“None of your concern. She’s safe and that’s all that matters.”
Rechard’s smile acknowledged Eryk’s harsh assessment of what should and shouldn’t concern him. “I understand your woman is important to you. I didn’t say she could leave before the fight was over.”
“You also didn’t say she had to stay.”
Rechard chuckled. “You’re an intelligent man, Gauth.”
Eryk saw no sign of his men nor any sign of Mia, Dane or Rayder. He knew his men would spring forward by evening and swamp the area from strategic points. He planned to be with them when Daryk Ones returned Bardannia Castle to their power.
Rechard’s expression turned hard. “Attend your wound, Gauth. You won’t leave the castle now, even if your woman has left.”
Asam took his arm and propelled him from the courtyard. “Come. You’re no good to Mia like this.”
Once inside his lodging Eryk took off his upper body outerwear with little trouble. He wasn’t losing as much blood as he’d thought.
“Here, sit in this chair.” Asam pointed him toward a chair at the table and he sank into it.
His body trembled and that surprised him. “Mia is safe.”
Asam dug into her pack filled with bandages and brought out a roll. “She will be if she isn’t already.”
Asam wrapped his side rapidly to stanch the flow of blood from his wound then placed her hand over the bloody spot. “This will sting but I should be able to heal it in no time.”
“You must leave as soon as you’re done. My men will attack soon. Who knows what will happen after that.”
“I’m staying.”
“I can see why Mia speaks so highly of you. You’re as stubborn as she is.”
Asam laughed and closed her eyes, ready to knit together his skin. Eryk felt the flow of heat from her fingers and hoped the wound would heal fast.
But it didn’t. All her effort went for nothing even after she applied herbs in a healing poultice.
“I don’t understand why this wound won’t heal.” Asam’s brow furrowed and her frown deepened.
Eryk noted the bandage hadn’t soaked through with blood as it had five times already but he could tell the wound hadn’t knitted together as it should have under the healer’s touch.
“It doesn’t matter.” He rolled his shoulders to remove the ache that had started in his body a few hours ago during the fight with Rechard. “It’ll heal on its own.”
Asam stood with her hands on her hips and inspected him as if he were an insect she’d never seen before. “This is very unusual. I don’t like it.”
“That I have to heal like most men?”
“Yes. You’re a Daryk One with extraordinary healing powers at your disposal even without my help. But your body is reacting like a very regular man’s.”
“You’ve never failed to heal.”
“No.”
“Well this is a first then.”
Asam didn’t look appeased. “I’m puzzled as to what’s wrong. I guess I’m proving your first suspicions of me to be right.”
He snorted. “I believe you can heal. I’ve seen it. And I know Mia can heal.”
She seemed to relax a little. “If Mia was here she could try.”
“No.” He shook his head firmly. “She’s safe with Rayder and that’s the way it’ll stay until this castle is taken back from the rogues.”
“Still…”
“You’ve put a healing poultice on the wound. It won’t become rancid.”
He stood slowly, aware of the malaise dragging down his energy. He’d lost enough blood to cause weakness and it angered him.
“Damn it. I can’t afford this.” He ran a hand through his hair. “My men should be in place soon enough. You should return to your lodgings.”
“As soon as I know you aren’t going to fall on your face.”
He almost shrugged again but thought better of it. The motion pulled against the bandage. “I’ve had worse injuries. This isn’t going to affect me.”
“Right.”
Her doubt didn’t surprise him. He pulled his outerwear on again, wincing as his body protested. “Stay hidden in your lodgings no matter what you hear. Don’t come out until all is quiet.”
“No one will hurt me, Eryk. My healing ability is well valued now, by both sides.”
He wound the scarf around his neck and face and pulled the hood up. “Doesn’t matter. Anyone can be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“You’re right, of course. Draconus be with you, Daryk One. I will see you and Mia again.”
