Hugh returned with both Thomas and Edgar in tow. Thomas’s gaze was riveted on the camp. Royce wondered if he missed his fellow thieves or if he was simply curious to see who remained there.
“Do you see the leader?” Royce asked. “We want him alive.”
Thomas cast a wary glance at Royce.
Hugh leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Don’t forget who pays you now and puts food in your belly.”
Thomas nodded. “Not likely to forget, am I?” He looked again at the camp. “I don’t see Daniel.”
Hugh elbowed him in the back. “Take another look. Your life depends on it.”
The thief watched for several more minutes. “I don’t see him.” He glanced nervously at Hugh. “But that isn’t unusual. He doesn’t always stay in camp.”
Royce looked closely at the thief. “Where does he go?”
Thomas shrugged. “He travels to get orders and the coins to pay us. Sometimes he’s only gone a short while and other times he’s gone for a day or two.”
Frustrated, Royce pulled Hugh to the side so they could talk privately. “Surely he wouldn’t protect this Daniel.”
“I don’t think so. What purpose would it serve? Let us give it a bit more time. Perhaps the leader rests inside one of the shelters.”
Thomas gestured for them to come nearer. “That’s his horse there.” He pointed to a large black steed that one of the men tended. “He can’t be far.”
Royce breathed a sigh of relief. The idea of waiting a few days to make their move was unacceptable.
Time passed slowly as they watched the camp but gave Thomas the chance to tell them where the weapons were and what they consisted of. Some men were armed with short swords, but many appeared to have nothing more than a knife upon their person.
A tall lean man with dark hair emerged from one of the shelters and stretched. “That’s him,” Thomas said excitedly.
“Are you certain?” Hugh peered over Thomas’s shoulder, and the thief stepped forward warily, as though uncomfortable being so close to Hugh.
“Aye. I’d know him anywhere.”
Daniel walked through the camp with an air of authority. He stopped near the fire, nudged one of the men with his boot, and sent him off on some errand. The man didn’t appear to appreciate having his conversation interrupted and scowled at Daniel’s back.
Royce observed a few moments longer to make certain Daniel wasn’t preparing to leave. Then he ordered Edgar to keep watch while Royce, Hugh, and Thomas went back to gather the men and finalize their plans.
Royce had great faith in the men he’d brought with him. He explained in detail how he wanted the attack to proceed. Each of them got a good look at Daniel and knew to leave him for Royce.
The men and their horses moved as close to the edge of the trees as they dared. The horses were restless, stomping and snorting in the cool night air as though they sensed a battle drew near. When darkness fell, all were ready.
Royce raised his hand high for a moment then dropped it down. His men burst forth from the trees and crossed the meadow, the creak of their saddles, the rattling of their weapons, and the pounding of the horses’ hooves the only warning the thieves received.
As they neared the camp, they fanned out, screeching war cries while they infiltrated the camp. The startled thieves stumbled out of the shelters and lurched to their feet.
The ringing of metal striking metal filled the night air. Men grunted and swore, increasing the mayhem. The firelight cast eerie shadows and added to the confusion.
Royce kept his gaze on Daniel as he rode toward him. Surprise registered briefly on the leader’s face as he realized he was Royce’s target before he drew his sword. He stood, legs braced apart, his sword gripped in both hands, waiting for an opportunity to defend his camp.
As Royce rode toward him, Daniel called out, “What fight do you have with us?”
Before Royce could answer, Daniel spotted Thomas. Then his gaze flew back to Royce. “So the one we seek has become the seeker.”
“Your tactics left me no choice.” Royce jumped down from his horse, sword in hand. He would fight with honor against his opponent.
Daniel’s smile gleamed in the firelight as he circled Royce, his sword held at the ready. “I thought this day might come.”
“My fight is not with you, but with the one who pays you,” Royce said.
“Then your fight is with me,” he answered, the light of battle in his eyes.
“Your loyalty is so strong that you would die for him?”
“There is a high price on your head.” Daniel’s smile grew even broader. “I’ll be a rich man when I kill you.”
