Woman of Power
Page 10
‘I don’t know. There’s a meeting tonight after supper.’
‘So, maybe the bathhouse. In a bit?’
‘Maybe.’
‘I didn’t mean anything – you know.’
‘Tev, mate, don’t worry. I didn’t think you did. Mean anything.’
‘It was good, though. Wasn’t it?’
‘Bloody good.’
‘We’ll suck it and see, then.’ He paused. ‘Maybe I should rephrase that.’
Gavin laughed over his shoulder, jogged on his way towards the stables, suddenly wanting to give this news to his horse. Sarum turned his head as he approached but someone else stood in front of the stallion’s stall.
Lady Amara turned slowly to face Gavin, her face expressionless. ‘Congratulations,’ she said. ‘You must be thrilled.’
He bowed to her. ‘Thank you. I shall be away a long time. Perhaps it’s all for the best.’
‘Because of me? Because I’ve put you in a dangerous position? Well, you won’t need to worry about that now.’
Gavin’s eyes blazed. ‘Do you really think I shall get over you that easily?’ He clasped her by the elbows. ‘Do you really think I won’t lie awake at night, fantasising you’re there beside me? I want to make love to you now. I wish you were free so I could take you away with me. But you’re not. And nor am I. I’m on two quests now. One for our liege lord and one for the sorceress.’
Sarum slunk to the back of his stall as if disappointed not to be receiving attention.
Amara gazed at Gavin. Gavin gazed at her. Neither noticed a figure appear in the doorway.
‘I only know I love you. I’ll do my best to prove myself over the next months – or years – however long it takes. If I succeed in crossing the Crystal Cleft back to my own world and I never see you again, I don’t regret my feelings for you, Amara. If I cannot have you in my life, at least grant me one last kiss.’ He leant in on her. Her mouth was almost his to touch. Possess. Plunder.
‘Oh, I don’t think so, knight.’ A male voice, familiar yet with a tone Gavin had never before heard. ‘Though this is a touching scene,’ the newcomer continued.
Gavin’s stomach lurched. He let go of Amara and turned to face the speaker. He anticipated the anger he saw flashing in Tiernan’s eyes. He wasn’t surprised by the cold expression. But nothing could have prepared him for the look of loss. Of disappointment. Of raw pain.
‘I can explain,’ Gavin stammered. ‘It began as a case of mistaken identity.’
‘I see. In fact everything’s becoming very clear now, Sir Gavin. This has nothing to do with Sibilla’s game-making, has it? I don’t think you thought of anyone’s feelings but your own.’ Tiernan turned to his wife. ‘Leave us now, my dear. If you’d be so good.’
Gavin watched the man he so admired watch the woman they both loved and desired. What now? His fate hung in the balance. Would there be a duel? Or would he be sent off as planned, disgraced but still bolstered by that day’s successful jousting and fencing?
He didn’t have long to wait.
‘You will leave my castle.’
Gavin bowed his head. Stood with hands clasped behind his back. The smells of the stable, the movements of the horses, the light streaking between the wooden planks, all formed a backdrop to this last confrontation.
‘Of course. I shall do my absolute best, my lord. I’ll answer to Sir Darien and help quell any risings in your far-off territory.’
‘You will do no such thing. I want you out of my kingdom. I don’t require your help. Sir Tevin will take your place in the task force.’ He gestured towards Gavin’s stallion. ‘Your steed deserves a good night’s rest, even if his master does not. I will ask Tev to arrange for food to be brought to you in your chamber. You leave at first light. I don’t want to set eyes on you again.’
‘But …’
Tiernan held up his hand. ‘I don’t ever want to hear your voice again.’
He walked away and out into the tender evening. Sarum came up to the half-door. Gavin wrapped his arms around the horse’s proud head and whispered, ‘I’ve let myself down, boy. I’ve tarnished the whole knight thing and I’m a bad, bad man. I don’t know what happens next. Maybe you’ll be able to help me find out tomorrow.’
Chapter Twenty
Tev brought Gavin’s supper to him later.
‘What the hell’s happening, Gav? Tiernan called me to him and gave me the news.’
Gavin, who’d been sitting on his bed, head in his hands, lifted his gaze to look at his friend with horror. ‘What exactly did he tell you, Tev?’
‘Only that he’d decided you needed to get back to your world. He couldn’t trust the powers that be to keep you in Arcandos long enough to carry out the task he intends.’ He handed Gavin a goblet and carafe of wine, then took food wrapped in a napkin from his pocket. ‘Don’t get me wrong – I’m sorry to see you go, but if you’d been travelling with Darien, I wouldn’t have seen you for a long time anyway.’
‘True enough. I appreciate your friendship, Tev. And I enjoyed being almost a Jupiter. I wonder if I can ask you one last favour?’
‘Of course.’
‘If you have an opportunity, could you somehow get a message to my Lady Amara. Tell her goodbye from me. Thank her for … Oh, just say I said goodbye.’
‘Still can’t see why you’re not eating with us all one last time, but I guess Tiernan has his reasons.’
‘I guess. Anyway, I really hope all goes well for you in love and in war, Tev. Have you had a chance to make a move on your little blonde?’
‘I’m going to declare myself after supper. In fact, I’ll ask her to pass your message on to the First Lady. It’ll be good to know Gilda will be waiting for me to come back and marry her.’ He pulled a face. ‘If that’s what’s in store after I cast my fate to the wind.’
‘That’s a bit like what I’m about to do. At least you know where you’re going, dude.
‘You’ve no idea at all?’
‘No idea. And I’ve never, ever, felt so alone.’
Far away, in her castle, Sibilla sat in the White Tower, her means of divination lying before her on the table. She pulled back the soft wrapping to reveal the shining crystal ball. Cupped the velvet and the crystal in her palms. Gazed. Smiled.
‘He is puzzled. Forlorn. Abandoned. Sometimes my puppets do not behave precisely as I wish they should. Lord Tiernan is drinking hard with his cronies. He wants rid of the knight who’s had the First Lady gasping and writhing in his embrace. But I have one more task for Sir Gavin.’
The enchantress put the crystal gently on the table and reached for a small oil burner. She lit whatever was in it with a taper she’d held to the large candle burning beside her. Closed her eyes and murmured a mishmash of words. The oil and spices sent up tiny, purple-tinged flames and a sweet, heady fragrance filled her nostrils.
Her eyes stayed shut as she droned an incantation that, leagues away, made Lady Amara instruct her closest maid of honour to inform her liege lord the First Lady felt too exhausted to go down to supper.
Sibilla’s eyes stayed shut for a very long time. Then she opened them and gazed down into the shimmering, shifting depths of the crystal. Smiled with satisfaction.
* * *
Many leagues away, her ladies and the Jupiter Knights all at supper, Lady Amara slipped from her bedchamber. She hurried to the small chamber allocated to Sir Gavin. She opened the door. Entered and softly closed the door behind her.
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