Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  “Randall is not here to govern the rash actions of his sister. This would bring havoc upon all our heads. Your loyalty to Lady Rhianna also means protecting her and the keep. If we rain arrows down upon our esteemed guests, would that be in the best interest of du Montefort?”

  Tristan hung his head sadly and replied, “Nay.”

  With a heavy sigh he said, “In truth I knew I could not do such a thing. It would be an act of treason at best.”

  “So, we must disobey the Lady this time. Lower the bridge and raise the portcullis, Tristan. We cannot risk the safety of our precious Rhianna now.”

  “As soon as she learns I have defied her, she will secure the keep, I am certain.”

  Andarra wistfully said, “Nay, she has been out all night tending Alric’s little Alys. She has not yet returned. By the time she does, our guests will be properly welcomed and settled.”

  “You are a devious woman, Andarra.”

  She looked wounded and she said, “Nay, the Fates have brought this honorable knight to our beautiful girl. Who am I to thwart Their machinations?”

  “Oh, it is the Fates now, is it? Woman, have you been conjuring again?”

  Tristan knew that many called their Rhianna a witch, but in truth Andarra was known for sometimes having visions and premonitions. She shrugged and said, “Nay. Can I help it if the Guardians show me what is to come?”

  Tristan knew not to mock Andarra’s visions. He learned not to discount them from either Andarra or Rhianna, for that matter.

  “What have you seen about this one sent to wed our flower?”

  The smile died on Andarra’s face. She grew quite serious and she said, “That he is to be her most irritating thorn…and he is to be her salvation….”

  Andarra’s voice wandered off. Tristan nodded in understanding and saw the old woman’s head lower. She had not told him all of it.

  “What else, Andarra? What is it that you have not said?”

  “He will be her greatest thorn, but also her greatest love.”

  Tristan’s grim visage split into a wide grin. Without a second thought, he lowered the drawbridge and raised the portcullis.

  ~Chapter Nine~

  Erik was surprised to see the drawbridge lowered. He momentarily thought that the forces guarding the keep were lax and careless until he realized that it had been lowered in welcome of their riding party. As he glanced up toward the battlements, though, he did not miss the number of bowmen that lined the castle walls. What the hell? Was he being led into a trap? He motioned for his men to hang back until he could be sure that the bowmen were not planning an ambush of his men. Though they were armed, they were not planning on doing battle at the site of Erik’s betrothed.

  Nearly halting his horse, Erik reined the animal in, skirting back as each of his guards filed past. He gave orders to prepare and he motioned with the slightest nod of his head toward the many archers that stood at the ready above them. It was enough for the men to glance up at the perceived threat that may lay in wait for them.

  Erik’s horse skittered nervously. He could sense his master’s unease and his hooves pawed the ground in a jittery dance. Erik sat up straight in his saddle and held the reins with more command. He spoke to the horse, willing it to calm. While he did not relish the thought of attack, Erik at least felt a sense of relief that the keep was guarded properly against invaders. He made a cursory assessment of the place and found it to be fortified to his satisfaction. He somehow had expected it to be naught more than a moldering pile of bricks. He was subconsciously pleased it was nothing of the sort.

  Before he could ponder the situation much longer, the portcullis raised and an elderly woman walking with the aid of a large staff crossed the inner bailey. She was flanked by two guards dressed in the green and gold livery of the house. One was as old as she, but he bore a sword strapped at his side and a bow was slung across his back. Erik’s eyes darted from each man to the woman in between. She was old enough to be his grandmother. Though she was veiled and wimpled, stray white hair crept from beneath the confines of the headdress. She was as plump as a quail and her cheeks were splotched with the ruddiness of age. Her hands, marred with liver spots and slightly gnarled, gripped the staff for support and she gave the briefest of curtsies as her arthritic limbs did not give way to movement that came with ease.

  All at once, realization came over Erik as the old woman spoke and a sick queasiness began to rise inside of him.

  “Welcome, Sir Ragnorsen. Welcome to du Montefort Keep.”

