A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy)

by Lana Williams

  “But I didn’t save his life. He would’ve lived without my assistance.”

  “I don’t believe that for a moment. You can’t separate what you see from how the events would unfold without your intervention.”

  Gunnell drew back in surprise.

  Convinced she was right, Alyna grasped her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “I think God gave you this gift for a purpose. We must determine what that purpose is, and then perhaps you can find a way to control it.”

  Gunnell’s expression was still bleak. “You don’t think ’tis some tool of the devil’s?”

  Alyna snorted. “If so, we’ll use it against him.”

  Gunnell’s expression lightened with a cautious hope at her words.

  “I would like to help you, if you’d let me,” Alyna said.

  The healer shook her head, her hopeful expression warring with helplessness. “I don’t see how you could, my lady. Not that I doubt you.”

  “Gunnell, I truly think we could do something that would aid you. You see, I once knew another like you.”

  To Alyna’s surprise, Gunnell froze, her eyes going wide. “Nicholas’s mother,” she said.

  “How do you know this?” Alyna shook her head at her own stupidity. “Never mind. I know the answer to that.”

  “Nicholas. Oh, no, Nicholas.” Seeming to come out of her trance, she held Alyna’s hands. “Go. Hurry. Nicholas has been hurt, and he needs you. Go now and be quick.”

  Alyna’s stomach dropped. She didn’t wait to hear more, but took off like an arrow shot from a bow. She flew out of the cottage and up the path to the keep, running as fast as her legs could carry her, praying with all her heart that her son was all right.

  ***

  Royce surveyed the field they’d prepared for jousting one last time. All appeared to be in readiness. Now they needed Blackwell to return, and they could start the training. With a satisfied nod, he rode his destrier back up the hill toward the keep.

  He passed several cottages, greeting the villagers working nearby. Up ahead, a girl ran as though her life depended on it. Curious as to what caused her to rush so, he urged his horse into a gallop, easily overtaking her.

  By Christ, it was Alyna.

  “Lady Alyna,” Royce called out incredulously.

  She glanced back over her shoulder but didn’t pause in her flight. The look of fear upon her face stopped his heart.

  “Whatever is the matter?”

  “’Tis Nicholas!”

  “Come,” he bid her and held out his hand.

  Alyna grasped it, and he pulled her up before him. He kicked his horse into a gallop toward the keep. His stomach clenched at the thought of the boy being hurt or worse.

  Within moments, they were through the portcullis and into the bailey. “Where?” Royce asked then saw him before Alyna could answer.

  The boy stood just outside the entrance to the stables. He held something in his hands and examined it with great interest.

  “What is it? I don’t see anything wrong.”

  She looked at her son for a long moment, obviously puzzled. “Well, I thought...”

  As she spoke, Edward rode out of the stables, his head turned back toward the interior of the building, his angry voice audible across the bailey. “I told you not to give him oats until after he’s cooled down. Next time, you will listen to me, you fool.”

  The scene played out with painful slowness for Royce. He could see that Edward paid no attention to the path his steed took. The black horse, eager to have its head to run, jerked at the reins, stomping and snorting as it tried to gain the upper hand. Neither man nor beast saw the small form off to the side of the entrance, right in their path.

  “Edward, halt!” Royce shouted.

  The nervous horse sidestepped, spooked at the sight of the small boy, and reared. Edward tugged the reins in an attempt to control his horse, but still did not see Nicholas. The boy looked up, and Royce could see the fear etched on his face. The child turned to run, but it was too late.

  “Get out of the way, you stupid boy,” Edward bellowed as he saw Nicholas. The horse reared again and clipped Nicholas with a hoof, striking him in the middle of his back. Nicholas was knocked to the ground.

  “Nicholas!” Alyna cried as she jumped off the horse.

  The boy lay motionless.

  Royce’s heart stopped as Edward’s horse reared again. He urged his horse forward, knowing he’d have better luck moving Edward’s horse aside if he remained mounted. “Get back,” Royce demanded, his rage nearly blinding him.

