Wild Is My Love

by Janelle Taylor

  Alysa greedily feasted on his mouth and squirmed beneath him to take all of him. She locked her legs around his buttocks, driving him deeply and snugly within her. Her lips and tongue worked at his ear and over his throat. She sensed his tight control was unnecessary. “Love me, Gavin, love me now,” she pleaded, fusing their mouths.

  Gavin hoped he understood her urgent whispering correctly, for he began slowly to enter and withdraw, then gradually increased his pace until he was moving to the same beat of their hearts. Suddenly she cried out and clung to him, then matched his swift search for rapture. They rode love’s stallion locked together until their victory left them weak and damp from their exertions. Still they held on to each other, waiting for total contentment to engulf them.

  They lay snuggled together for a long time, and dozed in the peaceful aftermath of love’s ecstasy. When Gavin opened his eyes he realized how late it was getting. He whistled for Trojan, and the steed responded. Gavin used water from his skin bag to wash, then quickly donned his garments. He sat down beside Alysa and teased hair over her nose, awakening her with his laughter as she tried to brush it away.

  Her eyes opened and she smiled up at him. “It grows late,” she murmured, then stretched and yawned.

  “There is water in the bag to bathe with, m’love. When you are dressed, join me where Calliope awaits us. I will follow you at a safe distance until you reach the castle gate. No doubt Princess Alysa will question you about your late return. What will you tell her?”

  Alysa grinned and remarked, “Why not the truth?” When he looked surprised, she said, “Well, most of it. She will tell no one about us.” Suddenly she felt modest, and very naked, for he was fully clothed. She reached for her kirtle and covered herself.

  He smiled, and warmed to her once more. “I will give you privacy, my fetching maiden, but do not make me wait too long, for our time together has vanished. Nothing would please me more than to spend the night here with you, making love to you many times. If you do not dress quickly and join me, I will be tempted to keep you here by agreement or by force.”

  She laughed merrily. “Our bloods have cooled, my lusty dragon, now we must cool our heads. Have you forgotten there are other matters to be consumed besides a helpless maiden?”

  “Do you mean my fiery breath can have no more effect on you today?” he teased, dropping to his knees before her. His blond hair was mussed, and she finger combed it for him. His eyes sparkled with happiness and mischief. He seemed totally relaxed with her.

  “It has singed me from head to foot, Sir Dragon. Is that not enough for you? If you do not remove your devouring eyes from me, I shall forget all else except you and your delightful threat. Then we will be in trouble, for the castle guards will be out seeking this lost maiden, and will not take kindly to your capture.”

  His keen senses took in her beauty and mood, and they returned his insatiable hunger for her. “I shall never have enough of you, m’love,” he stated huskily, then left quickly.

  Alysa watched his hasty retreat and guessed the reason for it. As I shall never have enough of you, my love, her heart replied. She hurriedly removed the evidence of her afternoon of lovemaking and pulled on her garments. She joined him, put her filthy cloak in her saddlebag, and mounted Calliope in silence.

  They rode without talking until the castle was visible in the distance. “You best go no closer, Gavin. One of the men-at-arms may sight you and ask questions. I left a note for you in the tree, but I have told you all it said. Will… I see you tomorrow as planned?” she asked, fearing his answer.

  Gavin wanted to yank her from the large dun and race away with her, but he could not. She had snared him good. He replied, “Be there at noon, or I shall come looking for you.”

  Alysa’s radiant smile brightened her entire face. “Nothing can keep me away, Gavin, nothing. I promise to be more than careful when we meet.”

  He watched her until she safely reached the castle, then turned to head for his camp. He wished he could ask her about Squire Teague, whom Giselde and Piaras claimed she loved. He worried over their impression, as there had to be a logical reason behind it, but he could not explore that area without arousing her suspicions. She would think he had been asking questions about her, and he did not know how she would react to his curiosity. If she had loved Teague before meeting him, he mused, it could no longer be true. She had come to him a virgin, and she had called him her “heart’s desire.” She had yielded to him twice as a woman in love. That had to mean he was the only man in her heart and life. It had to…

  Alysa was not permitted to visit her father tonight, and had not seen him since his violent relapse. She depended on Leitis for reports on his sad state. But Alysa was too preoccupied to realize how subdued Leitis was today, or how the servant seemed convinced they had probably been wrong about the poisonings.

