“I’m sorry.”
“No need,” she murmured and with light steps they set off again.
The overheard conversation seemed to have upset them both, their thoughts being elsewhere, when suddenly they both stopped and realized they heard the snort of a horse, or were there more than one?
It drew closer, louder and Mercy felt for sure there were several horses and they were about to surround them. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. They couldn’t have traveled this far, have gotten so close to safety only to be caught.
And why in God’s name did her father suddenly want her kept alive.
Duncan stepped behind her and pressed his mouth near her ear. “No choice. We must run.”
She nodded knowing he was right. It would be harder for the soldiers on horseback to keep up with them through the dense forest. Their only recourse was to run as fast as possible, keep ahead and pray they reached safety and help before the soldiers reached them.
“Ready?” Duncan asked and locked his hand with hers.
She nodded and gave her chin a tenacious tilt.
He grinned, kissed her quickly and nodded.
She took off with him. Her short legs were no match for his long ones and so she had to pump doubly hard to keep up with him. She jumped fallen branches right along with him and while he could easily vault boulders, she couldn’t. So he swung her up so that her foot grazed the boulder and then he would see that she landed safely on her feet.
The pounding of the horses’ hooves rumbled the ground beneath her feet and she was certain that any second they would be pounced upon and captured. And so she kept up the grueling pace.
They whipped through a grove of trees that surely would slow the horses down and hopefully put more distance between them. The happy thought had her smiling, though it was wiped from her face fast enough when her foot caught the edge of a rock and she went tumbling forward.
She felt her arm jerked back but not before the side of her head bounced off a rock. She didn’t know what pained her more, her arm or her head? She had no choice but to ignore both, though it was difficult with the blood that ran from her head wound down her face and over her eye.
She couldn’t let Duncan know and was glad it was on her right side, where he couldn’t see it. If he saw the blood he would certainly want to stop and tend to it and they couldn’t. The distance they were gaining would be lost, and by no means did she intend to be the cause of their capture.
They made it to a small clearing and Duncan halted abruptly and took a quick look around. The sudden stop sent dizziness spinning through her and she thought she would faint.
Don’t you dare faint, she warned while trying to keep Duncan from seeing the blood.
“A few feet ahead,” he said and tugged her forward.
She ran as best she could, even though her arm hurt terribly and her head wound throbbed. They would be on his land soon enough. Sentinels would spot them and they would be safe. All would be well.
You can do this, Mercy. Stay strong.
She continued to silently encourage herself even though she felt her body grow weak. She refused to surrender to the pain, refused to be the cause of their capture, refused not to conquer the pain.
Her body, however, had different plans and she knew that soon she would collapse whether she wanted to or not. She had to alert Duncan.
“Duncan,” she cried out, though not loud enough, for he didn’t respond.
She was fast losing strength, not even having enough strength to squeeze his hand. With what little she did have left, she raised her voice and called out to him again. “Duncan.”
He turned and she made sure he could see the blood running down the side of her face and into her eye.
She wasn’t quite sure since her vision had turned fuzzy, but he looked as if he paled badly and stopped so abruptly that she collided with him.
“My head,” she managed to say, and the last thing she remembered was Duncan scooping her up in her arms and running.
Chapter 20
Low chatter surrounded Mercy and she struggled to get past the fog that not only muffled her hearing, but also muted her vision. She tried to move, but the pain that shot through her head brought an abrupt end to her efforts. Instead, she continued to listen.
It took her a moment to recall where she was and what had happened and when she finally did, she grew more alarmed. Duncan was speaking to someone. Had the soldiers caught up with them? Was he bargaining for their lives, or was he biding time hoping she would wake and be ready to help him?
She couldn’t let the pain interfere, no matter how badly it hurt. If he still had his sword or dagger, he would need her to help use it. She would remain still, let no one know that she regained consciousness and learn what she could from the chatter.
“I can’t believe you tracked us that easily.”
That was Duncan, no doubt keeping the enemy engaged in conversation. She had to find out how many he faced, if only one, they had a chance.
“It’s laughable how easy it was.”
She didn’t recognize the direct, strong voice, but one thing was certain—this man was confident, which meant he believed he held the upper hand. Mercy continued to listen.
“Make fun of me, and I’ll see you suffer for it.”
Mercy would have smiled at Duncan’s terse response if she could, but she still didn’t want anyone to know that she was regaining strength.
“You make me laugh.”
He certainly wasn’t laughing, though she thought there was a hint of humor in the soldier’s voice, or was it smugness?
“Get off your damn horse and come over here.”
Mercy wondered if Duncan was attempting to get the soldier to move closer so that he could strike. Did he have a weapon ready? Was he prepared to use his free hand, since he most certainly believed her useless to him? Was there some way she could help?
“You dare command me?”
His voice boomed, though not threateningly, but with authority. Whoever this soldier was, he certainly wasn’t afraid of Duncan.
“I’m waiting.”
Duncan was ready and so was she. She would not fail him.
