“I stopped to gather the men, first, sir,” Alaric confessed.
Arthur waved his hand, dismissing the confession. He pointed to a tall dark-haired man with the same black-on-black eyes as Alaric. “As soon as Alaric’s back was turned, Merlin here insisted I send a scout to check the Saxons camped over the next rise. He was so emphatic about it I sent one immediately. Guess what he found?”
Diana shook her head.
“The Saxons were decamping and stealing away into the night. I had forgotten that ours were not the only eyes to see the beacon flare.”
Arthur turned to Alaric. “I owe you an apology. It seems that the puny numbers we were facing were indeed significant. They were a decoy to keep me occupied in the south while the main army pushed through from the north, free to move as far and as fast as they could march.” He held out his hand.
Alaric took it and they shook.
“As soon as I realized what was happening, we took to our horses and followed you. You’ve given us a ride we’ll not forget. We left everything but our swords and shields behind in an effort to catch you but could not.” He looked around. “I’m glad we made the speed we did.”
Arthur turned back to Diana. “Thanks to your courage, my lady, you have managed to hold the Saxons at bay and allowed me to contain them to this area. If you had not sent word, they may well have marched until they came up on me from behind. As it is, tomorrow we can deal with the host laying siege to Eboracum and the rest of the battle will be simply sweeping out the detritus left behind.”
“Sir, it was not you I sent word to,” Diana confessed, knowing she could not let him think otherwise.
Arthur nodded. “I know. But my responsibility stretches to all of Britain’s people, regardless of their feelings for me. I have always gone where I am needed and you needed me here tonight.”
For the first time, Merlin spoke. “For if Britain is to have any chance at peace, we must all learn to stand together, Roman, Celt and Briton, just as Alaric has learned. You, Diana and Alaric, will be the key that unlocks the north and brings understanding to all those who look to you. You will show them their future. When peace comes, you will enjoy long lives together—”
“Wait,” Arthur said, holding up his hand. “Before you set my best lieutenant’s future in clay, Merlin, I must still deal with the matter of his disobedience.” He looked at Alaric. “You deliberately went against my direct order.”
Alaric’s chest lifted as he took a deep breath. “Yes, sir.”
Arthur glanced at Merlin. “You say his future is here, among these Romans that he has no love for, save one?”
Merlin smiled. “He has learned much in his time here. He has forgotten the past. But yes, he will have a role in your success here in the north.”
Arthur nodded and looked back at Alaric. “Then your punishment will be to stay here and maintain the cavalry outpost for Eboracum and the area.”
Alaric sought for and grasped Diana’s hand. “I am not to fight with you, sir?”
“No. But your task here will be a heroic one. It seems I can trust you to guard my back and you will need to think for me, so that I am free to deal with the rest of Britain. In this matter I know I can trust you utterly, for you have truly learned the secret to the future of Britain.” Arthur reached for and held up their clasped hands. “Her people.”
Arthur let their hands go and turned away, picking up the bloody shield and Excalibur, his magnificent sword. “I must reach Eboracum soon, or they’ll be forewarned. I’d rather surprise them.” He grinned. In that moment he looked terribly young and Diana realized that with that engaging grin he had won her complete loyalty. He walked toward the gates, Merlin beside him. At the gates he turned. “Don’t forget! If you light the beacon, I will come.” Then he stepped through and was gone.
Alaric turned to her. “The only consolation for my punishment is that I will be here with you.”
“Forgive me if I find that no punishment at all.”
“You heard Merlin. You heard the roles we have been assigned. Can you bear the idea of working for Arthur?”
“So long as you are with me, I can bear anything.”
“It is a bargain, then?”
“A bargain,” she agreed.
They sealed the bargain with a kiss, the first of many more in their lives.
More historical romantic suspense
by Tracy Cooper-Posey
.
Heart of Vengeance – part of the Jewels of Tomorrow series
A woman in search of revenge…. An honorable man with a dark past.
It is 1197, and King Richard, known as the “Lionhearted,” is fighting France while Prince John hatches his own plans back home.
To find her father’s killer, Helena of York must pose as a Norman in the great halls of Richard’s England. Her only desire is to kill the man who destroyed her father and her future. Should she be unmasked, her life will be forfeit.