  She was compelled to accept that fact because it seemed impossible for her father to receive any harmful herbs; yet he remained ill. Even Baltair, who was knowledgeable about herbs, had his doubts. He and Leitis were guarding Prince Alric closely, but could find no evidence to support such suspicions. That should relieve her, Alysa thought, but it did not.

  At least there was one matter that delighted her; Kyra had avoided her almost completely for the last ten days, as if her stepsister had forgotten her offer of friendship. Perhaps, Alysa mused, Kyra has a secret love too. That would explain her frequent absences around the castle. If so, love might soften Isobail’s daughter for the best.

  The castle had been quiet since Isobail’s return. Everyone had been taking meals in their rooms, leaving the Great Hall deserted. The servants and retainers had continued their tasks as if nothing unusual was taking place.

  As for Alysa, when she was not riding or meeting with Gavin, she spent her lonely hours sewing, reading, grooming, and exercising in the outer ward. Since childhood she had enjoyed watching the workers and talking with them, and visiting the peasants and villages. While growing up she had been taught weaving, embroidery, cooking, social graces, and household administration. She had learned how to dance, flirt, converse, and sing. Yet such things seemed frivolous to her, and she wanted more than the boring existence of daughter and wife.

  Until Isobail’s marriage to her father, she had spent many hours with Baltair, studying and learning how to rule Damnonia one day. The seneschal was responsible for the keeping of accounts and the dispersing and collecting of food and supplies, fines, and taxes. It was Baltair’s task to know all of the ins and outs of farming, to know what kinds of stock and fowl were available, and to know how to keep the prince’s money cache full. It was the seneschal’s duty to prepare any document the ruler might need. Running a castle and estate was a time-consuming task, but running an entire land was an enormous one, one which Baltair did for Alric with skill, and which Isobail had been undermining through favoritism and harder taxation policies.

  It was after the evening repast when Princess Isobail summoned her. Alysa hated to confront her, but knew she must. At her stepmother’s chamber Ceit opened the door and bade her enter and be seated. “You wished to see me, Princess Isobail?” she asked formally.

  Isobail did not sit down; she leaned against a nearby table and looked down at her—intentionally, Alysa decided. Meanwhile she boldly watched her stepmother, her steady, neutral gaze concealing her apprehensions and dislike. Isobail’s white-blond hair hung down straight, shiny, and beautiful; her sky-blue eyes exposed vanity and coldness tonight, as if she did not care what Alysa perceived.

  For a time the two women studied each other. Then Isobail said, “As a mother and regent, I have given certain matters grave thought, Princess Alysa. I believe it is time for my two daughters to be wed. Kyra is approaching twenty-two and you are almost nineteen. When I return from Lord Orin’s, I shall entertain suitors for you and Kyra. After my selections are made, the betrothals will be announced at a great feast. Although there is great trouble in our land, we must continue life as norma
lly as possible. I leave for Sir Kelton’s in the morning. During my journey I shall let-it be known I am seeking to arrange marriages for my daughters. While I am gone, decide if there is a special man who catches your eye. If he is worthy of our land’s princess, I will agree with your choice.”

  Alysa stared at the brazen woman. She could not believe what she had heard. For a time she was more angry than she was afraid. “You are not my mother or Damnonia’s ruler, and you have no right to arrange my marriage,” she stated defiantly.

  “This command comes from your father, the Prince of Damnonia. It is impossible for you to refuse your duty to him and to your land. You know you must obey him.” Isobail’s tone challenged her to refuse.

  Alysa stood her ground. “Let my father speak this command to me, and let him choose my husband. It is not your place to do either.”