She heard the soldier’s approach and thought to give Duncan’s hand a squeeze, but she was afraid the soldier might see. She waited, relieved that the pounding pain in her head was diminishing, though her stomach tightened in anticipation.
“What the hell?”
Mercy didn’t wait to find out what had surprised the soldier, she bolted up, assuming Duncan had plans to attack and needed her help. Pain not only shot through her head, but also her right arm and all she could do was reach out, grasping for Duncan before she began to slip back into the fog.
“Mercy! Mercy!”
Duncan’s shouts assaulted her like a blow to the head and she scrunched her eyes against the pounding sound.
Mercy heard the soldier ask, “How badly is she hurt?”
No, she thought, fighting against the fog that attempted to claim her. A soldier would not concern himself with her injures. If not a soldier, then who was he?
“A head wound, and I’m not sure how much damage I have done to her arm.”
“Is the arm broken, and why the hell are you chained to this woman?”
“I don’t think it’s broken, but her head wound needs tending. And I’ll explain about the shackles later.”
Mercy surmised by the concern and ease in which they conversed that they knew each other. Could that mean they were on Duncan’s land? Was this man one of his warriors? If so, that meant they were no longer alone. There was someone there to help them and Mercy squeezed Duncan’s hand as she uttered his name.
“You’re safe, Mercy,” Duncan said. “My brother Trey is here and we’re going to get you home.”
Relief rushed through her and helped dissipate the haziness. Not wanting to suffer through another bout of pain, she slowly worked her eyes open while remaining perfectly still. It took sev
eral moments to see clearly, and though she should be more concerned with her condition, she was eager to meet one of the men Duncan called a brother.
Mercy glanced up at the man. She hadn’t expected any resemblance since Duncan had mentioned the men he’d been raised with weren’t truly his brothers. So she wasn’t surprised to see the difference in the two men. Where Duncan was tall and broad, Trey was tall and lean. And where Duncan’s features were strong and rugged, Trey’s were decidedly handsome. And both had long hair that fell past their shoulders, Duncan’s earthy brown in contrast to Trey’s dark auburn.
She also took note of Trey’s eyes, the color hard to describe since they appeared to change color as she gazed at them. Were they blue, or green or of a golden hue? She simply couldn’t be certain, but one thing was for sure; the ever-changing color was his shield. He was a private man who allowed no one to trespass.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Trey,” she said and smiled, though a grimace fast replaced it. She closed her eyes against the pain for only a moment, not wanting to fall back into a stupor. And opened them slowly, realizing that the pain faded more quickly than before.
“It’s my pleasure as well,” Trey said and smiled.
His smile dazzled, though certainly not intentionally. He was simply a handsome man whose smile added to his fine features. She doubted this man ever lacked for female companionship and yet…
Her gaze drifted to Duncan and her heart soared. Here was the handsomest of men, at least to her. His rugged features bore courage, good-nature and compassion and made him a man that every woman would most certainly find a desirable mate.
“I tried to stop your fall—”
Mercy pressed her fingers to his lips. “You got us to safety. I’m only sorry I couldn’t have helped.”
Duncan grinned and once again Mercy’s heart took flight. She loved his half smile. It played with the senses, making you wonder who you truly dealt with, leaving him an enigma to most, though not to her.
“It was no chore to carry a wee bundle like you,” Duncan assured her.
“Then I suggest we tend to this wee bundle and be on our way,” Trey said, “before one of the roving bands of soldiers find us.”
“Duncan, please help me sit up,” Mercy said.
“In a moment,” Duncan said. “First, let me cleanse your wound and give you more time to regain your strength.”
“I’m feeling stronger,” she assured him and as if to demonstrate, she wrapped her fingers tightly around his. Though if she were more honest with herself, it was because she wished to feel his strength ripple along her fingers and up her arm until it finally settled completely over her.
Sure enough, he returned the squeeze that shot a ripple of strength rushing over her, the intensity causing her to shudder.
Duncan quickly asked, “Are you all right?”
“Just wishing this done,” she said.
“It will be done soon,” Duncan assured her.
“And we should reach home by nightfall and then your shackles will be removed and you both shall be free,” Trey said.
Neither Mercy nor Duncan replied, and Trey took note.
Duncan kept a sleeping Mercy cradled in his arms as the horse plodded along.
“It is good that her wounds are minor,” Trey said walking alongside the horse.
“I thought the head wound worse at first, but was relieved it wasn’t. The arm, I’m afraid, will be sore for a while longer.”
“Mother will be there to help,” Trey said. “Now I have waited long enough, tell me how it is that you are chained together.”
Duncan would have much preferred to inquire about the mission, but he couldn’t take the chance to speak about it in front of Mercy even if she was asleep. No one must know or even suspect. Therefore, he would need to wait until he was home and free of Mercy to speak with Trey and the others.
“Soldiers arrived at a croft that I had just come upon and was gratefully partaking of the water offered me.”
Trey nodded. “You didn’t want to jeopardize the farmer’s life by opposing them.”
