"You are our rightful king," Sir Piermont stated with feeling. "We will have no other in your stead. What we want to hear from you is whether you will stand with us against your own mother."
In Ruyen's heart there burned the fire of long-dead kings. These were his people and they were offering him their fealty and their trust. He unsheathed his sword and pointed it to the heavens.
"I will fight with you though the enemy be my own mother. This I swear!"
A deafening shout went up among the people and there was jubilation on each face. The flame of patriotism swept through the crowd, making them all one voice.
Ruyen turned to Sir Piermont, knowing the old knight had fought many campaigns with his father and was a seasoned warrior. "You will be my commander. Have the women and children sent to the far side of the island where they will be safe. Gather weapons and have new ones forged. We must be prepared."
"Aye, that we must, Your Highness," the old knight agreed with a spark in his eyes.
"I am depending on your superior knowledge, Sir Piermont. Set up camps in the woods and post guards to alert you should danger come. Put men to work building ladders and amassing ropes, chains, and weapons. It will be nigh impossible to breach the walls of the castle, but we shall gather our forces and cut off the castle's source of food and water, forcing them to surrender."
"I will see to it at once, Your Highness," Sir Piermont said with certainty, mentally selecting the strongest men to carry out his orders.
"We need to build our defenses carefully," Ruyen continued, "even though my mother is not a strategist in warfare and Escobar is certainly no great brain. I calculate that the castle will fall before winter loosens its grip on the land."
"Aye," someone in the vast crowd yelled. "We'll starve the devils out."
Ruyen's eyes saddened as he thought of his sister. "That we will, but you must all realize that many of our own people work in the castle and they will suffer hunger, maybe death, before the siege is over."
Sir Piermont proudly raised his head, his faded blue eyes moving over the faces in the crowd. "I stand ready to serve the son as I served the sire."
The loud roar of assenting voices was heartwarming and chilling at the same time. Ruyen realized that the results of his actions here today would ripple across the island and none of his people would ever be the same. They would be victorious, of that he had no doubt, but at what cost?
"We must disperse now," Ruyen urged the people. "My mother has her spies and they will become suspicious if they learn of this gathering." He turned to the women who would be most affected by war. "Go to your homes and gather only what you will need to survive. Each of you will know hardship for a time."
The women were silent as they pondered his words. "Better to starve with a friend than dine with the enemy," one of them called loudly, drawing vigorous nods from the others.
Ruyen turned away to gather his shield and armor. He must warn Katharine to leave Falcon Bruine with all haste or be caught up in the war—he owed her that much.
It was dusk when Ruyen rode into the gates of Greenleigh Keep. A servant led him immediately to the garden, where he found Katharine. She wore a pale green tunic and a darker green surcoat, and her golden hair hung freely down her back. She was a very handsome woman, but Ruyen was not moved by her beauty as he had once been.
When she saw Ruyen, Katharine's mouth rounded in surprise and her face paled. "What are you doing here? It is not safe for me to be seen with you."
Ruyen tensed. "Why say you this, Katharine?"
"There is talk of war. It is said that you will fight against your own mother."
"That's why I came to see you," he said.
"Why must you do this, Ruyen? Can you not accept things as they are? Your mother cannot live forever, so if you only bide your time, you will be king without this silly little war."
Disappointment showed in his eyes. "I had hoped you would understand, Katharine."
She glared at him. "Did you think what this would mean for us?" she asked accusingly. "Have you no thought for our future?"
Ruyen's voice was cold. "There is no future for us, and I confess that I thought only of the people who are suffering under my mother's rule."
Katharine felt her heart contract. How had she lost Ruyen's love?
He looked at her as if seeing her clearly for the first time. "I only came to warn you that Falcon Bruine will no longer be safe. You and your father still have time to leave if you make haste."
Her lips trembled and a lone tear trailed down her cheek. "Why should you care what happens to me?"
