SeductivePersuasion

by Frances Stockton

  “Aye,” Burkett said. “I mean not to delay your journey, but I’d like to offer myself as one of your guards. I can ride better than most men and served in His Majesty’s army for many years. I can handle a sword.”

  “I’m certain you can. Why would you offer yourself for me?” she asked.

  Daniel Burkett moved closer and inclined his head in reverence. “Lord Danford saved my daughter’s life. I offer my sword to protect his countess in return.”

  Aisley liked the man and decided to accept. “Very well, Daniel Burkett, join me. William, find this man a suitable horse and appropriate weaponry.”

  “Will you let me aid you, milady?” Andrew offered, standing firm.

  “Your wife is with child. She needs you more than I.”

  “Nelda insisted I join you. She’s tending to Sir James and knows what is happening. Allow me to do what I ought, Aisley, please.”

  “William, Andrew will need a horse, as well,” Aisley said to the guard. “As soon as the horses are ready, we’ll go. I’ll ask you to watch over Danford while I’m gone.”

  “As you wish, milady,” William accepted, rushing off to do her bidding.

  By the time William and some servants fetched the horses and weapons, Aisley’s weakness had grown more prevalent. Still near, Valiant watched her closely. She wondered if he suspected her weakness. To hide, she lifted herself unaided into the saddle of her destrier and urged the horse toward Andrew and Daniel.

  “Are we ready?” Aisley asked the men, relieved when they nodded in unison. “Let us go. It’s dark. Do your best to remain alert to any danger that may be ahead.” She wished the moon was full and prayed the crescent moon would offer enough light for the men to see. Because she could see well in the darkness, she rode between them and silently offered herself as their guide.

  “Be safe, Aisley,” Valiant bid as she passed.

  “The same to you, my young friend,” she said.

  Several soldiers called for her to allow them to go in her place. Refusing, she urged the warhorse into a faster gait, sighing as she and her guardians left the courtyard.

  Strong and surefooted, the horses flew across the field toward the forest. It wasn’t until they reached the forest that they slowed.

  Aisley was glad she had the destrier’s strength beneath her. Her strength continued to wane. She didn’t think it would return until Garrick was found. Concentrating on remaining astride, Aisley tightened her legs as much as she could and stared straight ahead.

  Two furlongs into the forest, she allowed herself to relax. She was chilled and knew her companions were cold as well, but she couldn’t see or smell any presence other than night creatures, so she felt safe to continue forward.

  Just after they’d left the cover of trees for open countryside, she led the destrier into a fast walk and heard the men follow close behind. A fathom later, they were charging ahead. All the while, she’d grown weaker, but more determined to reach Garrick. Something was wrong and she feared the consequences if she did not reach him soon. The field ahead of them smelled of the taint of recently spilt blood. The grasses were matted flat as if a battle had already taken place. There were no bodies to be seen and she tried to find Garrick’s scent, though she couldn’t over the blood and stench of death.

  Afraid to linger, they urged their horses on, pushing them hard. After what felt like an eternity, Aisley’s panthera senses detected that her horse was breathing too heavy, sweat coated his chest. They needed to give the horses some rest.

  “Aisley, we can’t push the horses too fast, too far.”

  “I know,” she said, permitting her older destrier to slow and patting his sweat-slicked neck in apology.

  Daniel remained silent as he led his horse next to hers. Andrew bent to brush his hand along his palfrey’s graceful neck. A movement to the right caught Aisley’s attention, bringing her head around to verify what she’d heard. A small, gray mouse dashed past the destrier. The horse side-stepped, but she was able to rein him to a halt just as the smell of horses and the sweat of soldiers reached her, competing with the bloodstained field a short distance away.

  A breath later, the ground began to tremble.

  “Go back to Danford!” she ordered, fear and weakness making it difficult to control her horse.

  “Follow us!” Andrew was already kneeing his mount into flight as the first soldiers crested the hill before them.

  Uncertain how long she would be able to hold her seat, Aisley tried to follow after her men. “Keep going,” she commanded when she started to topple backward and collided with the hard, cold ground.

