by Amber Dane
His mouth curled in amusement seeing the realization in her eyes and he said pointedly, ‘Aye, I am very much aware that the boy is not dead. And that he is not mine. Of that I am certain. Despite what my brother might think, I did not lay with my beautiful Adelay until after she had borne his brat.’
What did he want with the child then other than to harm it? Caroline wanted to scratch the smugness from his face. ‘You will never get close to him.’ She spat.
Without warning Raven reached out and tore her gown at the throat. He had reached the door before she could strike back. The quick distance he’d put between them and the look on his face bespoke as much. He’d know she would have attacked him.
Caroline screamed her rage at his retreating back not caring her breasts were exposed as his burly men did his bidding and restrained her with rope.
Her blood still pounding in her ears where she lay on the pallet bound with rope, Caroline heard the rattle of the keys in the lock. She almost sighed with relief from the aches and sharp pains shooting through her body. She had tried to free herself during the time that had passed, which seemed like hours after Raven and his men had left her. She angled her head to see the devil himself walk in.
Raven stood proudly just insider the cell door, dressed finally in clothes that did not reek so badly. With an arched brow his eyes fell on her powerless position and he chortled. A tall guard stayed outside in the corridor.
Where had fat Gan gone? She wondered. Caroline swallowed back her groan of despair as two other mean looking Normans entered instead.
Immediately she knew something was wrong. An evil smile of satisfaction spread upon Raven’s lips, his eyes never leaving hers. ‘Tie the hellcat’s mouth and bring her.’
She had no chance to do aught but scream which was cut off as the two men grabbed her bound arms and tied a coarse cloth over her mouth. Her struggles did nothing more than bring more pain before they gave her a hard enough shake to jar her teeth and snap her neck back. Darkness quickly claimed her.
CHAPTER FORTY
Caroline had disappeared without a trace and so had Gan. It did not take Darc long to know how and why. He was just angry that he’d not moved faster on Rourke’s reaffirming his own instincts in getting rid of Gan.
The man was a good fighter, but had always been untrustworthy. But so had a lot of his men, but Gan even more so. Greed led many already evil astray and to make the wrong decisions.
All he knew was that he was going to kill the man. There was only one place Raven would have taken her, he knew.
It was where he’d gone plenty of times before. The place was nothing more than ruins and stone. The dungeon Raven had kept him in. The manor in which Adelay and Raven had carried out their passions for one another.
Where the two had given him his scars down in that dungeon.
Darc had torn it down to nothing.
After Adelay’s death and Raven’s brief imprisonment his brother the animal that he was knew every hole and cavern in England. He would not take Caroline far nor did Darc suspect he would kill her. Not yet anyway.
But with Raven one could not be so sure.
Darc’s heart raced, pounding within his chest like it would burst. He kept the images of what his Raven might be doing to her at bay. If he let his mind dwell on them he would not be able to focus.
His brother wanted him to come to him and for that reason alone Darc would not. Raven would have to come back for him to see his vengeance fulfilled. And for that Darc knew Raven would keep Caroline alive.
He’d gone after a wife once and it had all been for nothing. Ending up in lies, butchering of a friend and death. What Caroline might be feeling, her fear and disappointment Darc shoved aside.
How did he know for sure if she had not left of her own free will with his brother?
Bitterness and disgust roiled in his knotted gut. Three days gone.
Three days for Raven to do as he wished with her. Sex. Torture. Pain. Three days for her to fall under the sick charm his brother seemed to have over women.
Sickened and not second guessing his hardened instincts, Darc strode toward the stables. A ride would not ease what ate at him, but he took Gray’s reins from the stable hand nonetheless.
The pounding of the horse’s hooves and jarring effects it was having on her body had Caroline clenching her teeth so hard her jaw began to hurt. The uncomfortable position Raven had her in seated in front of him was unbearable and Caroline gasped in horror at the same time she felt a bit of relief when the sight of Renald Castle came into view.
The devil man had brought her back.
A dark sound came from his mouth above her head. Caroline stiffened and he held her tighter against him. The bright sun was going down and orange and blue hues filled the sky.
The well-armed men that usually guarded the gatehouse were nowhere in sight as they passed it. An ominous feeling wrapped itself around her as she noticed several posts were not guarded inside the bailey. Something was amiss.
Raven seemed oblivious to it however as his wild and crazy rambling was going on nonstop as he yelled to the men who followed him where to go.
Twenty men rode with him, their swords already unsheathed. Caroline was surprised to see even this small number loyal at his side. She watched warily the people gathering inside the ward.
‘I return your sweet meat, brother. Know that when you share her bed again, that it was I who shared her sweet charms for these past days.’
Caroline bit her lip so hard she drew blood as he dipped his dark head to make a move to kiss her. He nuzzled his face in her hair and whispered hotly next to her ear. ‘Wherever he is, I want him to have a good look.’
‘Nay.’ Caroline struggled against him, the ropes loosening around her hands as she shoved back against his chest. She turned her head away.
He laughed and ordered. ‘Stop it or I will drop you to the ground.’
