by Strom, Missy
Alert, Donan’s senses picked the direction at once, and he clucked to Xavier. “Walk on, boy.”
His heart labored in hope, pain, and relief as he followed the faint sound of singing. If he'd not been able to tell how much he cared before, he knew it with certainty then.
Analise never heard the great stallion Xavier crashing through the green fronds to the right side of her. All that she could hear was the old Celtic song she sang. One of those her father had taught her. The special one. It was the song her father told her she was to sing to no one but her husband on their wedding morning, and then only if she had cried from joy the night before.
She only sang it from time to time to make certain she remembered it. It was the best song that she'd ever been taught and it made her feel special, because her father had said it was so important. Cheval knew the song too, for her husband only. Now each of them might never be wed and crying for joy, so the song might be lost forever along with its great secret.
“Two nightingales tears ... Twin hearts so ... One Brenin king’s song ... together belong. To er—to life, to love ... You shall be the judge—”
A movement caught the corner of Analise’s gaze and she turned, expecting to catch sight of a small forest animal. Instead blackness nearly took her eyesight, but then she recalled this had happened before, and she looked higher.
“Donan!” she cried with joy. She should have known he would find her, and he looked so tall and healthy. He was handsome.
Donan watched Analise, like a golden fairy, flying toward him and he knew there was no hope for what he would do. Not that he wanted it any other way. So, he leaned downward to take hold of her as she fairly leaped upward laughing into his outstretched arms. Then he lifted her up before him to settle her crossway on the cradle of his thighs. Analise had no compunction as she lavishly pressed all her rounded curves to his muscle and she kissed him soundly on the cheek, the ear, then his jaw.
He thought she was journeying those pink lips of hers to the most important area ... his lips. That was when he heard the amused chuckle behind him. Of course he'd known Shancy was there, however, he thought he had a few moments before Shancy arrived by his side. Nonetheless, Shancy’s presence didn't halt Analise, if she was even aware of his arrival, and she found his lips with blessed enthusiasm. Only he had no choice but to pull away with regret.
“Nay,” he whispered, turning Analise’s lips into a pretty pink-shelled pout.
“Oh, Donan,” she murmured sounding mournful as she patted his chest as though to soothe him.
Jesu, her eyes were blue. He cleared his throat, determined to clear his head of soft womanly enticements. A very hard deed it was with Analise sitting so warmly on his lap. He could not feel her bottom on his thighs, but he could feel it on his thickness between. S’blood, he could feel it.
“Shancy is with us, nightingale.”
“He is?” Analise exclaimed, twisting around to look and doing impossibly wicked things to his erection again. “Oh, Shancy—I mean, my lord. Tis so good to see you.”
Analise smiled while Donan scowled, and Shancy chuckled as he greeted Analise as if she were a princess and he expounded on her beauty, until she was blushing a very tempting pink color.
“You must only call me Shancy, my lady,” he finished.
Donan ground his teeth, not realizing how tightly he held Analise about her waist. His face and his demeanor, everything even to the twinge in his heart, belayed his next words.
Nevertheless, he spat them out anyway. “Shancy, you must take Analise up on your horse.”
“Nay!” Analise cried, and then she grasped Donan in a hug as if to say nothing would pry her away.
He began to open his mouth to order her, when Shancy spoke. “There’s no way in bloody hell I’m taking your lass on my horse!”
Shancy's hands were spread wide with his palms outward in a warding off gesture.
“She’s not my woman.” Donan nearly gagged as those words creaked out.
“I am yours! Now and forever,” Analise exclaimed, and he could feel the vibration of her voice against his tunic as she protested. Shancy gave him a condescending smirk and Analise pressed those bountiful bosoms of hers to his chest even tighter.
Donan forced his eyes closed. Jesu, he swore silently, he wanted this so badly he could feel his insides tremble. But, Analise was just too innocent to understand and perhaps he was too afraid. How could he champion her? How could he protect her?
