The Silken Cord

by Leigh Bale

  “Let him go. You cannot win.” Ariana’s voice wobbled.

  Edwin gave a chilling laugh, his face and eyes hollow in the shadows. His gaze skimmed her body and he wrinkled his nose with disgust when he saw her mannish garb. “This boy will make me a wealthy man. Your people will obey my every whim, as long as I have you or him in my control. Do you think I’m daft?”

  A laugh burst from her throat. “Do you really want me to answer that? I think you’re a selfish blackguard who cares about nothing but himself.”

  His upper lip curled in a snarl and he moved to the middle of the room, pushing Dafydd with him. Markus cowered by the door, next to the sacks of grain.

  “You should be very careful what you say to me, princess. I can make your life a living hell,” Edwin said.

  She snorted. “Why, sir, you’ve already done that.”

  His face darkened with rage and he tightened his grip on Dafydd’s arm. The boy whimpered.

  She shouldn’t bait Edwin. Not now. Not when he could punish Dafydd for her sharp words.

  Markus shifted next to his father, his forehead furrowed, his eyes crinkled in a frown. “Father, let him g…go. He’s a little boy. This isn’t r…right.”

  Edwin spared his son no more than a disgusted glance. Without warning, he lashed out at Markus, striking the boy across the face.

  Markus gasped and staggered back, clasping a hand to his cheek where a red welt now appeared. His eyes stared with incredulity.

  “Shut up, you half-wit. I’ll deal with you later.” Edwin’s tone sounded low and threatening, his eyes filled with pure loathing.

  Poor Markus. He’d shown valor, yet his father didn’t appreciate his courage.

  Brutally handsome, Edwin’s hair fell across his brow, the color of a raven’s wing, his eyes dark as deepest night. Aye, he was pleasant to look upon but it was an illusion. His wide shoulders and strong arms were something to admire, but Ariana recognized the coldness in his eyes, the harsh lines of his jaw, and the fiendish smile.

  Edwin of Carlinham was an evil man.

  “If you want your brother to live, you’ll cooperate with me.” Edwin’s icy gaze swept her.

  Pulling Dafydd with him, he took a step closer, and Ariana took two steps back. Shivers tingled up her spine. She must free Dafydd, but how?

  He spoke softly, his voice slaying and cruel. “You’ve been very devious, my dear. I don’t know how you and Wulfgar de Conteville brought your men into Cynan, but it won’t save you.”

  “You would kill me?”

  “No, I will wed you.”

  “I will never agree.”

  “Even to save your brother’s life?”

  Ariana jutted her chin. “Wulfgar has all but taken control of the castle. It’s only a matter of time before he comes for you.”

  His cackling laughter filled the room. “How long do you think he’ll hold Cynan before King William arrives and beheads him alongside Lord Huntingdon? There will be no one to challenge my ownership of Cynan. I’m the Earl of Glyndwr. It’d be in your best interest to make an alliance with me, princess. If you make it worth my while, I can be very generous.”

  Ariana stared in horror. Think, think. Maybe she could buy some time.

  “My people would never accept you as my husband,” she said.

  He chuckled. “They would to protect you. Give yourself to me and I’ll no longer trouble your people. I’ll let your brother go unharmed.”

  The liar. She didn’t believe him.

  “Once you’re my wife, you’ll provide me with an heir to rule over the Welsh. With such an army, I’d be able to defeat William and rule all of England.”

  Was he mad? In order for her child to rule, it would mean Dafydd was…

  Dead.

  The thought almost suffocated her. Cold fear clutched at her heart. Edwin would kill Dafydd and force her into marriage, to produce a puppet king for him to rule.

  Heat rose in her cheeks when she considered how this despicable man planned to use her. “You’re already married. That’s one of the many reasons my father refused your proposals. Where is your wife?”

  Dafydd struggled to be free and Edwin squeezed the boy harder with his arm. “Sybil died over a month ago. A very unfortunate accident, I’m sorry to say. I’m free to take another wife.”

  Markus moaned, his eyes filled with misery. Something in Edwin’s demeanor and the wintry tone of his voice made her believe he’d had something to do with his wife’s death. Ariana had no doubt he would have murdered the poor woman to obtain his own selfish desires.

