Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series)

by Richards, K. R.

  Tuesday arched beneath him. She began to move with him, match the rhythm. She wanted to be even closer to him if that were possible. She wrapped one leg around him, then the other. “Can I…” her voice trailed off. She moaned in pleasure as he thrust deeper within her.

  “God, yes!” When Tuesday wrapped her legs about him, Jack couldn’t help but increase the pace. “You feel so good, sweeting,” he whispered hoarsely against her ear after he moved to nibble on her earlobe. He lifted up, smoothing her sandy hair from her eyes as he gazed down at her. “Do you feel any pain?”

  His breath was warm against her ear as lowered himself back down, covering her fully again. Tuesday shook her head. “No, I feel very good, Jack.”

  Jack grinned. Then he changed pace. He started thrusting deeper. His movements quickened. Tuesday was with him. Her hands stroked his muscled back, his hard shoulders and strong arms. Her fingernails dug into the skin of his arm. She met his every thrust. He did not want her to bruise her beautiful derrière, so he slid his large hand under one firm globe, lifting her slightly as he continued to thrust into her. Jack watched her expressions as he pleasured her.

  They became lost in their passion.

  The flames burned higher, consuming them. Joined, they moved as one, their bodies growing slick with sweat. Together they climbed higher, the intense ecstasy building until, in tandem, they soared. They shattered as the explosion rocked them and they fell, cocooned in the warmth of their blissful fulfillment.

  Still clinging to one another in their sweet euphoria, Jack realized he had never in his life felt so fulfilled or so at peace. He smiled down at his sleepy Tuesday. He kissed her tenderly.

  Soon, they both slept.

  Marrek kicked at a stone upon the ground. “Bleddy Hell!” he mumbled. Cleve’s party had caught up to his on the road at first light. They were not far from the banks of the Tamar near Saltash.

  They had two dead men left along the road leading to the river. Isaac Slaughter, John Madingly, whoever he truly was, had shot them as they neared the river. The dead men were the Reverend’s accomplices.

  One had not yet expired upon their arrival. He told them the girl might have escaped the Reverend last evening. She had broken free of him when he pulled her into the woods. They heard the Reverend howl in pain. A gunshot followed a few minutes later. The Reverend, as the men called Madingly, had returned alone, mounted up and rode out, not mentioning the girl again except to say she was gone. Since she was their bargaining chip, he told his men they must make it over the Tamar as quickly as could be. They traveled through the night.

  Senny had wounded Madingly, the dying man said. He had a long gash down his face that was still bleeding when they reached the Tamar. It took both men by surprise when the Reverend turned and shot them upon nearing the river. The man said there was a chance the girl ran onto the moor and got away. The Reverend had seemed quite agitated when they rode out.

  Where was Senny? Marrek prayed she lived. Before he died, the accomplice gave Marrek a general idea of the location where they camped before Senny was either shot or got away. He and his colleagues had found that site on the way to the Tamar, however, they had not searched the wood too far from the site. He reasoned Senny could have escaped Madingly and the shot. If she lived, she might be traveling across the moor. It was possible she was wounded and had not perished. Even if she were dead, he had to find her. She was special to his cousin Gabriel and his family. Hell, Marrek considered the Penroses to be family. Senny had always been a sweet, gentle creature, adored by many.

  “Creed, I want you, Tremayne, Arthur and Marcus to take the dead men back to Menadue. Be on the lookout for Senny. Cleve, Newt, and August come with me. We’ll backtrack and see if we can find her. Alive or dead, we must find Senny.”

  He looked to Ruan. “See if you can pick up Madingly’s trail across the river in Devon. If you find nothing within two days time, return to Menadue. If you find something stay on his trail and send word to me.”

  Ruan nodded.

  They mounted up and went their separate ways.

  “Harry and Owen, I need you to join us for a moment,” Trevan said as he motioned for the two gentlemen, both senior members of the Avalon Society, to join him and his brother Tristan as they made their way purposefully down the corridor toward the library.

  Harry paused and kissed his wife. “Go start your breakfast my love. I’ll be along shortly.”