Donan opened his eyes and looked straight at Shancy. “You both dinna understand what you're saying. How would I protect her face to face from Lord Armand?”
His bitter words seemed to taint the air around them.
Shancy ignored his brother's bitter tone and was having none of it for he guffawed and slapped his thigh, expounding, “Exactly the way you do every other blessed thing in your life, brother, with the help of your friends and allies. Those same friends you’ve helped considerably. And all of us who would not get anywhere without that excellent wit of yours!”
Donan sighed, thinking a man who couldn't walk had to be more sensible about life, he was not nearly convinced by Shancy’s grand words, until he heard Analise whispering for him alone to hear, with her voice wavering.
“I have been afraid ever since Armand took control of our lives and since my sister was so badly mistreated and she was forced to leave. I was even more afraid. I have always thought that if I were not so simple minded, I would not be afraid. That I would have more courage. But now I have you.”
Donan’s reaction was immediate. He gathered Analise closer, tightening his arm around her back, while he used his other hand to smooth the golden locks from around her face.
“Och, lass, I’ll not let Lord Armand harm you,” he said firmly, then with haste adding, “And Shancy vows the same.”
However, Analise didn't seem to hear him because she was humming softly. It was a haunting and familiar song that seemed to touch his heart. She seemed like a wee lost elf, nestling her nose and mouth into his chest for comfort.
“Analise,” he whispered close to her ear, but she said nothing and continued to hum, then she began rocking a bit.
Donan sent a worried glance to Shancy who shrugged as though to say she was a fragile lady seeking comfort. Donan might have agreed except something deep inside him spoke of other things. He’d seen Analise’s courage, her impishness, and her stubbornness. This was something else—somehow to do with the foolish notion that she called herself simpleminded. There was nothing simpleminded about sweet Analise. She was fresh air and sunlight through and through.
Donan sighed heavily and tilted his head to Shancy in a silent gesture that they should proceed on. He would give Analise a bit of time—he would hold her to him even though he knew he shouldn’t.
***
At their simple meal that night in the camp they’d made for the evening Donan judged Analise was finally more herself. Nonetheless, it had taken most of the day with her barely speaking two words. He'd not pushed her, because some inner sense, which spoke to him about her gentle soul, whispered to him to let her find her own way back to him.
She'd visited another place today and he felt if he pushed her, he might lose her to that other place. He was more worried about what to do when she came back to him. He would have to be very careful.
It hadn't been until several hours after midday that their travel on a wooded path had frightened a clutch of white-tailed quail into a flurry of feathers and darting flight. The sound and the sight had caught Analise’s attention with a look of wonder and delight, dispelling her earlier vacantness as if it were a ghostly spirit never there.
Her impishness and her affection came alive like a golden rain drenching him with its warmth. Donan forgot his worries, forgot his own stubbornness over certain issues, and for a few moments he forgot that he was hopelessly crippled and not a man for any sweet and fragile lass.
Nevertheless, reality crept in with the closing of th
e day when he needed to be slung off his horse and later helped to relieve himself. But then slowly, they settled around a warm glowing fire that turned the yellow highlights of Analise’s fair hair to golden sprinkles, as he lay propped on his side and he watched her laughing at Shancy’s gregariousness.
“It’s not true!” Analise was giggling over one of Shancy’s outrageous tales involving a rabbit, a young maid, and a clumsy knight, which he told the whole time while swearing that it was true. “Cheval, my sister would never believe such a thing,” Analise exclaimed. “She would say I was too gullible ... And so I shan’t believe you either!”
“You have a sister, lass?” Shancy asked, suddenly growing serious.
“I do,” Analise murmured as Donan watched her. Analise reached out her hand toward his and he unconsciously reached forward and clasped her hand feeling its warm softness against his own rougher palm.
“It’s alright, lass,” Donan said, smiling at her, encouraging her.
“And where is this sister of yours, sweet lady?” Shancy asked.
“She’s—” Analise squeezed Donan’s hand.
“Tell us, lass,” he encouraged her quietly.