  Her fingers tightened and the cold hilt of her dagger bit into her palm.

  He stepped nearer, crunching wheat berries beneath his feet. “Your father’s warriors will be no threat against William’s army.”

  Ariana didn’t speak for fear she’d scream with rage. She looked at his muscled body, his lean torso and full mouth, and felt revulsion so strong it almost made her sick. She’d kill herself before giving him a child.

  She shuddered. “Wulfgar will hold Cynan and you’ll be dead.”

  His eyes narrowed with contempt. “You are wrong, my dear. If I thought Wulfgar cared for you, I’d offer you in exchange for Cynan. But he’ll try to hold his castle. It’s all he cares about.”

  His words twisted her heart. She resisted the urge to panic. Edwin took another step, squeezing her brother’s neck in a vice. The boy gasped, his face turning red.

  “Stop.” Ariana’s voice shook as she lifted the dagger and stabbed the air.

  His grip tightened and Dafydd’s eyes bulged, his face turning blue.

  “All right. If you release Dafydd, I’ll go with you.”

  He released the pressure on Dafydd’s neck and his brows lifted. “I knew you would listen to reason.”

  She held her breath.

  A wicked smile spread its way across Edwin’s face and a feral gleam filled his eyes. He chuckled, seeming pleased with himself. “Good. I knew you’d listen to reason.”

  Releasing Dafydd, he thrust the boy toward the door leading out to the bailey. Ariana breathed with relief as Dafydd leaned against the door and coughed, rubbing his throat. Markus tried to help the boy, but Edwin drew back his hand to strike his son again.

  “Stay where you are,” Edwin snarled.

  Markus met his father’s gaze without flinching, but he stood very still. He was young and didn’t have the strength to stand up to a cruel man like his father.

  “Run, Dafydd,” Ariana urged. “Find Evan. He’ll know what to do.”

  Dafydd lifted the latch and fled. Edwin closed the door, locking her in. Tendrils of fear coiled in Ariana’s stomach. There was danger outside in the bailey. If Evan was dead, would Wulfgar and his men help the boy return to his people?

  Could she trust Wulfgar? Oh, she prayed so.

  The sounds of battle were more subdued. A shrill call filled the night air, deep and chilling. The cry of a wolf.

  Wulfgar’s war cry.

  So he had won his castle. Could she stall Edwin until Wulfgar came for her?

  Doubt filled her mind. Wulfgar might not come. He might be too preoccupied with his victory. Doubt assailed her mind. They both had met their desires. There were no more agreements between them and Wulfgar owed her no loyalty.

  Somehow she wanted more between them. Much, much more.

  Edwin stepped near and she lifted her dagger, intending to stab him. Now that Dafydd was free, she’d fight Edwin tooth and nail.

  With lightning speed, he knocked the weapon from her hand. She fell against the bags of grain, no match for his strength and reflexes.

  He picked up her dagger and gave a guttural laugh. “You’re a fool, Ariana. Now that your father is dead, there’s no one to come to your aid.”

  She stilled. How did he know King Rhys was dead? Someone must have told him. Perhaps no more than a slip of the tongue. It was inevitable.

  He paused, but she didn’t answer and he taunted her further. “Come, you�
�re so quiet. Have you nothing to say?”

  “I loathe you.” Her heart constricted with hatred and she feared God would never forgive her for it.

  “You’ll bow before me,” he roared so suddenly that Ariana flinched.

  A spray of spit came from his mouth and she drew away with disgust. She felt the blood drain from her face, but was determined not to show him any weakness. Jutting her chin, she met his gaze.

  “Never,” she whispered vehemently.

  “Beware of insolence, Ariana. I can easily find and kill your brother. Don’t give me cause. If only my previous wife were still alive, she could warn you about me. Alas, she lost her usefulness and no longer pleased me. I was forced to wring her neck before I threw her down the stairs.”

  Markus inhaled a sharp breath, his eyes filled with loathing as he stared at his father. He breathed in deep, harsh breaths, his hands clenched.

