The Lady and the Falconer

by Laurel O'Donnell

  Logan sped on, racing out of the chapel and into a long hallway. He shoved aside an ornate tapestry hanging on the wall and disappeared into the secret passageway hidden behind it. His heart pounded in his chest. He had never been more scared in his life. The possibility of losing Solace forever terrified him more than anything had ever terrified him in his life, more than his first fight with Goliath when he nearly lost his own life, more than seeing Farindale’s army approaching his father’s castle those many years ago.

  He ran through the darkness, slipping several times on the mossy floor in his frantic drive to reach Solace.

  The narrow corridor reeked of mold and decay. And death. He ran faster, his breath exploding from his lungs, his blood hammering in his ears. He knew where the passageway emerged; the exit was up on the northern tower of the castle. He could reach Barclay through the battlements. He emerged from the passageway just outside the spiraling steps of the tower. He charged up the stairs and out onto the battlements.

  As Logan sped across the battlements toward the north wall, the wind whipped his hair around his face. Above him, dark clouds churned in an ominous black sky. He rounded a corner in the walkway to see Barclay and Solace already emerging from the passage. Solace attempted to break free, lurching forward, but Barclay caught hold of her dress and dragged her back.

  “Barclay!” Logan shouted, his angry voice rising above the shrillness of the wind.

  Barclay turned to face him, keeping his sword at Solace’s throat.

  Logan’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the blade in Barclay’s hands. It was his father’s, the blade he had entrusted to Logan, the blade he had given his son in recognition of his emerging manhood. Again, Logan’s body shook with rage, a tremor rippling through him.

  “Let her go,” he ordered, surprised at the calmness of his voice.

  Thunder rumbled in the sky above.

  Logan approached slowly, the strong wind blowing the hair away from his eyes, slapping at his clothes, trying to push him back from Solace. But no force of nature could keep him from her.

  Barclay held the sword to Solace’s throat, the lashing wind blowing her hair around her face, into Barclay’s eyes.

  “Let her go!” Logan repeated, deadly intent in the rumble from his throat. “It’s me you want.”

  Lightning flashed behind Logan as thick black clouds continued to roll across the sky.

  “I have no interest in you and I never did,” Barclay called back. “Now back away or she is dead.”

  Logan stiffened. If he backed away now, Barclay would escape. If he didn’t, Barclay would gladly slit Solace’s throat. Logan took a step back.

  Suddenly, his falcon swooped down from the ominous sky, its claws outstretched, its screeching cry drowning out even the loud blasts of thunder coming from the black clouds above! The falcon clawed at Barclay’s head, scratching at his eyes with its sharp talons. Barclay shrieked in shock and fear. He shoved Solace away from him, arcing his sword at the bird. The falcon fluttered away, easily avoiding Barclay’s attack.

  Solace screamed as the force of Barclay’s push sent her hurtling toward the castle wall. A brilliant flare of lightning burned into the sky, forever searing the image of Solace toppling over the battlements into Logan’s mind.

  He lunged for Solace as she fell over the edge, dropping his sword as he moved. His fingers somehow managed to find and encircle her slim wrist, but the sudden weight in his grasp pulled Logan down sharply and his stomach slammed into the stone wall, knocking his breath from his lungs. He felt her flesh slide along his fingers.

  “Logan!” Solace cried up at him, her face tight with pain. Below her, far below her, the ground was littered with sharp-edged stones. No one could survive a fall from the battlements.

  “Hold on!” he shouted down at her. The wind whipped around them, buffeting Solace’s body with strong gusts, knocking her into the stone wall again and again. His fingers ached with the strain of holding her. “Hold on!” he shouted again. Logan clenched his teeth and began pulling her up toward him, his muscles bulging and rippling with power as he tugged. He managed to pull her up high enough so she could grab onto the edge of the castle wall.

  That was when he heard footsteps rushing up behind him.

  Logan turned instinctively, releasing Solace, moving away just in time to sidestep Barclay’s swing. The blade smashed into the castle wall, chunks of stone spitting up mere inches from where Solace clung for her life. Solace screamed as tiny bits of rock showered her, and Logan saw her grip slip as her body dropped a foot back down the outer wall.