  Edward realized what had happened and tried to calm his frightened steed. Royce rode between the frightened horse and Nicholas to get the beast away from the boy. He forced the horse back into the stable and turned his steed sideways to block the entrance.

  “Keep back, Edward,” Royce ordered, then leapt from his horse and ran to where Alyna was bent over Nicholas’s still form.

  “Nicholas. Nicholas.” She ran her hands lightly over his body, as though unsure where she should touch him.

  Royce placed a gentle hand on the boy’s back and held it there, hoping to feel him breathe, praying to feel any movement.

  Nothing.

  With slow and careful hands, Royce rolled the boy over. He didn’t want to make his injuries any worse, but needed to make certain the child breathed.

  Still nothing.

  Alyna’s chant changed, and tears streamed down her face. “Please, oh please.”

  Royce lifted Nicholas and tilted the boy’s head back. A gentle rush of air came out of the boy’s mouth.

  Nicholas took several shallow breaths and his eyes fluttered open. “Mama?”

  “Oh, my baby. Are you all right?” Alyna’s tears fell even faster.

  Relief coursed through Royce, leaving him weak as a babe. Passing a crying Nicholas to Alyna with great care, he rose on unsteady legs and looked for Edward. The knight stood on the other side of Royce’s horse, apparently thinking it would somehow protect him from Royce’s wrath.

  Several stable hands had gathered at the commotion, but Royce ignored them as he rounded his horse, slapping him on the rump to send him into the stables. He wanted to give Edward far worse than a slap. In a cold, quiet voice, he asked, “What were you doing?”

  “Well, I–” Edward stammered. “That is, he–”

  “This is the second accident you’ve had, Edward,” Royce interrupted. He hadn’t the patience to listen to the stuttering knight. “I suggest you reconsider your desire to remain a knight with Lord Blackwell.”

  “Hold, Royce. You know not of what you speak. I accept no blame with either of these incidents,” Edward protested.

  “And therein lies the problem.” Royce shook his head in disgust. “Lord Blackwell will decide the outcome of this. Now be gone from my sight before I treat you as you have others.” Though Royce’s voice remained quiet, his meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

  With his face bright red, Edward backed away, then left through the rear entrance of the stables, his horse in tow. The knight hadn’t bothered to ask after Nicholas before taking his leave.

  He clamped down on his temper as best he could and turned to check on the boy.

  Alyna still knelt on the ground holding her son, her hand running over his face and hair. Though still pale and crying, Nicholas’s color had improved. Despite his own tears, he rested a hand alongside his mother’s cheek in an attempt to comfort her, making Royce’s heart squeeze.

  “Where’s my butterfly?” Nicholas asked, his voice catching.

  “Is that what you had? The butterfly is fine. It flew away,” Alyna answered.

  Warmed by the love the two shared, Royce couldn’t help but smile. “Let us take you inside to examine you more closely.”

  Alyna looked up at Royce, her fright still evident in her eyes. “Thank you, Royce.”

  “I did nothing, my lady.”

  “Nay, I could’ve lost my son today if it weren’t for you. I can’t th
ank you enough.” Her lip quivered with the effort to hold her composure.

  Uncomfortable with her gratitude, he tried to shift her attention back to Nicholas. “Does he seem all right?”

  “I believe so, but I would like to do as you suggested and look him over more thoroughly.”

  Royce gingerly lifted Nicholas from her arms so she could rise. The boy was lucky the horse hadn’t struck his head. Royce had once seen a great knight turned into a bumbling idiot after hitting his temple.

  He followed Alyna into the keep and sat Nicholas on a table in the hall as gently as possible.

  “Hurts, Mama,” Nicholas told her as he arched his back, his breath hitching.

  She removed his tunic, revealing a large mark on his back. That would look much worse tomorrow. With those graceful hands that never failed to fascinate him, she touched the boy’s arms, ribs, and neck, asking with each contact whether it pained him.

