The Bravest of Them All

by Laurel O'Donnell

  “I should check your wound.”

  “I can do it,” Luke protested.

  Nessa grinned, but ignored him. “Turn onto your side.”

  Luke followed her instructions, rolling onto his side. She eased the blanket down over his hip. There was something sensual in the movement and he was glad he was on his side as his manhood twitched. She peeled away the cloth covering his wound. It pulled slightly and he stiffened as the cloth stuck to his injury. “Stay there.”

  She left the stall, disappearing into the darkness of the barn. A cold chill settled over his body as he waited for her return. A light suddenly shone just out of his sight. After a moment, the light came closer and he saw Nessa carrying a torch and some cloth in her hand, as well as a bowl. She put the torch into a small notch in the wood and knelt beside him.

  “Aren’t you worried the straw will catch fire?”

  “Do you think me a dim wit? Godwin and I spoke of it. That’s why there’s no straw below the torch. He notched out the wooden plank so I could use the torch if I had to.”

  He nodded, satisfied with the answer. He looked at his cut. His skin was swollen and red around the darkened cut. Dark lines crisscrossed it. It had been stitched closed. There was also some sort of drying yellowish poultice on the wound. “What is that?”

  “Godwin takes care of his animals in an unusual fashion. If they are bleeding heavily, he thinks it wiser and less dangerous to stitch them, much the same way we embroider clothing.” Nessa began to smear on some of the yellowish salve from the bowl.

  “I am no animal!” Luke said in indignation. The salve soothed his heated skin and he wondered for a moment what it was. Then, he thought it better he didn’t know.

  “It was the only thing he knew to do. And since you are alive, I can hardly protest.” Nessa spread the ointment across his cut, completely coating and covering it. She worked with gentle strokes and caring caresses.

  Luke allowed her to work, watching the way her tender fingers moved against his skin. Soft. Careful. Delicate. Lovely. He cleared his suddenly dry throat. “Were there no physicians in the village?”

  “Godwin thought it better not to let others know we were here.” Nessa put a clean cloth against his wound.

  The farmer was a smart man. “Why is he helping us?”

  Nessa pressed against the cloth and it stuck to the salve. She looked up at him. “Because we helped his daughter.”

  Her large eyes, her smooth skin, her full lips, caught him off guard. He was breathless for a moment. The thought of pulling her against him and tasting her lips entered his mind unexpectedly. Good heavens! It must be that yellow stuff against his wound, poisoning him with these thoughts.

  The black and white cat leapt into the stall from a beam above their heads. Nessa jumped. The moment was lost as they both laughed. The cat rubbed his back against Nessa’s arm and began licking the salve from her fingers. If the cat didn’t die from it, Luke was certain he wouldn’t.

  Nessa was so relieved Luke’s eyes were open. She didn’t want to stop looking at him for fear it was all a wonderful dream. When she was done with his wound, she cleaned the area and removed the torch from the stall. She burned the dirty cloth and extinguished the torch before returning to him. She never wanted to leave him. She had been so worried. So worried he would never open his eyes again. She returned and sat so close to him her knee touched his shoulder. She was exhausted. She had cared for him for two days, barely sleeping.

  “Lay down.”

  Nessa looked at Luke.

  “You have rings beneath your beautiful eyes. Have you slept?”

  Beautiful? He thought she had beautiful eyes? Her?! She shook her head. “A little.”

  “Lay here. Beside me.”

  Nessa didn’t hesitate. She stretched herself out on her back at his side. Her body heat would keep him warm. And she would get to touch him, as they had when they were young. They stared at the ceiling.

  “Do you remember looking at the stars?” Luke asked.

  He remembered! Nessa stared at the planked ceiling. She couldn’t forget. She would sneak out of the castle to lay on the top of a hill to be close to the twinkling stars. Luke had followed her one time, discovering what she was doing. Instead of telling her father, he had joined her. It was a special time to simply stare at the blinking twin pricks of light in the sky and pretend. She was surprised he had remembered. “I do. Remember we looked for patterns in the stars?”

  Luke nodded.