He felt uncomfortable. "I have a high regard for you, Katharine, I always have had."
She lifted her eyes to him, deeply ashamed of the way she had behaved since learning of his marriage to that Talshamarian woman. She could never have him as her husband, but perhaps it was not too late to redeem herself in Ruyen's eyes.
Her smile was etched with melancholy. "Do you not know that a woman needs more than a man's regard? She needs to be madly loved, to be his only love. I realize now that you never loved me as much as I love you. I believe you have fallen in love with your Jilliana."
"I never meant to hurt you, Katharine. Can you forgive me?"
She visibly flinched, then smiled sadly. "Pity, Ruyen, I would have made you an admirable wife."
He shook his head. "Alas, I fear I would have made you an abominable husband. You deserve better."
She shook her head and then pressed her hand to his shoulder. "Ruyen, have you tried to settle the differences between you and your mother without bloodshed?"
"My mother listens only to the voice that comes out of Castile, but I intend to speak to her again."
"You should be careful, Ruyen. Father says that there are strange happenings at the castle."
"What kind of happenings?"
Suddenly her eyes took on a look of concern, reminding him of the old Katharine. "There is talk that Queen Jilliana never left the island. My father says that her men have either been captured or put to death, and that she is being held prisoner by your mother. Go at once to your wife, Ruyen. I fear she may have need of you."
He stared at her in disbelief. "My mother has gone too far this time. If she has harmed Jilliana—"
"You will be careful, Ruyen?"
He hardly heard her words. What a fool he had been for not seeing Jilliana safely aboard her ship. He had known the way his mother's mind worked, and he should never have trusted her.
Anxious to leave, he spoke hurriedly to Katharine. "Thank you for telling me about Jilliana. You should leave Falcon Bruine in all haste."
"I shall. My father has said that France is lovely this time of year."
"Good-bye then, Katharine. I wish you happiness."
She came to him and placed her hand on his sleeve. She realized that even if Queen Jilliana had not come into his life, she would never have held Ruyen's heart.
"Your mother is dangerous. Watch out for her and Escobar." She kissed his cheek in farewell, but he seemed to look right through her. She knew that his mind was with the woman he loved.
Ruyen hurried out of the garden and mounted his horse, riding like a man possessed. Rather than approach the castle from the front gate, he rode to the side where supplies were delivered to the kitchen.
"Admit me at once," he called up to the lone sentry who guarded the gate.
Immediately the gate was thrown open and Ruyen rode inside. As he dismounted, he observed that extra guards had been posted in the outer courtyard, so he entered the castle by the kitchen. As he hurried across the stone floor, he drew several startled looks from the cooks and their helpers. No one could ever remember a time when the prince had been in the kitchen. He spoke to no one as he climbed the back stairs that led to the private chambers.
Ruyen's steps were hurried as he rushed down the dark corridor. He stopped at the corner and then dropped back, pressing his body into the shadows. A Castilian guard stood before Ji
lliana's chamber, and the man seemed alert to all that went on around him.
"Your Highness," an oily voice Ruyen despised spoke from behind him. Turning, he looked down into the cunning eyes of Escobar Hernandez.
"I have been expecting you, Your Highness."
"Where is my mother, Castilian swine?"
Escobar's eyes narrowed just the merest bit at the prince's insult. "She is resting at the moment and does not wish to be disturbed."
Ruyen watched as Escobar's hand moved to the dagger he wore at his waist, and the man toyed nervously with the jeweled hilt.
"I would not do that if I were you, little man," Ruyen warned. "I could slice your throat from ear to ear before you could brandish that toy."
"You mistake me, Highness. I would not be so foolhardy as to draw blade against one of your strength and might. I have no wish to sacrifice my life when there are others who can prevent you from reaching your wife. You did come to free Queen Jilliana, did you not?"