  How cruel. Did Edwin have no mercy?

  Nay! Not one bit. Ariana could expect none from him either.

  She gaped at him with horror. She had heard Edwin’s wife was a gentlewoman, soft spoken and pleasant to look upon. But the fact that Edwin had murdered the woman, and freely confessed it to her now in front of his own son, sickened Ariana.

  Bracing her feet, she stood her ground. Horror crowded into her heart but she refused to show this vile man just how much his words affected her. Instead, she laughed, as if she found him hilarious.

  “What a horrid man you are, Edwin,” she exclaimed in a delighted tone. “Surely you must have many enemies. It’s you who should beware lest you find a slim knife pressed between your ribs. Do you really think the townsfolk of Cynan will have you back? They gladly fight below to take the castle so they can be rid of you. They hate you and are sworn to kill you if they can.”

  His face reddened. “Enough. It’s time to go.”

  Jerking on her hands, he tied them together with a coarse piece of rope, then dragged her over to the sally port. She fought him, trying to claw his face, but his strength overcame her.

  Looking at Markus, Edwin jutted his chin toward the ladder. “You go down first.”

  Markus slid down the ladder, but his eyes were filled with loathing for his father. Surely the boy had cared for his mother. He must be deeply upset by what his father had done.

  Edwin nudged Ariana toward the top rung, winding one end of the rope around his own hand so she couldn’t flee. “Don’t try anything stupid or you’ll fall and break your neck. I’ll be right above you.”

  With her hands tied, she could do little damage and struggled to keep her footing on the rungs. Mid-way, she lost her balance and slid down several steps before regaining her balance. Markus waited at the bottom, standing in the tall grass at the base of the stonewall only a few feet from the moat.

  Edwin was almost on top of her, following close at her head. When his feet touched the ground, he gave a hard shove and knocked the ladder down so Wulfgar wouldn’t be able to follow this way.

  Ariana’s heart toppled with it.

  Edwin wasted no time sneaking along the edge of the town wall. Tugging on her tied hands, he pulled her along as he raced across the clearing toward the town. Markus trotted to keep up.

  A terrible screech filled the air as the portcullis began to rise.

  Watching carefully, Edwin dragged Ariana behind as he stole his way along the castle walls to the palisade surrounding the town. He showed a wicked smile when they cleared the gate and made their way down a deserted alley. The first corral they passed contained two shaggy horses munching hay.

  “Saddle those nags,” Edwin ordered Markus while he stood watch over Ariana.

  Markus hurried to do his father’s bidding but he was young and small and took too long to suit Edwin.

  “Worthless whelp,” Edwin growled as he knocked the boy aside and took the saddle from his hands. He tossed it onto the animal’s back.

  As he pushed the railings off the gate so they could depart, Markus threw a furious glower at Edwin.

  “Your father isn’t kind to you,” Ariana observed.

  “I hate him.” The boy didn’t stutter this time.

  She wasn’t surprised Markus hated Edwin. “Many people detest your father.”

  “I would leave him if I could,” Markus confided.

  “Why don’t you go?”

  “Father would kill me if I tried.”

  What kind of man would kill his own son?

  She remembered her own father, a fierce and powerful ruler who also knew how to show mercy and gratitude. She had hated angering him, but he was quick to forgive, hugging her to him as he kissed her forehead. Never would she forget his kind smile.

  “Sometimes to be a man, you have to conquer your greatest fears,” she told Markus.

  The boy’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he stared at her. She had no opportunity to say more before Edwin came to take her by the arm. Because her hands were still tied, Edwin lifted her into the saddle. Hoping to escape, she kicked her heels against the horse.

  Run! Run!

  The animal reared, throwing her to the ground. She lay in the straw, stunned, gasping for breath, her body aching.

  Edwin leaned over her and pressed the point of his knife against her throat. “Do that again, and I’ll kill you. There are other ways for me to bring the Welsh to heel besides wedding you.”

  She swallowed as he yanked her to her feet. Again, he placed her in the saddle, holding the reins taut as he followed her up, sitting directly behind her.

