Knights of Valor

by Denise Domning

  "Oh, so now it was all to protect me? Make any excuse you like, dear brother. It doesn't change the fact that you are a liar and a cad."

  Slane stood protectively before Taylor.

  Taylor watched Slane's jaw clench with resolve. She saw his eyes narrow with determination. But she knew deep in his heart the anguish and the heartache were tearing him apart. She bowed her head. She knew in that moment that she would do anything for him. Anything to erase his pain. Anything to restore his honor. "No," she said. "I seduced him. It's my fault." She lifted her gaze to meet Richard's.

  "No," Slane said softly. "No more lies." He gently cupped her chin and turned her face to his. "I love you. Very much." He looked back at his brother, dropping his hand. "And if she'll have me, I intend to marry her."

  Joy exploded inside Taylor, filling her with an exuberant warmth. She was blissfully happy and more alive than she had ever been in her entire life.

  Richard visibly shook with his fury. "Not while I'm living," he shouted and rushed forward, his sword raised high.

  Just then, a wall of fire suddenly erupted over the walkway behind them, exploding upward from the flaming roofs below, its scorching fingers reaching hungrily for Taylor, its crackling flames ecstatic at finally having found her!

  "Slane!"

  Slane heard Taylor's shout of alarm as he raised his sword and his brother's blade clanged into it. He instantly knew the cause of Taylor's warning shout; he could feel the heat of the flames clawing at his back. He parried Richard's first two blows, knowing he couldn't give ground. He couldn't give way. Not with the fire at his back. He had to take the offensive, to drive Richard back. It was their only chance. But Richard attacked relentlessly, forcing him on the defensive.

  Within moments, Slane found himself standing side by side with Taylor. He chanced a quick glance at her. Through the smoke, he saw her looking behind him with widening eyes. The heat grew stronger, intensifying all around him. The air seemed to be getting thicker as it grew hotter. He could hear the flames feeding behind him, snapping and crackling and hissing as they devoured everything in their path. He quickly pulled Taylor to him and turned back to face his brother just in time to block a strike headed straight for his head! When their blades crossed, Slane grabbed Richard's arm.

  "Give her to me," Richard snarled.

  "Never," Slane retorted and pushed his brother back.

  Richard stumbled, but quickly righted himself in time to dodge Slane's attack.

  The flames closed in behind them, drawing closer and closer. Slane felt the approaching inferno at his back, driving him forward. He looked for Taylor, hoping she was staying close to him, relieved to see that she was. Richard took advantage of his momentary distraction and struck, bringing his blade down toward Slane's chest and then slicing quickly upward. Slane fell, his sword flinging high into the air, the flames dancing in its shining reflection as it spun over the walkway and disappeared into the fire below.

  Richard stepped forward and towered over Slane.

  "No!" Taylor cried.

  Richard's gaze rose to Taylor before he raised his weapon for the finishing blow. "Oh, yes," he answered.

  Slane pivoted on the ball of his foot, lashing out with his opposite leg. His shin smacked into Richard's legs, catching him off balance. Richard's knees buckled and he tumbled toward the inner edge of the walkway. Slane saw his brother hit the rim of the stone wall and teeter on its edge. Slane lunged forward to catch him, but his fingers grabbed air.

  Richard fell from the walkway, plunging into the raging fire burning in the courtyard below, his tortured scream quickly drowned by the incessant roar of the flames.

  Slane stared over the side of the walkway at the bright flames for a long moment. The heat smothered his face in stifling waves.

  His brother was gone. Dead. He didn't feel the grief he knew he should feel. Or should he? In the end, Richard had turned out to be an enemy, not the brother Slane had always thought him to be.

  Slane lifted his gaze to Taylor.

  Taylor launched herself into his arms and Slane caught her, holding her tightly. The wind whipped around them, fueling the inferno that was growing ever stronger. The fire's angry howl rang loudly in his ears. But he didn't want to move, didn't want to let Taylor go. She was his now. He had fought and sacrificed everything for the woman he loved.

  Finally, Slane stood, pulling her with him. He held her against his body, refusing to let her go, relishing the feel of her arms around him.

  It was Taylor who pulled back. "We have to get out of here," she said.

  Slane nodded in acquiescence. He took her hand and began to walk toward the south tower, their only avenue of escape. But then a gust of wind spiraled the flames from below up and over the walkway, trapping them between its hungry arms!

  Slane pulled back from the fire. He glanced at Taylor to see the glow of the flames highlighting the fear on her face. No, he thought. This can't be. I can't have rescued her just to be killed by this cursed fire!

  Flames stretched their greedy fingers toward the walkway they stood on, forcing them back to the outer wall. Slane looked up, but no magical rope appeared, no flying carpet to spirit them away. He looked from side to side, but the hungry fire waited to engulf them everywhere he turned. He followed Taylor's gaze to the water of Lake Donovan glistening in the morning light like a beacon.

  "Can you swim?" Taylor wondered, then pulled herself up the wall. She balanced precariously and reached down to help Slane up. He had no sooner stepped onto the wall than the flame bit at the walkway, eating away at the wooden platform they had been standing on mere seconds before.

