Back to the moment. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking that way lest she make Fagan suspicious.
“Did you have need of me, Uncle?”
“Yes. Duke Keirthan has requested my presence at court. I will depart at first light with most of the men. Olaf will be in charge in my absence. You will answer directly to him. Not that you’ll listen, but my advice is to do exactly as he says.”
She couldn’t help but protest. “But—”
Olaf appeared at her side. “But nothing, Merewen. Your uncle trusts me to see that things are handled properly while he is gone. It is not your place to argue.”
His eyes glittered with the hope that she would, though. Fagan knew exactly what he was doing by leaving Olaf in charge. Merewen would need to tread carefully every minute to avoid giving Olaf the excuse to lash out at her. The best she could hope for was that if he did attack her, one of three Damned would be close enough to prevent him from killing her.
What if her uncle ordered Murdoch and Averel to accompany him? The thought didn’t bear thinking about. If he did force them to go, at least Averel might be able to send word to Gideon with one of his dogs.
For now, she needed to get away from both Olaf and her uncle. “It has been a long day, Uncle, and I would like to retire for the night. I wish you safe travel.”
He nodded his permission as he turned his attention to his captain. “Olaf, see that arrangements are complete for my journey.”
“Yes, my lord.” Olaf bowed slightly and walked away, brushing past Merewen, close enough to make her step aside to avoid his touch. She hated showing even that much weakness.
As usual, Fagan didn’t miss the small interaction. “Merewen, do not cross him. He has my explicit permission to act as he sees fit. Do you understand what that means?”
Yes, she did. “How long will you be gone?”
“As long as the duke has need of me.” Fagan held out his arm. “Wife, you will accompany me now. I have plans for you. For us.”
Alina couldn’t quite disguise the shiver that ran through her as she silently set her hand upon his arm. Even so, she offered Merewen a small nod.
“Sleep well, Merewen.”
They both knew it was unlikely Alina would. At least she would have a few days of peace once Fagan rode out in the morning. Merewen hoped that brought her some measure of comfort.
As they walked away, she noticed Duncan watching from the corner. He jerked his head in the direction of the stairs. Was he telling her to disappear? Or that he needed to talk?
The man had been a ghost since arriving at the keep. After she introduced Duncan to her father’s collection of books and manuscripts, he’d settled in to hunt for information, coming down only for meals. Had he already found what he was searching for?
At the top of the stairs, she made sure that no one was following her before she veered away from her bedroom toward the library. She’d wait there to see if Duncan had indeed been signaling that he wanted to speak to her. If so, she hoped he wouldn’t be long, because she hadn’t been lying to her uncle. It had been a long day, and she was tired to the bone.
Inside the library, she dropped into her father’s old chair, drawing comfort from the memory of happy hours spent with him, sharing his love of knowledge with her as together they pored over some new book he’d found. She picked up a small book of poetry and started to read out a favorite verse aloud. Her voice cracked as she recalled the day her father had first read it to her. She struggled to blink back the tears that burned her eyes.
Their love of books was one more thing the two of them had shared. Gods, she missed her father so much. His passing had left a gaping hole in her heart that nothing seemed to fill.
A footstep outside the library dragged her thoughts back from the past. She held her breath and hoped it was Duncan, not Olaf, who had followed her.
“Lady Merewen?”
She sighed with relief. “I’m here, Sir Duncan.”
He came straight to her, a worried look on his face. “Are you well?”
Not really, but he wasn’t there to hear her complaints.
“I am merely tired. I’ve been meaning to tell you that Scim is fine. His injuries are nearly healed, and he’s no longer in pain.”
The handsome warrior smiled, clearly pleased. “And Gideon, how did you find him yesterday evening?”
She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “You last saw him only yesterday morning. Were you expecting a big change in that amount of time?”
He chuckled. “No, but I’m sure your visit was unexpected. Our captain doesn’t always enjoy surprises.”
For the first time since leaving Gideon, she grinned. “No, he doesn’t. He does, however, like giving orders.”
Duncan cocked his hip to lean against the table, his arms crossed over his chest. “That he does. In fact, I suspect he likes giving orders as much as you enjoy ignoring them.”
There was no use in denying the truth. “I don’t ignore all orders, just the ones I don’t agree with.”
Such as the ones her uncle issued. Her smile faded, the fun gone out of the conversation. Duncan saw too much.
He straightened up, once again the grim-faced warrior who’d walked out of the river at his captain’s side. “You were having trouble with your uncle and his man, Olaf, down in the hall a few minutes ago.”
It wasn’t a question. “Uncle Fagan has been called to Duke Keirthan’s court again. He’ll be leaving at dawn with a company of his men. As captain of the guard, Olaf will be in charge while he is gone.”
The thought set her stomach to churning. Someday, when he slipped into her bedroom at night, he would do more than watch her sleep. The one time she’d barred her door to keep him out had been the first time her uncle had raised his hand to her.
“We will endeavor to see you come to no harm, my lady.”
Duncan meant it, she knew, but fear had become her constant shadow, and it was hard to let it go. Besides, if Fagan were to order Duncan to leave, he’d have no choice but to depart. Rather than think about what she could not control, she gestured toward the books strewn about the table. It would appear that Duncan had been following a thread of information.