Royce smiled at the man’s audacity, misplaced as it was. “You will not kill me, Daniel. I have much to live for.” Power surged through him as he thought of Alyna.
At the use of his name, the leader of the thieves sent a lethal stare at Thomas. “What else has that worthless traitor told you?”
“Not everything. That is why I’m here.”
“I’ll share nothing with you,” Daniel said as he lunged at Royce.
Royce blocked his thrust and shoved the man back. “Reconsider.”
Their conversation came to an abrupt halt as Daniel attacked again, his moves proving him to be a skilled swordsman. On their battle went, even as the chaos around them died. Back and forth their thrusts and blocks came and went.
Royce kept the man dancing, giving him no rest, wearing him down little by little. Still the thief did not give up. Royce left him no opening to attack, but forced him to defend himself over and over.
The silence of the camp seemed to at last penetrate Daniel’s attention, and he stole a glance around to see his men defeated. His distraction gave Royce the opportunity he needed to knock Daniel’s sword from his hand and shove the man to the ground.
Royce held his sword at the man’s throat. “What say you now? Have you changed your mind?”
“Perhaps we should talk.”
***
Alyna paused before the postern gate and drew a shaky breath. No matter how much she wished otherwise, she held little hope she’d return to the keep with Nicholas in her arms.
She’d told no one about the note or where she might be going. Charles and Enid, and even her grandfather would worry about her, but Nicholas needed her more than they did. Hopefully she could send word to them once she had Nicholas back.
With a quick glance over her shoulder to be certain no one watched, she opened the door to find several men-at-arms waiting, along with a woman. Hilde. Her smirk infuriated Alyna.
“Where is Nicholas?” Alyna demanded.
“Perfectly safe. You worry for no reason. But first you have unfinished business with my lord.”
Alyna’s stomach dropped. The idea of seeing Tegmont when she thought she’d escaped him made her ill. And now he had what was most precious to her. She swallowed hard to keep the contents of her stomach in place. “Why are you here?”
“To provide you with a proper chaperone. We can’t have your reputation ruined by you traveling with all these men, now can we?”
Alyna’s gaze caught on Hilde’s hand which was red and raw looking. “You should be more careful when you burn tapestries with lye. What was the purpose?”
“We didn’t want you to get too comfortable and cozy with Blackwell. Lady Florence was supposed to make sure of that, but her attempts failed to convince you to leave. So I had to find another way. We thought that once Lord Blackwell realized you’d destroyed one of his beloved wife’s tapestries, he wouldn’t want you there anymore.”
Alyna didn’t bother to reply. Her grandfather had been dismayed when he’d seen the tapestry, but he hadn’t been angry with her. With luck, it could be repaired.
Hilde might think she had the upper hand, but Alyna would find an opportunity to change that. She brushed her thigh to feel the small knife strapped there. Having it within reach gave her great comfort.
***
The next morning, Alyna arched her back to ease its stiffness. The long ride on the horse and a night spent on the cold hard ground were only partly to blame. The tension that had gripped her since Nicholas’s disappearance continued. She couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. She might know where her son was, but that knowledge did little to ease her fears.
The image of Nicholas scared and alone, wondering where she was, brought tears to her eyes. Tegmont was not someone she would trust with a pet dog, let alone her child.
“We should arrive at Larkspur by midday,” one of her escorts announced.
She scanned the horizon, hoping for a glimpse of the holding. She’d done her best to keep her composure as they traveled. Only during the quiet of the night had she let her tears fall. She knew Hilde would report everything she did to Tegmont, and she didn’t want her emotions used against her.
Without Nicholas and Royce, she felt as though she’d been cast adrift with no anchor. But she couldn’t let her devastation or anger show, though both took turns pouring through her. She planned on presenting a strong and composed front to Tegmont, regardless of how she truly felt.
She focused all of her energy on Nicholas, praying he could somehow sense her. I’m coming. I’ll be there soon.
