The games began with an announcement and the roar of the crowd. It was a bloodthirsty lot who thrived on the thrill of one man injuring another and the sport of an excellent conquest. The cheering was going on all around Lucia as she sat with Lady Currie and Amy in the very first row of the arena, off to the left side where men entered from the staging area.
That gave Lady Currie a firsthand look at all of the men coming into the arena and she had her pick. She didn’t cheer when they entered but watched with the intensity of a hunter spying prey.
She was also intensely jealous of the other women who had come for the exact same purpose. There was a sense of urgency about her, to get to the most handsome men first, so she made sure to sit right by the entrance to the arena so she could see them first.
The fights began.
The initial bout was a disappointment because neither man was handsome. As Lady Currie commented, they both looked like old goats. One was more advanced than the other and he ended up breaking the arm of his opponent. The fight was over quickly.
The second bout saw a man who was a potential prospect. He was tall, sinewy, and blond, and she eyed him with great interest as he fought bravely against a man who was trying to take out his legs. The blond man deftly avoided his opponent’s clumsy attempts and finally ended up putting the man in a choke hold and causing him to faint. Once the opponent fell to the ground, the fight was over, but Lady Currie was still looking at the blond warrior.
“What’s his name?” she asked Lucia.
Lucia leaned in to her. “I believe they called him Warenne, m’lady.”
“Warenne,” Lady Currie repeated slowly. “Very nice. We must remember him.”
Lucia nodded, making a mental note. Often, Lady Currie had four or five men she wanted to look over, so Lucia was responsible for helping her remember exactly whom she wanted to see. As Lady Currie muttered something to Amy, several servants ran onto the arena floor and raked up the dirt, smoothing it over for the next bout.
Lucia was looking at the crowd and at a mother and two daughters who always came to the Ludus Caledonia to pick over the men just as Lady Currie did. They were always richly dressed, with lots of jewels, and they came with guards.
But they were also unattractive and heavily rouged. At least Lady Currie was pretty. One of the daughters caught sight of Lucia looking at them, and she stuck her tongue out belligerently. Since Lucia wasn’t going to back down from a painted moppet, she stuck her tongue out at her, too. They were engaging in the mutual exchange of silent insults when the next two combatants were brought out.
The roar of the crowd distracted Lucia. She turned with disinterest to the field only to see Bane emerge with another man.
Her heart immediately went into her throat.
My God, she thought. He’s fighting!
Bane had a wooden shield and a sword of shiny steel, and he moved out into the arena, his gaze moving out over the top of the lists. Lucia was certain he was looking for her but she didn’t want to do anything that might catch his attention. Somehow, she didn’t think it would go well for her if he acknowledged her, so she prayed he had sense enough to realize that. She’d told him before that Lady Currie was jealous, and she had no idea what her lady would think if she knew that Lucia knew one of the men on the arena floor.
More than knew him.
Loved him.
Aye, she could admit it. She wasn’t sure when she’d started loving him, but she knew she did. It seemed as if she always had. He was everything she never thought she would have and here he was, serving in a fight guild to make enough money to pay off her father’s debt.
He was doing it for her.
“Look at him, Lucia,” Lady Currie said, interrupting her thoughts. She was pointing at Bane. “I’ve not seen him here before. He must be new.”
Lucia’s heart sank. She sighed faintly, feeling the sickening certainty that her mistress had spied Bane. Of course the woman would have; he was tall and strong and handsome. Why wouldn’t she notice him?
It was Lucia’s greatest fear realized.
“He…he must be new, m’lady,” she said carefully. “I’ve not seen him here before, either.”
It was the truth. Lady Currie’s gaze followed Bane as he moved, a lascivious cast in her eyes.
“Oh, he’s quite tasty,” she said. “What is his name? Did they say?”
Lucia shook her head. She also wanted to wring Lady Currie’s neck. “Nay, m’lady,” she said, feeling the powerful strains of jealousy herself. “They’ve not announced him. Look at his opponent. He is very nice, too.”
Lady Currie looked to the man Lucia was indicating. He was short but very muscular, built spectacularly. In spite of the icy weather, he was wearing little more than breeches and boots, making his build all the more obvious.
“He is nice,” she agreed. “Both of them are. I want to know their names, Lucia. Listen closely.”
Before Lucia could respond, the big Saxon who usually announced the fights came forth, shouting above the buzz of the crowd and announcing men known as the Eagle and the Highland Defender.
The crowd roared.
As soon as the Saxon stepped away, the fight began.
The shorter, muscular man went on the attack right away, and it was all Lucia could do not to cover her eyes. Swords were flying faster than she could imagine, the dull thud of metal against the shields as Bane and the man known as the Eagle went after each other with a vengeance.
It was brutal from the beginning.
Though Lucia wanted to look away, she couldn’t. Morbid fascination had her watching every move Bane made. She could see in an instant that his history as a warrior was true; he knew exactly what he was doing. His moves were intuitive. He was fast, he was strong, and he was sure-footed, even in the mud that the light snow had created.
Once, he slid as he went on the attack and ended up on his knees, but it was enough to undercut his opponent, who took a shield to the jaw that sent him reeling. Lucia almost cheered but caught herself before she could expose her excitement.