  Nicholas shook his head at Alyna’s questions. The only place that caused him distress was his back, though he still seemed dazed from the accident, his movements slow. His gaze followed Alyna’s face, and he seemed comforted by her reassuring smile.

  Gunnell entered the hall. “My lady? Is he all right?”

  While the two women discussed Nicholas’s condition, Royce felt compelled to do some checking of his own. “Nicholas, can you put your arms out?” Royce held his arms out from his sides and the little boy mimicked him.

  Nicholas soon became far more interested in studying the sword strapped to Royce’s hip than cooperating with the search for injuries. “Mamma, look. Look,” he called to Alyna impatiently.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  He pointed to the pommel of Royce’s sword.

  “Aye, ’tis very nice,” she said as she glanced at Royce’s sword, then took a second, closer look.

  Royce watched her, puzzled by the expression on her face. She stared at the pommel of his sword long and hard, as though it did not meet her expectations. In fact, it seemed to disappoint her. She looked up at Royce before her gaze fell yet again to his sword. “Is that your only sword?”

  “Aye. ’Twas my father’s.”

  His father had brought the rose-colored crystal back from a crusade and had it embedded in the pommel. But Royce would never look at the sword without remembering the night he’d lifted it, still sheathed in its scabbard, from his father’s lifeless form. The sword served as a reminder of his vow of vengeance. Why the sight of it would upset Alyna, he couldn’t fathom.

  Before he could question her, she turned back to her son. “Can you turn your head back and forth?” she asked. “Now lift your arms above your head.”

  Nicholas did as she directed, but gingerly.

  At last, she and Gunnell appeared satisfied. No other damage was apparent except for a bad bruise forming on his back and another on his forehead where he’d struck the ground.

  Gunnell left to see to her own children, so Royce helped Alyna apply a poultice the healer had prepared, teasing Nicholas into smiling in the process.

  Their ministrations complete, she picked up Nicholas with care and kissed him. She pressed her cheek to his, her eyes closed, and held him for a moment.

  As always, the pair drew Royce. Their love and devotion to each other was heart-warming. A man would be lucky to have a family such as this one. Alyna was a caring, wonderful mother. He was fiercely glad he’d ripped both of them from his uncle’s grasp. Tegmont did not deserve a treasure such as Alyna, let alone her sweet son. Royce moved closer and touched Nicholas on the head. “You’ll be sore and stiff on the morrow.”

  Alyna opened her eyes and looked up at him, something more than gratitude in her expression. “Royce, I...” She swallowed hard to keep back her tears.

  “Nay, my lady.” He took her hand in his. “There’s no need for you to say anything.” Warmth spread through him, making his heart lurch. His breath caught in his throat as he held her gaze. He could still see evidence of her tears. Her look of absolute panic when he’d seen her in the village had frightened him more than he cared to admit.

  Something niggled at the back of his mind as he thought back to that moment until at last he realized what it was. “How is it you knew Nicholas was hurt before the horse struck him?”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Mint promotes bile flow

  and can relieve pain.”

  Lady Catherine’s Herbal Journal

  Alyna’s stomach clenched. What should she say? How much should she tell him?

  She’d promised the healer that she would tell no one, though Alyna knew Royce already had suspicions. He’d called Gunnell crazed once before. Had that been an attempt to soften Gunnell’s prediction for Alyna, or did he truly believe it?

  “Remember?” Nicholas asked, his head cocked to the side. “I told you a black horse would hurt me.”

  Royce stared at her son as if he’d suddenly grown wings.

  Could this moment get any worse? Alyna drew a deep breath. Sooner or later, Royce would’ve remembered that Nicholas had said he’d be hurt by a black horse. She bit her lip, waiting to see what he’s say. She simply couldn’t bear for Royce to look at her son as though he was crazed because...

  Oh, dear heavens! There could be only one explanation for the hope and fear pouring through her.

  Because she loved Royce. She closed her eyes for a moment as she realized the truth. How could this have happened? And what was she to do about it?

