Wolfshead came forward after a very brief hesitation.
"Are you lost, my lady?" he inquired courteously.
"I wish," she answered without looking at him. "I'd run away from here, if only I knew where to go! My brother brought me here only to tell me I had to marry the lord of Tower Castle, old and ugly..." The lady sighed. "He even has a daughter, and she's younger than me!"
She's speaking of Morwenna, Wolfshead thought. It wasn't uncommon to use female relatives to forge alliances. If he had a sister, he'd probably try to betroth her to another noble young man.
"And pray tell, who is your brother?" he asked.
"Yann Zoran," she answered, finally looking at him. "My lord, if you are who I think you are, please take me away from here!" she pleaded. "He already forced me to marry a lord and kick out his children, I don't want to see it happen again!"
Wolfshead was stunned by her steady gaze. He'd heard of Lady Deirdre, but he didn't think she was so young and beautiful, and that her brother used her for his dirty alliances like he did with his children.
So that was Kennoch's stepmother... she must have been gorgeous fifteen years earlier, seeing how beautiful she still was. No wonder Kennoch's father had remarried after meeting her.
Wolfshead had never seen his uncle's second wife and Kennoch was too young to remember anything of what had happened fifteen years earlier – he hadn't seen Sword Castle or his stepmother since then.
Seduced by the sincerity in Deirdre's tone and face, he took her to the camp without further questions. He couldn't believe the beautiful lady had no real nobility and the same blood as the bastard who stole two castles.
Deirdre wasn't a lady by birth, much like her mercenary brother. She'd married Kennoch and Isabel's widowed father only to betray him and give the castle to her brother. Kennoch and Isobel had been thrown out and found refuge at Wolf Castle while she paraded herself in brocades and demanded to be addressed as Lady Deirdre.
"What is she doing here?" Morwenna snapped at the sight of the woman entering the cave with Wolfshead.
"Yann wants her to marry your father," he answered with a shrug. "It seems cruel forcing her into a marriage she doesn't want."
"She's a liar, just like her brother," Morwenna warned.
"I saved you from an unwanted marriage, why wouldn't I save her?" Wolfshead retorted, hostile.
Morwenna pursed her lips and glared at him, while Deirdre smiled triumphantly.
Kennoch was not present and when he came back he didn't question the newcomer. Isobel and Ewald knew better than to contradict Wolfshead.
He said to himself he was only keeping an eye on Deirdre. He might discover she was her brother's weak point and that might give him an opening. She might be willing to betray wicked Yann if he played his cards well.
The fact that he wanted her badly had nothing to do with his decision to take her to his hideout.
***
Sometimes Morwenna hated the "rooms" in the cave. Especially since "Lady Deirdre" had joined them, obtaining a single space with just one bed, instead of sharing sleeping quarters with the other women.
"I'm a lady, I will not sleep with women dressing like men," she'd said haughtily on the first day, and Wolfshead had given her the required privacy – because it fit his plans too.
He's blinded by Deirdre's beauty, Morwenna thought, peeved. I'll have to keep an eye on both of them.
Morwenna didn't trust any of the Zorans, especially not Yann's sister who was as cunning as he was. Wolfshead said he was using her as weapon against her brother, but Morwenna thought it was actually the opposite going on.
She was almost sure by now that he was Winfred of Wolf Castle, but he never spoke about it, so she pretended not to know. She was more and more in love with him, but he was too taken by his revenge projects to look at her.
But then here came Lady Deirdre and he was all mushy and romantic with the lying bitch. Morwenna had seen him join her in her "bedroom" that very morning after many passionate glances between the two of them.
Even if he knew her history, Wolfshead ignored it. Isobel was too taken by her bickering with Ewald to bother, and Kennoch had found a secret friend he didn't like to talk about, but spent most of his days outside the shelter. Morwenna had watched Deirdre wrap her net around Wolfshead and lure him inside the cave, smitten.
Now sighs and moans of pleasure were over and silence had fallen in the room of lovemaking. Morwenna sighed with envy, then she heard a strange sound, like a blade being unsheathed. Grabbing a lance, she made her way quietly to the lovers' space.