But watching the fight, she’d never been prouder or more excited about anything.
Bane was truly a warrior to watch.
“Look at him, Lucia,” Lady Currie said, breaking into her thoughts. “The big warrior, I mean. Look at the way he moves. Such power.”
Lucia found herself struggling again. “Aye, m’lady.”
“I must know his name.”
“Shall I go and ask, m’lady?”
Lady Currie shook her head. “Not yet,” she said. “I suppose the other warrior is very fine, too, but something about the taller one…”
She trailed off and Lucia dared to look at her. It was a mistake; the woman was virtually licking her lips with glee. Lucia looked away quickly before she said something she would regret.
The fight lasted longer than most fights did, even the professional bouts. Bane and his opponent slashed away at each other for quite some time until his opponent lost his shield or, more correctly, threw his shield. It flew up at Bane’s face, and as he ducked to miss being hit, his opponent slashed him with his sword. The blade cut along the left side of Bane’s torso, immediately drawing blood.
The crowd screamed with glee.
Bane didn’t let the blow go unanswered. Using his shield, he managed to hit his opponent in the head, causing the man to falter. As he went down, Bane came down on him, but his opponent managed to get his sword up, pointing it right at Bane’s throat. Had Bane not stopped when he had, he would have impaled himself on the upturned blade. Realizing he was in a precarious position, he had no choice but to drop his weapon and lift his hands.
The crowd roared.
Clearly surrendering, Bane backed off, but as he did, his opponent suddenly leapt to his feet and threw a knee into the side of Bane’s head. The blow sent him f
ace-first into the mud.
The crowd erupted in a chorus, making sure their disgust with the illegal move was known. At this point, men rushed the field, pulling Bane out of the mud so he wouldn’t suffocate as the big Saxon grabbed Bane’s opponent by the back of the neck and forcibly removed him from the arena. Lucia watched in horror as Bane was dragged half-conscious from the arena. Beside her, Lady Currie bolted to her feet.
“Hurry,” she said, pushing at Lucia. “Find an official and ask him about the one who was injured. And the blond from the first bout, too.”
Lucia was sick to her stomach, but she complied. With Lady Currie behind her, pushing her, they climbed the steps to the top of the arena and headed over to the iron fence that overlooked the staging ground.
Lucia was particularly concerned with Bane and how badly he was injured, and Lady Currie’s lust for the man threatened to undo her completely. She was so upset over it that by the time they reached the staging ground, she was trembling. She was also slowing down, which caused Lady Currie to rush around her and head straight to one of the guards from the Ludus Caledonia who was guarding the gate.
He knew her on sight.
“Lady Currie,” the man with the heavy French accent said. “We have not seen you here for some time. How may I be of service?”
Lady Currie smiled prettily. “Where is Sir Clegg?” she asked. “I wish to speak with him.”
The man seemed to know what she wanted, so he unlocked the gate and ushered her and Lucia inside. Since Lady Currie had been here so many times, she knew exactly where to go. Lucia followed her along a path that was laid with tile, a path that would lead them directly to the private viewing box of Sir Clegg de Lave.
From this lavish and private box overlooking both the staging ground and the arena beyond, the owner of the Ludus Caledonia could watch everything. It was a structure built on the edge of the gully that contained the Fields of Mars, one that had big arches instead of walls so there was a great view from all angles.
In the winter, however, those arches were fitted with shutters and curtains that were now closed up against the gently falling snow except for two of them, directly overlooking the staging area and the arena.
An enormous fire roared in the hearth near lavish couches and a table with fine wine decanters and a spread of delicacies. A man with flowing silver hair was standing in one of the open arches, heavily wrapped against the cold. When he noticed Lady Currie, he came away from the arch.
“Ah,” he said pleasantly. “Lady Currie. It is always a pleasure to see you.”
Lady Currie smiled brightly. “And you, Sir Clegg,” she said. “I was wondering if I might ask a question about a couple of your new novices.”
Clegg nodded, sensing money to be made. He always made a great deal of money from Lady Currie when it came to his fine, young warriors and this was, after all, a business.
“Of course,” he said. “Come and sit with me. Let us drink warmed wine and speak about those men you are interested in.”
Lady Currie giggled. “I am rather obvious, aren’t I?”
Clegg smiled, displaying yellowed teeth. “I like a woman who knows what she wants,” he said as they moved toward the fine couches. “Let me guess. You want to know of the two that were just in combat.”
Lady Currie nodded. “In particular, the one who was injured,” she said. “Tell me of him.”
Clegg’s bushy eyebrows lifted. “Ah,” he said. “The Highlander. That is Bane Morgan. He is an excellent fighter.”
“And his opponent?”
“Magnus Stewart, another Scotsman. They call him the Eagle.”
“I heard,” Lady Currie said with a hint of impatience. “And in the first round there was a tall blond. Who was that?”
“A young Englishman named Warenne de Soulant,” he said. “Which one would you like to meet?”
“Bane.”
Clegg shook his head. “He was wounded from what I saw, so I do not believe he’ll be good company for you,” he said. “What of Magnus? Or Warenne?”