  She clutched at him as the wind swirled around them, threatening to push them back into the flames. Slane clutched her hand tightly in his, partly for balance, partly in uncertainty.

  Slane gazed into those bright green gems for a long moment, hoping they would both make it through this.

  Then something crossed Taylor's features, an understanding, a longing, a fear. Were those tears that made those green gems sparkle? She took one last glance at the flames, at the fire that had forced her into a life of hardship and misery. Slane could see the fear seeping from her face, replaced by a determination and a force of will he had always known to be the strength of Taylor Sullivan.

  She turned back to face him, a soft grin on her lips. "Last one to shore buys the ale," she said and launched herself off the castle wall.

  Slane's heart lurched into his throat as he saw her soaring through the air, dropping hard and fast toward the water below.

  Then he jumped right after her and felt himself falling through the air. As he plummeted toward the glistening water, he saw Taylor strike the surface and plunge beneath the waters. It seemed like an eternity that he waited for her to emerge. But she didn't surface. He hit the water feet first with a sharp jolt to his legs, then plunged beneath the surface. When his downward momentum stopped, he used strong strokes to bring himself back to the surface. He broke through to the air, taking a deep inhale. He quickly glanced around the lake, searching for Taylor. The surface remained quiet except for his splashing.

  "Taylor!" he hollered.

  Fearful images built in his mind. What if she hadn't made it? What if...? Frantically, he dove, searching the water for her body. But it was too deep. He couldn't reach the bottom. When he broke through the surface again, he was breathing hard. "Taylor!"

  He heard a distant splashing. He turned and saw her swimming toward the shore. Relief coursed through him and joy bubbled in his heart. He started after her, but knew she would make it well before him.

  Each stroke brought him closer to the shore until finally he pulled himself out of the water and collapsed on the grassy bank. He turned over, gasping hard. The rising sun struggled to emerge from the clouds. Finally, it peeked out, momentarily blinding him. But then its radiance was obscured by a shadow. He opened his eyes to find an angel standing above him. Or was it a devil? A smile stretched across his face.
"You'll do just about anything for an ale, won't you?"

  Taylor shrugged. "When I'm thirsty, I will."

  It was good to hear the levity in her voice. It was even better to see happiness shine in her eyes as she gazed down at him. She sat beside him, pulling her legs up to her chest. "Was what you told Richard the truth?"

  Slane boosted himself up on his elbow, trying to look into her eyes. But she was looking down at her toes, which peeked out of the hem of the execution dress she wore. "You know it was. Every word of it. I don't lie."

  Taylor lifted her gaze to him and there was confusion in her eyes. "Why would you want to marry me?"

  Slane smiled. "Who else would leap off a castle wall with me?"

  But Taylor wasn't smiling. She was looking down at her toes, wiggling them nervously. "I don't know how to be a wife. I'm a mercenary. That's all I know."

  "I would have you no other way," Slane said sincerely. God's blood! Didn't she realize how exciting she was? How beautiful and intelligent?

  She planted her feet firmly on the ground. "I have nothing to offer you."

  Slane took her hand in his, drawing the gaze of her emerald eyes. "You have everything. You are all I want. You are perfect the way you are." She cocked her head doubtfully and Slane grinned. "I love you."

  "You must have hit the water pretty hard," she said.

  "Why else would I have come back to save you?"

  "It's in your blood," she offered. "Knight of honor and all that."

  "I know what I want, Taylor. I think the problem is you're having trouble accepting it. You thought no man could want you."

  "Well, that's not entirely true. I knew there were men who could want me. I just never knew one of them could be you."

  "I didn't come back just to rescue a damsel in distress. I came back because I want you to be my wife."

  Taylor's sharp gaze probed him; then she puckered her lips in thought, raising her eyes to the sky. "Lady Taylor Donovan." She giggled and the sound warmed Slane's heart.

  "But there is one condition," Slane said seriously.

  Taylor shifted her gaze to his.

  "I desire complete and utter devotion. I would have it no other way."

  "That's an awful lot to ask," she mused.

  For a moment, Slane's heart sank. Then he saw the mischievous look in her eyes, the slight curl of her lips.

  "Where would you take a mercenary to live?" she wondered.

  Slane stood and offered her his hand. "You can't go back to Castle Donovan. You're still an outlaw there."

  Taylor grasped his hand and he pulled her up. "I'm an outlaw in many towns," she observed. She cast a glance into the distance. A stray beam of sun broke through the clouds, shining down on a green hill. "I think it's time to head home," Taylor said. "To Sullivan Castle."

  Surprise rocked Slane, and then pride. He gently ran a finger along her cheek. "You've conquered all your ghosts," he said with admiration, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her tight against him. "It will take a lot of work. A lot of dedication."

  Taylor stroked his cheek, gazing into his eyes with affection and tenderness. She kissed his lips lightly, brushing hers along his with a feather-light stroke. "We will rebuild. It's time to start a new life, to stop looking over my shoulder."

