"Was it your turn?" she asked. "I'd happily go in your place. I'd rather not stay here and watch those two love-struck..."
"Should have been him and Mark," Sebastian said.
"I'll go with her," Jeffrey decided. "Lest you spend the day fighting with her..."
Jeffrey and Randy took their bows and quivers and left. Brendan kept staring at Mark and Eleonor who were seated just outside the cave.
"She will not betray him," Gwen said, rising to clean the table.
Brendan glanced at her, but didn't comment. He'd have to see it to believe it.
***
"Why did you rebel against Donovan?" Eleonor asked, barely noticing she was seated on a rough stone instead of a pillowed bench. The cool air of the forest was a relief after the stuffy cave and the proximity of Mark's body next to her still made her heart beat faster.
"Because he threw me into a dungeon to get the woman I loved," Mark answered, looking away with a frown. "It's his favorite game."
"What about the others?"
"I met them all in that prison, except Brendan, who helped us escape. We discovered we got along fine and had a common enemy, so here we are."
She smiled. "Donovan hates you, he thinks you're the leader." A very handsome and courageous leader at that. She'd have loved to have such a man in her father's service. Pity her father was dead and she wasn't even free to stay at her castle with whomever she wanted.
"I was the captain of his guard, before Theodore," Mark said. "Anyway, we don't have a leader. Might be Dave, he's the oldest and Seb trusts him, but we don't need anybody to guide us."
"You must be strong to resist a powerful man like my cousin," she said admiringly.
"It's easier for a man to be strong. Unless you're a warrior woman like Randy."
"She's a funny woman. I'd like to be like her."
"I'd rather you stayed the way you are, my lady! And when you need me, I'll be at your feet."
"I'd rather have you by my side," she said with an impish smile. "Stop acting like a gentleman, you dirty outlaw! Why don't you act like a rogue for once?"
Puzzled, he looked at her.
"I don't want to hurt you, my lady..."
"I know you won't."
She took his clean-shaven face in her hands and kissed him. How bold of her, but he tasted good. He held her tight, covering her cheeks and neck with butterfly kisses that made her sigh in bliss. Yes, she'd love to spend her life with a man like him.
***
Rowan stared out of the window at the forest with a frown. Lady Eleonor was somewhere out there with the wicked outlaw. She's been quick to get rid of me! Of course, I'm only a page, she'd never consider me as a lover!
He was almost sure Lord Donovan would get her back, though. The Duke had already sent someone to summon her, but of course she wasn't at the castle anymore.
Rowan waited. He heard footsteps approaching fast and Lord Donovan stormed into the guest room he'd given to his cousin.
"Where is Lady Eleonor?" he demanded, looking around. "I don't like waiting when I summon someone."
"My lady is gone," Rowan answered from the window seat. "The room is like she left it last night."
Bed untouched, chest of clothes open and half-empty. She'd taken Gwen with her but had left Rowan behind.
"Where did she go?" Lord Donovan glared at him. "Why didn't you say it before?"
"I know I wronged you, my lord, but she told me to be quiet and I obeyed." Rowan rose and walked to the Duke. He was slightly shorter, but didn't feel intimidated. His love for Lady Eleonor made him feel invincible. "She told me I should complete my training with you, but I'd rather see her come back."
"Where is she?" Lord Donovan narrowed his eyes, staring at him.
"We met Mark and Brendan in the forest on our way here," Rowan answered defiantly. "Then Mark came to the castle and asked my lady to run away with him."
"You should have told me immediately!" the Duke snapped.
"She wouldn't have followed him if you'd let her go to that monastery," Rowan retorted.
"You insolent brat! Now you're going to tell me everything from the very beginning or I'll have you whipped!"
Rowan scoffed. He wasn't going to keep quiet anymore. He wanted Lady Eleonor back and was ready to pay the price. If her cousin forced her to marry him, Rowan could still be by her side and let her cry on his shoulder. If she stayed with the outlaws, he had lost her forever.