Lady Currie was unhappy that he’d rejected her first choice and she wasn’t shy about it. “But he didn’t look too badly injured,” she said. “Bane, I mean. Where is he?”
Clegg grinned. “He has been taken to his cottage, I would imagine, to be tended by the physic,” he said. “A wounded man will not be of much use to you and your needs, my lady, so choose another for tonight. When Bane heals, I will introduce you.”
Lady Currie didn’t press him, but she was still unhappy. “Very well,” she sighed sharply. “Warenne was nice-looking. Do you have any others?”
“I do.”
“Will you show me?”
Clegg nodded. “Come out to the balcony, and we shall inspect the men in the staging area below.”
Lady Currie nodded, eager to take a good look. Lucia, still standing back by the door, watched the woman as she moved swiftly to the big balcony that gave a supreme vantage point. But she also knew that, from this point forward, she wasn’t needed. Lady Currie had Clegg’s attention, and it would be through Clegg that she would find the evening’s companionship. Sometimes Lucia followed her for lack of anything better to do, but sometimes she didn’t. Sometimes, she went back to the carriage to wait in the dark and cold.
But tonight…she wasn’t going to go back to the carriage.
She had another destination in mind.
“M’lady?” she said before Lady Currie could become too involved in her inspection. “Do ye require me? I can wait for ye elsewhere if ye wish.”
Lady Currie waved an impatient hand at her. “Go back to the carriage,” she said. “Find Amy and the two of you can wait for me. I do not know how long I shall be, so do not ask.”
Lucia simply nodded, eager to be gone. In little time, she was out the door and back through the iron gate. The warrior village was to the south and she stood there a moment, remembering what Bane had told her.
I have a cottage at the end of the warrior village. Come find me when this is over.
She intended to.
Chapter Sixteen
The warrior village was surprisingly unguarded.
Since tonight was a game night, people were wandering in and out of the village even though there were at least four guards that Lucia could see. But the guards were gathered in a bunch in conversation, and they completely ignored the people going in and out.
Lucia used that to her advantage.
Bane had said he was at the end of the warrior village, which she took to mean the opposite end. She scurried down the narrow avenue that ran between the neat cottage rows, trying not to slide in the slush that had developed from the snowfall. As she neared the end of the row, she saw the big Saxon emerge from one of the cottages.
Quickly, she hid against another cottage, staying out of sight but hearing the Saxon speak to someone, telling him to remain still and do what the physic demanded. She sank back against the wall as the Saxon walked past her, heading back to the arena, but something told her that he was speaking to Bane.
It was just a feeling she had.
Quickly, Lucia made her way to the cottage, hiding in the shadows and waiting for the physic to depart. Because of the stone, she couldn’t hear what was going on inside and the wait became an impatient one. She was worried about Lady Currie, wondering if the woman had indeed found a young warrior to spend her time with or if she’d given up and had gone back to the arena. In which case, she would be looking for Lucia.
That concerned her.
Still, she didn’t want to leave before finding out if Bane was all right.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait too much longer. The door to the cottage opened again and slammed back against the hinges. She could hear footsteps crunching on the slushy ground before peering around the corner and seeing a man walking away.
Carefully, she made her way up to the cottage door.
Lucia stood there a moment, putting her ear against it and hearing nothing. Whoever was inside was alone because she didn’t hear any movement whatsoever. Very quietly, she knocked on the door.
“Bane?” she whispered loudly. “Bane?”
It took a moment, but she finally heard an answer. “Lucia? Is that ye?”
She shoved the door open, coming face-to-face with a pale Bane as he struggled to sit up in bed. His wound hadn’t needed stitches, but his entire torso was tightly wrapped and she slammed the door, rushing to him and pushing him back on the bed.
“Nay,” she said. “Dunna strain yerself. Lie down.”
Bane did, but it was clear that he was surprised to see her. His hands went up, grasping her by the arms even as she laid him back on the bed.
“Ye found me,” he said, a smile on his lips. “Did ye see the fight?”
“Of course I did. Did ye not see me right in the front row with Lady Currie?”
He sighed faintly as she checked his bandages. “I looked for ye but the fight started so quickly that I dinna have a chance,” he said. “I’m sorry I lost. I would never intentionally shame ye.”
She stopped fussing and looked at him. “Is that what ye think? That ye shamed me?”
He closed his eyes, feeling the drag of the pain potion the physic had given him. “I’m ashamed of myself,” he said softly. “I dunna blame ye if ye are.”
Lucia stared at him for a moment. “I’m not sure how ye can even say that,” she said softly. “Bane, ye came here tae make money tae pay off my father’s debt. It was a great and noble gesture. Do ye really think I would be ashamed of anything ye did? If ye do, then ye dunna know me very well. I’m never ashamed of a man who gives an honest effort in anything he does.”
He met her eyes. After a moment, he reached out to touch her cheek gently. “Then I am ashamed of myself more than I ever was,” he murmured. “I dinna stop tae think that I would slander yer character by thinking ye might be ashamed. ’Tis only that I want tae always be a victor in yer eyes. I always want ye tae be proud of me.”
Highland Defender Page 13
