Whoa, Renaissance festival flash back.
A twig cracking made Lance crouch low. He scanned the area, a wolf assessing his surroundings. All his senses on alert, watching for any threat, none of which appeared to be present. Slowly, he rose to his feet, slipping a hunting knife from his boot. He tucked it in the palm of his hand, keeping it ready.
A flutter to his left caught his attention. He spun. Lance twirled the blade in his fingers and held it to the throat of the person lurking over his shoulder.
“Easy, Christian.” Semiramis’ voice was quiet and controlled. Her steel grey eyes stared him down. “I am not a threat.” Her pale gown flowed around her like water. Whatever anger she held within her minutes ago was gone. All that remained of her mood was a serene aura. It encompassed and relaxed him.
Lance’s arm lowered slowly, He slipped the blade back in its sheath. “Where are we, Sam?”
The goddess tilted her head to the side. “You don’t recognize this place? I was sure you would. It’s why I chose to deposit you here.”
Lance took in his surroundings. The sensation he should know the lake, and forest was great, but still he couldn’t place it. “Sorry, not striking a chord here.”
“Christian, this is the land of your birth. Your heritage.”
“This is definitely not New Orleans.” He scoffed. “Where are the gators and the moss hanging from the trees? Sam, I think your radar is off.”
“No. My radar, as you would put it, is spot on.” She swept her arm to the side. “My dear Christian Lancelot Du Lac, welcome home. Welcome to Camelot.”
Lance gaped. Camelot? “You can’t be serious. You planted my ass in Camelot? Are you insane?”
She brushed past him. “Don’t be so dramatic. You are perfectly safe. I made sure to let them know you were coming.”
Falling in step behind her, his brow rose. “You let who know I was coming?”
“Your parents, Lancelot and Elaine, they were more than happy to accommodate my request that you train here. You will have excellent tutors.”
She spoke so matter-of-factly, he couldn’t believe his ears. “My parents. Sam, my mother abandoned my ass on Bourbon Street when I was six years old. She never looked back. But now you’re telling me she’s here and waiting with open arms to see me? Forgive me if I don’t believe you. She threw me away like a piece of garbage. I doubt she wants to see me now.”
Sam stopped mid-step. Sadness shone through her eyes when she faced him. “Is that what you’ve thought all these years? She abandoned you?” She cupped his cheek. “Elaine didn’t abandon you. Your father sent you to me as terms of an agreement we had.”
“He sent me to you. A stranger. Yeah, Sam, not earning any brownie points with that one.” A tic started in his jaw. “Who the hell did he think he was sending off his kid at that age to be with a stranger?”
Withdrawing her hand, she led the way to a fallen tree. Sam sat and indicated for him to join her. When he did, she continued. “I was not a stranger. I raised your father when no one else would. He was my greatest accomplishment. Lancelot, the King’s right hand, was my adopted son.”
Frowning, he mulled over her words. “Wait a minute, according to legend he was taken in and given invincibility by the Lady of the Lake.” His gaze met hers, realization dawned on him. “You. You’re the Lady.”
Sam nodded. “I am she, Christian.”
A breath expelled from his lungs slumping his shoulders. “Why did he send me to you? What agreement could he possibly have made to give me away?”
“In your father’s time, a child was sent to neighboring families or other noble houses for fostering. Given our history, Lancelot and Elaine came to me. I agreed to their request because Jared would need someone to confide in and trust. I knew you would be that person. I told them you would be well taken care of and would want for nothing. I also told them they wouldn’t see you again. You were going to the future.”
Digesting this new information, Lance rubbed his face. “How did they take that tidbit? Not well, I guess.”
Semiramis laughed. “Not happy is an understatement. They expected you back to join the Round Table. Instead, they had to deal with the fact you would only know about them from history books and legend. At first, they tried to change their minds, but they eventually came around. Your parents knew there were bigger things in play than their happiness.”
He clenched his jaw. “You put a price on their happiness.”
“Never.” She shook her head. “I never did that. They understood your destiny was in another kingdom, another time.”
