Wild Is My Love (34 page)

Quickly Kyra pulled off part of his garments and tossed them around the room. She rumpled the bed and flung covers here and there. She ripped her garments and mussed her hair. After she unlocked the
door she went to the window and screamed several times. Then, as instructed by her lover, Kyra approached the dazed seneschal and said, “By the Wisp-of-Straw I command you to ravish me wildly. Let no man or threat halt you.”

Driven mad and lustful by the powerful herbs, Baltair seized Kyra, dragged her to the bed, and began to rip wildly at her already torn garments. Kyra commanded, “By Wisp-of-Straw, the more I scream, the more you shall desire me. You must kill anyone who tries to stop you from possessing me. By Wisp-of-Straw, ravish me now or die trying, Baltair.”

Kyra screamed and screamed, arousing Baltair to the height of madness. Then she feared the guards would arrive too late, as his strength and desire were too strong to battle. When they finally burst into the room, Baltair had imprisoned her beneath him and was trying to drive his exposed manhood into her sprawled body. Several inquisitive servants peeked inside the noisy chamber and could not believe what they witnessed.

The guards’ commands to halt his brutal attack had no effect on the crazed Baltair. He ordered them to leave, vowing he must have Kyra. When the men pulled him off her he battled them to get back to Kyra. “She is mine, not Calum’s! Get out! I must take her!”

Baltair snatched a dagger from one of the guards and shouted, “I will slay you all if you do not leave so I can possess her. Mine!” he shouted. “She is mine, or she is no one’s! I will kill her first!”

When Baltair tried to slay Kyra, one of the guards’ drew his sword and slew the madman. Kyra stared at the bloody corpse and sobbed, grasping her torn garments about her bruised body.

One of the guards comforted her “Do not weep, m’lady. You are safe now.”

“What will everyone say?” Kyra sobbed. “I swear I did not entice him. He came to my chamber and
pleaded with me to wed him, not Calum. When I told him I loved Calum, he went mad.”

“We saw m’lady, and we will avow to it. No one can blame you,” the man said. Although astounded by the gentle Baltair’s crazed behavior, the other guards agreed that she was guiltless.

Kyra looked at them and smiled through her tears. “You are so kind, sirs,” she said as fresh tears flowed.

As planned, Isobail rushed into the chamber and demanded, “What is wrong here?”

Kyra glanced at her mother and began to sob, allowing the guards and servants to relate the grim tale. Isobail went to her daughter embraced her and commanded, “Take his body and burn it. Perhaps his death will end the curse that hovers over my husband and land. Spread the word that his name shall not be spoken again and his life is to be forgotten. Destroy his possessions and seal his chamber, for we must not allow his evil to attack others. Anyone who disobeys my order will he banished.”

After ordering everyone from the room, Isobail eyed Kyra’s disheveled state and asked, “Did he harm you? Were the guards too late?”

Kyra sobbed and continued to dissemble, thinking to use the event with Baltair to cover her affair with Earnon. “I fear they were too late, Mother. Whatever shall I tell Calum? The potion was so strong that I could not fend him off before he drove himself within me. I struggled and managed to roll free before the guards arrived, so they do not know Baltair entered me. He did not complete his task, but I am no longer pure. Calum will know after we wed. What if he is angry and refuses me as his wife? Help me, Mother, for I obeyed you and now Baltair is dead.”

“Do not worry. Calum will understand when you tell him. Wait until your wedding night, then confess this deed and beg his forgiveness.”
“What if he does not understand or forgive me?” Kyra asked.

“I will speak with Calum and explain. If he balks, I will command him to keep silent and accept you. You are beautiful and clever; use your wiles on him. Remember all he can give you.”

Late Thursday afternoon Gavin returned to the cave after completing a lengthy task. He was greeted by a relieved and joyful Alysa, who embraced him and covered his face with kisses. He had gone back to the campsite where he had rescued her to bury the brigands’ bodies and possessions and to free their horses.

“If no one finds them for a long time, m’love, it will aid our cause. Our little tale should protect you, please Isobail, confuse and infuriate Skane, and fool everybody.”

