The Defiant Bride

by Leslie Hachtel

  Dariana stood, her back tight to the unyielding stone wall, ready for a confrontation. Two large glowing circles, very close together, cut into the dark of the cell and seemed to pin her to the wall. Only two? A cheer nearly pushed from her throat. One creature she might be able to handle. It was the possible army of them that made things the most frightening.

  The eyes moved closer to her. And blinked. The eyes seemed to belong to something so much bigger than a rat had the right to be. Her breath caught in her throat. All right, it’s just one. She could do this. Dariana made two fists and raised them in front of her. She poised to receive the attack.

  The thing took another step forward. Dariana laughed out loud. A fat cat eased toward her, its own eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  She sat and held out her hand, cooing to the creature. The cat jumped into her lap, settled down, and purred in contentment. She could tell from its girth that it had much to eat in the cellars, but it was obvious it craved affection. She stroked the animal’s thick, warm fur and was soothed by the sound of its purring. Comforting each other, they dozed.

  Dariana was unsure how much time had passed when she was jarred awake. The sound of footsteps and clanking armor sent the cat fleeing into the darkness with a hiss. Still cloudy from sleep, she was not certain what had disturbed her rest. But someone was coming toward her cell.

  The door swung open, showing the hated face of Cedric grinning at her. “Are you comfortable, sister?” he asked.

  Dariana glared at him and he laughed out loud. He moved toward her, but she refused to show fear. He knelt beside her and looked into her eyes, daring her to look away. “So, I see your spirit is not yet dampened by your surroundings. That shall change.” This last was said with such arrogance Dariana had to hold herself back to keep from striking him. She knew the man to have no honor, so it would only result in more pain to her and possible harm to the babe. There was no doubt he would hit back. Instead, she kept her gaze upon him unmoving, which seemed to infuriate him all the more. His fists clenched, his eyes narrowed, but he was suddenly distracted as his gaze fell upon her exposed ankles. Her position on the earth floor had caused her skirt to move upward. A light came into his eyes that fairly shouted his evil intentions. His hand snaked out to grab her foot. She jerked away, but he reached again. This time, he held tightly to her ankle. She tensed and, without thinking, slapped his face, hard. His fisted hand raised to strike her and Dariana braced herself for the blow. Then, out of the darkness, Melissa’s acidic whine cut through the air.

  “Cedric, are you down here?”

  Clearly reluctant, Cedric lowered his arm, but the look he gave Dariana promised he would see to her punishment at a later time. It was clear he would enjoy it.

  “What is it, woman?” he called. “I am occupied at the moment.”

  Melissa’s outline filled the doorway of the cell. “I can see that, but you waste your time. You should spend time with those who appreciate you.”

  Melissa’s attempts to be seductive were a miserable failure. Dariana almost felt pity for her.

  “What do you wish?” Cedric sighed, his exasperation obvious.

  “You have a visitor. That dark, ugly little man you were speaking with in the king’s gardens. You remember, the one who acted as if he were the king himself?”

  “Ah, Flores. At last!” There was pleasure in his tone.

  “You cannot say you like the disgusting creature,” Melissa protested.

  “You obviously cannot recognize what is disgusting,” he replied with eyebrows raised. “He is the one who gave us money for this. It was his coin that recompensed me when I had to hire the men above. The unsuccessful assassins left me bankrupt. Must you be so stupid?”

  Melissa was outraged. “Must you constantly insult me? Have you no manners? Do you forget I offer you shelter here?”

  “I give what I deem is deserved. If you are clever, you will not be so pleased with yourself. This wreck of a place is nothing to point to with pride. Now quieten, wench, or I shall gladly see to the task myself.”

  Melissa spun on her heel and ran toward the steps, her sobs ringing out while Cedric shook his head in resignation. He turned for one last look at Dariana before walking from the room, securing the door behind him. Then he was gone. Dariana was left alone to shake with relief.

  Only a short time passed before she was again disturbed. Cedric appeared at the door with another man. Dariana thought Melissa’s description had not done justice to the creature. The little fat man’s lips drooped and drool appeared at the corner of his mouth as he stood staring at her.