  Slane nodded. "I agree," he said, running a hand through her wet hair.

  "Then I will give you what you desire." Taylor stared adoringly into his eyes, all the mischief gone, replaced by genuine sincerity. "I love you, Slane Donovan."

  The words spoken from her lips ignited a powerful response in Slane. Elated, he pressed his lips to hers, encircling her with his powerful arms. Then he pulled back to gaze into her wondrous eyes. "I knew it," he said.

  "Pretty arrogant, aren't you?"

  "And why shouldn't I be?" Slane asked. "I learned from the best."

  Taylor played with a lock of his wet hair, curling it around her finger. "For all these years I believed that there was no such thing as true love. What a fool I've been. There is such a thing. And it saved me, Slane. You saved me. Not only from the stake, but from my past as well."

  "Isn't that what a knight of honor does?"

  "That, and he marries poor, helpless mercenary girls."

  A large crash from the castle made both of them turn and look. The fire was dying, its flames withering, its deadly heat fading. The crackling flames spit one last venomous hiss before becoming nothing more than a mute whisper.

  Taylor stepped away from Slane, facing the dying beast. She stared at the fading fire for a long moment, feeling a sense of triumph.

  Slane stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  And Taylor knew peace for the first time in eight years.

  Dear Reader:

  I’m so happy you picked Taylor and Slane’s story to read. Taylor is one of my favorite heroines. I love how strong, yet vulnerable she is and that she can hold her own against any man.

  And Slane… He really is a knight of honor!

  I’ve always had a special place for knights. When I was young, I used to watch Camelot and pretend I was Guinevere waiting to be rescued at the stake. Well, Taylor would wait for no one to rescue her, but she did end up at the stake!

  If you enjoyed this award winning tale, please be sure to check out the rest of my novels. I love to hear from my readers, so please drop me a line.

  Thanks again for letting A Knight of Honor take you away into a wonderful world of adventure, medieval pageantry, and love.

  Laurel O’Donnell

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider my other works:

  Angel's Assassin

  Winner of the International Digital Award in the Historical Category

  Damien is an assassin, a man with no home and a tortured past. Sold into slavery as a young boy, he is trained to kill with cold calculation, without remorse. Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness, beloved by all her people. When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart.

  The Angel and The Prince

  Nominated for the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart award

  In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy — the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness. Forced to choose between love and honor, the Angel and the Prince wage a battle of wills that challenges everything they have ever believed in.

  Champion of the Heart

  Captivating from the very first page, readers will have a hard time putting CHAMPION OF THE HEART down. The characters emotional turmoil coupled with the sensuality and delightful cast of characters adds a special, unique depth… and elevated this to another level.”

  - RT Book Reviews

  Champion of the Heart is an exciting medieval romance filled with dark secrets and haunted castles, villainous betrayal and heartbreaking tragedy, honor and family loyalty—and a love that conquers all.

  The Lady and The Falconer

  “Medieval readers will find The Lady and the Falconer a highly satisfying, well crafted story that fills their craving for a tale of medieval intrigue and passion.”

  - Romantic Times Magazine

  A mysterious Falconer. A ravishing green-eyed Lady. A castle under siege. A killer hiding among them. Traitors are revealed. Family loyalties are betrayed. Can hated enemies find common ground in each other's arms? The Lady and the Falconer is an exciting medieval romance filled with action, intrigue, suspense and a desire that defies every sinister obstacle put in its path.

  Midnight Shadow

  “Part-highwayman, part-adventure romance, this entertaining novel is sure to please both medieval romance readers and anyone seeking a light, captivating adventure. Laurel ODonnell captures the essence of the period as well as the excitement and sheer romance of the Middle Ages.”

  - RT Book Reviews<
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  Can the heat of passion overcome the chill of suspicion? Will a legendary hero find love in the arms of her hated enemy? Midnight Shadow is a medieval romance adventure filled with excitement and intrigue, secret identities and dangerous enemies, suspense and action, and an undeniable passion that rises above all fears.

  FREE The Bride and The Brute Novella

  Jayce Cullen has been fighting her fear of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child, but nothing could have prepared her for the fury of her new husband. Feeling deceived and betrayed into a loveless marriage, Lord Reese Harrington wants nothing to do with his new wife. Trapped in a marriage with no escape, the beautiful young bride must battle the demons of her husband’s past and hope that she can weather the storm his brutish behavior unleashes.

  For More information on any of these books or other novels by Laurel O'Donnell, please visit her webpage

  from Award-winning, internationally best-selling Kindle author Denise Domning

  "Ms. Domning's strength is in her unforgettably real characters!"—Diane Potwin, Literary Times, Inc.— Copyright © 1994-97 All rights reserved

  "Five star reading from the pen of Ms. Domning who captures the essence of Medieval times perfectly."— Rendezvous Magazine

  "...Denise Domning is a writer of immense power and intense emotion whose star shines brighter and brighter..." — Romantic Times Magazine

  Summer's Storm