  “Your father—my husband—lies very ill. He is too weak to argue with a foolish child. He has commanded you to wed before winter. As regent, I will carry out his wishes.”

  Alysa angrily scoffed, “You cannot force me to marry a man of your choosing. Do you forget who I am? This land’s future ruler!”

  “After your father dies, Alysa, not before. While he lives, I am regent in his place. You will do as you are told. If you refuse, I will imprison you in your tower until you obey.”

  Many thoughts raced through Alysa’s mind. If she were locked up—and she did not doubt that Isobail would carry out her threat—she could not see Giselde or Gavin or find ways to defeat this evil creature. She must behave as Isobail assumed she would…

  “Well, Alysa? What shall it be?” Isobail inquired. “Do you think I lie about Alric’s orders? Or mishandle them?”

  Alysa sighed heavily and shrugged in feigned resignation. “I have no reason to doubt your word, Princess Isobail. From what I hear, Father is lucky to have you step in for him. Everyone is praising your deeds, and all is running smoothly. I was simply unprepared for such news. If this is what Father wants, I must obey. He is very ill, so I must not distress him further. I suppose I have reached that age, but I have not given it any thought because of Father’s illness and all the trouble. I will be allowed to study each suitor and make my own choice?”

  “If you wish,” Isobail remarked. “I will give you one month to become betrothed, and three months to wed.”

  “What of Kyra? She is the eldest and should wed first. She will be angry, perhaps embarrassed, if she is wed second.”

  “Upon my return, Kyra will be betrothed to Sir Calum. They will wed within the month. Keep this news a secret until I announce it.”

  “What does Kyra think about Sir Calum?” Alysa asked inquisitively.

  “She and Sir Calum desire each other, so they will agree with my choice. Do not tell her until I speak with her. She will be surprised and overjoyed.”

  “I wish to see her happy,” Alysa replied. “I am glad she approves of Sir Calum.”

  “I am pleased to hear that, Alysa, and I am pleased by your obedience. You will see, marriage will be good for both of you.”

  Giselde observed Gavin as the Prince of Cumbria spoke with his men in the morning. After they left, she would visit Trosdan in the hidden cave in the marsh. The Druid lived and worked like a hermit, spending all of his time on his outlawed religion. She wanted to see what the runes had to say about Gavin and Alysa.

  Gavin squatted near the campfire and said, “We must split up again, my friends. Keegan will be gone for three or four days. Tragan and Dal, you two scout the area around Lord Orin’s. Lann and Bevan, you take Sir Kelton’s, and keep your eyes on Isobail. I doubt she will try to pull another trick this soon, but I’ could be wrong. Weylin will ride with me to Lord Fergus’s. I want to look around that area; the bandits could fool everyone by attacking in the same place twice. Time is getting short. We have no choice but to try to join the brigands to unmask them. If we can encourage dissension among them, then we can use it to our advantage. If they split up into smaller bands, we can defeat them more easily, but first we have to make contact with their leader.”

  “You know what we will have to do if we join them.”

  Gavin grimaced. “I know, Lann, but we have no choice. Right now we should not be seen riding as a band. We could be mistaken for the brigands. Once we make contact, we will let them woo us to join them. If I have guessed right, we will be asked to prove ourselves. We can make it appear we are like them without harming anyone. Giselde has given me the names of some peasants who are trustworthy; they will help us make the raids look real.”

  “This is war, Lann,” Dal added to Gavin’s remarks. “We must fight it any way we can. We will try to prevent any deaths and destruction, but some will occur. It is sad, but such is the price for victory and peace.”

  “Gavin is right,” Bevan agreed. “The only way to stop these raiders is by joining them and working from the inside.”

  Each man had his say before Gavin asked, “Are we together on this one?” The men looked at each other, and all nodded.

  Gavin walked Giselde to her hut, then went to leave a note for Thisbe. He had seen her for the past two days and must not take so many risks with her safety, he thought. He had to get this trouble settled so he could clear things up with the maiden who had stolen his heart.