  Erik felt like he would once again lose the contents of his stomach. This woman; this aged old woman was his betrothed. This had to be a horrible joke. The devil take him! He was neither going to wed or bed this woman. The woman called for grooms to tend to the horses and Erik numbly dismounted and handed the bridle over to one of the stable mates. The old woman came forward and grabbed his hand. Erik practically recoiled at the touch but he dutifully raised her ancient hand to his lips.

  “My Lady,” he said in greeting.

  The old woman beamed a smile at him and she fairly clapped, saying, “Oh, he is so handsome, is he not Tristan?”

  Erik was horrified at the hag’s bold assessment of him. If she could devour him, Erik was pretty certain she clearly would. Beside it being improper and lacking decorum, it was not something an innocent woman would say to a man. For the love of God, the creature was as old as dirt! Could she really think that he….

  As brave a knight as he was, Erik was absolutely sure that no amount of courage could help him face the marriage to this one before him. The man she had called Tristan bowed before Erik and said, “Welcome, Sir. I am Sir Tristan. I oversee the men at arms of this keep.”

  Shaking off his horror, Erik pulled upon his warrior’s background and he focused on the older soldier standing before him. With a pensive nod, Erik said, “So it was your bowman standing at the ready upon our approach.”

  It was not a question. Color rose in Tristan’s face.

  “Forgive me, Sir Ragnorsen. T’was not my intention to wage war upon your entourage. In truth, Sir, I was under orders of the Lady to defend the keep from any intruders; even ones sent by the king.”

  Confusion fired in the cool blue depths of Erik’s eyes. With brows drawn together, he turned toward the old woman and said, “Why? Why would you set your bowman upon me?”

  With a giddy laugh, the old woman said, “Me? Goodness, no, Sir Erik. I surely did no such thing.”

  “Then if it was not you, who gave the orders to skewer the king’s retainers?”

  “I did.”

  All heads whipped around to see a bedraggled and mud-caked Rhianna, who was very much in need of a bath, stalking toward them. She looked murderous. Erik’s jaw fairly dropped at the sight of the specter before him. Both parties ground out, “You!” at precisely the same time, as one voice.

  Andarra wondered at their mutual greeting, but she could see wrath boiling in the emerald eyes of her lady as well as disdain smoldering in Sir Erik’s.

  “Who authorized these--these usurpers to enter into my home?”

  She turned on Tristan and she fairly shook with ire. Glaring at him and she accused, “You! I gave you orders, Tristan. You have vowed to defend this keep and this household. You have not only disobeyed me, you have broken the vow you have made to my father.”

  Wheeling on all who stood before her, she could barely contain her rage. “The lot of you are false traitors.”

  Both Tristan and Andarra stood aghast at the spectacle unfolding before them and before the honored guests. Tristan hung his head briefly but Sir Erik spoke, involuntarily coming to the defense of the old Captain of Arms.

  “You would have waged war on a Royal envoy? Thankfully your captain was far less foolish, my Lady.”

  He said the last with sarcastic courtesy for she neither looked like a lady of good breeding, nor had she behaved as such.

  Rhianna faced the Nordic giant; Thor! It was the hell guard that ha
d practically run her down!

  “How dare you? You nearly trampled me and now you think to ingratiate yourself into my home and with my vassals? Who do you think you are?”

  With an over-exaggerated bow, he replied, “Sir Erik Ragnorsen, Knight of the Realm for His Majesty, King Edward, at your service. And who might you be for surely, I must have mistaken you for a gutter urchin.”

  Rhianna was outraged at his comment and she spat out, “Lady Rhianna du Montefort, Mistress of the keep and head of this household.”