***
The opening of the cave had been covered with bushes and was completely hidden from the searching soldiers. The archers hid around the entrance, either on the biggest trees or crouched behind rocks.
Theodore led the search, shouting orders to the men that passed through the clearing without seeing the cave. Randy and Brendan were both behind a great stone and watched the guards move about.
"Don't waste your arrows unless the soldiers threaten the Shelter," Brendan whispered, leaning towards Randy.
"Fine." She shrugged. "It's a pity, I wouldn't have minded some practice."
"Not this close to the shelter. We'll wait for them on their way back."
Randy grinned at him and nodded.
***
Theodore reached the castle with only half the men he'd taken out. Donovan waited for him with Rowan in the great hall.
"We were ambushed, my lord! Those devils..."
"Bastards," Donovan muttered.
Theodore gave him one of Randy's arrows.
"They found another man!" Donovan cursed under his breath.
"Not one of mine, my lord," Theodore said. "We didn't have any other desertions after you made me captain."
"Yes, yes, Theodore, I know." Donovan tapped his foot on the dais, caressing his chin with a frown. He must capture Mark and his friends and put an end to the game. His former captain had gone too far – abducting his cousin and now this!
"We searched everywhere, but we couldn't find their shelter, my lord, it's like they could make themselves invisible," Theodore said, worried.
Not the brightest man available, Donovan thought. Damn Mark's betrayal, he was good!
"Have you searched the villages as well?" he asked. He had five in his fief, and he was almost sure that the villagers helped the archers. "Where was Brendan last seen?"
"We looked inside all the villages close enough to the forest to be useful hiding places."
"Damn them! They must have a moving camp, then!"
"Camp fires leaves traces, and we couldn't find any," Theodore said. "And we know they hunt in your forest..."
"And they don't eat raw meat, I know," Donovan grumbled.
"My lord, I believe Mark has found the help of a demon."
Donovan dismissed the thought with a bored gesture.
"Then so should we." Rowan's voice startled him. The page looked determined. "If magic helps them to hide, with magic shall we find them. Summon the great sorcerer Jarin."
"My lord, you shouldn't trust sorcerers!" Theodore protested, scared by magic like every other commoner. Donovan wasn't so credulous and began to think that the page was right.
"I want Eleonor, and Mark, to kill him." he said, thoughtful. He looked at Rowan. "How much do you think that Jarin will ask to bring them back here?"
"Ask him," Rowan answered with a shrug. "It seems to me that Lady Eleonor is priceless, but it's up to you."
"Do you know where to find him?"
Rowan slowly nodded.
5.
In spite of being more a lady-in-waiting than a maid, Gwen proved herself useful by cooking and helping keep the cave a little more like a house. She made the beds, observed by Dave, Randy and Brendan.
"See, Gwen is a much more likeable person," Randy said. "She's not a useless peacock like her lady."
"Lady Eleonor is very beautiful," David said.
"Oh, gods, another one bites the dust! And tell me, David, what does the lady have, apart from beauty and lands?"
"She's a woman, you're neither man
nor woman."
She opened her mouth, then closed it, frowning.
"It's not my fault I was born the wrong sex," she grumbled, glaring at him.
Dave shrugged and didn't even look at her, but Brendan smiled.
Mark and Eleonor entered the cave, and Gwen rushed to her mistress.
"Shall we go hunting, Randy?" Brendan suggested. She followed him outside, still frowning.
"Am I really what Dave says I am?" she asked a while later, as deer eluded them.
"You're a little immature, picking fights with everyone," he answered. "Keep in mind some men don't like warrior women."
"I'll remember it," she muttered.
"Besides, if you don't like Eleonor, you shouldn't say it only behind her back."
He looked at her and she sighed.
"But I like her! She's sort of dumb, but nice. And it's true she's very beautiful."
"You're not ugly."
"I'm not a lady, though. I wasn't born a Duchess. Mark is really smitten, isn't he?"
"Yes, why?" Brendan still was quite uneasy at the thought, but there wasn't much he could do. His friend was in love, and the love was returned, who was he to try to keep them apart?