Ruyen shoved Escobar aside, but the Castilian quickly planted himself in Ruyen's path. "If you could see around that corner, Your Highness, you'd notice the guard who stands before your wife's door. And, there are other soldiers within the sound of my voice. I have but to call out and they will come to me."
With lightning quickness, Ruyen whisked out his sword and placed the point at Escobar's throat. "It is fortunate for me that you came along. Otherwise, I would not have so worthy an accomplice."
Escobar's eyes darted to Ruyen's face and when he saw the raw hatred there, he knew that he looked into the face of death. "You cannot win in this, Your Highness," he said in a trembling voice. "Surrender to me, and your mother will be lenient with you."
"Fool, if I fail in my task, you will never live to see it," Ruyen hissed. He spun Escobar about so his back was to him and then jerked Escobar's dagger free of its sheath. "Dismiss the guard," he said, pressing the dagger against Escobar's spine. "Make one mistake, and you're a dead man. Now, inform the guard that Queen Jilliana is to be placed in my charge."
"He will not believe it," Escobar said spitefully. Then he yelped as he felt the sting of the dagger as it pierced his skin.
"Then you must be very persuasive," Ruyen spat, "or you will die at his feet!"
Escobar knew that the prince made no idle threat, and would not hesitate to end his life.
As they approached the guard, Escobar nodded at the man, trying to sound natural, but it was difficult to keep his voice from trembling as he felt blood drip down his back.
"You are relieved of duty," Escobar said hurriedly.
"Will you require no guard at this door?" the man asked, looking from Escobar to the prince suspiciously.
"Can you not take orders?" Ruyen stated firmly. "Do you question authority?"
"No, Your Highness, it's just that—"
"You stand relieved of duty."
The guard bowed. "As you wish."
Escobar watched his only hope disappear into the dark recesses of the hallway, and then even the man's footsteps faded into silence.
28
Jilliana sat near the window with her sewing in her lap, trying to catch the last dying rays of the sun. Netta had gone below to the garden, where she was allowed to pick roses each day to brighten up the dreary chamber. When the door opened, Jilliana thought it was her maid returning. She was astonished when Escobar landed at her feet, groaning in pain.
She stood quickly to face her husband, who seemed to loom over her. At last she could vent her anger on him. "What is the meaning of this, Ruyen?"
"There is no time to talk," he told her. "Have you a cloak?"
"At last I can tell you what I think of you— You blackguard—miscreant—knave!"
His lip curled in annoyance. "I have no time to swap insults with you." He jerked her cloak from a peg and thrust it at her. "Put this on and hurry."
She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "Why should I?"
Ruyen let out an impatient breath. "Do as I say, and do it now, Jilliana."
Her voice was even and cold. "I will not."
He grabbed her arm and thrust her toward the door. She was about to blast him with an angry retort, when Escobar stood, a satisfied smile on his thin lips.
"Ah, the trials a man must endure at the hands of a reluctant woman."
Ruyen shoved Escobar against the wall. "I will hear no more from you, spineless ass."
To Jilliana's astonishment, Ruyen brought the handle of a dagger down hard against Escobar's temple and the man crumpled to the floor to lie still at his feet.
Without ceremony, Ruyen took Jilliana's arm and pulled her to the door. "If you want your freedom, you had better come with me and do exactly as I tell you."
That was all she needed to hear. She flung the cloak about her shoulders and nodded. "I agree to come with you only because I see no recourse."
He stepped into the corridor, looking left and right, then motioned for her to follow. When he took her wrist, she had to run to keep pace with his long strides. He led her down the back stairs and into the kitchen. Thus far, luck had been with them, for no one had challenged them.
Amidst looks of astonishment from the kitchen servants, Ruyen hurried Jilliana out the door and into the courtyard. Without ceremony, he swung her onto his horse, then climbed on behind her. Guiding the animal toward the side gate, he steadied the horse until they were safely outside the castle walls.
Drawing a deep breath of relief, he nudged his horse into a gallop. Soon the hue and cry would go out that Jilliana had escaped, and he wanted to be far away when that happened.