  Aisley ignored the pain of her fall and pushed herself up, only to find herself surrounded. Andrew and Daniel were kept at bay by four soldiers holding swords close to their hearts.

  “Do not hurt them,” she pled.

  The dozen soldiers parted as a lone rider approached. “I was right,” Zotikos said to his men. “The Countess of Danford came after her husband. It would be our pleasure to escort you safely to Lord Danford, milady,” he offered, smiling as he drew to a halt close to where she knelt.

  “If you’ve hurt him, Zotikos, I will send word to the King about what you’ve done this night!”

  “Who does she speak of?” a soldier questioned aloud.

  Zotikos lifted one shoulder. “I know not. Mayhap she casts a spell.” His response had the heavily armored men drawing back several feet. “My dear lady, my name is John Brewster, Baron Welford. I suggest you remember it as we take you to the Earl. Once you’re reunited, we’ll ride to Welford. A trial should seal your fates.”

  “What sort of trial? I’m guilty of nothing,” she insisted.

  “You will learn,” Zotikos said. “Shall we go or should we execute your men first?”

  Aisley shook her head, hoping to save her friends. “Nay, do not. They have families and do not deserve to be wrongly judged.”

  “All the more reason they should witness your burning,” Zotikos decided, vaulting off his horse. Looking about at his soldiers, he seemed to be looking for someone in particular. “George, be so good as to bind the healer with these shackles.”

  Zotikos had turned while he spoke, so Aisley could not see what was given to the soldier. George, a large, fully armored guard, ventured near with hesitancy in every stride. He was scared of her, she discovered.

  “Do I frighten you, George? Have I tried to fight?” she asked.

  “Silence, wench, I know what you are and what you believe in. Give me your hands,” he ordered, revealing a set of manacles that shined in the darkness.

  “What are those?”

  “It matters not. Give the man your hands or your men will die,” Zotikos said.

  Unwilling for Andrew or Daniel to suffer, Aisley lifted her arms to the soldier. Two bands of what felt like iron circled her wrists, causing her to fall forward.

  “Why is this happening?” Aisley murmured. She couldn’t push herself to her knees. “I should be able to stand.”

  Zotikos neared. Sickened by an overabundance of ambergris, Aisley shrank as far away from him as she could. A strong hand caught her plaited hair and tugged until she stood hunched before him.

  “Let me go, I’ve done nothing to you,” she pled.

  “That is where you are wrong,” Zotikos said, his voice quiet, but frighteningly intent. “You refused to heed me, healer, and you shall suffer for it. Before your trial concludes, you will seek my forgiveness, but alas, you’ll have to beg for it.”

  “I’ll never beg!” She was about to draw breath to tell him to go. He stared her into silence, his gaze suddenly growing so dark she couldn’t see the whites of his eyes.

  “Try to repel me and you will find yourself powerless,” he warned in a voice that sounded far away and brittle, as if it weren’t his own. “Tell anyone else to send me away and your guards will die. George, place her on my horse.”

  Aisley blinked, uncertain what to do or say. He would do it, she thought. Zotikos would
kill Andrew and Daniel if she revealed his secret to his men. She would have to wait until her men were safe. Once they were, she would say whatever she needed to say to send Zotikos away.

  “Milord, what if the horse shies from her as ours did with Danford?” George asked.

  “I’ll control the horse, just do as I say.”

  “Aye, milord,” George said obediently.

  “You’re not a lord,” Aisley hissed. “You’re a fool.”

  Zotikos laughed, shaking with his mirth. “A fool who holds your life in his hands,” he whispered so only she would hear.

  Aisley stood as firm as she could. Hiding a shiver, she whispered, “I do not permit you near, Zotikos, go from me now.” But her words lacked faith, just as her weakness became more apparent, more frightening.

  “You failed to heed my warning. The shackles render you as helpless as your husband. You’re already feeling his weakness, aren’t you?”

  “What have you done to him?” she demanded.

  “I placed him in a gilded cage. He will not be able to save you this time, healer.”

  “You’ve bound him with gold?” Looking down, Aisley realized her shackles had been tainted with gold as well.

  Zotikos laughed, the sound grating Aisley’s ears. “Aye, when last I saw the Earl of Danford, he couldn’t stand.”