After she left Eryk took a huge breath and hoped against hope he’d live long enough to see his beloved Mia again. He closed his eyes and allowed his thoughts to flow toward her, though he doubted she could feel or hear him in any way.
The door burst open and six rogues charged inside.
Eryk jumped to his feet, intent on reaching his sword, which lay on the table next to him. He was too late.
* * * * *
Mia awakened on the second day of her cave stay with a premonition that Eryk needed her. She didn’t know how or why she knew it. She wished she’d remained in the castle. It would have been worse if she’d allowed Dane and Rayder to convince her she should go to Grimnald Castle and wait out the remainder of the situation with her friends Ketera and Xandra. She’d refused. Leaving Eryk to his fate, whatever that might be, was not an option. Anger drove her as she ate her first meal of the day. She glanced at Rayder, asleep in his warm pallet. She’d crawled out of hers early, stoked their fire and appeased her hollow stomach with dried meat and vegetables. She wanted to growl, wanted to stomp and weep if she thought too much. Eryk had tricked her, broken his promise. Yet she’d allowed Rayder and Dane to muscle her through the hidden tunnel deep in the castle, through the icy tube with its close walls that meant she had to crawl on hands and knees for what seemed forever before the tunnel grew larger.
She’d also known if she resisted Dane and Rayder she’d be making a scene and drawing attention to her precarious position. She wouldn’t have put Rayder and Dane at risk any more than she would have Eryk. So she’d stopped resisting almost as soon as she began.
Mia regretted that decision with everything inside her. “Magon.”
She thought she’d whispered the word but Rayder opened his eyes and said, “My thoughts exactly. But it won’t do us any good.”
Mia pulled her hood off and untangled the scarf around her lower face. Temperatures in the cave warmed with the new day. She honestly didn’t know what to say to the big Daryk One but somehow she had to convince him to take her back to Eryk.
He left his pallet and joined her at the fire, removing his hood and scarf as well. His breath puffed out as he settled on a rock. The big man looked impervious to anything, as if he could take on a huge responsibility without faltering one step, or as if he could fight any man and win.
She handed him meat and vegetables and he ate from a metal plate. Dark hair fell carelessly just above his shoulders and a hint of beard darkened his chin. With mysterious dark eyes, he looked as dangerous as he probably was. He had an air of well-leashed animal virility, much like Eryk. She could understand why Xandra had fallen for him.
“How long are we going to be here?” Mia asked.
“Until a Daryk One comes and reports what is happening.”
He went silent again and her curiosity continued, “Why aren’t you with Xandra?”
“She wanted me to help keep you safe, and I wouldn’t abandon my duty as a Daryk One.”
Tension eased within Mia. “I don’t want to make light of what you’ve done for me. I’m grateful you’re watching out for me, because I know little of surviving in this environment.”
His smile, gorgeous as sin, made her even more aware of why Xandra would find him attractive.
“Xandra told me you were fleeing from oppression. I can understand why you didn’t want to come with Dane and me. Why any command would grate against your
instincts. Xandra is the same.”
She nodded. “Of course. Our society tries to break us. And if it doesn’t then we are very strong.”
“I’d say don’t worry for Eryk because he’s a powerful Daryk One. But I know it would be useless.”
“You’re right. It would be useless. Because I am terribly worried about him. I must return to him.”
“No.”
She heaved a sigh of frustration. “When will the Daryk Ones take back the castle?”
“Tonight, if they haven’t already. It depends on the overall situation.”
“Rayder, I know you might not believe me but I think Eryk is in grave danger.”
Rayder frowned. “Possibly. In battle there’s always danger.”
“No, I don’t mean battle itself. Something else is wrong. I can feel it.”
She watched his strong features alter from skeptical to thoughtful. “What are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. He might have been hurt.”
Rayder pulled his hood up but left the scarf off his face. “Asam will heal him.”
Worrisome thoughts wouldn’t leave her. “I don’t know why I think this but I feel as if he’s still in pain. As if I’m connected somehow to that pain. I have to go to him, Rayder. He needs my help.”