“You are so clever, Gavin,” she said. “I was such a fool to try to run…” She hesitated, lowered her eyes. She confessed that she had been escaping to King Bardwyn, candidly explaining why.

“You have doubted me badly, m’love,” Gavin told her. “I only seek to unmask the brigands and your stepmother. I have told you my raids are false. What more do you expect of me? Is there some reason why you continue to have such suspicions?”

“I am sorry I mistrusted you, Gavin, but I was confused, and I am so afraid for my father. You were a stranger, and things were so terrible here. Please do not be angry with me,” she beseeched him.

“Calm yourself, m’love; I understand everything
now.” He cuddled her head against his chest and stroked her hair. “All that matters to me is your safety, and that of your father and your land.”

“I know Father’s illness is unnatural, Gavin, and I do not know how to battle its source. Either it is a wicked spell or his evil wife knows some way of. getting the poison into him that I cannot uncover. I tried to give him healing herbs, but they do not work. Oh, I only wish I knew why they did not work. Granmannie, I know, does not like Father, and because of that I have wondered about the herbs she gave me…”

“Perhaps she gave you the wrong pouch,” Gavin replied. “Or, if her eyes are old and bad, perhaps she gathered the wrong herbs. I can see you love her deeply and this matter pains you. Why do you not wait until she explains before you judge her guilty?”

“You are right, Gavin,” she agreed. Her hands roamed his hard torso as she said, “There is something else that troubles me. You must use another horse during your raids, my love, for Trojan is easily recognized. I have heard him described several times, and knew at once who his master was. He is a rare steed, so he can point a dangerous finger at you.”

“What a reckless mistake,” he chided himself “I mask my face to conceal my identity, then ride a one-of-a-kind stallion! When I was trying to snare their attention, I wanted others to see and report who I was. But you are right—it is dangerous to be recognized now.”

Gavin lifted her chin and looked into her worried eyes. “I have chosen myself a keen-witted, sharp-eyed woman to love and wed. I adore your mettle, m’love, but do not try to ride alone to your king again. The distance is too great and perilous. I swear to you, I have sent messages to King Bardwyn about Damnonia’s troubles. You told me others had done so too. Your king cannot ignore so many summonses.”

“I will obey you, my wandering warrior,” she promised, hugging him.

“No matter what command I give?” he asked, nibbling on her ear.

She looked into his eyes and watched as passion flickered, then blazed within them. There was something so special, so appealing about his grass-green eyes. Not just their color and shape, but their range and depth of expression. He had a way of slightly lowering his handsome head and gazing from beneath his upper lids and brows that caused her flesh to tingle and her heart to race. His nose was so pleasingly shaped that it enticed her to kiss it, as did his sensual mouth. There, too, he had a way of holding his lips that demanded kisses. There were so many compelling features and traits about him that her soul soared with love.

“If you do not command me to make love to you, I shall order you to take me home this moment,” she whispered.

“How could an enthralled adventurer not obey his ravishing captor when she is a beautiful and powerful princess? I am yours to own and command for life, m’love.” The message in her intensely blue eyes was clear: take me.

Slowly and tantalizingly Gavin undressed Alysa. He lifted her long curls and placed them behind her, baring her entire body to his smoldering gaze. Then he sent his adoring eyes to wander leisurely over her sleek flesh and lovely face. She did not protest her nudity and his boldness, or try to shield herself from his enflaming touch. His fingers moved over her lips and she kissed them until they drifted down her slender neck, between firm breasts, and circled each in turn. Each of Gavin’s strong hands gently cupped a breast and began to caress it. His thumbs sensuously stroked the taut nipples and caused them to grow larger and harder. She watched him bend forward to playfully tease the aching
peaks with his lips and tongue. Alysa closed her eyes and allowed her head to drift backward as she absorbed the splendid sensations.

Gavin eagerly spread kisses over her shoulders, chest, and midriff. His hands roamed past her slim waist, over rounded hips, and into her feminine region. He whet her appetite for him until she was ravenous with hunger. His hands guided his lips on an exploration of her body, leaving her limp and quivering.