  Nessa stifled a yawn. That had been when she had imagined herself in love with him. She would imagine they were married and she ran a castle of her own. He was always so kind to her. And she was so young. Now, she wasn’t so young and she found him even kinder. And heartbreakingly handsome. She turned her head to look at him. They were close. Very close. She studied his rugged profile as he stared at the roof. A proud, aquiline nose, a square, strong jaw.

  “Not quite the same view,” he whispered and turned to look at her.

  Their noses touched. She felt a puff of his warm breath across her lips. For just one moment, one second, she wished... she wished he could be hers. Before the thought had vanished from her mind, he moved forward and pressed his lips to hers. Soft, gentle. His lips were wet from the ale. Nessa ached. Desire speared through her body, making it tingle with life. She had wanted to know what it was like to kiss him for a very long time. The kiss deepened. His arm went around her waist, drawing her close against the length of his body. His hand moved to the nape of her neck, brushing his fingers along her hairline. His lips coaxed hers to part for him. A soft sigh escaped her lips and Luke thrust his tongue into her mouth.

  The sudden intrusion snapped her from her daze. What was she doing?! She pulled back, ripping herself free of his hold. She pushed her clenched fists against her mouth.

  Luke reached for her. “It’s okay, Nessa.”

  She shook her head violently. Tears formed in her eyes, blurring her vision of him. She had tempted Luke like a willful whore. And she had kissed him! “She’ll hate me.” The words were ripped from her soul.

  “No, Nessa,” Luke whispered. “No one could ever hate you.”

  But she knew Mel would. She knew Mel would hate her. She had told her as much when they were young. Mel had told her that Luke would be hers and she would never forgive her if she ruined that. Nessa shook her head. What had she done? She rose and ran from the barn, even as Luke called to her.

  Lightning ripped the distant dark sky as Nessa emerged from the barn breathless and sobbing. She berated herself. She had no will power around Luke. She wanted to kiss him; she had wanted to kiss him since she was young. Anguish filled her, shaking her body. He was Mel’s. He had always been Mel’s. And Nessa never wanted her sister to hate her. She fell to her bottom below a large tree. Why had Luke come after her? Luke had come because of his honor. Because they were friends. He had come to save her because she was Mel’s sister.

  Nessa wiped her eyes. The small black and white cat rubbed up against her shins and she stroked its head. “I love him,” she whispered, defeated. She knew she had to give him up. Forever. He could never know of her love. Mel loved him.

  “Nessa.”

  Nessa turned. Thunder rumbled in the sky. Urien stood beside the tree.

  Chapter Nine

  Luke stood to race after Nessa, but the act of getting to his feet sent a wave of dizziness cresting over him. He was in no shape to run. He took a moment to regain his balance and stood straight. His side ached. It had been a good cut, but he was certain he would recover. He walked toward the door. He hadn’t meant to hurt Nessa, he had only... He had only wanted to kiss her, to touch her. Her horrified look was not the response he had hoped for. But he knew now. He knew he was not in love with Mel, if he ever had been. He had to find Nessa and speak to her. He made his way to the door.

  He heard a stifled cry and froze. The small cat suddenly raced inside the barn, running at full pace. It passed him and disappeared into
the darkness.

  Prickles raced along the nape of his neck. He quickly moved back to the stall and shoved the hay aside where Nessa hid his sword. He found it immediately and picked it up, hurrying to the door. Lightning split the sky in a fork, lighting the lands in a dim white light. The scene Luke saw sent terror through him.

  A man held Nessa’s arm and was pulling her toward a horse.

  Luke walked with a determined gait outside to intercept them. “Let her go!”

  Nessa turned, reaching a hand toward him. Her eyes were wide in fear, her mouth partly open.

  An image of his mother’s hand uplifted in defense flashed in his mind. His father stood over her, his fist raised, a sneer on his face. He had not been able to save her, but he would save Nessa. He clenched his jaw.

  The man behind her lifted his weapon.

  “No!” Luke cried and his determined stride turned to a full out run as he recognized Urien.

  Urien brought the handle down. Nessa dropped to the ground.