  Rowena smiled up at her husband. She joined Grace after Owen kissed his wife and daughter.

  “What is it, Trevan?” Harry asked as they entered the library. He knew it was bad news by the look on Trevan’s face.

  “I received no word from Jack this morning. I received the last message from him yesterday just before dinner. He sent a message at noon from Camelford and mentioned he thought he was being followed. In all honesty, I was so concerned about Wenna’s condition and Zenny being taken last night, I truly forgot about him.” Trevan ran a hand through his hair.

  He sighed deeply before he continued, “He could have possibly made it here by late last evening. I was hoping he stopped for the night somewhere and I would have a message this morning when I came downstairs but there was none. Something has gone wrong. I’m sending some of my men in the direction of Camelford to search for him. We must accept the fact that our scrolls and treasures might have been taken and that Jack has come to harm.”

  Harry nodded grimly. “Have you received word from Marrek regarding Senny?”

  “No.” Trevan sighed heavily. “That is not a good sign either. Madingly should have reached the Tamar long before now.”

  “Our men are ready now,” Tristan said as he entered the room. “I still think I should go with them.”

  “Your arm is badly broken, Tristan, you’re not going. They can handle it.”

  Tristan frowned, nodded and left the room.

  “How is Wenna, Trevan?” Owen asked.

  “Better this morning. She took a nasty lump on the head. She had me worried yesterday. I’ll be the first to admit it. We’ll not mention to the ladies anything of our concern for Jack or the fact that not hearing from Marrek means Zenny has not yet been found.”

  Harry and Owen nodded their agreement.

  “I received word from Gabriel this morning that he, Micah and Lyon’s party stopped at Launceston last evening. They should be here by late afternoon or nightfall if they left early enough this morning. I pray God Marrek finds Zenny before Gabriel arrives.”

  Harry clapped Trevan on the back. “I do as well. Let’s eat and meet back in the library. We need to make some plans in the event our treasure has been stolen and Senny and Jack have come to harm.”

  Trevan nodded grimly. Things were not looking at all well this morning.

  Gabriel was in agony. He had lost his connection to Senny with the dawn. He feared she had succumbed to whatever wound she had suffered. Had she been shot? He didn’t know. He knew he felt her pain. He tried to ask but she had never answered him. He felt her grow weaker throughout the night. He knew only that she was in pain, and she suffered. At dawn, she had been so weak – he stopped and shook his head. He would not think of that. He prayed constantly that she still lived. Finally, desperate to find Zenny, for he knew if she was not dead, she was unconscious or too weak to connect with him; he closed his eyes and begged the Archangel, “Please, please, help me find her, Michael!”

  He opened his eyes and surveyed the moorland. Generally, he found peace when he looked upon the moor. Even though the landscape was wild and windswept, it was home. Today he found no peace looking over the vast area, cloaked in summer green with patches of gorse and heather dotting the landscape. It was wet from the rains and a light fog hung about the land. He hoped it did not thicken, it would make finding Senny that much more difficult. He worried for Zenny and wondered if he would ever find her out there in the rugged, unforgiving landscape. She could be anywhere, how was he to find her?

  He spied a small white
object on the ground just ahead. He dismounted when he reached the spot and picked up the snowy, white feather. He looked beyond and saw another, then yet another beyond that one. As far as he could see, there was a trail of white feathers. He put the feather he picked up in his pocket. He mounted his black and whispered, “Thank you, Michael!”

  He turned to his brother and said, “Follow me, Thomas!”

  Gabriel first saw the brilliant light in the center of the stone circle far across the moor. The light cut through the thick fog that had gathered over the moor in the last hour. He had visited the Hurlers many times during his life. He had always felt it was a sacred place.

  As he drew closer, the brilliant light took shape and form and he saw the Archangel Michael appear. He had witnessed the Archangel before, when he walked Owen, Charlie and Libby down Cadbury hill near Templecombe just weeks before. The angel raised his hands heavenward. The gray sky darkened further. Black clouds rolled in. Lightning illuminated the gloomy darkness. Thunder grumbled and boomed. The wind picked up. Gabriel could feel the energy emitting from the circle. It began to race along the moor with the winds. Gabriel watched as the trail of white feathers blew away with the fog.