“The Dark Order.”
“Yes, the Dark Order. You are to Jared what your father is to Arthur. I would not have chosen you had I not thought you were up to the challenge.”
She gazed up at the moon. “No more time to waste. We are expected at the castle. Remember, here you will go by your given name, Christian. It will lead to less confusion.” He nodded, and Semiramis rose to her feet holding out her hand. “Shall we go now?”
He was about to place his hand in hers when a woman’s scream cut through the silence. Lance raised his head, listening. Hooves thundered deep in the woods behind them. He jumped up from the log and ran full speed in the direction of the woman’s cry. Throwing his gear to the ground, he willed the wolf inside him to life. Nothing happened. Nothing, not a damned thing.
Whirling on Sam, Lance stalked back to where she stood. “Sam, what the fuck? What have you done to me? Where is the wolf?”
“Do not take that tone with me, Christian. You have no powers here. You are going to have to rely on your humanity. Your mother adjusted just fine, so will you.”
Another scream echoed behind him. “Hell of a time to let me know that don’t you think?” He gave Sam one last glare and picked up his bow and quiver. He ran toward the frantic call for help.
A horse galloped straight for him. Lance had enough time to swing up onto a low branch avoiding being trampled. He climbed another few feet, watching the rider-less steed appear below him. It took off in Sam’s direction, and he sent up a small prayer that she would be out of its way in time.
Don’t worry about me, Christian. Help her. The horse will be waiting for you. Sam’s voice resonated in his head. He smirked. It figured she’d be eavesdropping.
Staring off in the direction the horse had come from, Lance sat in silence. A muffled struggle drifted to him on the breeze. He dropped to the ground and picked his way closer to the commotion. He swung the bow off his shoulder and pulled an arrow from the quiver. Steadying his breathing he held the bow ready, nocking the arrow in place. One thing he prided himself on was his shot. He never missed a target, even popped off a Robin Hood -an arrow dead on into the end of another arrow -once in a while. This unknown assailant wouldn’t know what hit him.
He crouched behind a bush when he came into the clearing. The moon flooded the area making it bright as day. Two men, neither looked like they had bathed in weeks, had a woman cornered in a small clearing. Their clothing passed as unusable rags, and that was on a good day. Their beards were long and ratty, definitely not members of the hygiene club. They had some kind of burlap material wrapped around their feet with leather strips. Lance figured they wouldn’t get far in a chase given they were both awkward and obese. Who the hell was he kidding? For thieves who should be starving they were a couple of fat bastards. Not a fair contest at all.
Ready to lay his weapon down, Lance released the tension on the string. That lasted a split second when one of the cretins slipped a knife from his belt.
“Come, m’lady, hand over the purse and we’ll let ye be on yer way. Right, Bobby?” The one bearing the knife reached for the small bag on the cloaked woman’s hip. She retreated, backing into a large oak tree, her emerald eyes wild with fear. Twisting away from her assailant, the woman’s hood fell back, revealing her perfect porcelain features and a mane of unruly red hair.
Lance sucked in a sharp breath, her beauty hitting him l
ike a punch in the gut. The wolf buried within him snarled against the bind Semiramis had put in place. It wanted out to protect the female. It hated being trapped, unable to tear the men to shreds, but there was nothing Lance could do about that.
The girl cried out again. He knew if he didn’t act soon, this would uglier. There was no way he’d allow them to harm her.
“I have naught. My only possession was my mount. And now that is gone.” Her hand closed on the bag in a death grip. “Please, there is nothing in here.”
The man the other called Bobby grabbed her hair and pulled her face to his. She grimaced. “Aye? Then maybe we should take what else ye offer.” His mouth crushed against hers. She pounded him with her fists. He pulled back, exposing his rotted teeth in a menacing grin. “Wench be willin, Jack. Have a taste.”
He shoved her toward Jack. Lance sighted in. He let the arrow fly straight through Bobby’s heart. The thief crumpled onto the ground, dead before he hit. Lance pulled another arrow and cracked his neck, tilting his head to the side. Picking off these two would be a piece of cake.
