“Do you have any idea—”
How she would love to give Arik one hundred and fifty loyal men.
“I’ll go with you.” The major stood next to her. “I didn’t give my pledge lightly. They weren’t empty words.”
“Mine, either.” Jaxon stood next to the major. One by one, each man stood and renewed his pledge. In the sea of faces in front of her, everyone agreed.
“There may be a way,” she said more to herself. The major quieted the men. “It’s going to sound wild but I think…” Was she strong enough to bring one hundred and fifty men across time? They would have to follow instructions to the letter or they could all be lost.
Arik’s well-disciplined troop stood and waited. “I don’t know what to say. But you must know the risks before you decide. There’s a way, using a druid enchantment, that will let you fight alongside Lord Arik.” The idea crumbled before it was fully formed, leaving her defeated. So close but not close enough. “No, it won’t work.” She shook her head. There wasn’t enough time.
“Why won’t it work?” George stood by her.
“Arik’s journal goes into detail about enchantment. He considered using it to bring him and another—Logan or Doward, he didn’t say who—with him. But the design of the enchantment requires something to bind the men. We haven’t got time to make or find something for everyone. If anyone loses it before you all return, the enchantment will break and all the men will be lost between times.” She faced reality and knew she would be going alone. “No, it won’t work.” She wouldn’t let defeat take hold. Magick required intent, focus and determination. She had to remain positive.
“Lord Arik gave each of us this. Will this work?” Bill handed her the metal disk.
A wild tremble rolled through her. “I know this. Each of Arik’s soldiers wears one.”
“He said before a man’s first battle they have it tattooed on their arm. He showed us his. I’ll have it marked on my arm so it can’t be lost,” the major said.
“Unless you lose your arm,” someone in the group said, setting them all laughing. She watched as each man rolled up his sleeve. All the men were in agreement.
“There’s not enough time to tattoo each man,” she said to the major.
“I’ll take care of getting the mark on everyone. Is there anything else you need?” he asked.
“You need to know what you’re walking into. The men you’ll face are mercenaries. They are fighting outside our front gate.” The major didn’t ask her how she knew. He accepted her information as fact, which was fine with her.
“We have the advantage. Men fighting for their homes have much more at stake. We’ll fight to the end. How do we approach the field?” he asked.
“We’ll be coming from Oak Meadow. There’s a way to the manor that avoids being seen. It’s a bit longer but worth it.” She was almost giddy with excitement when she realized that this was going to work.
“You get us there by first light and we’ll do the rest. Now if you’ll excuse me.” He turned to the men. “I want all the weapons inspected and the edges honed.”
“I can help with that.” George followed the major.
“Jaxon, see if you can use the gunpowder from the fireworks and have some of the men make grenades to bring with us. The British started making gunpowder in the fourteenth century. I don’t want to underestimate the enemy.” Jaxon nodded and gathered some other men.
She was so excited she almost danced up the road from the garrison to the manor. There was a chance, a very good chance, that this was going to work. She entered the library to get her pouch and gather what she needed. She saw Arik’s and her father’s journal on the table. As an afterthought, she slipped them into her pouch. She spent the rest of the day finishing what she could. By nightfall she had drafted her recommendations for the university, explaining she had an urgent family issue that would take her away for an extended period of time. She nominated Joan to take her place. Cora and George were there to help her.
Satisfied that she had done all she could, she went to her room. In the wardrobe she rummaged for the clothes she’d arrived in. She laid them out for the morning. She slipped into bed and turned off the light. Tomorrow it would all be over. She closed her eyes and made herself comfortable.
There was so much riding on her. Could she? Intent, focus, determination. It was Arik’s voice she heard in her head. Tomorrow she would be with him. Her brow wrinkled. Of course she’d give him a good talking to about leaving her. She reviewed the ritual again as well as her list… Tomorrow. Arik was her last thought as she fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Good morning. It’s a beautiful sunrise,” George said to Rebeka as she waited at the signpost in Oak Meadow.
“Yes.” She glanced at George and Cora. “There is so much I want to say but all of a sudden there isn’t time.”
“You needn’t say anything.” Cora wrapped an arm around her. The touch was warm but it wasn’t enough. She didn’t know how to say good-bye forever. “It’s not good-bye. When the history books are written, I’ll read all about you and Arik,” Cora whispered in her ear, setting them both to laugh.
The men trickled in from the manor. Within minutes the meadow was filled with the soldiers and their weapons, their cars abandoned on the roadway.
“Everyone’s here, Dr. Tyler.”
“Thank you, Major. Their tattoos?”
The major gave her a big smile and motioned to the men to raise their sleeves.
She laughed at their creativity. Each man wore the design made with a waterproof marker. “Very good, Major.” She turned to George and Cora and asked them to begin.
The men hushed. The whisper of the light morning breeze as George and Cora called on the four directions was all that could be detected. Their chant completed, George and Cora stationed themselves by the standing stone.
Rebeka stood before the men. They were on one knee. “You know where we go. Do you come with me willingly?” she asked.
“Yes, we come willingly,” was their answer.
“Then clear you minds of everything. In all things today, intent, focus and determination are key. Think of being with Lord Arik to help him protect our homes and repeat after me.