"Pity, he's very good-looking." Randy shrugged.
He stared at her in wonder, then shook his head.
"Deer will elude us till dusk if we keep on talking. Not counting the Duke's soldiers..."
They smiled at each other and started the real hunt.
***
Donovan sat on the dais with Rowan and Theodore at his side when Jarin the Sorcerer reached Lovenback Castle. Theodore hid behind his lord's seat when the guest entered the great hall, all dressed in black, ageless, his face half-covered with dark, mysterious tattoos.
Jarin sauntered to the dais and took Rowan's wrist to check the scar on the page's arm.
"So you're the one who summoned me," the Sorcerer said with a smile.
"I know the necessary blood ritual, but you're here for my lord," Rowan answered, determined.
"Fine." Jarin turned to Donovan. "What can I do for you?"
"What is your price?" Donovan asked bluntly.
"It depends on what I'm supposed to do. Tell me the problem and I'll name the price."
"Fair enough." Donovan nodded, frowning. "One year ago I outlawed the captain of my guard who disrespected me."
"A trained warrior?" Jarin asked with mild interest.
"An excellent archer, mostly. Well, he's also a good swordsman," Donovan admitted grumpily. "Since he betrayed me, he's been hiding in the forest with some friends, and they're robbing me of money and lives. A few days ago he stole my most precious possession – my cousin Eleonor whom I was about to wed."
"Did he abduct her?"
"Apparently she left willingly with him." No use lying to a sorcerer. Jarin could probably figure out the truth if he really tried.
The sorcerer nodded, thoughtful. "And your wish is?"
"I want them both back. Alive."
Jarin scoffed. "Of course."
"So what's the price?"
Jarin paced the dais for a moment, pondering, then stopped in front of Rowan.
"I'd like an apprentice," he said, staring at the youth with pitch-black eyes that sent shivers down Donovan's spine but apparently didn't scare Rowan who straightened his back.
"In that case, I need to bargain with you too, my lord," the page said boldly.
Donovan stared at the youth in wonder, but Rowan ignored him, staring back at the sorcerer. Maybe he should keep Rowan in his service, the boy was proving himself very useful and resourceful.
"I'm listening." The sorcerer crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
"I'll follow you anywhere you want to take me, but before make her love me, at least once," Rowan said. "One night with her, and I'll be your slave forever."
Donovan stared incredulous at the boyish face, but Jarin smiled.
"I like you," the sorcerer said. "You know what you want and how to get it. Done deal, young man. You'll have her before anyone else when she's brought here."
"Hey, wait a moment, what are you talking about?" Donovan protested.
"You let your servants pay for you, stay out of their deal," Jarin replied pleasantly. "You'll have what you want, don't bother about the rest."
He turned his back on them and stepped down from the dais.
"I better go to work," he said, walking towards the main door of the great hall. "Lady Eleonor and her lover will be here before dawn."
***
Curtains had been added to give the women some privacy, but then Mark had started sharing his bed with Eleonor, so they had added another curtain to separate another corner of the cave. Night had fallen on the archers' Shelter and all were deeply asleep.
A being made of darkness materialized in the dimly lit cave. Its red eyes didn't need a torch to see the warm bodies resting all over the cave. It found the couple of lovers, who slept with their clothes on but holding each other, and white fangs flashed in the darkness.
A clawed black hand covered Mark's mouth. Startled awake, he opened his eyes and widened them in horror, but couldn't move. The demon whispered a spell, and Mark's moan died in his throat.
Randy woke and saw the shadow over Mark, but she couldn't move. She watched in dismay as the dark being took Mark and Eleonor and vanished with a cackle.
The archers woke up startled and looked around, dismayed. Gwen screamed, seeing her lady was gone.
"It wasn't a dream, right?" Randy asked, jumping to her feet. "You saw it too!"
"A demon!" Dave couldn't believe his eyes. "The Duke has summoned a demon! May his soul be damned, we're all dead!"
"Not yet," Brendan said, determined. "We'll make a deal with demons too."
