."

Nico cursed
silently. The abductors had chosen the site well. Likely they'd
chanced on a long-held stronghold for the separatists. This spot
was ideal, far enough away from the court to avoid routine sweeps
by Carlos' Guard, yet close to the Rio Tagus and convenient egress
into more accommodating territories. The town provided
provisioning, entertainment, and eyes and ears tuned to
strangers.

Desperation
crept with long icy fingers up his spine. The darkness was both
enemy and friend. How could they use it to their advantage?

"Come, let us
confer with the others. We must decide now for a plan of action."
Nico didn't say what he knew to be true … his brother would likely
not last the night.

Paulo chirped a
high-pitched whistle, alerting the others to their arrival. Off to
his right, Veluria approached with an armful of branches,
staggering under the unruly weight. She gave him a wan smile and
carefully laid her burden near a growing pile of deadfall.

Curious, Nico
glanced at Paulo who shrugged.

Veluria
explained, "Maso is building an enclosure for the horses. He said
whatever happens, he has no wish to walk home."

Nico chuckled.
His men lived and died at his command, their loyalty beyond
question. Fortunate for him he'd also chosen men with intelligence
and initiative. It would do them well for what lay ahead.

He instructed
Paulo to bring Maso and Christo to the small spring near the
southern edge of the gully. They'd set up a makeshift camp but
could not risk a fire. They would have to make do as night fell,
leaving the warmth of day to succumb to a pool of chill air
settling into the basin. Maso had already cordoned off a section,
allowing the animals access to water. There was little forage for
the hungry beasts but at least they had the weak stream to sustain
them until…

Nico knew it was more an
if
than
until
with the odds stacked so solidly against them.
Trying not to think about the woman and how he could protect her
while trying to rescue his brother, he motioned his men forward and
bade them to huddle close so he could speak without his voice
carrying in the still air.

Veluria propped
against his leg, leaning close so as not to miss a word. It was an
intimacy that raised eyebrows on his men but he ignored it as best
he could. The warmth of her touch, and the rise and fall of her
chest causing her breast to rub provocatively against his arm, was
a distraction he could not afford. That she did it unconsciously
did not negate the strong stirrings in his loins.

Nico stretched
a leg and pushed away, positioning himself so he faced his four
stalwart companions, their faces hidden in shadow. He'd never been
one to foolishly commit either himself or his men to a course of
action that was nothing more than suicide, preferring retreat over
valor any day. If he could talk his way out of conflict, he did,
usually successfully. When he had to fight he waited until the odds
on his side were irrefutable.

Neither
situation seemed to pertain, except…

He stared hard at Veluria's pinched face and silently asked,
'
Will he last 'til daybreak,
milady?'

Veluria rubbed
her temples, her thin features a mask of concentration. When she
hissed an audible breath, his men turned as one to hear her
pronouncement. If they had misgivings about the silent
communication between himself and the woman, they kept it carefully
hidden.

"I-I can't
tell. I want to say yes but in my heart I don't think so."

"Commander,"
Paulo spoke quietly, "we risk perhaps too much trying to take them
in the dark, despite the element of surprise. They have position."
Maso grunted agreement as Paulo continued, "And they have knowledge
of the hacienda that we do not. Should we manage to infiltrate the
building, we do not know where your brother is being held, how many
are inside and what weapons they bring to bear."

Christo added,
"They could also kill him before we could get to him. Cut their
losses."

"We only assume
they wish to hold him for ransom, Commander. They may have … other
motivations." Paulo spoke the truth that had Nico's gut in a knot.
The thought that Tonio might be simply a plaything for some sick
perverts instead of a political tool hadn't escaped his
attention.

Again, they had
no way of knowing. They'd left long before a ransom demand could
arrive on his doorstep, and too little time had elapsed for Cosimo
to become involved.

Had he locked
them into a maze with no exit?

"I'd considered
approaching as an envoy of Cosimo's, come to offer a fair ransom,
perhaps buy us time and information about the hacienda. Demand to
see Antonio before the exchange takes place." He and Veluria had
mapped out that strategy as one among many options. His shoulders
sagged in resignation. "Unfortunately we have no wagon, no
conveyance of any sort that would maintain that artifice long
enough for us to effect a rescue."

"We are too few
in any case. Under normal circumstances a full complement would
have accompanied such treasure." Paulo waved at their group and
sighed, "We do not qualify, I fear."

Nico grimaced
and took Veluria's hand. They had to join, to see what, if any,
essence of Antonio remained. Her small hand squeezed his as
palm-to-palm they shared their gifts, opening to their joint fears.
The link only confirmed what each had determined on their own.

Releasing
Veluria's hand he said, "My brother is fading and will not survive
this night. I am going in." He stood and faced his men, "I will not
ask this of you. You have each proven your bravery … and your
worth. No more is necessary. I relieve you of your obligations to
me."