  Sickened, Aisley breathed inward. Garrick was helpless and she’d been feeling weak since leaving Danford. That could only mean he was near enough for her to sense him, that the gold had not diminished all of their abilities. Momentarily gratified to know that she would soon see her husband, she kept silent and prayed for another miracle. Mayhap together, she and Garrick could defeat Zotikos and his men.

  “Milord, we should continue on. As it is, we’ll not reach Welford for at least two days hence,” George said.

  Zotikos agreed with barely a nod.

  With that, George lifted Aisley into his arms and carried her toward Zotikos’ destrier. The small army circled them, keeping Andrew and Daniel in their grasps.

  * * * * *

  Imprisoned by gold, Garrick lifted his head when he smelled almonds. Aisley was approaching. Judging from the heaviness of ambergris, sweat, fear and horses that accompanied the scent that belonged to his wife, he knew she was not coming of her own accord.

  “I believe your lady will arrive soon,” Sedgewick said, strolling back and forth in front of Garrick’s cage.

  “Let me go now, Haywood. I might have mercy on you when I’m free,” Garrick offered. He’d like nothing more than to end the dastard’s life, but he’d honor his promise if granted freedom.

  Haywood rounded on him, faster than a man of his ilk should allow. “Why would I obey the word of a werewolf? To think I’d been fooled into believing the loss of a misfortunate child was the worse that could happen to my life. Now I’ve got you and you’ll die for the evil you inflict on others.”

  “I cannot become a wolf.”

  “Then why are you weakened so?” Sedgewick tested. “John Brewster told us of your weakness when near gold.”

  Garrick remained steady. “I know nothing about the myth of werewolves. In truth, Sedgewick, the man you allow to control your every move is the one who is evil.”

  “He controls less than it seems,” Haywood said.

  “If that’s so, free me,” Garrick urged.

  “Silence, prisoner, I’ll hear no more from you.” Sedgewick turned and stalked toward the safety of soldiers. “Dutton, guard this man.”

  As a guard came to stand near the cage, Garrick waited for Aisley. He spotted her the moment she and her captors came into sight. Astride a destrier with Zotikos holding her, she held her head high, but Garrick knew she was very weak. While she was still at a distance, he spied the shackles on her wrists. They were gold, making her as helpless as he.

  A rumble filled the back of Garrick’s throat at the thought of Zotikos touching Aisley. By pure will, he swallowed the leopard’s roar. He’d already frightened the soldiers with his fury earlier. He wouldn’t jeopardize his mate’s life by furthering their fears.

  “Aisley! Have you been hurt?” Garrick shouted. He felt her try to speak in the way of true mates. The gold made it impossible to hear anything other than a indistinct murmur, for their Abcynian gifts were hindered.

  By fortune, the panthera within each of them could sense the other’s weakness. As much as he hated being caged, feeling his mate gave him courage. Not all their strengths were diminished. They would be able to defeat their enemy. Mayhap if he turned his own men against him, Zotikos would be seen as the evil creature he was.

  “I’m all right, Garrick,” Aisley assured when she was close enough.

  “Let her go, she’s innocent,” Garrick insisted.

  Dutton slapped Garrick’s cage with the point of his sword. “Remain quiet!”

  “You realize you’re dealing with the Earl of Danford,” Garrick warned Dutton. “You can do nothing when we reach Welford without the King’s knowledge.”

  “We’ve earned His Majesty’s consent,” Dutton answered.

  “By what means?” Garrick demanded.

  “John Brewster, Baron Welford, persuaded the King.”

  “Baron Welford, you say? You haven’t met the Baron before he needed your sword, have you, Dutton?” Garrick asked.

  “All of Welford knows he fought the French for years and became a recluse as a result,” Dutton replied. “After the wolves came to Welford and killed his wolfhounds, he summoned his garrison. I agreed to aid him when I heard he needed a man tested in battle. I am ready to serve him.”

  “Interesting,” Garrick said. Pressing further, he leaned against the gold bars holding him. Touching the cage made his skin feel as though it was being burned, but he didn’t give away his pain. “Baron Welford was trampled during a battle and lost the use of his lower limbs. He sought solace in prayer by becoming a recluse. The man you believe to be the Baron is able to walk.”