  Luke crossed swords with him immediately. Sparks flew from the collision of the blades. Luke swung, again and again, driving him back from Nessa.

  Urien blocked the blows and retreated with a grimace.

  Luke rained blow upon blow down on Urien; his only thought was to get to Nessa. Desperation washed over him. He slammed his sword against Urien’s, but was blocked at every swing. Luke couldn’t afford to take his eyes from Urien, but he wanted to look at Nessa. He blocked one of Urien’s strikes, before attacking again, ignoring the pain in his side.

  Luke shoved Urien back with a kick to his chest. He heard a noise behind him and glanced over his shoulder to see Nessa sitting up, rubbing her head. Relief speared through him until he saw the strand of red snaking down from her hairline. He turned to see Urien rising to his feet. Luke’s hand tightened in fury over the pommel of his sword and he approached Urien. “It’s not enough you had to push her down, but to make her bleed.”

  “And I will make you bleed, too.” Urien attacked, swinging his blade in deadly arcs and targeted thrusts.

  Luke blocked them all, moving purposefully. He would not give ground to Urien. Nessa was behind him. He held his left arm against his wound to stabilize it as much as he could. But Nessa’s life and his own depended on him ignoring it. Urien was a skilled fighter. But he was not a knight. His skill came from practice and the occasional brawl. He had never fought in a war. He had never fought for his life. Luke was relentless; blocking and dodging Urien’s attack and then going on the offensive. Thrusting. He caught Urien’s blade and swung his hand around, almost disarming him. But Urien backed away at the last moment.

  Lightning flashed in the sky above them as Urien laughed. “You’ve improved since I last faced you.”

  “We were boys then.”

  Urien grimaced. “But you were always the favorite.”

  “You refused to follow the code of chivalry. If you had tried instead of using your strength against those weaker than you, you would not have been banished.”

  Urien’s lips curled in a sneer. “Always defending those weaker than yourself. You are weak. You were weak then and you are weak now. You can’t protect her.”

  Luke fought down the panic. Urien’s words echoed his own fears. If he failed to protect Nessa, Urien would kill her. Just like his father had done to his mother. Luke pressed his arm to his wound. The cloth was becoming moist. “And you will kill her? She was your friend when you were young! We all were!”

  “No one was my friend!” Urien howled. “Only Melwyn.”

  “What did you think would happen when you kept pushing Nessa?”

  Suddenly, Nessa was at his side. “He didn’t just push me. The last time, he struck me. Father found out. That’s why he banished him.”

  Urien stepped forward, raising his sword. “You told him!” he spat with hatred.

  Nessa shook her head. “No. I didn’t. I never told father. Mel did. She was trying to look out for me.”

  “Liar!”

  Luke pushed Nessa back as Urien rushed forward. They locked swords.

  “Mel would never tell!” Urien cried. “We were in love! She told me of the cave!”

  Luke used all his strength to hold him off. “Just because she told you that didn’t mean she loved you.”

  His eyes narrowed on Luke. “You think she loved you? She was angry with you. After what you did...with her!” He jerked a chin at Nessa. “Her own sister.” He shoved Luke back.

  Luke held up his sword and bent slightly, preparing for his attack. Let him ramble on.

  Urien rushed forward, engaging Luke again. He swung back and forth, using all his strength to drive him back.

  Luke defended, allowing Urien to attack, allowing him to use up his strength. Anger gave one strength, but it also made one careless. Luke waited for his moment. Fury lent recklessness to Urien’s movements. Again and again he hit Luke with a downward strike. The force of the blows jarred Luke’s arm, repeatedly, until Luke saw his opportunity. Because Urien’s blows were from above, he left his body open. Luke punched him across the jaw.

  The black and white cat suddenly darted behind Urien. When Urien stumbled back, he tripped over the cat and fell backward to the ground. The cat scrambled away.

  Luke put his blade to Urien’s throat. “Yield.” He saw the thought race through Urien’s mind and quickly stepped on his sword arm. He pressed his weapon against Urien’s throat. “Yield or die.”

  Urien’s upper lip quivered in hatred. “I yield,” he spat.

  “Have they returned?”