  Quickly, he put his foot to the Baron’s chest and shoved him backward. Barclay stumbled away from him, then fell, the blade tumbling from his grasp.

  Logan scooped up his father’s sword, his sword, and stood before Barclay. He gripped the blade tightly in his fingers, the weapon now an extension of his being. He moved toward Barclay.

  “Just back away,” he told the Baron.

  But Barclay grabbed Logan’s dropped sword and stood tall before him, meeting his stormy gaze with a dark stare of his own.

  Logan glanced to his left to see Solace struggling to keep her grip on the castle wall. “Logan,” she called to him, her eyes beseeching him for help. She was between the Baron and himself. If he made a move to help her, Barclay would cut him down. He had to get him away from Solace.

  “Now, we finish this,” Logan snarled as he attacked, slamming his sword down onto Barclay’s, driving the Baron back, away from Solace. He fought desperately, knowing that each second that passed brought Solace closer to her death.

  The wind churned around the two fighters, pulling at their clothing. Thunder rumbled in the gray sky above them. Logan drove Barclay back and moved toward Solace, but Barclay swung after him, forcing Logan to engage him again. They crossed swords, Logan’s face a grimace of agony as Solace called out to him again.

  “What’s wrong, old friend?” Barclay wondered through gritted teeth. A flash of lightning revealed a grotesque, distorted grin splitting Barclay’s face. “Distracted? You’d better hurry. It looks like she’s slipping.”

  Logan shoved off, swinging with all his might. Barclay blocked the blow, but the force of the strike dropped him to his knees. Logan lashed out with his boot, kicking his foe solidly in the face. Barclay tumbled back to the ground as blood spurted from his nostrils. He howled with outrage, holding his fingers to his bleeding nose.

  Logan turned away from his fallen enemy and raced back for Solace. He grabbed her under her arms and pulled her over the wall, up onto the battlement. “Are you all right?” he asked gently, holding her up as her trembling legs buckled beneath her.

  Solace nodded, clutching at him. She looked up into his eyes --

  -- and screamed! Logan spun away from her, lifting his blade in time to block Barclay’s strike. Again, the two crossed swords, their faces inches apart.

  Lightning flashed in the sky, followed by a tremendous crack of thunder.

  “Maybe you can buy your way out of hell,” Logan growled.

  “You’ve already sold your soul to the devil,” Barclay spat back. “Bedding your enemy’s daughter.”

  Logan pushed off, taking a few steps back from Barclay.

  Barclay attacked immediately, swinging for Logan’s head. Logan ducked and whirled, spinning rapidly in a tight circle, bringing his blade toward the Baron’s knees. Barclay angled his weapon down, blocking Logan’s strike.

  Logan rose to his full height and glared heatedly at Barclay. A grim determination etched itself into his features, his face turning to stone. “You have betrayed me,” he said evenly to the Baron. He swung his blade at Barclay and sparks flashed into the air as the hard metals collided.

  “You’re an idealistic fool,” Barclay retorted.

  “You have tortured and maimed my brother.” The power behind Logan’s strikes intensified. He pushed Barclay back a step under the strength of his blows.

  “He’s a stubborn idiot wi
th the brain of a gnat,” Barclay snarled.

  “You have threatened and risked the life of my lady,” Logan said through gritted teeth.

  “She’s nothing but a whore,” Barclay spat out.

  Logan attacked Barclay mercilessly, swinging again and again, forcing the Baron to retreat under his savage onslaught. Then Logan feinted with an over handed blow and Barclay moved to block it. Logan thrust, driving his sword into Barclay’s stomach.

  Time froze for a moment, Barclay clutching his sword above his head, Logan holding onto the pommel of his weapon, the blade lodged deep in Barclay’s stomach.

  Barclay lowered his head slowly, his eyes filled with disbelief, to stare at the sword buried deep inside him. He lifted his fading gaze to Logan.

  Logan grimaced as he pushed the blade deeper into Barclay’s gut.