Caroline struggled even more. He released her, but not before giving her a hard shake.
Caroline felt herself falling to the ground and tried to brace herself. But ‘twas difficult with the rope still tangled around her waist and wrists and she landed hard. Dizziness made her head spin.
No one came to help her or to the great doors. She heard Raven’s pleased cackle above her and she reached to untangle the rope when she heard the boots behind her.
Two of his men jerked her to her feet.
Caroline wondered with an aching heart where Darc was. He would shame her further with his proof of not caring and not wanting her by not coming out to face his brother. She looked up toward the castle windows with a prayer that Kelbie was not near one.
Angry that no one heeded his taunting shouts, Raven dismounted and grabbed her again, pulling her by her tangled hair back against his side.
His black scowl gave his face the look of the devil even more with the fall of night coming down around them. He spat. ‘Mayhap I erred in his feelings for you. This is your fault he remains hidden.’
‘I am not the blame for that!’ her own anger, hurt and shame that his words struck close to the truth caused her to lash out. Tears burned her eyes as she yelled back, ‘He is a Norman unfeeling dog like you. Are you not connected as you said? You should know why he has not shown himself.’ Caroline choked on her words and beat hard at his hands.
He stared at her in surprise before giving her hair a blistering yank. Just then a craggy voice called over the wall. Caroline swiped at a tear.
‘Who goes there?’ a guard called over the wall.
‘Raven Renald, you fool. Where is your beastly master?’
The guard leaned over further, ‘My god, my lady! Release her at once!’
Raven chuckled and gestured to one of his own men. ‘I want that fool’s head. Kill him!’
An arrow whizzed past them toward the wall. It missed and Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. She heard movement and the castle guards shouting above.
‘Halt! My lady is below!’
That voice she recognized as the bailiff. At least his men cared about her. Her heart growing heavier by the second, Caroline struggled not to show how she really felt to Raven.
Soon he started to yell at the top of his lungs for Darc as he paced, dragging her by the front of her gown and ignoring her struggles. His nails scratched her chest and the pain drove her mad. She struck out.
This time, her fist caught the side of his neck. Stunned for a second, he quickly cuffed her knocking her to the ground. Caroline felt her face swell. At least he had released her.
One of his men called out to him.
‘Lord Raven. Someone comes over the rise.’
Caroline caught her breath and looked in the direction as everyone else.
A score of men were coming over the rise
Her heart lurched at the sight and tears blurred her vision. Still, she would know his large frame anywhere.
Darc rode at the front.
The deadly quiet from Raven told her he knew too. And was even more evident when his hoarse strangled remark came above her. ‘The cheeky bastard set a trap.’
Relief flooded her. Indeed he had, Caroline thought as even more men poured out from all sides and headed for the castle. Raven was cornered and largely outnumbered and he’d realized it too late. Caroline took pleasure at the grim expression that crossed his face.
There was no escape. And he knew it.
She rose to her feet shakily seeing now that she was forgotten as Raven stepped away from her.
Darc was almost upon them. She watched as he rode in fast and dismounted right at the gatehouse.
He was dressed to fight, no cloak, just a mail tunic over his gambeson and his sword in hand. His hair loose and blowing in the light wind as he strode forward without a pause in his step straight for his brother. He looked larger than life.
And Raven must have thought the same for the noises he made beside her.
He erupted into a frenzied and wild madman. An ear-splitting bellow of fury burst from him as he struck out wildly at his brother.
Caroline backed away, terror in her heart as the battle commenced so close to her. Darc did not look at her once. His men worked their way through Raven’s small army quickly and swiftly.
She could not take her eyes off him.
He fought with one arm deflecting Raven's crazy jabs and swings. His expression was as dark as Raven’s but he controlled it better.
Raven taunted him in Norman-French and Caroline was too far away to catch any words. Whatever he said seemed to cause angry jabs from Darc. A heavy weight filled Caroline’s gut. Then she told herself ‘twas only her imagination.
They were almost an even match. Raven’s sword slid past the links in Darc’s mail through to his gambeson a few times and seemed not to faze him. Whereas his blows aimed for Raven’s neck, almost teasingly laying open wounds around his brother’s broad shoulders and arms.
‘Twas as though the two taunted the other apurpose, a showmanship of their expert swordsmanship.
The display made Caroline sick to her stomach.
Undercurrents of rivalry flowed barely restrained between them.
Soon enough Darc’s blade found itself embedded in Raven's right shoulder.
He spewed oaths and said. ‘You will never know if it is my seed that your little whore will give birth to, brother.’
‘Braying ass. You have never learned to shut your mouth.’ Darc snarled and drew out his bloody sword.
The battle song of death continued to Caroline’s surprise as their blades hit hard strike for strike.
Raven struck. Darc deflected and remained surefooted as Raven pushed down upon him.
Caroline held her breath afraid to look away but knew she had to for she needed a weapon.
Renald guards reached for her but she ordered them back. She snatched a long dagger from one’s waist and held her hands out for the rope binding her wrists to be severed. The tall soldier hesitated. The other soldier gave him an odd look and cut her free. The tall one tried to take the dagger from her and Caroline jerked back before bringing the dagger down to stab him in the arm.