“Have you had any luck in finding what you seek?”
“Not as yet.” He picked up the volume closest to him and ran his fingertips over the cover, a sad smile on his face. “I wish I could have met your father, Lady Merewen. I’m sure he and I would have had much to talk about. This is an impressive library for one man to have collected. It has been far too long since I had the opportunity to spend time on my studies.”
He looked around the room, his expression hungry. “It would take me a lifetime to catch up on all that I have missed while we’ve been…gone from the world.”
She had so many questions but suspected Duncan would not welcome them any more than his captain would have. The Warriors from the River of the Damned definitely had their secrets. As much as she wanted to know Gideon’s truth, she wanted to hear it from him, not peck at his men for the few tidbits they might share.
Back to why Duncan had asked to see her. “Is there something that requires my help?”
“Yes. I’ve barely begun to search through the books. I was wondering if you could point me in the direction where you found the volume that allowed you to call us from the river. I’m thinking that would be where your father kept the oldest of the manuscripts.”
“I have that particular one hidden in my room, but I will bring it to you. I found it on this shelf back here.”
She picked up the candle and carried it over to the farthest corner. “I didn’t notice anything else similar to it in content, but perhaps you’ll have more success. I’m not familiar with the old languages.”
“And I grew up speaking several of them.” Duncan’s smile no longer reached his eyes. “Thank you, my lady. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”
“I’ll go fetch that book for you.”
He shook his head. �
�It can wait until tomorrow. I’ll be retiring soon myself. Would you like me to escort you to your room?”
She appreciated the offer, but it would be better if they weren’t seen together. “I’ll be fine.”
For tonight, that was probably true. Olaf had been given his orders to carry out, and her uncle was otherwise occupied. With that thought, she offered up a silent prayer to the gods for her lady aunt’s well-being.
Gideon studied the message that had arrived during the night. He’d been asleep when Scim had raised the alarm. Kiva, the great owl that was bonded with Duncan, had swooped in on silent wings to land on the fence outside. The huge bird, rivaling Scim for size, sat quietly while waiting for Gideon to pick up the leather pouch he’d dropped on the ground.
“Thanks, boy,” Gideon murmured as he pulled out the piece of paper inside.
Kane joined him outside, carrying a candle and cupping the flame with his hand to keep it burning. “What’s wrong?”
Gideon quickly scanned the brief note and then handed it off to Kane. After he finished, they stared at each other for several seconds. The decision wasn’t a difficult one.
“With Fagan gone, the keep will be at its most vulnerable. Unless Duncan and Averel are ordered to accompany him, we’ll be able to take control with a minimum of bloodshed.”
Kane, always the first to point out complications, looked toward the grasslands. “We already know that Lord Fagan is not the true reason we returned to walk the land this time. Will this divide our efforts?”
Gideon wanted to deny it. “I think the two problems are opposite sides of the same coin. I cannot imagine the gods would have answered Merewen’s call if her welfare wasn’t necessary to our purpose.”
He waited to see if his friend would argue the point. When he didn’t, Gideon considered the possibilities.
“If we take possession of her keep, we will be in a position of strength rather than skulking about in the mountains or living here in this crofter’s cottage where we would be vulnerable to attack. At the same time, we will weaken her uncle’s hold on her people.”
Kane weighed his words before nodding. “We’ll need to send a reply to Duncan to forewarn Averel and Murdoch that we’ll be coming.”
Gideon returned to the cabin. He had no ink or pen, but the end of a burned stick would work well enough. When he’d scratched out the message, he returned to where the owl waited. He tucked the note inside the leather pouch and then offered the bird a chunk of meat for his efforts.
The owl blinked his amber eyes and delicately took the treat from Gideon’s hand with his beak. When it was gone, he took the proffered pouch and took off with a powerful downstroke of his wings.
As Kiva disappeared into the night sky, Gideon held his breath. The bird had made it to the cottage well enough, but there was always the possibility he would be attacked on the return flight. There was nothing they could do to prevent it—another reminder that they could ill afford to waste a moment of their limited time.
“Let’s get some sleep. It will be dawn soon enough, and tomorrow we ride.”
The sound of angry voices woke Merewen out of a deep sleep. Grasping the dagger under her pillow, she remained still. She’d started keeping the weapon within reach soon after her uncle had returned to take charge of the family lands. Once she’d noted the type of men he surrounded himself with, she no longer felt she could trust him.
Now, the worst of those men was right outside her door—Olaf. He was the one talking now. She strained to hear what was being said. It came as no surprise that her name was part of the conversation, especially when it was her uncle who spoke next.
“Yes, I understand, but return to the hall. You have no business here tonight.”
For once Olaf was speaking to Fagan as an equal. “I remind you that you promised your niece to me in return for my services. I grow tired of waiting.”
Her uncle’s voice carried all too clearly. “I know I did, but that was before I suspected the duke might have plans for her.”
Olaf wasn’t ready to back down. “There are many ways I can enjoy her without completely destroying her value.”