  It took a moment for him to regain himself, but then he bowed low before her. “My lady,” he said in heavily accented English, “I am most pleasured to make your acquaintance. Let me introduce myself since I obviously have the advantage. I am your betrothed, Marques Jose Diaz Francisco de Flores of Spain.”

  Dariana’s eyes narrowed. “My what?” she choked out. “Your jest is quite lost on me, my lord.”

  “But my lady, I do not jest. Henry promised you to me in order to strengthen the alliance between our countries.”

  Realization dawned on Dariana. She fought to contain her humor. “Now I know why I wanted to kill myself.”

  Cedric burst into raucous laughter. Flores glared at him, contained fury evident in his expression.

  Cedric shrugged. “You cannot fault the lady for her honesty. It appears she does not find you very appealing.”

  “It matters not,” Flores replied through gritted teeth. “She is mine by right and by the order of your king. As soon as her husband is dead, I shall claim what belongs to me.”

  Dariana gasped at the thought of William’s death. The two men stared at her and she straightened her spine. “My William shall not be so easily killed,” she said, her voice strong.

  “As I well know,” Cedric responded.

  Dariana was puzzled by this remark, then realization dawned. “It was your men in the forest. You sent them to kill William?” The truth was almost inconceivable. “What hoped you to gain?”

  Cedric smiled slowly. “Why, justice. He has taken all and left me with the crumbs reserved for those born on the wrong side of the blanket. Through no fault of mine, the same blood that runs through my veins is considered less than his. I pay the price. My mother was not a wife, so he is the one recognized. He is the heir. His father ruined my mother and her life was forfeit. I was left alone. It is wrong that he should have all and I intend to make him pay.” His tone brooked no challenge.

  “Just as I shall claim what is mine by right, my betrothed,” chirped Flores.

  Cedric turned on the much smaller man. “You will if I give you my support and make it so.”

  “If you make it so?” Flores snorted. “Do not forget that your soldiers are paid from my coffers. Without me, you are nothing.”

  “Think you that? My men are paid by me. And richly paid at that. Think you they question the source of the funds?”

  “You are a thief, a blackguard!” Flores roared.

  “And you are a fool,” Cedric responded calmly. “Remember who is in control here and you shall lose nothing. Challenge me again and you shall die.” This last was stated simply, with no emotion.

  The hair on Dariana’s neck stood on end. Flores took a step back before turning and stomping from the cell. Victorious, Cedric turned back to Dariana. “Do not worry, my lady,” he fairly purred. “I shall not let him taste of your charms before I have had the pleasure. You may look forward to the experience.” He turned and stepped through the door.

  “You may look forward to hell,” Dariana called, “as that is surely where William will send you.”

  Cedric was obviously unmoved by the threat. His laughter rang out as he locked the cell door. Dariana tried not to drown in her misery, but tears rose from her soul and washed down her pale cheeks. The cat, perched nearby, possibly waiting for the next unwary rat, purred and approached her. Dariana cradled the feline, winding her fin
gers into his thick fur, calming them both. She wondered how he came and went, then spied a small hole at the base of the opposite wall.

  “Too bad I am not your size, my friend.”

  Exhausted, Dariana fell asleep. She dreamed William was nearby, beckoning her to join him next to a babbling brook surrounded by spring flowers and soft, sweet grass. He reached up to stroke her cheek. She took his hand and kissed it. But something was wrong. The man before her, touching her, was not the man she loved at all, but a disgusting creature that smelled of old meat and sour ale. His touch did not arouse her senses, but rather offended them. Her eyes flew open and she found herself staring into the piercing gaze of Flores, who was obviously enjoying himself.

  “So, my sweet, I am not so unappealing to you after all. When you know the extent of my wealth, you shall find yourself even more devoted to me. You shall quickly forget the man who usurped what is mine.”

  Realizing she was indeed awake, although this was still a nightmare, Dariana slid away from the horrible man, slapping at the hand touching her face. “Sir, you deceive yourself into believing you could ever compete with my husband. He is strong and handsome and you, sir, are nothing more than a pig dressed as a man.”