  Barclay pulled his sword down at Logan in one final attempt to kill him. Logan easily sidestepped the swing, and the weapon clattered to the stones of the tower. The impetus sent Barclay forward onto his hands and knees, and Logan stepped to the side to let him fall.

  When Solace ran to Logan, he wrapped her in a warm embrace, their gazes locked on Barclay. Barclay managed to push himself over onto his back, gasping for a breath as he moved. His fingers convulsively gripped the handle of the Grey sword buried inside him. Blood soaked through his black tunic and spilled through his fingers. He lifted his eyes to Logan. His lips curled up in a grin, and he opened his mouth to speak. But the only thing that came out was a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. His blue eyes rolled into his head and his body slackened.

  For a long moment, everything was still. In the sky above, the falcon circled Logan and Solace. It cawed once and then flew off.

  Logan hugged Solace tightly. “It’s over,” he groaned, burying his face in the strands of her silken hair.

  The first drops of rain fell from the sky, splashing over Barclay. The cool rain splattered against Logan’s shoulders, and he pulled Solace into the protective shelter of his arms. Suddenly, the sky opened and a heavy downpour drenched the tower, the castle, the lands.

  ***

  Solace stepped into the chapel beside Logan to find many of his men lounging around the pews. Blade straightened upon seeing them, and a bright grin lit his face. “Grey,” he exclaimed happily.

  The remaining men stood, rushing forward, enveloping them in a tide of warmth.

  “They’ve fled, Logan,” Blade said. “Goliath took some men to make sure they were gone, but most of Barclay’s men were mercenaries. Looks like they didn’t think he was worth dying for.”

  Logan slapped Blade on the shoulder. “Good work,” he said, moving through the rush of men.

  “Ah! Thank the Lord!”

  Solace knew that voice. A feeling of anticipation filled her, and she pushed through the crowd. “Father!” she cried out.

  The crowd parted like a curtain before lord Farindale as he rushed toward her. He barely gave her time to acknowledge he was alive, he was real, before he embraced her in a powerful hug.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, holding her tightly.

  “No,” she gasped, trembling all over. “I can’t believe it. I thought you were dead.” She held onto him as though at any moment he might disintegrate and disappear from her embrace.

  “No, Solace,” he murmured into her hair.

  “Father!”

  Solace turned to see Beth hobbling into the chapel, working her way past Logan’s friends to where Solace and the others stood. “Oh, Father!” she exclaimed, throwing herself at him. “I thought you would never come!”

  Lord Farindale caught Beth in his arms, but did not greet her with the warmth he had greeted Solace. There was a reserve to him that startled Solace. Finally, he set Beth away from him. He looked at her rounded stomach and then back at her face.

  “It was horrible,” Beth muttered, burying her face in her father’s tunic.

  Lord Farindale exchanged glances with Logan.

  Solace looked up at Logan to find his eyes cold and hard.

  “You never tried to contact me,” lord Farindale said calmly.

  Beth pulled back to look into his eyes. “I -- I couldn’t. Edwin allowed me no visitors. He locked me in my room. I had –”

  “I’ve been in the castle amongst the monks for two days now, Beth,” Farindale interrupted. “I saw how you fawned all over him. I saw how you willingly shared your bed with him.”

  “It was an act!” Beth shouted. “I had to protect myself!”

  Lord Farindale reached into his tunic to pull out a dagger. It was the dagger Logan had found when Graham attacked Solace. It was the dagger Ryder had assaulted Solace with. “I gave this to you before I left,” Farindale said.

  “Yes! I recognize it,” Beth agreed. “Where did you get it?”

  Farindale’s eyes narrowed. “The man who attacked Solace had it.”

  “It was stolen!” Beth shouted. “I swear. It’s been missing for months!”

  “Your lies will never again touch my heart,” Farindale said stoically. “Power and greed have always run through your veins. Unlike Solace, you are selfish and unkind. I will take you to a nunnery where you will spend the rest of your days in prayer for your sins.”

  “Father! I beg you! I am with child! You can not do this!” Beth pleaded.