Alysa could wait no longer to have him. She followed his lead, boldly and shamelessly undressing him and exploring him. Her hands and lips traveled his golden frame until he was shuddering with need and restraint.

He quickly lifted her and carried her to their makeshift bed. He loved her until their mutual cravings were sated, an intense experience that was reality-shattering and emotionally binding. While he was still breathing hard from his loving exertions, he gazed into her eyes and murmured, “I would perish if I could not have you forever.”

“That is what Prince Moran said,” she unwittingly said.

Fury flooded Gavin’s eyes and he coldly vowed, “I would slay him before I allowed him to touch you with one finger! No matter what threat they use, Alysa, flee the castle if he comes near you.”

There was something about his tone that intrigued her. Sometimes he sounded and acted just like Granmannie! How strange, she mused, that she should think that….

After Alysa related her dislike for her stepbrother, Gavin calmed down and felt sheepish about his outburst. “I belong to you, Gavin, and no one shall ever take me from you. I swear.”

“I am twenty-seven, Alysa. Until now I have loved no woman nor wanted to marry. You ensnared me and bewitched
me, so you are responsible for my life and happiness.”

“The same is true of you, my love,” she retorted,’ kissing his cleft chin. Then they rolled upon the blanket, tickling and teasing each other as they shared mirthful laughter and heady kisses.

After dark Gavin and Alysa left the romantic cave and rode toward Malvern Castle. Gavin stayed on full alert to avoid running into anyone. An hour before reaching the castle, he bound and gagged Alysa securely, then blindfolded her. “I am sorry, m’love, but the bonds need time to make marks on this exquisite body. From here on I must not speak. I shall take you near the castle, then Calliope will do the rest. I love you, Alysa, and soon we will be together again.”

Gavin followed their plan, stopping within sight of the stone battlement and urging the dark horse onward. Calliope trotted to the castle entrance and whinnied several times, then stamped his foot impatiently. Two guards unlocked the gate and led the horse inside. One cut Alysa’s bonds free from the pommel and helped her dismount before removing her gag and blindfold.

“Home?” she murmured, then pretended to faint. The guards carried her inside the Great Hall and lay her on a table. Quickly Leitis was aroused to tend Alysa, and as she did so, Isobail was summoned. Alysa’s stepmother arrived and observed Leitis affectionately examining the young girl and spouting her outrage at the abrasions upon Alysa’s wrists and face.

Alysa tried to calm the frantic head servant as the woman placed ointment on her scraped wrists and used a cool cloth to soothe the redness around Alysa’s eyes and mouth.

“Fetch. Princess Alysa some warm milk with honey,” Leitis shouted to a serving wench standing near the door. “How dare those ruffians kidnap my sweet princess! They must be hunted down and slain! Beasts!”
she sneered, then mumbled, “They knock this child unconscious, then injure her like this. Devils!”

“Please, dear Leitis, I am home now and barely harmed.”

“But you were unconscious and bound,” a guard protested angrily.

“They should be hanged for what I saw done to you! A daring crime indeed!” the other guard added.

Alysa smiled gratefully at them and teased, “Never have two faces looked better to these eyes than yours did when you removed that dirty blindfold. I do not know why he—”

Isobail stepped forward and halted Alysa’s words with a command: “Leave us. I wish to speak with Princess Alysa alone.” She sat down beside Alysa and smiled. “I will tend my second daughter myself.”

Leitis did not like being forced to leave, but she obeyed. Everyone else did, too, and the room seemed very large and quiet.

“Are you all right, Alysa?” Isobail inquired.

“I think so. It happened so quickly and strangely.”

“Tell me everything,” Isobail ordered softly, patting her arm.

“I was in the village strolling around, and everything went black. When I awoke, I was the prisoner of a terrible villain and his men. They bound and gagged me, so I could not speak or move. I was terrified. The big, ugly man ordered three others to sell me to the Jute Hengist.”

Alysa’s eyes widened as she said, “Do you know what they dared to do? They tied me to Calliope and hauled me away like a slave! We rode for hours in the dark. When we halted to rest, they gave me little to eat and little privacy, then bound me to a tree!”