  As a tight band bound her chest, Nicholas laid his head in the crook of her neck. “’Tis all right, Mama.”

  The tightness eased. She opened her eyes, grateful for her son’s wise words. She hugged him gently in gratitude. He was right. Nothing could be done about it. It simply was.

  Royce shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face, his gray eyes as clear as the reflection of the sky on the water on a cool winter’s day. Those eyes made it difficult to stay focused when he looked at her so.

  When she’d seen Nicholas standing there, looking as healthy and happy as could be, she’d felt foolish. Now that both Nicholas and Gunnell’s premonitions had proven true, Alyna swore never to doubt either of them again. But how could she protect them from those who didn’t understand their gifts?

  “Why did you think something was wrong with Nicholas before anything occurred?” Royce asked. It seemed he’d chosen to ignore Nicholas’s comment, at least for the moment.

  “I was visiting Gunnell this afternoon.” She began, hoping wisdom would come.

  “Gunnell?” From Royce’s tone, Alyna realized he already knew what she was going to say.

  “Aye, Gunnell.” She waited, wondering if she needed to continue.

  Royce folded his arms over his chest, an eyebrow raised in question. “Continue.”

  Alyna heaved a sigh. It seemed he would pursue this to the very end. She decided brevity and honesty would serve her best.

  “She told me that Nicholas was hurt and needed me.” She stole a glance at Royce, wondering how he was taking her explanation so far. As usual, his expression revealed little. “I ran out of her cottage and the rest you know.”

  Royce remained silent, which made her feel obligated to explain further. She caught herself just in time. “That approach may work on your squire, sir, but it does not work on me.” She could play his game as well. She waited with as much patience as he, Nicholas still cradled in her arms.

  “Why do I feel there is more to this story?” he asked.

  “You don’t seem surprised by my explanation.”

  Royce seemed to ponder the matter as he gently touched Nicholas’s head.

  Alyna’s heart squeezed. This man was special in many ways, but she had to remember that despite her feelings, he was not for her. She couldn’t allow herself to care so deeply for a man who spent his days training for battle. Protecting Nicholas was her first and only priority, and becoming involved with Royce wouldn’t aid her in that endeavor.

  Nicholas looked up
at him and smiled.

  Royce winked and smiled back.

  Alyna looked away, surprised she still stood and hadn’t melted into a puddle at Royce’s feet. Must he be so kind to Nicholas? She could resist many things, but that wasn’t one of them. Nicholas obviously cared for Royce, too, and that made it all the more difficult.

  Royce cleared his throat. “Gunnell’s ability to...foresee events is still unclear.”

  Alyna forgot all about puddles. “You say that after today? When she so clearly told me what would happen?”

  “There have been occasions in the past when she has been unable to provide us the information we needed.”

  “There is a fine line between using Gunnell’s gift and allowing her to give assistance when she can. I don’t pretend to know where that line is, but I do know answers are not always shown to her.” She couldn’t blame Royce for wanting to use Gunnell’s gift, not when she’d been prepared to use Gunnell to determine her own future.

  “Mama?” Nicholas rubbed his cheek on her shoulder, drawing her attention back to where it should be.

  “I’m going to take Nicholas to our chamber. We can speak of this later.” She gave Royce one last glance and turned away.

  “Lady Alyna.”

  Compelled by his tone, she turned to look at him.

  Royce moved closer. “I know there is more to this than you are telling me and I intend to devote some time to find out what that is.” His voice was soft yet deep, hypnotic even as it sent shivers down her spine.

  She released the breath she’d held as she watched him go. The strong effect he had on her senses never failed to amaze her. What was it about him that sent goose bumps over her body and an ache of longing through her?

  She couldn’t be in love with him. They had nothing in common. His way of life would not provide the safe place she needed to raise Nicholas nor did he seem to believe some people had gifts that others did not.

  “Mama?” Nicholas pulled on her hand.

  “What is it, darling?”

  “I’m tired.”