  As she bent in a mocking curtsey, a clod of mud slid down her cheek and landed on the toe of Erik’s boot. It completely undermined her sense of sarcasm. Erik’s gaze followed the dirt that had landed on his boot and then he glanced at Drew, who was grinning like a simpleton. Erik’s eyes finally looked into the emerald fire of his mud encrusted betrothed and he felt laughter bubbling up inside of him. At first, he tried to cough to mask it, but try as he might, he could not suppress it. What began as a low chuckle soon turned into a full guffaw. It was now Rhianna who thought that this man’s wits were addled. The blond giant was nearly doubled over in laughter. Rhianna failed to see the humor in it. The handsome guard, standing beside him, was also grinning like the village idiot. Andarra was smiling with glee and even Tristan had cracked a smile. Looking from face to face of those surrounding her, Rhianna was starting to feel distressed. Had they all gone mad? With her hands planted firmly on her hips, she snapped, “I do not see what is so amusing.”

  At her clipped words, Erik only laughed harder. As tears formed in the big man’s eyes, he held his side. He hadn’t laughed this hard in quite some time. He muttered, “I am sorry…my--my lady.…” and that brought a fresh bout of laughter from inside of him. “But you see I mistook this gentlewoman for you and well…no offense, madam.…”

  “None taken, Sir. No one as young and virile as yourself would want an old woman to wed, even if the king deemed it so. I am not offended,” Andarra responded good-naturedly.

  “Pardon me, but I am offended. So now you know that your betrothed is a wild, filthy woman, is that it?”

  “Well yes, but.…”

  “And you think it is quite amusing to splatter the lady of the keep with mud and insinuate yourself into my home, causing my loyal vassals to immediately disobey me? You think this is all very funny, don’t you? Well, I sadly do not find it so. After you have refreshed yourself and your horses, at my expense, I might add, I would ask you to kindly go back from whence you came and tell your liege lord that I will not marry you.”

  That scathing and rude dissertation sobered Erik’s laughter rapidly. With arms crossed over his broad chest, Erik said, “I am afraid that will not be possible. My liege lord, His Royal Majesty, the King has given neither you nor I any choice in the matter. You WILL marry me, Madame; like it or no.”

  As his eyes raked over her, he could not resist adding, “I only hope that on our wedding day, you will at least have the good sense to bathe.”

  Rhianna’s eyes widened in horror. It was all she could do to not fling herself at him and scratch his eyes out. No end of curses flew from her lips and she called him every vile name from a pig to a dog. He stood by and let her spend her venom on him until he could take not a word more. Without overly thinking, he suspected if she was not covered in mud, she may even be quite beautiful, though at the moment it was hard to tell. He was so relieved to not have to marry the old tiring woman, but this one’s sharp tongue was burning his ears. Such foul language should never form on the lips of a well-bred lady. Shaking his head so that his blond hair brushed over his shoulders, Erik said, “Tutt tutt, such nasty words.”

  His hand swift as lightening, darted forward grabbing under her jaw. It forced her to still her tirade and he threw propriety to the wind. The time for polite pleasantries had surely passed at this point. His mouth crushed down on hers in a punishing kiss. It took her breath away and the surprise of it shocked her into silence. It shook her to the core of her being. As Erik’s lips left hers, he took the opportunity to speak.

  “Hmm, a bit gritty, but not altogether unpleasant. There, now, this is a warning, Lady. If you ever use your pretty lips to hurl vile words at me in front of my men again, you will not be able to sit for a week.”

  Rhianna found her voice and was about to begin another tirade when Erik kissed her again. Her lips felt bruised and she tried to bite down on his lower lip but he held her jaw still and she could only feel the possessive kiss that was stirring more than her ire. Damn him!

  “Mark me, Rhianna. I am a man of my words.”

  He released his hold on her and he nodded a brief bow. “By your leave, Mistress. I need to tend to my men and my horses.”

  And with that, he turned on his heel and walked from the main hall. Rhianna could tell he was as furious as she was but to hell with him! This was her home and while she was still not his wife, she planned to keep it that way. She stormed off to her apartments to cool her temper and to get out of her filthy clothes.

  ~Chapter Ten~

  Rhianna was livid. She had ordered a bath and thought a good soak would wash her anger away, but even after her body had been washed clean of the mud and the water had cooled, Rhianna could not rein in her ire. That man was infuriating, conceited, cocksure, and arrogant! Who the bloody hell did he think he was? How dare he threaten to spank her? How dare he kiss her so unchastely? As she stood in a clean shift, Rhianna began pacing in her chambers. Andarra let herself in and Rhianna shot her a look of hurt and betrayal.