She was shocked to hear as much fear as anger in Fagan’s response. “And if you lose control? What then? Do you want to face Duke Keirthan and tell him what you have cost him? Cost us? I, for one, am not willing to thwart him, not when he grows stronger with each passing day. We both know what happens to those who cross him.”
Her blankets did nothing to ward off the chill his words sent coursing through her. If only she were dreaming, but this nightmare was only too real. She prayed the two villains would simply walk away.
Finally, their voices faded into the distance, still arguing, but at least they were gone. She remained frozen in place, fighting against the panic beating in her chest. She wanted to believe that Fagan had convinced Olaf to leave her alone for this night.
But what of tomorrow night and the one after? With Fagan gone, no one would be holding Olaf’s reins. Would she even be safe during the daylight hours? Murdoch and Averel would do their best to protect her, but only if they weren’t ordered to accompany her uncle.
That left Duncan. She didn’t doubt his prowess with a sword, but one man couldn’t stand alone against Olaf and his men. She sat up in bed, the knife still clutched in her hand. What should she do? Run? Hide?
“Lady Merewen?”
Gods, please, save her!
She leapt to her feet, knife in hand, and waited. Olaf might be too strong for her to stop, but he would bleed.
The whisper came again. “Lady, are you unharmed? Will you open the door?”
She didn’t immediately recognize the voice, but it was clearly not Olaf. He would never ask permission. Duncan—it had to be Duncan.
“I’m coming,” she promised as she hurried across the floor.
Pausing to light a single candle, she opened the door just far enough to ensure that it was indeed Sir Duncan. As soon as she recognized the tall blond warrior, she stepped back and motioned him inside.
His discomfiture at being alone with her in her bedroom was clear, which spoke well of his honorable nature. Even though she was covered from chin to toes, she was far from comfortable having a man in her private quarters.
With his gaze firmly directed over her head at the wall beyond, Duncan started talking. “I heard voices as I was leaving the library.”
He risked a glimpse in her direction. “I didn’t want to get close enough to be seen, but it was your uncle and his man.”
She nodded. Where was he going with this?
“Rest assured that had either of them made a move toward your door, I would have stopped them.” Duncan’s pale eyes flashed hard and chilling in the darkness. “On that, you have my word.”
“Thank you.”
He turned his attention back to the wall. “I also wanted to let you know that I heard from Captain Gideon a few minutes ago. He sent word with my owl that he and Kane plan to join us here tomorrow night after sunset. The five of us should be able to wrest control of the keep while your uncle is gone.”
Her heart resumed its pounding, and her knees refused to support her. When she started to sink to the floor, Duncan muttered something under his breath and lunged forward to catch her. He supported her long enough for her to sit down on the trunk at the foot of her bed. He immediately stepped back, his hands at his side.
“I apologize, Sir Duncan. I’m not usually given to such weakness.”
“Given the circumstances, my lady, it is most understandable.”
She managed to bring herself back under control, but he was right. Within the hour, she’d been threatened with rape and then offered salvation. She could scarce believe that at long last she knew hope, but the terror still lingered. Yes, she’d planned for this, prayed for it long and hard. But now that the moment was upon her, she feared for what she’d unleashed.
Duncan remained close by, his attitude expectant, as if waiting for her to do some
thing—probably even something sensible and coherent.
“What would you have me do to prepare? If there is to be trouble, I want to help protect my people.”
Duncan was already shaking his head. “Murdoch and Averel will find a way to let Gideon and Kane through the gate.”
There had to be a way to do that without drawing swords. It wouldn’t be unusual for her to be called out during the night.
She sat up taller. “I can help with that. Our dairyman lives along the road to the west and is a trusted friend. He’s been known to come to the gate when one of his animals is sick or hurt. No one would be suspicious of him. If your captain and Kane wait nearby, they can enter the keep when the gate opens to let me out.”
Duncan paced the length of her room and back. “Gideon will not much appreciate my putting you in harm’s way, my lady.”
“These are my people, Sir Duncan. I will aid you in every way I can.”
He offered her another of his quick grins. “I can see why you have Gideon so stirred up.”
He gave her a quick bow. “I will send word to the captain of your plans. He will not be pleased, but perhaps it is good for him to not always get his way.”
She didn’t know how to react to that. Her mind was too busy whirling in circles over what lay ahead over the next day and night.
“Be careful, Sir Duncan. My uncle and Olaf make for very bad enemies.” She paused and said, “Please tell me that we are doing the right thing.”
Duncan had been about to slip back out of her room. He froze for a heartbeat, staring at her with those feral eyes. “Never forget that the gods granted your plea that we aid your cause. They send the Damned to walk the land only in the direst of times.”
At that moment, the warrior side of Duncan’s personality outshone his scholarly nature. “Right now someone has unleashed a great evil upon your land. Innocent people have died to feed its hunger. More will die if we don’t stop it while we can—if we still can.”
Then he disappeared, pulling her door closed. She crawled back under the covers, still clutching her knife and wishing she could somehow make it all go away. Praying she’d made the right decision by calling on the gods to send Gideon and his men to free her people, she closed her eyes and shut out the frightening place her world had become.
My Lady Mage: A Warriors of the Mist Novel Page 14