Jack watched his accomplice fall down dead and pulled the woman in front of him, knife to her throat. “Show yerself. Or the wench dies.”
Lance sighed. Of course, the asshole would make this harder. He skirted the clearing, getting closer to where the two stood. Laying the bow down, he slipped the hunting knife from his boot, hiding it in his sleeve. He stepped out from behind a tree to Jack’s right. “Here I am. Why don’t you let her go and we’ll settle this between us, a’ight?”
Confusion marred Jack’s brow. His grip loosened on the woman, and she wrenched away from him. He made to grab her again, but Lance took advantage of the distraction. Lunging, Lance buried his knife in Jack’s gut, twisting it. The thief started blankly at him. Lance shoved him away watching the thief crumple to the leaf strewn forest floor.
Standing over the thief, Lance became a silhouette against the moon, blood dripping from the knife in his hand. Jack’s breathing became more shallow. He knew the man wouldn’t survive much longer.
Jack stared up at him, jaw slack. “Fae, you are Fae. I beg thy forgiveness. I didn’t know.”
“Fae?” He frowned at the thief and grabbed him by the front of his tunic pulling Jack up. “What does that mean? I’m Fae?”
Blood sputtered from Jacks mouth as he fought to take his last few breaths. “Sorry m’lord Fae. So sorry…” The thief’s eyes glazed over when his last breath expelled from his body.
Lance dropped the man in the pool of blood soaking into the leaves and dirt. Fae? What the hell did that mean? Wiping the blood off his blade on Jack’s filthy tunic, he slipped it back into his boot and stood listening for the woman. She ran toward the lake through the underbrush. If he didn’t catch her, she might end up lost, as well as scared to death. Retrieving his gear, Lance started tracking her path by broken branches and crushed leaves she left trailing behind her. It didn’t take him long to find her hiding behind a large maple trying to catch her breath.
He reached out and touched her shoulder lightly. She swung toward him, fists flying. He held his hands up to block her assault. “Hey, calm down. You’re safe now.”
“Nay! Get thee away!” She pulled a small dagger from the pocket of her cloak, pointing it at him. “I will not be your amusement on this night.”
Keeping his eye trained on the business end of her dagger, Lance gauged the situation. Worst that could happen was a minor scratch. The wolf would heal quickly. No, it wouldn’t. Lance cursed. Thanks to Sam’s little bombshell, he could die here with a minor scratch. Damn it.
“Listen, I don’t know who those men were, but I’m tellin’ you, they won’t be coming back, at least not from where I sent them.” Gazing deeply into her eyes, he held his hands in front of him, palms out. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to help.”
She frowned. “You speak strangely. How can I trust what you say?” Her grip on the dagger remained strong. Any sudden move and she would shish kabob him.
“Cher, please put the blade down. I don’t want to bruise any part of that perfect skin taking it from you. Let’s just say I’m from pretty far away and traveling.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That is not an answer. Tell me, archer, why are you in these woods? Poaching the King’s deer? His Majesty will not be happy.”
Lance sighed. “No. I’m not an . . . .” He paused rethinking that answer. There was no way he could deny being what she said. If he did, his cover would be blown. “I’m not a thief. I was on my way to meet with Sir Lancelot. He’s my . . . . distant relative. See? Not a threat. Now put that down.”
The blade dipped slightly but immediately came back up. She raised her chin. “I do not believe you. Everyone knows his Majesty’s First Knight has no other family. You, are a liar.”
He’d had enough. Calling him a liar was the last straw, especially when he saved her. His hazel eyes narrowed on her. “I am not lying to you. You, cher, are pissing off the person who saved your pretty little ass tonight. If you’re going to use that thing, do it already.”
Emerald eyes flew open wide. Her jaw dropped. She lunged forward, slicing through his sleeve and forearm. She gasped and sprinted off deeper into the woods.
Lance stared after her, stunned she actually cut him. He completely underestimated her. After a moment’s hesitation, he tore off a piece of his cloak and wrapped it around his wounded arm.