They topped another of the rolling forested hills that blanketed the countryside and at last, Larkspur came into view. The meadows flanking the gate held drifts of pink and lavender larkspur, softening the austere look of the holding and providing its namesake. Alyna had seen the castle from a distance before since it bordered her father’s holding but never been inside. How odd to think of Royce spending part of his childhood here.
The death of his parents had occurred before she was born, and while she’d heard rumors of a tragedy that had taken the previous lord and his family, she’d never paid much attention to them.
Alyna tried to imagine a young Royce running through the colorful meadows and fields that surrounded the holding, perhaps playing in the woods nearby. It was hard to picture the strong, capable man she knew as a little boy. Could she blame him for pushing everything aside and focusing on vengeance? If her mother and father had been murdered and she’d been left for dead, would she seek revenge or would she be able to forgive? Tegmont seemed to have no remorse for his actions, and that made forgiveness nearly impossible.
The gatehouse was smaller than the one at Northe Castle and the surrounding stone wall not as high. It had but one watchtower. The keep was square and sat near the back of the grounds and must’ve been rebuilt since Royce had lived there. The curtain wall did not enclose the village leaving the villeins to survive on their own in the event of an attack.
It was obvious even from this distance that it was falling into disrepair. Parts of the outer wall were crumbling. As they neared, she could see one side of the watchtower was half gone. Royce would have much work ahead of him if he was successful in reclaiming the holding.
It was all she could do not to kick her horse into a gallop and ride straight through the gate to search for Nicholas. She took a deep breath to steady herself. Soon, she would confront Tegmont, and she needed to keep her wits about her when she did.
One of the men-at-arms who accompanied her called out a greeting. The portcullis rose to let them enter, then slammed shut behind them, locking her in.
She swallowed hard, hoping with all her might that she would soon hold her son in her arms and they could both escape.
***
Royce passed through the gate of Northe Castle the following morning, tired but his mood high. Daniel had been rather disgruntled about his defeat. However, his mood had soon been sweetened by the fact that he’d been allowed to live in exchange for bearing witness before the king against Tegmont.
Royce basked in the moment. He was certain they had enough proof to have Tegmont stripped of Larkspur.
Lord Blackwell should have returned by now. Royce would introduce him to Daniel, then explain his plan to present the evidence to Pimbroke who could take Daniel to the king, leaving Royce to claim Larkspur. After the attack against him and the information Blackwell had presented, Pimbroke was already suspicious of Tegmont.
The next thing he intended to do was ask Blackwell for Alyna’s hand in marriage. If he wasn’t mistaken, the emotion swelling through him was happiness. An unfamiliar but welcome feeling. Royce allowed himself a smile of satisfaction. Life was good. All his plans were coming together perfectly.
“What has you looking so pleased?” Hugh asked in a quiet voice as he rode up beside him. He held the reins of the horse that carried a bound Daniel.
“I was just thinking how well our plans are coming together.”
Hugh grunted, his expression dour. “You know what that means. Bad luck will surely follow.”
Royce shook his head, well used to his friend’s less than optimistic attitude. He didn’t bother to argue. Perhaps something to break their fast would improve Hugh’s mood.
The outer bailey was filled with activity, more so than usual. Men saddled horses and readied weapons.
“Sir Royce!” one of the guards shouted. “You’re needed in the hall at once.”
An uneasy feeling settled over Royce. Hugh shared a look with him that said I told you so.
Royce gestured to Edgar to keep an eye on Thomas. Then he caught Daniel’s attention. “You stay with us.”
The thief held up his bound hands, as though telling Royce he had little choice in the matter.
He kicked his horse into a gallop with Hugh and Daniel right behind him. As he rode through the bailey, the hurried activity continued. If he didn’t know better, he’d think they prepared for a battle. Voices hailed him as he passed by quickly, but every one of the faces was somber.
They dismounted at the foot of the steps to the keep and a squire ran forward to take their horses. Lord Blackwell came out the door as Royce bounded up the steps. The lord appeared to have aged a good ten years since Royce had last seen him. “My lord? What’s happened?”