She held her body rigid so it would not come in contact with his. To her, Ruyen was still the enemy and she did not trust him. "Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
Grinding his jaw at her high tone, he spoke. "At the moment, where no one will find you."
Hot fury coursed through her. "If this is another scheme you concocted with your mother—"
"Jilliana," he said in exasperation, "later you can call me names and wish me to hell all you want. But for now, spare me the sound of your voice."
His arrogance went through her like a destructive wind. With indignation, she tightened her lips and became even more rigid, but she said nothing more to him.
On they rode, skirting the village and entering the thick undergrowth of vine-covered woods. Nettles tore at her sleeve and branches slapped against her face. Just when she thought she could stand it no longer, they rode into a clearing and then were racing along a stretch of sandy beach.
As the sun made its exit with blazing splashes of fiery color across the western sky, Ruyen jumped from his mount and stared in the direction of the merchant ship that had disappeared from the horizon.
"Damn!" he swore, turning his eyes to Jilliana. "I had not thought they would sail today."
With curious regard, Jilliana stared at him. "Do you mean you were going to set me free?"
His dark eyes sparked anger. "I cannot imagine you would think I would want to keep you. You have been nothing but trouble from the very first day."
Suddenly her heart was soaring with elation. He had not betrayed her! She slid off the horse and went to him, placing her small hand into his. "How could I ever have doubted you?"
He looked at her, his dark eyes burnished with flecks of gold in their fathomless depths. "You had every right to doubt. It seems no one is what they pretend to be and one cannot tell friend from foe until it is too late."
Gently, she brushed her hand against his face. "The fear—the captivity—was all worth it to find that you had kept your word to me."
Sardonic amusement played on his lips. "Careful when you look at a man like that, Jilliana. You might give him reason to hope."
She glanced steadfastly at the swelling waves, then raised her eyes to fix him with a level stare. "Sometimes, Ruyen, hope is all we have."
With a sharp intake of breath, he grabbed her to him, pressing her close. "I do not know what tomorrow will bring
, Jilliana, but for this moment, allow me to hold you as if you belonged to me."
She threw her head back, her eyes soft with the light of love. "I will never belong to anyone save you."
Ruyen laughed and brushed the sand from her cheek. "Then I have won the greatest treasure of all."
For a long moment they stared into each other's eyes, looking for, and finding, the love they sought. Gently his lips moved over hers as if he were testing her response. When her mouth softened beneath his, his kiss became possessive, bruising, impressing his ownership on her.
Suddenly Ruyen realized that they were standing in the open where anyone could see them. Lovingly, he lifted her in his arms, then shoved his foot into the stirrup and climbed on the horse, keeping her tightly against him. "You belong to me," he told her.
"Heart and soul," Jilliana replied. Suddenly she felt such a deep love for him that she could not look into his eyes, but buried her face against his broad chest.
Ruyen nudged his horse forward. She loved him, he could see that now. Tomorrow would bring separation and war, but tonight belonged to them.
By now the moon shimmered through the branches and Jilliana raised her face to him. "Where are you taking me?"
"To a secret place that I have never shared with anyone else."
She touched her lips to his cheek. "I don't care where we go as long as I can be with you."
His expression was serious. "You do know that I must send you to safety tomorrow?"
"I do not want to leave you."
"You must. There will be war, and I do not want you caught up in it."
She frowned, knowing what he must be feeling. "You will fight your mother."
He hoped she would understand. "I must."
"Yes, it is the only way."
He slid his arms about her, bringing her tightly against him. "I must find a ship to take you to Talshamar."
"I am not afraid. Let me stand beside you in what you must do."
Ruyen's heart swelled with pride in her. She was fearless and loyal, something he had never encountered in a woman. "You must think of the child," he reminded her. "No matter what, promise me you will do what is best for you and our baby."
Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) Page 23