  Michael slowly brought his hands back down and held them palm down before him. The sky split open and golden light came down from the heavens. Brilliant white and green light came from Michael’s hands and poured into something crumpled on the ground at his feet. Zenny!

  Marrek reined in his mount and held up his hand to stop the others who were following him when he saw the brilliant light in the midst of the circle. They had found Senny’s trail. It hadn’t been difficult after they travelled the length of a stream until they picked up her tracks again. She left a blood trail, until they reached an old burial mound where her trail simply disappeared. It was obvious, she had lost a great deal of blood. Marrek knew enough to know someone had found her. Yet, he could not explain why there were no more tracks to be found from the mound, human or beast.

  When he saw the form of an angel take shape in the midst of the Hurler stones, he blinked. He had heard the tale of the Archangel Michael seen by his cousins and fellow Avalon Society members. He watched in awe as the dark sky grew blacker. He witnessed the flashes of lightning and heard the boom of thunder. He felt the wind, heard it as it raced through the grasses dotting the moorland. The thickening fog dissipated. Strong energy swirled outward from the circle and swept across the moor. He saw the heavens open and watched as brilliant light come down upon the Angel. He watched Michael send white and green light into the still body at his feet.

  “I think we’ve found her. If the almighty Angel calls upon heaven to heal Zenny, her condition can’t be good. Let’s go! We’ve not a moment to spare.”

  Gabriel raced across the moor. He dismounted outside the circle when his mount balked and reared. He ran toward the angel and Senny. It was indeed her, he could see clearly now.

  He knelt beside his love. He saw the makeshift bandage and her sleeve soaked in blood. He saw how pale she was. He saw the large bloodstain on the side of her gown. He placed his fingers against her neck and felt a weak pulse. He looked up into the glowing face of the Angel.

  “Please tell me she will not die,” tears streamed down Gabriel’s face as he looked into the vivid blue of the Angel’s eyes.

  “I have given her my blessing, and my healing. Ultimately, Gabriel, the choice is hers. Take her. Make haste. She needs your care. She needs you near.”

  Gabriel carefully lifted his Zenny into his arms. Her body felt cold. The wind roared around him. He was momentarily blinded by searing white light. Then he stood alone holding Senny in the midst of the circle. The Angel was gone. He tried to connect with her and saw only shadows.

  “Bring my horse, Thomas!” He yelled. “My Zenny is dying. I can feel the life leaving her body!” Panic gripped Gabriel. She felt so cold. So lifeless.

  Suddenly Marrek, Tremayne and Newt were around him, their mounts snorting and pawing at the earth. “Hand her to me Gabriel, your horse is spent,” Marrek commanded.

  Gabriel handed her up to him. He watched as Marrek left the circle at a full gallop, carrying his Zenny, his love.

  “Gabriel, take my horse. I’ll walk yours in. Go.” Newt slid off his mount and handed the reins to Gabriel. Gabriel mounted and urged Newt’s mount to a gallop. He followed Marrek.

  Marrek had always been able to connect with the dead and sometimes the dying. He knew Sennen Penrose was dying. Gabriel had been correct. When he briefly closed his eyes to say a prayer, he saw the transparent, wraithlike outline of her soul try to leave her body. He knew better than to intervene with fate, yet, thinking of his cousin, Gabriel, he reacted without thinking. Placing his hand against her heart, he sent energy to her. He watched as her soul retreated once again into her pale body.

  He realized he had connected with her when he heard her cry out in his mind. She was not entirely of the living for him to be able to communicate with her.

  “Let me go.” Her words were faint, no more than a breath or a whisper.

  “Senny, try. Try for Gabriel,” Marrek spoke the words forcefully. He must persuade her.

  “Gabriel does not need me. He is strong,” came another whisper.

  He felt what he guessed was her soul push against his hand that still covered her heart.

  “You are wrong, Sennen Penrose. He does need you. More than you will ever know.”