Deirdre had Wolfshead's dagger in her hand and stood over her sleeping lover with a triumphant expression on her face. As she raised the knife for the kill, Morwenna rushed in and stabbed her with the lance.
Wolfshead was startled awake when Deirdre's body collapsed upon him with a gush of blood.
"Morwenna! Have you gone crazy?" he protested, pushing away the corpse.
"She was about to kill you," Morwenna answered with a quivering voice, upset by her first kill. "She betrayed you, Wolfshead, she wanted you dead like her first husband!"
Wolfshead looked at the still body with its wide-open eyes and frowned as he saw the dagger in its hand.
"You're right," he muttered, getting out of bed and gathering his clothes. "Where are the others?"
"Ewald and Isobel are outside, Kennoch with his mysterious lover," Morwenna answered, taking control of her racing heart.
"Call Ewald and send Isobel to find her brother. I want to know who the girl is, I wouldn't want him to fall into a trap."
Like you did, she thought, relieved. So much for using Deirdre against her brother!
She didn't say anything as she promptly obeyed. Wolfshead would hate her if she went all "I told you so" on him.
***
Kennoch was secretly meeting with Cinder. Since their second encounter, the young woman had proved very open towards him and now they were lovers, even if they didn't talk much, about themselves or the others. A secret and silent passion in the magical atmosphere of the woods, by the stream where they'd first met, was slowly carrying them away.
"Where do you live?" Cinder asked, nestled against Kennoch on their bed of leaves.
"In the woods," he answered. "My castle was stolen from me when I was a child. An evil stepmother kicked me out and eventually killed my father... My grandfather saved me and my sister by welcoming us at Wolf Castle. He was smart, always told us never to trust Yann and his beautiful but evil sister."
Cinder was startled.
"You're a Wolfling?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Then we'd better not see each other again."
She rose and dressed.
"Why?" he asked, puzzled. "You're afraid of an outlaw, you, a warrior woman?"
"No." She smiled ruefully. "I should have known you were one of them. I'm sorry, I've been stupid."
"But why?" he insisted frantically, trying to stop her from dressing and leaving, grabbing her wrists to pull her down again in his arms.
She freed herself and looked him in the eyes.
"Because we're enemies. I'm Yann's daughter."
Kennoch gaped at her. She used his surprise to finish dressing and stand.
"Good bye, Kennoch," she whispered.
Kennoch couldn't believe what he'd just found out. Cinder, so sweet and passionate, was the daughter of that... monster who had stolen his castle? Oh Gods, no!
He slumped back on the ground. He hurt everywhere. Cinder had been honest, but their love dream was now broken.
"Kennoch?" Isobel called from nearby. "Kennoch, where are you?"
Kennoch rose and dressed quickly, and then Isobel reached the small clearing and stopped, staring at him with a worried look on her face.
"Are you all right, big brother?"
"No," he answered with a lump in his throat.
Isobel hugged him, and suddenly he couldn't hold his tears anymore.
***
/>
"Soldiers!" Ewald rushed inside the cave, worried. "They're very close!"
"Yann must have received Deirdre's body," Morwenna commented with a scoff. "He's searching the forest again."
"Did you see Isobel and Kennoch?" Wolfshead asked.
Ewald shook his head, eyes wide in fear.
"Damn it, we must close the cave," Wolfshead muttered. "Let's hope they're safe."
Ewald stood aside as Wolfshead activated the mechanism that closed the cave and made their shelter invisible.
***
"You must get over it," Isobel told Kennoch. He had calmed down and stared gloomily at the stream at his feet. "At least she didn't try to kill you. Come with me, Ken, I think Wolfshead must tell us important things..."
The noise of soldiers searching the woods startled both. Kennoch cursed under his breath as the warrior in him awoke. He took his sister's hand and dived into the undergrowth, towards the cave, trying to avoid the soldiers.
But it wasn't easy to avoid such a meticulous search.