  Melwyn sat beside her recovering father in his solar. The fire in the hearth warmed the room, but it didn’t soothe her mood. She hated being stuck here in the room with him. She hated his constant questions when she didn’t have the answers. “Not yet, father.” She was beginning to think they would never return. Oh, Luke! Why did you have to go after her? None of his men had returned, except Sir Peter, and that did not bode well. She hoped they were with him. She hoped Luke was safe.

  “Tell me again what happened in the village. How Urien captured Nessa.”

  Mel rolled her eyes. Nessa, Nessa, Nessa. It was all about Nessa. What about Luke? What about her broken heart? She sighed softly. “We went into the village because Nessa wanted to get some herbs for a sick child.” Mel accompanied Nessa because there was a very cute farmer’s son she liked speaking with. “I, of course, went with her. I couldn’t very well let her go alone.” She could and had on numerous occasions.

  “You brought guards?”

  “Of course! Ten guards came with us.” More like five. They were under no threat. Or so she thought. “On the way home, Urien came out of the woods. It was horrible, Father. He killed all of our guards!”

  “How many men did he have?”

  “At least fifty, maybe more! Must we talk about it?”

  “Why didn’t he take both of you?”

  Mel shrugged. She didn’t know and didn’t care. “He asked which one of us were Mel.” She looked down at her hands entangled in her lap. “I was so afraid he was going to kill me. I... I couldn’t speak. And then, Nessa said she was me. And he took her.”

  “That was very brave of Nessa.”

  She nodded. It had been. And she was grateful Nessa had done that. “I was so afraid. I hope she’s not hurt.”

  “We received no ransom note?”

  Mel shook her head. She hadn’t considered a ransom note. “No.”

  The room fell into silence as her father stared at the blanket draped across his lap, his brow furrowed in thought. “His father would never take him in. Not after such a disgraceful act as trying to kidnap the heir to Castle Greymount.” His scowl deepened, creasing the lines on his forehead. “Where could he be going?”

  “I haven’t an idea. The man is a rogue.”

  “A rogue with a fascination for you.”

  “Father. I haven’t seen him since you banished him. I can’t imagine why he asked for me.”


  “Hmmm...” Her father looked at her; his eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion, as though he didn’t believe her. “Luke went after Nessa?”

  “Yes!” Mel pouted. “He left me alone!”

  “He was doing his duty to see my daughter safe,” her father said in a stern voice.

  Mel knew better than to argue when her father used that tone. She squeezed her hands tighter and looked down. “He hasn’t come back yet, and I fear for his life.”

  “What of your sister? Do you fear for her life?”

  “Of course!” she cried, rising from the chair. And part of her did. Very much. “I love Ness.”

  “You are like your mother. Beautiful beyond words, but cold inside.”

  Her mouth dropped.

  “Send me Captain Longwood.”

  “Father,” she pleaded and reached out to him.

  “Now!”

  Mel stumbled back, her lower lip jutting, tears welling in her eyes. Her father had never spoken to her that way. He had never been so mean to her. She scurried from the solar. Only when she had turned the corner did she snarl and whisk the tears from her eyes. She wished he had not woke!

  Suddenly, a guard raced up the winding stairwell and almost collided with her. She scowled at him as he bowed excitedly. “Pardons, my lady. Pardons. They’re back!” He raced past her toward her father’s solar.

  Back? It took a moment for the word to sink in. They were back! Luke! Excitement came alive within Mel and she raced down the stairway. Her heart pounded with joy. The hallway was crowded with knights and servants running into the courtyard to welcome Luke and Nessa back. Mel actually had to push the peasants out of the way in her hurry to get to the courtyard. She emerged from the main doors and saw an old wagon surrounded by a large crowd. The people swayed like a field of wheat as they tried to get a view of the back of the wagon.

  Mel squeezed and shoved her way forward between the villagers and nobles gathered until she reached the wagon. Luke was shirtless, his torso magnificently sculpted, reaching up for Nessa in the wagon. Fury ignited inside of her. Shirtless! Jealousy followed closely as Nessa took his hand and he helped her from the wagon.