“’Tis Alyna. She’s missing. Nicholas, too.”
Royce’s heart stopped. He was certain of it. Then it pounded so loudly, he could hear nothing else. Hugh’s mouth moved, and Blackwell seemed to answer, but Royce heard nothing.
Hugh grabbed his shoulder. “Royce?”
The odd sensation released its grip. “When? How?”
Blackwell shook his head. “We don’t know. Yesterday at mid-day, Alyna discovered Nicholas was missing. We started to search for him and Hilde.”
“Hilde? The new servant?”
“Aye. Shortly after that, Alyna disappeared. My only guess is that whoever took Nicholas also has Alyna.”
Royce’s normal calm and clear thinking deserted him when he needed them most. His stomach churned, and his head throbbed. He knew his lord counted on him to form a plan, to take action. He had nothing. He couldn’t think. He could only feel.
“Who is this?” Lord Blackwell asked as he looked at Daniel.
Royce didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. Hugh glanced at him with concern and answered in his place. Their words swirled around Royce.
We have much to talk about, you and I. How well he remembered the words he’d last spoken to Alyna. Why hadn’t he told her how he felt? Told her of his intentions?
Lord Blackwell narrowed his eyes as he glared at Daniel. “So you’re the one causing so many problems. Threatening people’s lives and stealing livestock.”
Daniel gave him a cocky smile. “At your service, my lord.”
Blackwell shook his head in disgust. “Let us go inside, and I’ll tell you the few details I know.”
Hugh walked beside Royce as they followed Blackwell into the keep. Daniel followed behind. “Royce, are you well?” Hugh asked.
Royce pulled himself together as best he could. “We must find Alyna and Nicholas. Immediately.”
“Aye, that we will.” Hugh held his gaze and nodded, his voice more confident than his expression.
When they entered t
he hall, Matthew sat at one of the tables, fully dressed, but pale with the effort. The young knight obviously hadn’t fully recovered.
“Matthew,” Lord Blackwell said. “What are you doing up?”
“I want to help search for Lady Alyna and Nicholas.”
Hugh put a hand on Matthew’s good shoulder. “I’m pleased to see you up and about, but I’m not sure you’re ready to ride.”
“I’ll be fine,” Matthew replied, his grim determination unmistakable.
The men sat at the high table. Pitchers of ale were quickly set before them along with bread and cheese. Royce wanted to shove all that to the floor, to rant and yell, to demand Alyna and Nicholas be returned. Instead, he drew a deep breath to calm his rage as best he could, to think clearly and logically. “Tell me all you know,” he requested.
Lord Blackwell complied, ending with their discovery that Alyna no longer searched for Nicholas, but was missing as well. “I’m not sure where she would’ve gone or who could’ve taken her. None of the guards saw either of them leave through the gate.”
“What about the message, my lord?” Matthew asked. “Who was it from?”
“What message?”
Matthew looked puzzled. “I heard a man from my chamber. He called for Lady Alyna and told her he had a message for her that had been left at the front gate.”
“Who gave it to her, Matthew?” Lord Blackwell asked.
“I think it may have been George,” he answered, “though I’m not sure.”
Daniel leaned forward. “This Hilde you mentioned. What does she look like?”
Matthew described the servant, but Royce already knew without a doubt who had sent the message. He knew exactly where Alyna and Nicholas were. “Tegmont.” His gaze met Lord Blackwell’s. “Hilde took Nicholas to Tegmont, and Tegmont used Nicholas to get Alyna to Larkspur. The bastard has them both.”
“My lord? Sir Royce?” Gunnell hurried into the hall, her eyes wild, her hair escaping its braid. She was breathless, and it appeared as though she’d run all the way from her cottage. She kept her gaze on Royce. “You’re right. Tegmont has them both. You’d best hurry, for someone is going to be hurt badly. It may already be too late.”
A VOW TO KEEP (The Vengeance Trilogy) Page 25