"Halt!" someone screamed. Kennoch and Isobel started running, and arrows whistled around them. One hit Kennoch who collapsed without a sound. Terrified, Isobel stopped.
They were both captured and taken to Wolf Castle. Kennoch was passed out and his wound bled.
"You better not die this fast," Yann said gloomily, staring at him. "Tend his wound, I want to interrogate him myself. As for you." He turned to stare at Isobel with a smirk. "You chose the wrong company for a love meeting."
"He's my brother," she replied defiantly, trying to rid herself of the guards holding her.
"Good!" Yann scoffed. "So you're an accomplice. I could interrogate you!"
"Why don't you leave her to me, Father?" Seth asked. He'd been observing the young woman dressed like a man with growing interest.
She stared at him as if he were a venomous viper. Not only was he the son of their enemy, but he couldn't compare with her beloved cousin Ewald!
Seth smiled at her disgusted expression and Yann smirked. He nodded at his son who straightened proudly.
"Take her to my rooms," Seth ordered. "And keep an eye on her. I'll take care of her tonight."
Isobel was dragged away, but she kept turning back, worried for her brother.
***
Cinder met the guards escorting the prisoner to her brother's room and asked what was going on. They told her two outlaws had been captured. Worried, Cinder went to the prisons only to see her fears had come true: her father was torturing her secret lover. She tried to find a way to save him, but could think of none at the moment, not without giving away where her loyalty lay. She better keep quiet and wait for the night. Sunset was near and Kennoch was wounded. They couldn't hurt him too much, or he'd be dead by dawn.
Cinder clenched her teeth and waited.
***
Kennoch hurt everywhere, especially where the arrow had pierced his flesh. They had more or less tended his wound, but he was broken, physically and emotionally – although he hadn't betrayed the others.
What had hurt the most had been Yann's icy stare – those eyes so similar to his daughter's that they'd made Kennoch sick. He couldn’t think of two more different people and couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that they were related.
The door to his cell opened with a creak and Cinder slid inside.
"Kennoch," she called gently, helping him to roll over and drink. He was shivering with fever and barely recognized her, more inhaling her smell and feeling her soft touch than registering the sight of her sweet, worried face.
"Cinder," he whispered. "Save my sister... My sister..."
He passed out again.
***
Cinder lay Kennoch down and pursed her lips. The girl taken to her brother's room was Kennoch's sister. She rose, determined. She'd never feared her father, much less her younger brother.
Seth had managed to hold Isobel tight and was kissing her after ripping off her tunic when Cinder entered without knocking.
"That's enough, little brother, cool down," she ordered.
"Mind your own business!" Seth snapped, glaring at her. "Our father gave her to me! Take her brother and leave me alone!"
"You know her brother is out," Cinder retorted, marching towards the bed. "Therefore, since I can't have him, you better wait before having her. Let her go, now!"
"Cinder..." Seth glared at her, balling his fist, ready to hit.
She unsheathed her sword and pointed it at his throat.
"Get away from her, little brother," she ordered. "You know I'll do it."
Seth knew her well enough not to challenge her. He moved away from Isobel who held her shirt closed with one hand as she panted for breath.
"Get off the bed, you stupid maiden." Cinder pointed her sword at her, and Isobel obeyed, puzzled and fearful.
Cinder took her back to the prisons and pushed her into Kennoch's cell, giving her a small bottle.
"Give him this, it will give him strength," she whispered. "I'll find a way to get you both out of here."
Isobel took the medicine and Cinder closed the door with a big sigh. Dawn was too close to get the siblings out of the castle, especially since Kennoch couldn't walk on his own.
***
The morning after, as she left her room to go to the prisons, Cinder saw two armed men coming out of her father's bedroom – two unknown faces that shouldn't have been there.
"Stop! Who are you?" she asked, unsheathing her sword.
Then she realized those two might be actually Wolflings who had come for the siblings. She lowered her sword arm and raised the other, since the oldest seemed ready to attack her. The other actually looked like a blonde, pretty woman who could barely hold her sword.