  He wrapped an arm around her. Her skin crawled and she hunched away from him. Without waiting to see if Markus was ready, Edwin kicked his mount into a run across the flowered fields.

  Giving the gelding full rein, Edwin dug his heels into the horse’s flanks. They bounded away as the rising sun blazed red and gold across the land. Riding over the crest of a hill, they came up short at the site that greeted their eyes.

  Ariana’s mouth dropped open and her breath froze in her throat.

  At least four hundred men stood before them, dressed in full battle gear, sitting astride large warhorses. Another five hundred archers stood on foot behind the mounted knights. Their colored banners flapped in the breeze, their weapons gleaming brightly in the morning sunlight, their faces hard and fierce.

  Who were they?

  As Edwin drew in rein, Ariana couldn’t contain a cry of fear. Never had she seen such a terrorizing sight.

  Riders closed in on them from behind. Armed knights rode on either side, closing them in.

  Edwin wisely let the knights reach gauntleted hands out to grasp the reins at their horse’s muzzles, securing control over their mounts.

  The coward. Wulfgar would have fought a thousand men rather than submit.

  Their horse slowed and came to a walk, blowing hard. Ariana caught a glimpse of Markus sitting his horse, just to the side of them, his face pale.

  Ariana pulled at the tight bindings on her wrists. She would try to break away if she could, but Edwin sat behind her and held her securely. Instead, she clutched the pommel of the saddle with whitened knuckles and began to pray. All seemed hopeless, but she must not forget her faith in God. Surely He had their fate in the hollow of his hand. Her faith was all she could depend upon now.

  Sitting at the fore on a gray charger, a giant man of notable distinction rested one hand against the cantle of his saddle. His war horse was the largest she’d ever seen, pawing the earth with its powerful hooves. Power radiated from the man and the other warriors trained their attention on him, waiting for his command.

  No doubt another Norman earl, come to war against Cynan.

  Ariana could only guess his identity. Fine woolen clothing peeked out from beneath his chain mail. The embellished trappings on his horse spoke of great wealth. She didn’t need to be told that he was their leader.

  Ariana sat silent and waited, careful not to let her fear show. She was a princess of Wales and would show courage to the end. Dafydd
and Wulfgar were safe, nothing else mattered.

  “Ah, Lord Carlinham. So nice of you to join us. What word do you bring me from Cynan?” the giant asked in a gruff, bass voice.

  The giant man knew Edwin. He spoke in French and Ariana thought this logical. He was Norman, after all.

  The horse shifted restlessly beneath her and she could feel the stares of numerous men upon her. Warriors, prepared for battle.

  She resisted a shudder. Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades and she wished to remove the still-damp and scratchy woolen tunic. Tendrils of hair tickled her cheeks and she brushed them back with her bound hands.

  Edwin bowed his head with respect. “Your Majesty. It is with regret that I must report Wulfgar de Conteville and his band of outlawed knights have snuck inside Cynan during the night and taken control. I’ve just fled the keep so I might come and bring you word.”

  Ariana stiffened and her gaze flew to the giant’s ruddy cheeks and narrowed eyes. She felt the blood drain from her face. His Majesty?

  “King William,” she whispered, widening her eyes with shock.

  How had he come to be here so soon? Wulfgar needed time to gather supplies and prepare the castle for siege. He needed time to prove his innocence. If the king were here now, she could only imagine what might happen next.

  “Who are you, woman? And why are you dressed as a boy?” the king asked, his eyes crinkled with intelligence.

  A multitude of thoughts burst through Ariana’s head. Would William listen if she pleaded for Wulfgar’s cause?

  Raising her chin higher, Ariana regarded the long line of savage warriors.

  “I am Ariana, Princess of Powys, daughter of King Rhys of Wales. I wish to flee the tyranny of Edwin of Carlinham.”

  Praise the heavens, her voice didn’t falter.

  Edwin tightened his grip on her shoulders and she jerked against him.

  The king’s gaze narrowed, catching every movement. “I can understand your animosity toward Carlinham. He’s an enemy to the Welsh.”

  “Enemy?” She gave a caustic laugh. “I would choose a different word to describe Edwin of Carlinham. Evil is a better choice.”