“He gave strict instructions not to let you leave this cave.”
Determination made her stand. “And you think you can watch me all day and night? How do you know I won’t sneak out?”
“Because you’re intelligent but you don’t know how to find your way back to the castle.” He walked toward the mouth of the cave and looked out. “There’s a storm coming.”
“Could we make it through the storm together?” she asked.
“Yes.” The big man strode back toward her. “Let’s go, then. Time is wasting.”
* * * * *
By the time Rayder and Mia arrived on the outskirts of Bardannia Castle a full-out war had begun again. Mia saw the lights flaring in windows as fires burned, saw men falling from battlements. She must help Eryk, and she loved him more than anything. Her body trembled with fear.
“What do we do next?” she asked Rayder, her breath and voice muffled by the scarf.
“The tunnel.” Rayder glanced at her and in the semidarkness she couldn’t see his expression. “It’s likely it’s blocked off now by rogues, unless our men have stabilized it.”
Her throat was tight and filled with harsh fear but she said it anyway. “We have to try.”
He nodded. “You’re a brave woman, Mia Griffi.”
She didn’t answer and they headed across the snowy wasteland. They made a huge circle around the castle to come in on the south flank. Mia feared someone would see them but no one came to attack or help. With every passing moment her fear for Eryk grew stronger, making her wonder why and how this horrible feeling haunted her so deeply. She drew in deep breaths even as they moved swiftly toward the rear of the castle and the cave that led to the tunnel.
By the time Rayder led her into the cave she’d recovered some calm. She was mindful, looking into herself for strength and acknowledging she wouldn’t be here in this dire situation if she didn’t love Eryk and know he needed help. Not just anyone’s help. Hers.
The passage narrowed in the cave until they went to hands and knees. For what seemed eternity they crawled on the smoothed floor, snow and ice threatening to send severe chills through their bodies. At least her body was cold, and growing colder. When they came close to the end the entrance widened and Rayder stopped her from advancing.
“There are rogues at the entrance. Damn it.” Rayder pulled out his sword. “Stay here.”
Before she could blink he made two slicing motions with his sword and the men fell to their sides. She didn’t ask what he’d done or acknowledge that he’d probably killed the men. She’d think on it later, after she’d found Eryk and made sure he was fine. Rayder left the tunnel first and for good measure he dragged the two sentry rogues into the tunnel and closed the double doors. At least it would be some time before they were found. The secluded alleyway not that far from Asam’s lodgings afforded little in the way of light but they fumbled through.
“The dungeon,” she said as she grabbed his arm. “He’s there. I don’t know how I know but I do.”
Rayder nodded and again she was surprised he believed her. Maybe not all Daryk Ones were skeptical about the extraordinary.
“I’ll scan the area first.” Rayder took her shoulders and gently urged her into a niche in one wall. “Wait here and I’ll scout around.”
Before she could protest he melted into the night. As she stood in the cold, pressing her body into the niche so she couldn’t be seen, sounds of the battle diminished. Where had they gone? Still, she could hear some shouting and smoke from burning areas made her cough. Cold seeped through her clothes and she waited. Waited for Rayder to return for what seemed far too long.
“Mia?” She recognized Rayder’s whisper.
He appeared in front of her and she sighed in relief.
“Daryk Ones have retaken the castle but there’s a problem. Eryk was wounded during the fight between him and Rechard and Asam couldn’t cure Eryk. Then Rechard was attacked by his own men during the fighting and those men took Eryk and threw him in the dungeon.” His voice held worry and anger. “Daryk Ones have moved Eryk back to his room.”
“Oh Magon.” Her statement was but a small whisper, caught in her throat, dry and brittle.
“We must hurry. Eryk is gravely ill.”