“What happened later? You have been missing for two days.”

“That is the strange part,” Alysa mused. “A warrior—
I think he was a warrior from his garments and size-entered the camp and killed the three bandits. I could not see his face, for he was masked. He told me not to be afraid, that he was taking me home. He said I had been redeemed by Princess Isobail for a great many coins and jewels. He said he had learned I was stolen and where I was being taken, so he bargained with Sheriff Trahern for my rescue.”

Alysa pretended not to notice how Isobail reacted to that astonishing news, as Gavin had made up the ransom story to pretend to deceive Alysa and to cover Isobail’s part in this deception. She went on, “He kept me bound, gagged, and blindfolded until I reached the castle. He said if I told anyone he rescued me and sold me to you, he would capture me again and beat me. I was ordered to tell you and the sheriff the same thing. We are to claim those three bandits ransomed me and fled into the night. Is that not strange?”

“We must do as he said, Alysa. He knows who we are and where to find us, but we have not seen his face. I am sure he does not want that fierce bandit leader to hear of his deed and chase him with a blood lust. If we keep his secret, perhaps we can hire him again to help us thwart those bandits. I cannot tell you how glad I am this warrior earned the reward I gave to Trahern to pay for your rescue,” she said, knowing there had been no ransom paid to Gavin. “You never saw his face?” When Alysa shook her head, Isobail asked, “Would you recognize his body or his horse?”

Alysa pondered for a moment, then shook her head. “I did not see his horse, and he was clothed in a tunic and breeches like most fighters. And when he talked to me, he whispered so I could not catch his voice.” She added slyly, “I overheard a few of the bandits’ words. They said I was being sold to the Jute chieftain. The big, ugly one hinted that I was worth a fortune to Hengist. There must have been more bandits elsewhere
because he talked about not splitting my reward with them. I could tell some did not like this idea. I heard a bandit call him Skane. Do you think my rescuer is one of the bandits, perhaps a malcontent one? But as my champion, if only for hire, he certainly did not have to be so mean to me!”

“How so?” Isobail asked, intrigued.

“At first he did not bind me securely, and I got free. When I tried to yank off the gag and the blindfold, he was angry. He tied my wrists so tightly, they ached. Look at them,” she stated, holding out the chafed flesh. “I could hardly breathe after he tightened the gag, and I was frightened at being unable to see. I hope you catch him and punish him! Moran will be furious at this dark deed.”

Alysa asked hurriedly, “Have you sent word to him about my abduction? He will be frantic.”

Isobail responded, “I have tried to keep it quiet to protect your honor. There was nothing Moran could do that was not being done by my soldiers, so I did not worry him. He is to arrive for Kyra’s wedding Sunday. We will tell him everything then.”

Alysa sighed and declared, “That is a relief, else he would worry himself ill over me. I am glad Kyra’s wedding plans have not been halted by this wicked act. What should I say to the others? You said to follow the bandits words, and I am afraid to disobey him. He could walk up beside me and I would not know to scream and run.”

“Since we have no clues to unmask him, we must do as he says.”

Alysa apologized, “I am sorry you had to give him your jewels and coins to pay for my return. Perhaps you shall get them back if ever he is captured; I hope so. Does Father know about this?”

“He has been too ill to tell him. Soon you will be my daughter twice over, so do not worry about the bandit’s
reward,” Isobail said soothingly. “Perhaps he will approach us again, and we could find him useful.”

For the first time Alysa embraced Isobail and said, “Thank you for saving my life and honor, my generous stepmother. I shall not forget this deed. It will bind us together as friends and family.”

“Go to your chamber and sleep, Alysa. This ordeal has been rough on you. We will speak more tomorrow. Follow my lead around others.”

Isobail returned to Trahern’s side in her bed. She laughed and remarked, “The Hawk is smarter than we imagined, my love. He convinced the little fool she was ransomed by me, and he never even let her. glimpse his face. He scared her into keeping her mouth shut and into letting Skane’s men take the blame for her return. When you meet next with Gavin, tell him to get rid of Skane immediately.”