  Farindale turned his back to her, signaling one of his men to take her away. Her screams echoed in the chapel, slowly fading into silence.

  “The sisters will see to her child,” lord Farindale explained in response to Solace’s worried look. “Do not worry.”

  Farindale turned a severe gaze on Logan before setting a hand on his shoulder. Solace saw unease spreading over Logan’s face until her father spoke. “I owe you much, son,” Farindale said. “My daughter. My castle. How can I repay you?”

  Logan would ask for Castle Fulton, Solace knew. It was what he wanted most of all. And he should have it. He deserved it. A strange, melancholy feeling settled over her.

  Logan’s gaze swept his men, who smiled at him in triumph. Finally, his stare settled on Solace.

  “Lord Farindale,” Logan said. “There is only one thing I want.”

  Solace bowed her head in acceptance.

  Logan continued. “I wish to have your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

  Solace’s eyes widened in surprise and her head snapped up, her gaze locking with Logan’s. A cry of joy bubbled from her lips.

  “I should have guessed as much,” Farindale said. “You have my best wishes.”

  Solace ran forward, throwing herself into Logan’s arms. He easily caught her, spinning her around, laughing. When her feet hit the ground, she reached up to press a kiss to his lips.

  The men chortled, and murmurs of approval echoed through the chapel.

  “Of course,” Farindale added, stilling the joyous moment, “with my daughter’s hand come many responsibilities.”

  Logan and Solace turned to him. Solace noticed the sternness in her father’s eyes, and wariness gripped her.

  “I’m away at war much of the time. I need someone to protect my daughter, someone to look after her. But I also need someone to see to my lands, my castle. It bequeaths me to have it be my heir.”

  “Oh, Logan,” Solace gasped. She turned her gaze up into his joyful face with more passion and relief and gratitude -- and love -- than she had ever felt before.

  Epilogue

  The wind blew Logan’s dark hair about his face as he stood before Fulton’s main gate. He watched with a growing sadness as his brother climbed onto his horse. The falcon on Logan’s shoulder fluffed its black feathers and anxiously shifted its stance.

  Peter adjusted the patch over his eye before reaching down from his mount and grasping his brother’s arm. “I wish you all the best, brother,” he said.

  “I wish you would change your mind,” Logan told him. “You’re more than welcome at Castle Fulton.” Logan paused. “Now that I found you, I don’t want to lo
se you again.”

  Peter studied his brother for a moment. “I think it’s time I see the world,” he finally said, turning his gaze down the road before him. He glanced back once to look at Solace who was leaning against the castle gate, waiting for Logan. He quickly looked away from her. “I can’t stay.”

  Logan’s lips set in a thin line. He nodded once. “Good luck,” he said.

  “And to you.” Peter then spurred his horse. The animal moved off, trotting down the road that led to the village. And to the wide world beyond.

  Logan watched his brother for a long moment. He wondered if Peter had felt this way all those years ago when watching him ride out of the castle to see Farindale’s army. Did he think he would never see me again? Logan wondered.

  Solace joined him, and Logan turned pained eyes to her. She already said her good-byes to Peter, and he saw the ache in her gaze mirrored the emotions he felt. She reached up and caressed his cheek.

  Suddenly, the falcon on Logan’s shoulder took flight. It soared high into the air, its magnificent wings spread wide to catch the air currents swirling above the castle walls. The bird circled Logan and Solace once. Then a gust of wind seemed to catch it and propel it toward Peter. Logan watched in awe as the falcon circled his brother, before diving to hang in the air just above his head.

  Peter swatted at it once. The falcon easily moved out of Peter’s reach, then returned to hover over him again.

  Logan looked at Solace, and they exchanged an amazed glance.

  “Looks like your guardian angel’s found another troubled soul to look after,” Solace said.

  Logan cast a wistful gaze after the falcon.

  “You’re going to miss that bird,” Solace said.

  “No, I’m not,” Logan objected.

  A knowing smile spread across Solace’s face. “Yes, you are.”

  “No. I’m not,” Logan insisted.