“She is at Saint Angelicas Convent. B-But, I do not know if she is alive.”
Donan pushed off his supporting arm just in time to catch Analise as she burrowed into him, flinging her arms around his neck. He held her close looking at Shancy, and then he said, “Analise, I don't want you to be afraid.” He lifted the hair off her shoulder, and he murmured in her ear, “Don’t leave me again, nightingale.”
She pulled backward a bit to look up at him. He could tell that she was struggling to be brave for him. “I don’t want to go,” she whispered.
“That is good.” He caressed her cheek lightly. “Do you think you can tell us about your sister now? About what happened to her? I know you told me a bit, but—”
Analise nodded and loosened her hold on him, until she could sit in the circle of his arms and speak to Shancy also.
“My stepbrother Armand g-gave her to Red Kife one night. H-He bade Kife to rape her. I didn't know until the morning that it had happened. She was so scared.” Analise paused and took a deep breath. “Later in the dark of the night Armand had her taken to Saint Angelicas, while he kept me locked in the cellar, so I couldn't see her go. But I heard him saying if she didn't lose her inheritance to him because of the bastard babe she now carried, Red Kife could go to the convent and kill her. And then, Armand laughed, saying, ‘accidents happen to bitches carrying bastard’s all the time.’”
“Och, lass,” Donan murmured, as Shancy shook his head.
“The bloody bastard!” Shancy cursed as he furiously tossed a twig into the fire.
Donan took Analise’s chin and turned her face to look at him. “She is the eldest then?”
“By two years, Donan.”
“You don't have to answer if it’s too much, lass, but what was he going to do with you? Would you not inherit after her?” he asked.
“I don't know,” she whispered. “We were all from the Ethigilo, so daughters inherit the same as sons. I never thought of it.”
“The Ethigilo?” Shancy asked. “It that not a Saxon faith?”
“Oh!” Analise gasped, holding her small fingers to her lips. “I wasn't supposed to say—”
“It’s all right, imp,” Donan said quickly. “You’ll not find Shancy or me with any problems toward that old and noble house.” Turning his head, Donan glared at his brother, saying tightly, “Will we now, Shancy?”
“Of course not, you bloody old goat,” Shancy muttered. “I was just curious over the ... umm, the history, I was.” Shancy stood suddenly. He was straight and tall with his long legs braced and the golden streaks of his tawny hair catching sparks of light from the fire. “And I’m going to get her now. Just see if I don’t!”
“Whoa,” Donan began at the quick change, just as Analise squealed happily.
“Cheval! Oh, Shancy, you're going to get, Cheval!”
“I certainly am—” Shancy began.
“Now just a minute,” Donan nearly shouted, interrupting him, but he was waylaid by Shancy’s louder interruption.
“We have no choice, brother, and you know it! We cannot leave your lass’ sister—”
“She’s not my lass!” Donan exploded.
“I am to,” Analise quipped.
“Then, Glenncannon, why are ye holding her so tight?” Shancy asked with an aggravated shout.
Donan instantly let Analise go and tried to scoot backward away from her a bit with his arms, however his little imp was having none of it because she grabbed him about the neck, until he drug her along too.
“See!” Shancy said, shaking a snooty finger at him.
“I will not argue the point,” Donan huffed. “But I will be arguing about you going after Cheval alone!”
Shancy’s brown eyes glared at him in a snit. “And there’s no time for anything else. I can bloody well take care of myself and one wee lass in the time it will take to get from Saint Angelica’s to Saint Helen’s.” Shancy paused and ground his teeth. “It cannot be more than a day's ride between them.”
Donan opened his mouth to argue, and then he shut it. It wasn't that he didn't have plenty of good arguments to bolster his argument. He even knew he had enough to change Shancy’s mind and if that failed as the Glenncannon and Shancy’s laird, he could just order him not to do it.
The problem was that his brother was right and he couldn't hold him back from doing what was right just because it was dangerous. That and his own need, not to be left alone with Analise, were not enough to wage against an innocent lass’ plight.