  “Leave me be, Andarra. You are dismissed and Tristan along with you. I care not when you leave, but find yourself out of this keep immediately.”

  “You do not mean it and you know it,” the old woman replied.

  “You defied my orders. I cannot allow it, nor will I forgive it.”

  “You do not need to forgive it, if you must, so be it. Aye, we defied you. We had to. Think about it. Did you really wish to declare war on the royal envoy? Instead of a marriage to a knight of the Realm and a right handsome knight he is, I might add, you would have bought your way into the king’s prison after your precious keep was razed. God only knows what would have befallen you and all who did your bidding. Rape and torture would only come before certain death…death for us all. Our forces are good, but none could stand against the king’s soldiers. Even you are not so arrogant and smug to believe such a thing.”

  Rhianna made a sound like “Hmphhh” in defiance.

  “We only had your best interest at heart, my lady. We are no match for the king’s army. Besides, women your age are married for years already. Sometimes to men they could never even want to kiss, let along love.”

  “I do not want to kiss or love him,” Rhianna spat.

  “Truly? It did not seem that you pushed him away when he kissed you.”

  Rhianna turned on Andarra and she fairly screeched, “He had no right to take that kiss. It was not freely given and it was most improper and rude. I was utterly mortified.”

  Andarra leaned on her staff and smiled innocently. “Perhaps it was, rude; aye. Lord knows you are familiar with rudeness. I still do not recall you pushing him away, though.”

  “You dare much, Andarra. T’is not enough that you and Tristan have betrayed me. Now you think to chastise and mock me as well.”

  “I am not mocking you. The truth is that the king has provided a wonderful match for you; one that is profitable and appealing. He is not odious to look at. He is a man of means and is respected. Why any girl would be happy to marry a man like Sir Erik.”

  Again, Rhianna fairly grunted in response.

  “As far as chastising you,” Andarra continued. “I have not even begun to do that. But since you have brought the matter up, your actions were not befitting a lady of your station. You have set your men against guests to your home and royal guests at that.”

  “He is not royal.”

  “He is on business of the king, thus he is as good as royal. Never-the-less, in
stead of welcoming his retinue, you set your bowmen at the ready; a point he had not missed, I might add. He suspected he was being led into some sort of ambush. He is not a stupid man and he is quite the astute warrior. Then you show up, covered from head to toe in filth. It was a sight to sicken the resolve of the most battle hardened. If there are any reasons to be mortified, it would be these I have mentioned thus far.”

  “I was working in the village helping a child. I slipped and fell into a mud puddle when his horses startled me,” Rhianna brooded.

  Andarra would have none of it. The girl was acting like a spoiled child. She replied, “And then, when you did show up, you were rude and inhospitable. The vile things you said to him! I vow would have made a sailor blush. I wish I could have stopped you, but you seemed convinced to paint the worst picture of yourself. You were hell bent on your own destruction. If I were Sir Erik, I would have turned tail and run back to the king to let him know that you were unmarriageable and perhaps, maybe even a little mad.”

  “He--he threatened me.”

  “How so? I heard him make no threat against you.”

  “He--he said he was going to strike me.”

  “What he said was if you continued to make a fool of him in front of his men, you would not sit for a week. I would say that is not the same thing and in fact, would be well deserved.”

  “He had no right. I am not a child. He cannot threaten to spank me like one.”

  “Well then call me the fool. You certainly acted like an ill-mannered child in need of a paddling. I dare say I am ashamed of you.”

  Rhianna laughed bitterly at that comment, but Andarra could see past her bravado, which seemed to be slipping away.

  “I do not care if you are ashamed of me or not. Last I looked, I am still the lady of this keep.”

  “Well then, it is high time that you acted as such. Put on a lovely gown and come to dine at the evening meal. Show Sir Erik what a jewel he has garnered as his betrothed.”