  Alysa was ecstatic when noon arrived. She approached the meeting spot, but Gavin was nowhere in sight. She sat down to wait for him. In her state of mental turmoil, time passed quickly. When she realized how long she had been sitting there, she knew something was wrong.

  Checking the tree hole, she found a note from him. She read it and frowned in dismay. It said: “Clue found. Heading for K’s. Returning in four or five days. Do nothing. Stay home where safe.”

  What clue? she wondered. Obviously he was heading for Sir Kelton’s, the same place where Isobail was journeying. Four or five days would make his return on Monday or Tuesday. She needed to see him now!

  Alysa paced the area as she pondered her new dilemma—an enforced marriage. While everyone had been packing Isobail’s things and seeing her off early this morning, she had taken money and jewels from her father’s and her own concealed chests: possessions that had never been revealed to the greedy Isobail. Alysa looked at the heavy pouch and clenched her teeth. It was dangerous to carry them back to the castle. She had no choice but to leave the valuables in the tree for Gavin to find on his return. Such a large payment would show the warriors Alysa was serious about hiring them, and it should hold their interest, and hopefully, their loyalty. She needed their help more than ever. She had only one month to defeat Isobail.

  She was angry with him, and that mood perplexed her. She had asked for his help, and he was giving it, even before payment. He was off chasing down clues, and worried over her safety. What more could she expect? she scolded herself.

  Maybe she was distressed because she needed his arms around her today, she thought, and because his note held no warmth. He was so passionate when they were together, but when they were separated, he was different; he could resist her pull on him. Before everything came apart, they needed more time together.

  Alysa wrote only two sentences on the note to Gavin, and placed it in the pouch: “Princess Alysa urgently needs your help. Here is your payment.”

  Leaning against the tree, she fretted over her predicament. Isobail was eager to get rid of her, and soon. Alysa feared she might not have to choose between her crown and her love; she could lose both. Was the woman so desperate to be rid of her that she would allow her to marry a common warrior? If so, would Gavin want to marry a deceitful, dethroned princess? Or marry at all?

  Alysa began to pace once more, wondering what Gavin would do when he discovered the truth about her. She had to tell him soon, before he learned it from another. If he truly loved her, her identity should not matter to him. But her deceit might.

  Princess Isobail reached Sir Kelton’s at noon Sunday. The knight, a vassal of Lord Orin, was surprised by her arrival. Isobail re
minded Kelton that this had been her home long ago with Lord Caedmon, and she wished to visit it for a day or two, if he did not mind.

  Isobail was glad her son was out of the castle today, as it would give her time to study the servants and choose one to assist in Kelton’s murder. Earnon had it planned perfectly. Once the helper was chosen, he or she would be given fish cakes to feed Kelton, cakes that Earnon stated were enchanted and would choke the man to death. Such a demise would appear a natural accident: strangling on fish bones.

  Isobail had sent Ceit on to Lord Orin’s to prepare things for her, and now she watched everyone as Kelton escorted her around the castle, from bottom floor to top. It did not take long to realize whom she could beguile to do her bidding.

  “My serving woman was ill, Sir Kelton, so I sent her to Lord Orin’s so she would not have to move twice. Do you mind if I select one of your servants to wait upon me during my visit?”

  Sir Kelton quickly agreed, and Isobail glanced over the group of serving women and pointed to a pretty female, saying, “She will do nicely.”

  All afternoon Isobail lavished attention on the impressionable girl. Before the evening meal, when Kelton planned a small feast, Isobail asked the girl to help her bathe and dress. From the way the girl watched her and touched her, Isobail knew she had selected wisely…

  Moran was happy but surprised to see his mother. Isobail embraced him with affection, as he was one of her few loves. He was a handsome man, virile and masculine. At twenty he could snare almost any woman with his charms and looks. She looked at his light brown hair and green eyes, and delighted in the fact that he did not favor his father, Baltair. She had great plans for her beloved son, one of which she would share with him tonight.