  He had obviously been called such as this on many occasions, so it seemed to have no power to sting. He laughed. “Perhaps, my dear, but I am to be your pig all the same. In point of fact, this little piggy is hungry. I believe I shall taste of my bride-to-be now.”

  With that, he pushed her backward and slammed his soft, wet mouth against hers. His nearness made the bile rise in her throat. She struggled against him, her fists striking his back and neck again and again. But he seemed immune to the blows. He moved to caress her neck.

  Dariana bit his ear as hard as she could. Flores pulled away, howling, then swung at her. But Dariana was quicker and the creature’s fist struck hard, stone wall instead. Again, he cried out and flew at her, knocking her to the floor. He pounced on her, pushing the air from her lungs as he grabbed at her skirt, forcing it up to her waist.

  All at once, she could breathe again, unencumbered. The weight had been lifted. She looked up. Cedric was holding Flores suspended in the air. Flores’s face was bright red from his exertions. He fairly shrieked when he spoke. “How dare you. Put me down!” Flores’s voice echoed through the tiny room.

  Cedric merely laughed in the fat man’s face. “Dare you to order me?” Cedric questioned, one eyebrow raised to show his disdain for the small Spaniard.

  “You forget yourself, Cedric,” Flores spat. “I remind you again it is I who pays the soldiers. It is to me they are loyal. You are wrong if you think they do not know from whence the money comes. At my word, they will tear you limb from limb!”

  “Think you that is so? Then, by all means, try.” Cedric relaxed his hold.

  Flores hit the ground with a thump. He jumped to his feet, furious, screaming for the soldiers to come to him. Soon twenty men stood in readiness outside the small room.

  Flores turned to the men and indicated Cedric. “Take him and keep him under guard,” he commanded.

  No one moved.

  “Are you men deaf? I said, take him!” Flores’s voice was louder and higher now. Still, no soldier took a step. The silence was broken only by Cedric’s laughter. “You stupid little man. Did you really think I would let anyone else be in command of my soldiers?”

  “Your soldiers?” Flores blustered. “I pay them.” He turned to the soldiers. “I pay you. You belong to me.”

  “Do you really think good English soldiers would ever be loyal to a Spaniard given the choice? Their allegiance is to me. They care not from whence comes the purse.”

  “But it comes from my coffers,” Flores tried again, clearly knowing his defeat was at hand.

  Cedric merely shrugged. Then he turned back to Dariana, who had gained her feet and stood near the back wall watching the two men. “What shall I do with him, my lady? He was, after all, your betrothed. What is your wish?” Cedric asked softly.

  Dariana smiled. “I wish you both to the fires of damnation,” she said sweetly.

  “Certainly not I, sister. I have just saved you from the wretched touch of this vile man. Where is your gratitude?” Cedric asked, enjoying himself immensely now.

  “I would sooner give gratitude to the devil himself.”

  “I think perhaps you shall change your opinion, my lady, especially since I am your only protector among the wolves who dwell in this deserted place. It is unwise to antagonize your only protector. You certainly know not to bite the hand that feeds you. An apt expression.”

  “If yours is the hand, then I shall gladly starve,” she declared, undaunted.

  “So be it. You and the child. I shall delight in watching you waste away,” Cedric spat. He turned his attention back to Flores and tilted his head as if pondering. Then he faced the soldiers. “Bury him,” Cedric commanded. Flores’s gasp split the air. Cedric ignored him.

  “Forgive me, my lord,” one of the soldiers ventured, “but he is not dead.” The man was obviously confused.

  “Not dead?” Cedric pulled his dagger from his belt and thrust the blade into Flores’s chest. The Spaniard grunted and lurched forward. Blood spurted from the hole in his body, spraying the walls and splattering the floor. Flores’s body sank to the stone ground as Cedric turned back to the soldier. “I believe you are mistaken. He looks dead to me.”