* * * * *
Mia swam in a soup of misery as Rayder took her through the weathered, beaten castle. Dead bodies lay here and there. It looked as though fighting had taken a toll on more than the fighting men. The stench made her stomach roll but the thought of Eryk ill caused a far stronger turbulence within her. Calm flew out the window under this new threat. Why on earth hadn’t Asam been able to cure him?
Hurrying through the courtyard, they made it to Eryk’s lodgings—her lodgings—a short time later. A Daryk One stood guard, greeted Rayder with an acknowledgement and let them inside.
In the sleeping area, Dane stood over Eryk’s pallet. Dane looked up, his expression filled with exhaustion.
Dane didn’t chastise her for being there. Maybe he knew that she’d ignore him and do just what she did, rush to Eryk’s side. She sat on the edge of the pallet and her eyes grew moist. She tried to keep back the tears but seeing Eryk bruised and torn made every fear arise within her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. His right eye was swollen shut, his lower lip bloody. A dark bruise marred his upper chest near his collarbone. A fresh bandage around his ribs showed a massive bloodstain.
Mia couldn’t restrain her reaction as fear took over. “Oh Magon.” Without hesitation she kissed his forehead. “I will protect and heal you.”
“We’ll leave you for now,” Dane said.
When the door closed she was alone with him. Asam had told her at one point in their association that talking to the person who they wished to heal could help. The one she wished to heal would hear her. Before she spoke with him, she would heal his body.
She placed her hand over the soaked bandage. “May Magon and Draconus protect you and heal you.”
As it always did, heat flowed from her hand and she weakened as the flow transferred. She drew in one deep breath after the other, sending the healing white heat. She visualized his body’s strength and vitality returning, warmth returning to his cold skin. How much time passed she didn’t know. A soft groan issued from his lips and her eyes popped open. She kept her hand on his wound. She smiled. All the bruising and cuts on his face had disappeared. Delight made her cry too.
Keeping her hand on his ribs, she spoke. “Eryk, I’m here. I won’t leave you. You’re healing. Please open your eyes and speak to me.” When he didn’t make a sound she continued, opening up every feeling. “Eryk, I’m so blessed that you found me that day when I first arrived in Dragonia. You are the most amazing man
I’ve ever met. The best man I’ve ever met. I need and want you with me always. I never thought I’d know a man who would understand me the way you do. I’m a different woman than the one who came here.”
When he still didn’t awaken she closed her eyes and waited.
“Mia?”
Her eyes snapped open. “Eryk.”
A weak smile curved his face. He placed his hand over hers. “Thank the god you’re safe.”
As she kissed him she realized there was no better moment than this. No more glorious time. When she drew back, his smile remained.
“Let me check your bandage.” She peeled it off and discovered his skin was unmarred. “It’s entirely healed. I wonder why Asam couldn’t heal you?”
She stood so he could sit up and he drew her back down beside him. As his arms enveloped her they fell into a deep kiss.
When they resurfaced he said, “I heard you. Every word. It helped me to wake up.” He kissed her forehead tenderly. “I’m not the same man I was when I found you. I’m a better man because of you. When I thought I might never see you again…” His voice drifted off for a moment, as if he couldn’t manage another word to explain. “I love you and will always love you.”
Happiness eroded all the fear and pain inside her. “I love you, Eryk. Don’t ever scare me like that again, please.”
“With pleasure.” He frowned. “I told Rayder not to let you come back. I was to come for you.”
She laughed. “He said you would be angry.”
His frown eased. “I won’t be angry with him this time. I think I would have died without you.” He slipped his hand into her hair and nuzzled her forehead. “We are connected forever.”
“Perhaps this is why Asam couldn’t heal you.”
“Perhaps.”
Silence drew them into a loving embrace. Her body tingled, revived, fed by his love and her love for him.
“What happens now?” she asked.
His arms tightened around her. “This battle was won but Drakus isn’t beaten. This will be a long, long war, I fear.”
“At least for now, in this time and place, we have all we need.”
Epilogue
Daryk Warrior Page 18