“Guardians of the earth, hear my plea. Come now and help me. Protect my spirit as I go resigned. To be among those who wear Arik’s design. So mote it be.”
Rebeka waved her staff over their heads as they repeated her words in unison. She pointed her staff to the sky. Small sparks descended and brushed against each man’s mark, making them glow.
“Thank you, Guardians. Keep them all safe and return them here when their work is done. So mote it be.”
She took her place by the signpost. She raised her staff. George raised the Sword of Rapture.
“As above, so below. As within, so without. Four points in this place be to open the door of the past to me. So mote it be.”
A flash of light made the men flinch; some covered their face. They all held Rebeka in awe when they saw the gap between the staff and sword shimmer. Rebeka and George walked on either side of the group, passing them through the glow. When the last man passed beneath the sword and staff, Rebeka nodded to George and passed through as well. The shimmer was gone.
The men gawked at one another. “When do we go?” one man asked.
“I think we’ve gone,” another man answered.
“Oh yeah, how do you know?”
The man pointed to the roadway. Their cars were gone and so was the smooth blacktop. It had been replaced with a rutted dirt road.
May 1, 1606
Rebeka walked among the men as she’d seen Arik do many times. Satisfied that everyone had come through the shimmer safely, she took her place with the major at the head of the group.
“You all have walked this field hundreds of times,” the major said. “Keep your eyes open. No one knows us or expects us. Okay, break into your groups and proceed to your objective as planned. I wa
nt to know where that supply train is and I want it taken out. The rest of you, Dr. Tyler and I are on point. Keep your eyes on us.”
They moved out through the forest, staying off the trail. When they were close to the manor, Rebeka tapped the major on the shoulder. He gave the signal for the men to stop.
“Ours?” he asked, pointing to men stealing through the forest.
She shook her head. She knew all of Arik’s men and those in the area he would call on. These must be Bran’s men attempting to get behind Arik’s defenses.
The major sent in a unit.
The men moved through the forest and followed the intruders without making a sound. The unit leader signaled his men with his fingertips across his throat.
The message was received.
The men waited for the mercenaries to get closer. When the moment was right the unit made their move. Each man grabbed a mercenary by the hair, pulled his head back and quickly drew his knife across his throat. They helped the bodies to the ground and rolled them under a bush then the unit returned to the group.
“It went fine, Major. They bleed and die like we do,” the man said.
“We should be coming to the edge of the forest soon.” Rebeka started forward.
The major pulled her back and unsheathed his knife. Two men on the road turned and faced them. They froze. Rebeka caught the major’s arm and stopped him.
“Lady Rebeka?” one of them whispered.
“Yes, it’s me,” she answered and came away from the tree so she could see them clearly. “Major, this is Doward, a friend of Arik’s, and Luke, the miller’s boy.” The major put his knife away.
“What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be…” her words trailed off. It was dangerous for an old man and young boy to be in the woods with Bran’s men so close. She would be angry with them but all she wanted to do was hug them both.
“Luke went to Lord Stuart to see when reinforcement would arrive while I waited here,” Doward said. “Stuart hasn’t returned from the king. We need him today.” Doward appeared older. His face was lined with concern.
“I can’t believe you’re here. Lord Arik said you weren’t coming back. I knew you would.” Luke threw his arms around her and gave her a big greeting then stepped back. He’d grown taller and bigger in the months she’d been away.
“How are your parents and the others?” As relieved as she was to see them, she was eager to find Arik. He couldn’t face Bran alone and survive.
“Everyone is waiting for the attack. Logan and Marcus told the others they expect it at any time.” His excitement was catching. “I’m glad you’re here.” He glanced over her shoulder. “Who are they?” He nodded toward the major and the others.
She stood to the side and motioned for the major to join her. “This is the major. He and the other men trained with Lord Arik. They’ve come to help.”
“You’ve brought the men across time.” The awe on Luke’s face made her uncomfortable. She did what had to be done to save him, the others, Fayne Manor and Arik.
“You’re a great sorceress, like your mother,” Doward said. “I knew you would act on what needed to be done.” He scanned the forest. Rebeka had never seen Doward so anxious. “I wish you hadn’t waited so long. But I never doubted you.”
Luke was unable to control his excitement. “How many?” he asked the major.
“One hundred and fifty,” the major answered.
“We’ll take you to Logan. You and these men may have saved us all,” Doward said. “Luke, go ahead and tell the others I bring Lady Rebeka and an army.” Luke charged ahead.
Rebeka stood at the edge of the forest well hidden from view. The sun would clear the east hills soon and the battle would start.
A rustling of leaves startled her out of her musing. She flattened herself against the tree. A large hand slid over her mouth.
“No screams of joy at seeing your brother-in-law after all this time,” he whispered in her ear. He loosened his hand.
She swung around and held him tight. “Logan.” She couldn’t get another word out. She glanced at him again. He appeared tired. He was badly bruised with a gash across his chest.
“We can talk freely here. It’s safe. And get that worried expression off your face. I think I look quite dashing.” His fingers touched the gash.