"Wait!" she said with a look of hope on her face. "Are you Kennoch's friends? Come with me!"
The blond young man quickly nodded, putting away his sword. Nobody spoke as they rushed down the stairs, weapons ready, hearing Kennoch's screams.
Cinder wondered if they'd entered the castle through a secret passage, but there wasn't time for idle talk. Her father and brother had already gone to the prisons and she was very worried.
Passing through the guards' room, Cinder grabbed a bow and out of the corner of her eye saw the other two do the same. The three archers entered the prison's main room, where Kennoch was tied to a pole and Isobel was held in Seth's arms.
Cinder's arrow hit the jailer who was flogging Kennoch and her allies took down two more guards.
"That's enough, Father," Cinder said, determined. "Get away from him. Seth, let go of the girl."
Isobel looked relieved at the sight of Cinder's allies and pushed Seth away, holding her torn tunic together as much as she could.
"What is the meaning of this?" Yann demanded, glaring at his daughter.
"It means I won't let you torture and kill the man I love," she answered, determined, keeping her next arrow pointed at her father's heart. "I had given him up, but then you captured him... Free him now." She raised the tip of the arrow, targeting his head.
Yann untied Kennoch who was panting and sweating, bleeding profusely from his whipped back and reopened wound.
"You're crazy!" Seth protested. "I should have realized it last night, when you took Isobel away from me!"
"Too late, little brother," she retorted while Wolfshead, who had passed his bow to Isobel, helped Kennoch to stand.
"Stay where you are," Cinder ordered as the others left. She exited last and closed the door behind her. The way to the stables was clear and the guards weren't alerted in time to stop the escape.
Three horses left at a gallop through the castle's main gate. Wolfshead carried his cousin, Isobel was holding tight to Cinder and Morwenna slowed down to let Ewald on her saddle at the edge of the forest. The outlaws vanished into the wilderness.
***
"Thank you." Wolfshead's voice was serious as he stood in the shadows of the closed cave. Only a fire danced, giving faint light to the
outlaws sitting around it.
"I'd have never allowed anyone to kill him," Cinder answered, gently caressing Kennoch, who had passed out again during the escape, but now slept quietly, his wounds tended and bandaged. "Not even my father."
This time not even Morwenna doubted her feelings and Wolfshead nodded, thoughtful and a little envious.
"Thank you for saving me from Seth," Isobel added. She was wearing female clothes while she mended her male garb. "I can't stand the idea my first time might have been rape."
"I knew you'd be a virgin," Cinder said, amused, staring at the sleepig Kennoch. "But Seth is not all bad."
"Wait, what happened?" Ewald asked, outraged.
"Nothing, apparently Cinder's brother found me attractive," Isobel told him with a challenging tone.
"Well, you are," Ewald said, worried. "Did he hurt you?"
Isobel gaped at him.
"Cinder saved her." Morwenna smiled. "But she's your first cousin, Ewald, don't get too fond of her!"
Isobel glared at her, but Morwenna was right.
"Are you saying I should betroth my cousin to Seth Zoran?" Wolfshead asked, amused.
"Well, if he's like his sister and not like his aunt and father..." Morwenna shrugged. "And does that leave me with marrying you, Wolfshead? Or should I call you Winfred of Wolf Castle?"
"Forget that name while Yann is alive," Wolfshead snapped. "Besides, I've had enough of love talk."
***
Morwenna glared at Wolfshead and rose. After being so romantic with Deirdre he said he had enough of love talk. That hurt – as if Deirdre had been so much more beautiful than her!
She reached the exit, opened it the minimum to slide out and left. She was really mad at her betrothed – who kept denying his true identity. It was now obvious to her, but he seemed to have forgotten that their fathers had meant for them to marry.
Why were men so taken with lands? Why didn't they care about love? Although Kennoch seemed to be in love – and it wasn't unrequited. Cinder baffled Morwenna. She'd never seen such a wild woman who carried her sword like the most proficient soldier. But the way she took care of poor Kennoch showed she had heart, something her father and aunt never had.
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2 Page 26