Wild Is My Love

by Janelle Taylor

  Alysa took warm peasant garb from her chest and donned it for the chilly night ahead, then brushed her lengthy brown hair. Gavin strapped a battle apron of darkest leather over a dark linen loincloth. Alysa could not help but admire his shapely legs and hips, and sigh dreamily at the sleek muscles that rippled in his torso as he moved. In his pack he had knee-high sandals and leather armbands to wear during the battle. She eyed his bare chest and was glad Giselde had insisted on replacing the blue tattoo over his heart, which identified him as a royal prince from Cumbria. She could imagine Isobail’s reaction upon seeing it tomorrow. His tawny hair had dried, curling this way and that to frame his handsome face. Dark stubble grew most appealingly on his strong jawline. In the closing shadows his eyes looked remarkably green, like priceless gems. Her pulse began to throb erratically, and burning desire flamed within her.

  Alysa could not believe how urgently she wanted him after spending the day in bed with him! She told herself to change her line of thought. Gavin’s weapons had been stored on the landing outside her chamber to be reclaimed before dawn. The plan was to rescue Orin and Alric, then leave Orin and Alysa to guard and tend the prince while Gavin’s men split up and used the three egresses to approach and open the two battlement gates: the large west gate and the smaller south gate.

  Once the room looked as it had before their arrival, Gavin unlocked her chamber door. Quickly Alysa and Gavin slipped into the passage landing and closed the panel securely. Gavin lit the torch and they made their way past Alric’s landing to join the others.

  The six talked in whispers and laughed softly as they awaited their duties. From their behavior Alysa could tell the men were close friends who had worked together many times, the kind of friends who would die for each other and shared empathy with each other. She had noticed this same tight friendship and rapport with Keegan and Bevan, who would be arriving with her grandfather at daybreak. Alysa liked Gavin’s friends and told them so. The men smiled and thanked her, and vowed she was perfect for the prince. Gavin grinned and concurred.

  The moment they had anticipated eventually arrived, and the six exchanged looks that said, Be careful. Alysa closed her eyes and said a quick prayer for their success and survival.

  With weapons drawn, Gavin and Weylin entered the dimly lit dungeon while the others remained in the opening to stand guard, ready to fight and flee. The shadowy chamber was quiet and empty. Alysa motioned for Gavin to come to her, which he did.

  She whispered, “There is a room on the far side which could be used as a keep.” She pointed to it and to the key on a peg nearby. From daring childhood games, she knew this area well.

  Gavin gingerly approached the door and placed his ear against the wood. He heard nothing. He unlocked the door and slowly opened it, to find not only Lord Orin captive there, but also Sir Piaras. He roused them, delighted to find no marks of beatings on the two men, who were amazed to see him. “Follow me to safety. King Bardwyn has arrived and will attack Isobail at dawn. To avoid discovery, we had to wait until it was nearly time to attack before rescuing you.”

  Once everyone was in the secret passage, Gavin sneaked up the steps to see if the dungeon door was locked and guarded. He was delighted to find it was neither, which would make it useful later. Alysa hugged him tightly after he returned. The hidden panel was closed, and the prisoners shared their tale of capture.

  Gavin quickly related the rescues of their children and the imminent battle plans to both Teague’s and Thisbe’s fathers, then guided everyone toward Alric’s landing. Again they carefully opened the secret panel, to find the prince alone and sleeping deeply. Without wasting precious time by trying to arouse Alric and explain, Gavin lifted the limp body and carried it to the landing, placing the frail ruler on covers lain there by Dal and Lann. Weylin and Tragan rapidly checked the floor, erased any telltale clues that might signal their presence, then closed the panel.

  Alysa covered her father to prevent a chill in the damp passageway. Tears filled her eyes, for her father was so heavily drugged he was barely conscious. She met Gavin’s comforting gaze and drew solace from it. The others looked on in sympathy, knowing the prince was nearing death.

  Piaras said, “Let me go with you and help. Most knights and guards and men-at-arms do not know I was taken captive with Lord Orin. I can get past them easily and lead you to the gates.”