“Come with me. There are some men I want you to meet.” She took his hand and led him to where the men waited.
The men stood and sized up Logan as she walked with him into the clearing. “Major, this is Logan, Lord Arik’s brother.” She watched Logan evaluate the army she’d brought.
The major saluted him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. Lord Arik has spoken of you often.”
“Major. My brother has not been home long but he has told me much about you and your men. We’re glad you’ve joined us,” Logan said. “Rebeka, how did you bring them all here? There must be—”
“One hundred and fifty men. I told you,” Luke said. “We don’t have to wait for Lord Stuart.”
“I can tell you all about how I got them here later.” Rebeka stared at Logan. She was happy to see him but she couldn’t lose sight of the problem.
“We pledged ourselves to Lord Arik and Dr. Tyl… Lady Rebeka. We’re ready to serve. Tell us what you want us to do,” the major said.
Logan stepped out among the men. “Yes, I know, Major. Arik has told us of your battles for England. As one soldier to another, I am honored to count you as one of us. Come with me to meet the others and I’ll go over our battle plan.” He took Rebeka’s hand and led the way. The major and his men followed.
“You don’t have to hold my hand,” she said. Logan gave her a smirk that made her smile.
“The last time you were in these woods you walked four hundred years into the future. No, I’m not about to let go you.” He laughed. “Rebeka, I feared we had lost you forever. So has Arik. He has no idea you’re here, does he?”
“No. He didn’t examine things from all angles,” she said.
He stopped and stared at her. “My brother didn’t study things from every conceivable angle before taking action. You must be mistaken.”
“The writing on the tower walls had all the information.” They continued on. “He used the runes to find me. I used sections of the writing and was able to understand the prophecy and come home. With a little help from my father.”
Logan stopped. “Your father?”
“His journal. He left me information.” She pulled him on.
Rebeka stopped at the edge of the woods and stared at Logan’s men at arms. The men waited in a double line. They stood silent and alert as she and those with her passed between them. When everyone had gone through, Marcus came forward.
“Lady Rebeka, your men welcome you home.”
A great cheer rose. She waited for quiet.
“Thank you, Marcus.”
“M’lady. It is good to have you back with us,” shouted one of the men.
“It’s good to be home. I know the urgent task we face. I’ve brought you support. These are the men who have served Lord Arik. They are battle-tested soldiers who have served England in another time. Their war stories are ones of bravery and devotion. Very much like yours. Meet them as brothers in arms and know they’ve declared themselves for Lord Arik, as you have.”
“Luke was not exaggerating. You did bring us—”
“One hundred and fifty men,” Luke said with a wide smile on his face.
“Marcus, this is the major,” Rebeka said.
“Lord Arik has told me about the bravery of you and your men. It’s an honor to meet you,” Marcus said.
“Sir, we seem to have much in common. My men and I are ready to help any way we can,” the major said.
“Let’s go over our plans and brief the men.” Logan brought him to the war table.
Rebeka passed among the men but knew before she had gone far that he wasn’t here.
“M’lady, if you’re searching for Lord Ari
k, he’s not here. He left earlier,” Luke said.
Rebeka whipped around. “Where did he go?” she asked urgently.
“M’lady, they didn’t tell me but I suspect he’s gone to the other side of the field. Last night he and Logan spoke about cutting off the head of the serpent,” Luke said.
“Rebeka, the men are briefed and ready,” Logan said. “The enemy is beginning to move.” He nodded toward the battlefield.
“He’ll be alone,” Rebeka said.
“Yes. It was a risk he wanted to take. I couldn’t stop him. I’ve arranged for Luke to go with you to Autumn Chase. You’ll be safe there.”
Rebeka gave him a glare that said she didn’t want to be anywhere that was safe. “Logan, if I wanted to be somewhere safe I would be back in the twenty-first century teaching my class. No, I know where I’m going to be.” Together they could defeat Bran. She had to get to him.
Logan rubbed his neck with his hand. “At least when Arik yells at me for you being on the battlefield I can tell him I tried. If Bran finds you he will not play fair. He is out to destroy you and Arik. Keep that in mind.” He nodded across the field. “They’re on the northwest side on the high ground.”
“Logan,” called one of the men.
“Coming. When I see you later I want to hear all about this shower Arik told us about.” He kissed her on the forehead. “It is good to see you again.” He squeezed her hand and left to meet with his men.
She watched him as he blended in with the soldiers. She couldn’t separate the two fighting forces. But unless she got to Arik it would all be for naught. She moved up the trail to cut across to the northwest side. The path climbed the rise. Halfway there, she got a good view of the battlefield from the enemy’s perspective.
This wasn’t the way for the manor to spend Beltane. She remembered happier times. She could see the woodpile for the Beltane bonfire neglected at the side of the field.
Intent and focus. She was already determined.
The ground rumbled with the pounding hooves of the advancing army as they spread across the field from the west. In the distance she could make out Fayne Manor men standing behind a wide wooden barrier made of sharp pikes. The first line of men were on their knees with their poles; behind them were archers and behind them the crossbowmen. The men stood ready. Soon they would receive the order to attack.
Druid Knights 02: Knight of Rapture Page 32