‘My lady!’ shouted the other guard.
‘Seize him!’ she ordered. Other men and Melbert approached to do as she bid and Caroline stood facing the tall guard, hatred in her eyes as her chest rose and fell with her heavy breaths. ‘He is a traitor.’ She said, disgusted.
Sadness and fright entered the tall soldier’s eyes as he mumbled. ‘Twas the guard who had helped Gan. Melbert’s angry gaze followed as the men dragged him away.
Caroline whirled around back to view the fight between her husband and Raven. From where she stood it looked as if most of the blood was on Raven.
He let out an earth shattering roar and what he did next surprised them all.
He turned and ran toward the village.
Darc gave the order to follow him and Caroline let out a cry and was nigh trampled by Renald men-at-arms as they ran past her.
A few feet away from her Darc stood, chest heaving, sweat and blood covering his face and neck. She saw that he had been cut, just under his neck, near the shoulder parts of his quilted gambeson. She went to run to him, but his command froze her mid-step.
‘Stay there! Melbert, take that dagger from her.’
‘Darc, I need to tell you ‘twas not on-‘ Caroline started.
But he cut her off when he grabbed her shoulders and shook her soundly, his battle fierce expression scared her as he said through clenched teeth. ’Never do something like that ever again.’
She knew what he meant and her heart skipped a beat that he had noticed her after all whilst he’d fought with Raven. Then a wave of dizziness washed over her and the dull ache in her skull grew. Collapsing at his feet stopped her retort.
Darc cursed as he handed her unmoving form over to a nearby guard. ‘Get her inside now, Melbert!’
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
‘Burn it down.’
The second torch had the thatch roof hut engulfed and still Raven did not emerge from within. Darc rode around the hut. There was no way out for his brother but through the front door. He motioned to one of his men to stay near the only window cut out in the little hut to keep watch. Suspicion rose in Darc as he dismounted and strode toward the inferno ignoring the shouts from his men.
Feeling the heat of the blaze on his face, he stared at the door waiting for his brother to burst through it and choking from the smoke .He could not hold a breath in the thick smoke much longer himself as it filled the dusk-filled sky,.
A hoarse cry came from inside just as the building groaned and collapsed in on itself into a pile of smoking rubble.
Darc stopped breathing. Something in him, not sadness he guessed but a profound grief that in letting his brother burn he was just as cruel as Raven.
But he’d not told him to run in. Raven had run in like the coward he was.
Fury twisted Darc’s face. He had thought to smoke him out.
He glanced to the nearby Reeve and ordered, ‘Have them bring water. I want to make sure his body is in there.’
Ignoring the still hot, smoking embers of timber, Darc stepped through the charred mess, kicking aside debris and ash with the toe of his boot and bare hands.
His hands started to smart, but determination pushed him on. He needed to see his brother’s body.
The body they found was unrecognizable. A man, his face….gone, burnt beyond recognition. But it was the hair that kept Darc’s gaze riveted.
It was Raven’s….like his, the build…the clothes had burned away and fallen from the body as much as into the charred remains. A hollow feeling filled his chest and he did his best to ignore it.
‘My lord, here.’
Darc swallowed, lifted his head and looked up. A young knight held Raven’s long sword in his hand. Darc still did not believe it, but the hair, now the sword.
Had his brother been so crazed he let himself burn alive rather than come out to fa
ce him?
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Caroline watched Darc walk into the room, not only was he covered in blood and soot, but he smelled strongly of burnt wood. He went to the other side of the room and dismissed Melbert. Caroline waited, her aching body turned on the bench to follow him. She could not wait to tell him about Gan. He did not meet her gaze.
She knew before the air in the room changed that something was wrong for Darc turned sharply toward the door, his body rigid and ready to do battle.
Before she could open her mouth or turn to see what it was that had put such a dark scowl upon his face, something hard slammed into her.
Caroline let out a cry as she fell to the stone floor as something crashed down right in front of her.
Darc’s battle cry rent the air and the room exploded with the sounds of clashing steel and metal, cries of pain and gurgles of death.
That and blood pounding in her ears nigh deafening; Caroline covered them to block the noise out for a moment, then dropped her hands.
With her heart thudding she saw it was a trestle table Darc must have turned over and kicked in front of her to protect her.
She panicked and shot to her feet.
Angry fire shot through her veins at the scene before her.
Gan, the traitorous bastard and three of Raven’s men surrounded her husband. Caroline knew the castle guards had to have heard his battle cry, but most of them probably were still out of doors. And she could not wait. She quickly looked about for a weapon. One of the thick legs on the table dangled, having broken in the fall and she hurriedly wriggled it free.
Grasping the heavy wood with both hands she rounded the table ready to join him in battle. She paused but a moment over the two bodies that lay dead on the other side of the table. Mayhap he did not need her help after all. But she moved forward anyway. Darc now sparred with Gan and the remaining three.
‘Come Renald,’ Gan said in a pompous tone. ‘There are more of us. You cannot think to kill us all.’