“Or his wife and two children. They chained me before we left the farm and then a short time later we met up with a large group of prisoners and it wasn’t long before I found myself chained to Mercy.”
Trey stopped him when he got to the part where the soldiers were ready to kill them. “Wait a minute. It seems that you both were chained together with the express reason of being killed. Now the king may be going crazy killing off men of a certain age that could be a threat to his throne, but why her?”
“I figured that perhaps it was her misfortune to simply be chained to me, or perhaps she had displeased a nobleman.”
“She’s a kept woman?”
Duncan smiled and shook his head, glancing down at Mercy sleeping peacefully in his arms. “No, I discovered she’s not.”
Trey grinned. “And how did you discover that?”
“With a kiss.”
“Just a kiss?” Trey scratched his head.
“Her first kiss,” Duncan said with a huge smile.
Trey shook his head. “How is it that a woman as beautiful as she has never been kissed?”
“I haven’t figured that out yet.”
“What do you know about her?” Trey asked.
“She’s courageous, adventurous, determined and”—he grinned—“we fit nicely together.”
Trey stopped so abruptly he almost tripped over himself. “You’ve fallen in love with her.”
Duncan wasn’t about to admit it to him before he spoke the words to Mercy.
Trey laughed. “You have! Damn, Reeve, Bryce and I are going to have a good time with this.”
“I’ll kill you if you breathe a word to them.”
“About all of it, or just the falling in love part?” Trey chuckled.
“I’m warning you, Trey. I beat your ass once and I can do it again.”
“You were eight and I was seven. I think this time it would prove more difficult.”
“You’re tempting me to prove you wrong,” Duncan warned with a snarl.
Trey continued chuckling as he resumed walking. “And the wee woman will be helping you to fight?”
Duncan had to grin recalling all the times over the last week that Mercy had fought so bravely by his side.
“Don’t underestimate her,” Duncan said with pride. “And aye, she’d be right by my side.”
Trey nodded. “Perhaps then she’s a good match for you.”
Duncan didn’t respond, his thoughts lost in the knowledge that Trey was absolutely right. Mercy was a good match for him. Even though they had been forced upon one another, they had adapted to their shackles easily enough. They learned how to work together as one, to depend on each other, to trust each other and under the most difficult of circumstances.
She hadn’t shed one tear or complained. She had done whatever was necessary for their survival, even stripping naked on more than one occasion. It had taken a tremendous amount of courage to trust him, let alone share such intimacy with a stranger. And Mercy had done it all without a whimper or grumble.
Mercy woke on and off during their journey, spoke briefly with Duncan and then returned to a peaceful slumber.
“She’s exhausted, isn’t she?” Trey said.
“It hasn’t been easy, but she’s proved herself a tenacious warrior,” Duncan said.
“We’ll stop at Harold the smithy before proceeding to the keep. He’ll see to freeing you of that chain.”
I’ll sleep alone tonight.
The thought disturbed Duncan. He liked falling asleep with Mercy wrapped snugly in his arms and he liked even more waking up with her snuggled against him. He didn’t like that his arms would be empty this night and the spot beside him in bed cold.
He glanced down at her and couldn’t help but think that she was right where she belonged, always belonged, and always would belong.
He made the decision fast, as if he needed
it confirmed immediately. “The morrow is soon enough for the chain to come off.”
“Mercy may think otherwise,” Trey said.
“She’s exhausted and injured,” Duncan said firmly. “I will not make her suffer through having the chain removed this evening.”
“She might prefer them removed sooner rather than later.”
Duncan glanced at her wrists. The salve that Bliss had put on their wounds made the skin look less raw and certainly eased the pain. But he wondered if perhaps they both would be left with scars, a constant reminder of their time joined together.
She stirred in his arms, her eyes drifting open.
“We’re almost home,” he said softly.
“Food and bed,” she said with a smile.
“I agree,” he said and then whispered, “especially the bed part.”
Chapter 21
Night had already fallen when they finally reached Duncan’s home and though the horse took its time, Mercy wasn’t able to see much of the village. She did, however, smell the delicious scents wafting about and she sniffed the air with anticipation and appreciation.
“Something smells good,” she said, glancing up at Duncan from where she lay snuggled comfortably in his arms.
“Our hunters and farmers keep us well stocked and our women keep us well fed.”
Mercy heard the pride in his voice and she envied it. How lucky for him to be part of a family, a clan. She had often wondered how it would feel to have the support of so many, to have others to rely on and help in times of need and to help those in their time of need. She and her mother had led a restrictive life due to her father being king and her mother his mistress. It had been a lonely existence, and she had never understood why her mother favored it.
“Are you feeling better?” Duncan asked.
“I am,” she said and smiled.
“That’s good,” Trey said. “Duncan worried you would not feel up to having the chains removed tonight. But now with you feeling well, we can stop by the blacksmith and have him remove them.”
Free of Duncan.
Bound to a Warrior Page 15