"It won't be necessary," Randy said. She chewed on her lower lip, frowning. "Let's find the sorcerer, without him, Donovan is powerless."
"Don't tell me you're an expert at magic fights too," Sebastian commented, sarcastic.
"I'm a mercenary," Randy retorted. "I've had a couple. Most sorcerers are actually harmless when they are weaving their spells. And many are charlatans. Let me see who they called before summoning demons."
"We better move camp," Dave said. "Jeff, take Gwen to Debby's. She'll be safe there."
***
Rowan waited in Lady Eleonor's room, seated on her bed that had long lost her smell. The demon came in from the window and put Eleonor, passed out, by his side with a strange gentleness. The fanged smile flashed at him, then the demon left.
Rowan leaned to take a closer look at his beloved. He stared at her in awe and slowly caressed her cheek, bathed by moonlight.
She opened her eyes with a sigh. When she focused on him, she looked scared.
"Rowan! Where are we? Where is that monster?"
"You're safe, my lady," he answered, feeling strong and bold and ready to protect her from all evil. "Nobody will harm you."
He kissed her with all his passion. She didn't resist, and moaned in pleasure while he made love to her. Maybe she was dazed or under a spell, but Rowan didn't care. He could finally touch her and taste her and he never had enough of her.
Except she didn't bleed when he went inside her. As she fell asleep, spellbound, in his arms, he frowned at her beautiful face. He was young and not very experienced, but he knew enough to understand his beloved had already lost her virginity.
After she had left her father's castle, he'd heard enough whispered conversations between her and Gwen to know that she was still a virgin when her father was alive and protected her.
"Jarin!" he screamed. "You promised me I'd be the first!"
The sorcerer's voice came out of nowhere.
"I couldn't delete what had already been done. It's not my fault if your beloved had already given herself to someone else."
"You owe me another day, then!" Rowan said. "A whole day with her!"
"Your lord won't like it and you can't challenge the world alone. My
patience is limited."
"Let me stay at least to see my rival die!"
"All right, Rowan, you have twelve more hours. But don't ask for more."
Rowan scowled at the darkness and the disembodied voice. He'd be back. He'd learn all the sorcerer's secrets and come back and get his lady from her cousin.
He lay down next to her and pulled her closer. She didn't wake. He caressed her blond mane, desperate.
"I love you," he whispered. "I wish you could love me..."
The pearly light of dawn caressed their entwined bodies. Rowan kissed her soft skin one last time and pulled back, giving her one last good look before rising and gathering his clothes with renewed determination.
***
It was the first time Mark found himself in the torture chamber tied to the prisoners' table. The windowless room was lit by torches and was at the end of a narrow staircase. Beyond were the cells, probably half-full with Donovan's policies, but Mark had no idea of who was kept behind bars these days.
Donovan and a tattooed man dressed in black stood by the table, while Theodore and a couple of guards were around the room. The executioner had finished preparing his torture implements and was waiting for orders.
"I heard you dared put your hands on my betrothed," Donovan said, arms crossed over his chest. "This will cost you your life."
"She doesn't love you!" Mark spat. "You'll never convince her to marry you, especially if you kill me!"
"Then I'll tear you to pieces without killing you," Donovan replied. "Maybe when I've taken out your eyes, cut off your hands and maybe something else, she'll stop loving you. But you'll be alive and crippled forever."
"You don't scare me," Mark said venomously. "You sold your soul to demons, beware of the price they'll make you pay."
Donovan scoffed and leaned closer. "Someone else will pay for me," he whispered threateningly. "Rowan volunteered."
"The boy? The page?" Mark asked, incredulous.
Rowan stepped down the staircase and joined the lord and the sorcerer with a determined look on his boyish face.
"Yes, me," he said. "For the pleasure of watching you torn to pieces for taking away my lady."
Mark panted, speechless.
Donovan smirked. "Let the torture begin. Tonight you won't be whole anymore, Mark."
"I'd love to watch, my lord," Rowan said. "May I stay?"
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2 Page 12