“Sam,” he called into the silent woods. “A little help here?”
The goddess spoke in his head. I shall not interfere, Christian. Think of it as your first test.
“A test? Damn it Sam!” He set off after the woman with emerald eyes. Lucky for him, he still had the wolf’s sense of smell. Her scent overpowered and intoxicated him, which was good and bad. The good? He was able to find her anywhere in this forest. The bad? That same scent attracted attention to her. The kind of attention she wouldn’t need or want.
A feral growl from the clearing ahead stopped him in his tracks.
“Son of a bitch, is this woman a danger magnet?”
He heard the rapid drum of her heartbeat. She wasn’t far ahead, but she was scared to death. Lance readied his bow, arrow nocked, and crept closer. A large black wolf had her cornered. He paced not far from her toying with his prey. Its amber eyes glowed in the darkness. Lips curled back in a snarl. Lance saw her terrified gaze searching the brush around her, looking for him perhaps? He was the only one who could protect her at the moment. He could leave her for dead, revenge for the knife wound, but he wasn’t about to do that. It wasn’t in him to leave a woman in danger, even danger she created for herself. He’d rather have her undying gratitude. If it got him laid, even better.
Maybe I am a dog. He chuckled to himself.
The wolf paced closer. She let out a strangled cry. Lance stood. Her gaze swept to him, relief bloomed in her eyes. He raised the bow at the same time the wolf lunged for her throat. His bowstring hummed as he let the arrow fly and hit its mark. The wolf dropped to the forest floor at her feet. The woman crumpled to the ground in tears.
Lance was careful as he approached her this time. He didn’t want a repeat performance of what happened earlier. Crouching next to her, he brushed the tangled ginger curls from her face. She lifted tear filled emerald eyes to him.
“Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
She shook her head and gazed at the carcass by her feet. “Nay, I am unharmed.” Her eyes lifted once more to meet his. “How did you know I was in danger?”
“Cher, danger seems to follow you.” He laughed and held out a hand to her. “Let’s get you back to where you came from. Where exactly is that?”
“I’ll not say another word without thy name.” She took his hand allowing him to pull her to her feet.
Lance bowed low over her hand, minding what Semiramis warned him earlier. “Christian Du Lac at your service.”
Her jaw fell. “Nay, you cannot be.”
“I
can assure you, I am. I have been away on apprenticeship only to return home tonight. My father is awaiting my arrival as we speak.” His hand still held hers, and he swore a spark traveled between them. “Would you tell me yours? You know, so I can inform dear old dad who I rescued.”
“I am Lady Elizabeth Payne, niece to his Majesty King Arthur.”
Lance frowned. King Arthur’s niece? What the hell was she doing out here unescorted? “Why is there no guard with you? You shouldn’t be riding all over the woods with no one protecting you, especially at this hour.”
“You are just like the rest of them.” She stalked away. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Yeah, you’re an ace at it. Thieves and a blood-thirsty wolf meant you no harm. I get it. You were going to bat your pretty green eyes at them and make them fall in love with you. Sure, then they wouldn’t kill you.” He scoffed, watching her leave. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Spinning to face him, she glared. “My horse. I need to locate him. I must be back before sunrise. I was only coming to find -oh never mind, I must have missed it.”
“Missed what?”
“I do not expect you, a stranger, to understand.”
“Why don’t you try me?”
“Every night I sit in my chamber staring at this forest. Something calls to me. I had to search whatever it may have been out. Now here I am arguing with you instead and without my horse.”
“The fact you almost bought the farm twice in the span of a half hour doesn’t mean anything to you, does it? Gods, cher! You could have been killed all because of the little voices in your head.”
“The voices were not in my head. They came from the forest. I am not the mad one here. I am perfectly sane.”
Lance snorted. Sam, mind explaining this? I know you’re listening.
Elizabeth watched him closely. “Are you well?”
“I’m fine. But I have a few of my own questions.”
Beyond Time: A Dark Order of the Dragon Novel (The Dark Order of the Dragon Book 2) Page 3