  Two of the soldiers dragged Flores away. The others followed. Cedric hesitated at the door and his gaze settled upon Dariana. She felt her face drain of color at the assault and bent over, trying not to retch.

  After a moment, she raised her gaze to Cedric. His expression was blank. No remorse, no emotion at all. It chilled her to her very soul. She had recognized his lack of honor, but to take a life in cold blood, feeling nothing, was inconceivable. This was a new kind of monster before her. Dariana felt the hope seep from her. It was all she could do to remain upright until he turned and followed his soldiers.

  CHAPTER 16

  William and his men were exhausted and covered in filth when the first weak rays of light seeped into the tunnel they’d cleared. The only sound emanating from their work was the occasional groan of stone against stone as debris was moved aside. They were in the heart of the castle. They continued to dig through quietly until the opening was wide enough for a man to pass. Then William motioned them back to the entrance of the tunnel, bidding them sit and rest while they determined their means of attack.

  “My lord,” Morle said. “We have no knowledge of their numbers. John could not get an accurate count. There could be ten or twenty or two hundred.”

  “True,” William replied. “So we should assume we are outnumbered. I wonder at Cedric’s ability to raise an army, but the man’s capacity for treachery seems endless. What I propose is this. A number of you should storm the gate, making noise enough to wake the dead. When their attention is drawn to that portal, I and the balance of soldiers shall enter from the tunnel, taking them by surprise. Our advantage will be that they will have no forewarning of our ambush from within. We must pray that is enough.”

  More rested now, the men were preparing for the assault when the ground shook with the pounding of hooves. All shot to their feet, ready to confront this new challenge when, suddenly, William recognized the leader. His jaw dropped in disbelief. He walked forward to greet his ally. Dariana’s father, Earl of Linford, led fifty soldiers dressed for battle. The soldiers’ faces were visible. William tried to hold his incredulity as he saw that the youngest among the group had seen at least forty summers. It appeared as though the earl had roused all the ancients of the kingdom to come to the rescue of his daughter. Flanking the earl was Thomas Corley, himself a man of years, and Evan, the keeper of the gate. All three wore the determined expressions of warriors ready to face down any and all attackers.

  The earl slowed his horse and greeted William. “I trust my timing is desirous?” The earl smiled.

  �
��Your timing is excellent, sir. But, last I saw you, you were but newly risen from a sick bed. How did you know where to find us?”

  “I had arrived to visit you and my daughter when I was told something was amiss. I sent word back to my holdings. You were not difficult to follow. Many soldiers on soft ground leave evidence of their passing by.”

  “Are you suited for a battle?” William felt genuine concern for his father-in-law.

  “You insult me, William. Pray the Lord I am never too old or infirm to defend a damsel in distress. Indeed, it is what knight was born to do. If he must die, how glorious to do so in the attempt.”

  “Aye, ‘tis true. Forgive me. I am most pleased with your aid and that of your men. I see that even your castle retainers have seen fit to accompany you.”

  “Though Thomas will grouse he is too old for the excitement, he would not be left behind. Evan said he wanted to see for himself that his lady was safe and would return to pass his gate again. He still feels a bit uneasy about challenging her on her return from the dead. None of us has seen a good battle for many years. It is my daughter threatened here, not just your wife.”

  William smiled at the earl. “Then I shall make you privy to my plans and we shall save the lady and the day.”

  The earl grunted in satisfaction as William laid out his intent. When he had finished, the earl nodded. “I trust you are no longer outnumbered, but ‘tis always wise never to underestimate one’s adversary. I have but one addition to your thoughts.”

  “And what is that?”

  “It might be wise if the frontal assault was led by the earl of Dansworth himself.”

  William’s ire rose. “That is to be merely a distraction. The men are to make noise, then scatter. I only want Cedric to believe I am leading. No! I must see to the safety of my wife, your daughter. If she is harmed, then all is lost. I will enter from the tunnel.”

  “And so,” the earl smiled, “you shall. It is the earl of Dansworth I am speaking of.” The earl was obviously pleased by the confusion caused by his suggestion. William’s eyebrows formed into a V.