  “You know nothing,” Dutton declared.

  “Ask John Brewster about his injuries, Dutton.”

  “Be silent!” the soldier ordered, stepping further away.

  Garrick drew back. Zotikos’ soldiers had arrived. With strength in numbers, the Saturian leader leapt off the back of his horse, taking Aisley with him.

  “See, healer, I’ve brought you to your husband as promised.”

  “Free him.” Aisley struggled, trying to break free of Zotikos’ hold. Unsuccessful, she gave up, her weakness as severe as Garrick’s. He wished he could comfort her, give her the gift of his essence and replenish her body, but knew Zotikos would deny him the right to take care of his mate. He would have to bide his time until he could and vowed to find a way.

  “You will not get away with this treachery, I vow it,” Aisley said to her captor.

  “Do you plan to place a spell upon me?” Zotikos questioned.

  “I know nothing of spells,” she said, trying in vain to kick at her captor’s shins.

  “Aisley, save your strength,” Garrick urged, wanting her to rest while she could.

  Aisley half turned toward him. “I’m sorry, Garrick. I failed you.”

  “You have not, my lady.” Proud of her effort to remain standing, Garrick grasped the bars of the cage and tugged, attempting to stand. “Put her in here with me.”

  Sedgewick drew near to Aisley and Zotikos, holding his sword before him. “I think not.”

  “The lady rides with me. I simply wanted the Earl to know I’ve got his witch.” Lowering his voice, Zotikos continued to provoke Garrick. “Tell anyone how to be rid of me and I’ll cut your wife’s throat as I go.” Aloud he said, “Hold your tongue, Danford, and your wife will be granted the right to confess to her sins to the Church and live off the generosity of Baron Welford if she is truly contrite.”

  “Baron Welford is an aged, crippled man,” Garrick said.

  Zotikos laughed outright, causing his followers to turn toward him. “He speaks true. My uncle died
not long ago. He was widowed and childless and I inherited the title. Can anyone trust the Earl of Danford’s word over mine? His brother has already been tried and burned. The Forrester family embraces evil. Dare trust them and you’ll meet your doom. Let us ride! We’ve far to go before reaching Welford.”

  “Onward,” a soldier shouted.

  “Aye, aye, milord, let us ride!” another agreed.

  Zotikos lifted Aisley into his arms, the smile of the victor crossing his evil face.

  “Bring her to me, Zotikos, before it’s too late for your men to live beyond this night,” Garrick demanded.

  “Garrick, save your breath,” Aisley warned.

  “Sir Sedgewick, bring me a cloth to bind the healer’s mouth. I do not want her conversing with her husband while we’re moving.”

  “As you wish, milord,” Sedgewick agreed, rushing to do Zotikos’ bidding.

  By pure will, Garrick remained standing as four men came to the cage and lifted it by poles fitted too far for his reach.

  “Might as well sit, Danford, it’ll be a long journey to Welford,” Dutton advised from the safety of horseback.

  Dutton made the mistake of drawing too near to the cage. The palfrey began to prance. Garrick was tempted to let the leopard roar, but he had to think of Aisley. If he frightened the horse further, he’d only incite Dutton’s hatred.

  Unwilling to give in to his captor’s orders, Garrick held on to the cage. Tremors invaded his spine as his muscles burned in protest, yet he stood firm. He’d not let them see how weak he was.

  Separated from Aisley by a furlong, Garrick watched over her as they traveled onward. He could feel her thoughts knocking at his temples, making his head ache as he grew more worried for his mate. He understood her fear and frustration in being unable to speak with him and wanted nothing more than to assure her that he was there and he loved her.

  “I’m here, Aisley. I will free you, believe in me,” he whispered to none save her.

  Pressure eased within his temples. He’d calmed her fears and kept vigil for an opportunity to spring.

  The men carrying Garrick’s cage braced their backs as they marched a slight distance behind the rest of the soldiers. The weight of the gold tainted cage was burden enough. Garrick’s weight made it worse. Purposefully, he tried to shift side to side, forcing the men to change their strides.