  “I must go, too, Prince Gavin,” Orin added. “Isobail made a fool of me, and I must be allowed to regain my honor by helping to defeat her.”

  Before Gavin could insist that someone had to stay with Alysa, she shook her head and said, “Nay, my husband, I will be fine alone. No one knows of the secret passage. We will be safe. If Father awakens, there are things we must say to each other before it is too late.”

  Gavin grasped her meaning and complied. A torch was left burning above Alysa and Alric as the others left in separate directions.

  After a while no sound reached Alysa’s ears. She removed dampness from her father’s brow and lay his head in her lap. She could not halt the tears that flowed from her eyes. “Oh, Father,” she sobbed in anguish, “have we come too late?”

  Alric’s eyes fluttered and opened, but they were red and puffy. He had trouble focusing on her. “Alysa?” he murmured weakly.

  “Yes, Father, I am here. You are safe now. I have you in the secret passage, and King Bardwyn’s forces are attacking Isobail this very moment. Soon she will torment you no more.”

  “There is… little time, A-lysa. I… must tell… you,” he began, struggling to shape the words.

  Alysa touched his lips gently and said, “Do not try to speak now, Father. Wait until you are better.”

  “Nay, my precious child, the truth… must be told quickly,” he argued, mustering all of his strength.

  “There is no need to exhaust yourself, Father. My grandmother, Giselde, has told me everything, as did Grandfather, King Bardwyn.” She uttered the names to make certain he understood her.

  “But they do not k-now my side. Hear… me, Alysa, please.” With great difficulty and discomfort, Alric related the truth as he knew it. “Forgive me, my child,” he pleaded.

  “I understand everything and forgive you, Father. I love you. I know that Isobail is to blame for your condition now. Grandfather will defeat her today.” Realizing that her father could lose consciousness any moment, Alysa quickly related her love for and marriage to Prince Gavin Crisdean. She held up her left hand for him to view the wedding ring.

  Alric’s eyes brightened more than Alysa believed possible. He caught her hand and pressed the ring to his lips. “Catriona, where is my precious Catriona?” he asked groggily. “There you are, my love,” he answered, gazing past Alysa. Alysa turned, but saw nothing behind her. She watched her father’s head shift away from her as he smiled happily and said, “I knew you would return to me. You are more beautiful than ever. Yea, I will come with you.”

  Alric looked at Alysa and beseeched, “Do not grieve for me, my child. At last I shall have peace and strength again. Be happy with Gavin. I am coming, Catriona.”

  Isobail had given Alric too much poison too swiftly, and he died in his daughter’s arms. A scream of anguish left Alysa’s lips. She sobbed until she believed she heard her mother say, Suffer not, little one, for we are together again and happy. Let us go peacefully as you seek your destiny at Gavin’s side.

  Alysa knew her mother was right. It was time to let go. Her father had suffered greatly for such a long time, and she doubted he could have recovered fully. Their fates had been fulfilled.

  Alysa covered Alric’s body, prayed silently, then said in a whisper “I love you, Mother, Father. Be free and happy together. I have Gavin; I will be happy.”

  Gavin! He was out there battling foes to save her land and people. She had to go and help him.

  Gavin stared at the place of the battlement where Isobail had been standing moments ago. He was bewildered by what he had witnessed. Isobail had been coming at him with a swor
d and with madness in her eyes, which were sealed to his royal tattoo. He had feared he was going to be forced to slay a woman. But suddenly she had fallen against the battlement wall and then over the side to her death, her hands moving as if two people were grasping them and battling her…

  Prince Moran raced to his mother’s body, then looked up at Gavin with hatred. He glanced around for the nearest path to the battlement and Gavin, and ran toward it.

  Weylin confronted and fought Isobail’s crazed son. Gavin watched with relief as Weylin defeated and killed the man, glad he did not have to fight Alric’s son and Alysa’s half brother to the death.