Stephen, Count of Dinan, once Richard’s friend and trusted knight, is outcast for reasons shrouded in mystery. Known as the “Black Baron,” he is friendless in a glittering world he despises. His only goal is to restore his honor and once again serve his king.
Stephen’s suspicions draw him into Helena’s web of deceit, and the two outsiders find themselves tangled in a greater conspiracy that threatens the throne of England itself, while their embattled hearts grapple with a far greater challenge.
__
Finalist, Best Medieval Historical Romance – Romantic Times
CAPA Nomination for Best Historical Romance
Night Owl Reviews Reviewers’ Top Pick
Historical romance at its best. With perfect amounts of suspense, intrigue and passion the novel is simply impossible to put down. Night Owl Reviews
I’m convinced the author’s beautiful story, coupled with historical accuracies intertwined in such a way, you couldn’t possibly debate its winning outcome. Love Romance Passion
Exceptionally well written, the reader feels they have walked straight in to the forest and castles which are richly detailed throughout the story. Single Titles.
With a myriad of secondary characters ranging from King Richard to Robin Hood, Heart of Vengeance captures the reader from the start. Romance Reviews Today
Heart of Vengeance will be released on November 29, 2013
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About the Author
Tracy Cooper-Posey is an #1 Best Selling Author. She writes erotic vampire romances, hot romantic suspense, paranormal and urban fantasy romances. She has published over 60 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.
She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.
She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.
Her website can be found at http://TracyCooperPosey.com
Other
books by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Blood Knot Series (Urban Fantasy Paranormal Series)
Blood Knot
Blood Stone
Blood Unleashed (Upcoming)
Blood Revealed (Upcoming)
Beloved Bloody Time Series (Paranormal Futuristic Time Travel)
Bannockburn Binding
Byzantine Heartbreak
Romani Armada
Kiss Across Time Series (Paranormal Time Travel)
Kiss Across Time
Kiss Across Swords
Kiss Across Chains
Guardian Bonds (Gargoyle Paranormal Series)
Carson’s Night
Beauty’s Beasts
Sabrina’s Clan (Upcoming)
Destiny’s Trinities (Urban Fantasy Romance Series)
Beth’s Acceptance
Mia’s Return
Sera’s Gift
Short Paranormals
Solstice Surrender
Eva’s Last Dance
Guns ‘n’ Lovers Series (Romantic Suspense)
Red Leopard
Black Heart
Blue Knight
White Dawn (Upcoming)
Silver Noon (Upcoming)
Golden Day (Upcoming)
Go-get-‘em Women (Short Romantic Suspense Series)
The Royal Talisman
Delly’s Last Night
Vivian’s Return
Ningaloo Nights
Sian’s Run (Upcoming)
Jewells of the Morrow series (Historical Romantic Suspense)
Diana By The Moon
Heart of Vengeance
The Perilous Maiden (Upcoming)
To Soothe a Savage Heart (Upcoming)
The Heart of the Enemy (Upcoming)
The Cherlebury Rose (Upcoming)
The Duchess of Winter (Upcoming)
Despite The Sands Of Time (Upcoming)
Scandalous Sirens (Historical Romance Series)
Forbidden
Dangerous Beauty
Rhys Davies’ untitled story (Upcoming)
Romantic Thrillers Series
Fatal Wild Child
Dead Again
Dead Double
Terror Stash
Thrilling Affair
Contemporary Romances
Lucifer’s Lover
An Inconvenient Lover
The Sherlock Holmes Series
Chronicles of the Lost Years
The Case of the Reluctant Agent
For reviews, excerpts, and more about each title, visit Tracy’s site and click on each title in turn: http://tracycooperposey.com/books/tracys-trilogies-series/
Copyright Information
This is an original publication of Tracy Cooper-Posey
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2013 by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Text design by Tracy Cooper-Posey
Cover design by Dar Albert
Wicked Smart Designs
http://wickedsmartdesigns.com
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
FIRST EDITION: September 2001
SECOND EDITION: April 2010
THIRD EDITION: November 2013
Cooper-Posey, Tracy
Diana by the Moon/Tracy Cooper-Posey—3rd Ed.
Romance—Fiction
Paranormal – Fiction
Diana by the Moon Page 30