“One day,” Donan growled. “I’ll send every man I have after you before the sun is down tomorrow eve!”
“Well, I would expect no less of you," Shancy said with a devilish grin. “And you and your lass should make Saint Helen’s Abby and the Glenncannon men easily from here by midmorning.”
“Aye, tis true,” Donan agreed heavily.
“What about mounting Xavier?” Shancy asked suddenly. “Mayhap, I should just prop you up there this night.”
“I can manage, you bloody rascal,” Donan snapped, then he gathered his temper. “I found a way to do it myself,” he finished.
Shancy raised an arched brown eyebrow at him, as Analise said, “Then he’s going, Donan? You are going to let him fetch my sister?”
“I am, imp.”
“Oh thank you, Donan!” Analise instantly pelted him with little kisses, while he groaned.
“Och well, I’d best be haring from this lovely scene.” Shancy chuckled.
Donan groaned again.
“Shancy,” Analise said. “You will need to tell Cheval something only I would know so that she’ll come with you and not be afraid. I only know of one thing, but you must swear on your own mother's head ... both of you must swear never to tell another what I say.”
Analise looked so serious that Donan stilled his urge to chuckle, wondering what a lovely innocent like she was, could have so secret, as he said solemnly, “I swear.”
Shancy followed with his own vow, and then Analise said, “Tell Cheval I have found the man I’ll cry for. Tell her, two nightingale tears, twin hearts beating together, one Brenin king’s song binding them together, to ere, to life, to love, you shall be the judge.”
“I will remember, my lady,” Shancy vowed solemnly as he bent to take Analise’s hand and he kissed it. “What does she look like, lass, your sister Cheval?”
“They say tis eerie, Shancy, for we look exactly alike. Accept Cheval has a cupid's mole right below her bottom lip.”
Donan was startled by this as Shancy bid him goodbye and strode to his mare. It was curious, nearly as if Analise and Cheval were twins, just as in the song. He knew it was a song Analise repeated for Shancy to tell Cheval. It was the same song she'd hummed all day. What was this about twin hearts and a Brenin king? It was nearly as if the song had a purpose.
“Well, we are alone then,” Analise hummed near his ear, right before she started kissing it.
“Now, lass,” he chided, trying to pull away, although reluctantly. “Tis bed for you now,” he finished as sternly as he could with the lingering impression of lover's kisses tingling in his ear.
“I believe so too,” she quipped. “Where shall we lay, Donan? Right here? Shall I undress or do you want to undress me?”
“There, Analise.” He pointed aggressively. “You will be sleeping dressed, there on the other side of the fire!”
“But I cannot,” she murmured with a pretty pout.
Donan forgot all about needing to be gentle with her. All he could think of, in mounting frustration, was the aching bulge of his erection tight behind his breechcloth and the aggravation of trying to go forth with commonsense.
“You will be going and sleeping there now, woman, or I vow I will take you over my knee and spank you until, I swear, you will be seeing wee brownie fairies!”
“Oh, Donan, would you really,” she gushed with a twinkle in her eyes and a breathlessness that dumbfounded him.
Donan grunted nearly in a growl and grabbed Analise’s waist pulling her down beside him, then he grabbed the rough wool blanket to pull over both of them.
“You lie down and sleep, woman, and not another notion else, just as your lord commands you. This is not a game. I expect obedience or I will be very angry!”
“Yes of course, Donan,” Analise murmured obediently, snuggling into his side.
But then she had the good grace to lay blessedly still to his command, while he lay trying to fathom why the threat of spanking Analise’s bare bottom did not put the fear of God into her. It was nearly as if she had gotten a wee bit excited ... mayhap. Images of her lovely bare bottom displayed over his thighs assaulted him and he began to see things a bit differently.
“Bloody hell,” Donan cursed low and sharp, to the increased torture of his stiff and throbbing erection. The bloody woman was going to drive him to an early grave.