  Gavin rushed to the gatehouse tower and looked out over the outer and inner wards. He saw Trahern and Phelan lying dead with their swords beside them. He saw Ceit, Isobail’s personal servant and friend, dead by her own hand with a dagger. The fighting had ceased, as all who had sided with Isobail during her mad grab for power were either dead or captured. Many who had been misled, or coerced, into following the wicked princess pleaded for mercy and forgiveness.

  All knelt as King Bardwyn and his guards rode into the inner bailey and dismounted. The King studied the situation and issued his commands, quelling any lingering turmoil. Gavin saw Squire Teague and Thisbe embracing their fathers and each other. He quickly searched the area for his six men, and sighted all of them alive. Then he saw Alysa on the Great Tower steps, looking for him. He waved, and caught her attention. As if there was no one else present, she began to run toward the gatehouse. Gavin hurried down the spiral steps and into the yard, lifting her in his arms and embracing her.

  “I love you, Gavin Hawk,” she declared, hugging him tightly.

  “It is over m’love,” he whispered in her ear.

  “Nay, prince of my heart, it is only beginning,” she refuted.

  Twenty-three

  Two weeks had passed since the battle to defeat Isobail. The brigands had been captured and slain, or sent fleeing into Logris. Peace ruled Damnonia once more, as did Prince and Princess Crisdean.

  King Bardwyn was to depart tomorrow, and he was taking Giselde with him. Giselde knew that Gavin had saved her life by preventing a fatal accident. Teague had been knighted by King Bardwyn, and he and Thisbe had wed two days ago. After Lord Orin’s departure for his castle, Teague and Thisbe had left for Lord Daron’s old castle to become the feudal residents there for Alysa and Gavin. Piaras was to remain at Malvern Castle in charge of the knights and guards. He and Leitis had wed, too, after Giselde had suspected that Leitis was inspelled and managed to free her from it. Finally Alysa understood why Giselde’s herbs had seemingly had no effect on her father’s illness. After discussing it with Gavin and her grandmother, all three of them decided not to tell Leitis about her innocent part in Prince Alric’s poisoning.

  Sheriff Trahern’s holdings had been placed in Weylin’s control, and Land’s End had been assigned to Sir Keegan, who was eager for his wife to arrive from Cumbria. Once more Damnonia was serene.

  Alysa was looking forward to the impending visit of King Briac Crisdean and Queen Brenna. Her grandfather and grandmother would be gone at first light, but she did not mind. She was looking forward to a few days of quiet with her husband. As if reading her mind, Gavin clasped her hand and led her to their private chamber.

  Alysa removed the golden collar around his neck, then the purple cloak which was secured about his manly shoulders with a broach of intertwined gold and silver. She lifted the golden circlet from his tawny head and placed it on the table. Then loosened the fretted silk tunic and matching warrior’s apron and tossed them aside. Within minutes his bare frame was exposed to her admiring gaze.

  Alysa removed her garments and crown, then sensuously snuggled her naked body against her husband’s. “I cannot wait until we are alone for days on end,” she murmured, placing kisses on his chest and neck.

  Gavin grasped her head between his hands and lifted it to fuse their gazes. “Nor can I, m’love. It is strange—the more I feast on you, the hungrier I become for more of you. I fear I shall never be sated.”

  Alysa laughed merrily and retorted, “I surely hope not. Wild is my love for you, Hawk of Cumbria, and it shall never be tamed. I would challenge all dangers to keep you at my side. Love me,” she urged, leading him to their bed.

  Lying atop her, the Prince of Cumbria and Damnonia murmured huskily, “You are mine forever; Giselde told me so, and this tells me so,” Gavin said, pressing the special ring to his lips. Gavin’s eyes engulfed his wife, knowing he was looking into the beautiful and passionflushed face of the Last Viking Queen.

  PINNACLE BOOKS are published by

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  eISBN: 978-1-4201-2769-0

  Copyright © 1987 by Janelle Taylor. Published by arrangement with author.

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  First Pinnacle Books Printing: January, 1994

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