  He opened his eyes and saw her eyelids flutter slightly. She wailed loudly. He knew the ride was causing her pain. He held his hand against her heart for a time, and never felt another push. He did feel the rattle in her chest. He also heard it.

  For now, it seemed she had chosen to remain in her body. He did not know for how long. When he saw the crenellated gatehouse of Menadue in the distance, he urged his horse to go faster.

  Gabriel tried to connect with Senny the entire way back to Menadue to no avail. Still, he told her she could not die. He commanded her not to die. Fear clutched at his heart. How could he live without his sweet Zenny? He could not!

  They had made love twice more with the dawn. Once the rain stopped, they helped each other into their damp clothing and left the tiny cottage in the wood. Jack carried his bags over one shoulder and held Tuesdays hand.

  “Let’s see if we can find the road, shall we, Trouble? My guess is it’s in that direction.” He pointed and looked to Tuesday. The brilliant smile she bestowed upon him sent warmth rushing through him.

  They found what looked to be the main road and walked hand in hand in the direction of St. Cleer. They had nothing else to do but converse. They spent a great deal of time talking about their families and their childhoods.

  Several hours later, they stopped so Tuesday could rest. His Trouble was stubborn. She refused to admit that she was weary. He simply told her he needed a short break. They sat upon some stones beneath the shade of a small stand of trees. When he heard the sound of horses and carriage wheels coming down the road, he rose.

  “Stay here, sweeting,” he instructed Tuesday. Jack ran from the cover of the trees to the side of the road.

  He grinned as he recognized the crest upon the carriage doors. “Wincanton!”

  He moved to stand in the center of the road. He waved his arms above his head. He laughed when the upper torso of Lyon Ravenscroft, Lord Amesbury, emerged from the opened window and pointed a pistol at him.

  “Amesbury, you’d shoot me?” he asked in a wounded tone.

  “Jack?” Lyon was out of the carriage in a moment. “You look like hell! What happened?”

  “Watch your language, Lyon. Lady Tuesday is here.” Jack inclined his head in her direction and motioned for Tuesday to join him.

  Tuesday picked up his bags and walked toward the carriage.

  “Lady Tuesday? Why is she dressed like a lad?” Lyon asked Jack. “And why are you alone with her?” his voice lowered to a whisper.

  “It’s a long story,” Jack said quietly. He looked t
o Tuesday and smiled brightly at her as she neared them. He took his bags from her.

  When Lyon noticed the way Tuesday smiled back at Jack, he realized there was a story to be told. Once he handed Lady Tuesday into the conveyance. He turned and glared at Jack as he whispered, “Were you alone with her all night?”

  Jack gave him a brief nod.

  “You’re going to marry her! She’s Charlie’s sister,” he whispered the command and pointed a warning finger at him.

  “Yes, I am, Lyon, and happily so.”

  Lyon gave him an affirming nod and stepped into the carriage.

  Jack sat across from Tuesday. She sat next to her childhood friend, the new Lady Wincanton. He set the all-important bags on the floor in front of him. He did not trust himself to sit next to Tuesday, in any case. He could not seem to keep his hands from her since he had made her his. He gave her a smile and a quick wink as the carriage lurched and began to move forward.

  “Where is Gabriel?” Jack asked.

  “It seems there was some sort of trouble involving Miss Sennen Penrose. He left us last night in Launceston. He seemed very concerned and hinted it might possibly have to do with the Knights of the Brown Order,” Micah explained.

  Jack frowned. “I hope not, for Miss Senny’s sake.”

  “We are in agreement there,” Lyon said with concern. He looked to his wife, Sophia. Her bruises were still visible, though they had faded some. He had almost lost her because of Brown Coats.

  Gabriel took the stairs two at a time. When he entered Senny’s room, Marrek and Trevan stood back while his Aunt Morva and cousin, Elowen, bent over her. The bloody makeshift bandage Senny had tied over her wound had been removed. Marrek stepped closer to look. Elowen looked to her brother in alarm. Gabriel did not miss the look of concern exchanged between them.