by Ruth Kaufman
All he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms, take her to his solar, and make love to her. But a distinctive sound reverberated through the stone of the castle’s foundation and he pulled away, his thoughts scrambling.
“What was—” Lia began.
“The portcullis being raised and the gates opening. It is dawn.”
“Already?”
He hauled himself to his feet and reached down to help Lia to hers. He found the plaid she had dropped and wrapped it around her shoulders, realizing she wore only her chemise. He donned his cloak and picked up his claymore then led her to the stairs, extinguishing the torches and candles as he went. He guided her up the stairs and approached the great hall.
“Ronan, are you sure you’re all right?”
“Aye,” he murmured softly and smiled down at her. “Because of ye.” Then he paused, looked at himself and eyed her clothing, or the lack thereof. “The servants are awake and rising from their beds.” He hesitated, a smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll not have your reputation sullied any further until I actually sully it.”
Her cheeks immediately blazed crimson, and a soft chuckle escaped him. She looked up at him, and as he gazed into her hazel eyes, still liquid with unshed tears, all of his randy banter escaped him and only one thought possessed him. He stepped closer, his lips only an inch from hers. “Tha thu bóidheach.”
She looked up at him in confusion.
He chuckled again, memorizing every nuance of her bonny face. “Gaelic, of course,” he murmured. “Ye didna think I would neglect that. It means ye are beautiful.” He started to lower his head.
A sentry’s cry froze his heart and stopped him in his tracks. His head snapped around.
He heard the cry from a second sentry.
Then a third echoed the warning.
Sweet Jesu, nay! Dread clamped his gut in its icy claws.
“Ronan?”
“Get above stairs,” he growled.
“What?”
“Get above stairs!” he gently pushed her in the proper direction and sprinted for the door of his keep.
As Ronan ran up the stairs to the ramparts, his brother suddenly appeared and fell in step only a pace behind. A sentry on the tower spotted him and pointed. Ronan slid to a stop, and in the distance, he saw what had caused the alarm. An army approached. Ronan spotted the main battle standard, and even from this distance, he could see the heraldry. His blood boiled and his gut clenched.
“Le March,” Ronan growled.
Aidan’s face paled.
He shot a hard look at his brother. “Where were yer birds on this?”
Aidan gazed at him, stunned. “Ronan, I had tae move them away from Longshanks tae protect them and tae observe what we dinna ken. We kenned where Longshanks was. We kenned le March might do this.”
Ronan released a pent-up breath. “Aye, Aidan, forgive me.”
“It’s not Longshanks?” Lia asked from behind him.
Ronan looked over his shoulder, startled. He had sent her above stairs. But then he realized she had quickly dressed and returned, still wearing his plaid about her shoulders. His intense rage faded as he looked at her. He took a deep steadying breath and held out his hand. She took it and stepped next to him. Ronan’s arm slid around her shoulders.
“Nay. ’Tis Baron Hugh le March. The man who captured me,” he said softly. “It seems he has returned tae finish what he started.”
Lia’s face lost color and she swallowed hard. She stared at the approaching army. Her jaw tightened and fury sparked in her hazel eyes. But then she scowled. “What is that behind the army?”
Ronan tore his gaze from her and his fury levered upward as he focused on the three dozen wagons. They carried large wooden structures with one that was massive. All parts of a whole.
“Damnation,” Aidan muttered. “My birds whispered there be only one trebuchet that large. I thought they were embellishing.”
Horror coiled through Ronan’s gut. Never had he seen the like. “What the devil?”
“Lupus Guerrae,” Aidan said.
Lia gazed up at him. “What does that mean?”
“War Wolf. At over three hundred feet long, it is Longshanks’s largest siege engine, but it hasna been tested in battle.”
“By Longshanks allowing the baron tae use the engine,” Ronan said, “he announces his blessing over this attack.”
“I don’t understand,” Lia said, pressing herself more firmly against his side. “Why are there so many wagons?”
“The trebuchets are too large tae move. They must be disassembled, packed onto wagons, brought tae the battlefield, then reassembled. By the look of it, War Wolf is so large it probably took them at least a fortnight tae move it here.”
“He also has wagons carrying the siege tower,” Aidan said.
“Aye, it will probably take a sennight for the army tae arrive here and take their battle-set before the walls. That large of a trebuchet will take a month tae assemble. The siege tower might take a bit longer, especially since they will have tae prepare the approach so it doesna sink into the dirt. We will have plenty of time tae bring the villagers within our walls and prepare for the siege.”
Lia’s entire body started shaking.
Ronan looked down at her; to his worry, her face lost even more color. “Lass?”
She looked up at him, sheer terror in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head.
He scowled then looked to his brother. Aidan also watched Lia in concern, a puzzled frown blurring his brow.
“Aidan,” Ronan said softly, his gaze returning to Lia, “have our sharpest-eyed sentry tally the forces and then meet me in my solar. I am going tae take Lia inside.”
“Aye,” Aidan replied, nodding.
Ronan gently guided Lia down the stairs to the bailey. His gaze fell on a particular corner where a hole formed from water runoff. He abruptly remembered that it was the same void he and Aidan had once used to escape their da and crawl up to the kitchen. Because of the water runoff, Ronan employed men to constantly refill it so the water would not damage the foundation of the keep or the curtain wall.
“Lia, wait,” he said softly, and instead of leading her back to the keep, he guided her toward it. He released her so he could sit on the edge and use his feet to widen the opening just as he had done on that long-ago day, although he noted ruefully he had to make it much wider than before.
“What are you doing?” Lia asked.
He grinned up at her and winked. “Ye shall see in a moment. Hand me the lantern hanging on that post, please.” She did so, and he pulled his fire-striker from his belt pouch. Lighting the lantern, he abruptly disappeared into the cavity.
“Ronan, be careful,” Lia said in alarm.
“I will.” He looked around, lifting the lantern. The void was just as he remembered. “Do ye wish tae see?”
Ronan’s grin grew as she stuck her head in and looked around, nearly upside down.
“What is this?”
He extended his hand to her. “Dinna vex yerself lass, ’tis perfectly safe, and I’ll help ye get out.”
She nodded then withdrew her head. Within moments, her feet appeared. She jumped down and his arm encircled her as she landed.
He picked up the lantern again, and with his free arm around her shoulders, he guided her forward, pointing out the red man-made bricks under the foundation. “Many keeps were built over other structures or foundations. See how this brick is completely different from the stone we’ve used?”
“Aye.”
“’Tis entirely possible this was once a Roman, or even Saxon, fortification.”
“Amazing,” she said, studying everything closely.
Ronan faced the same construction under the curtain wall. As he gazed at it, his idea finally began to come to life. “I need tae find Ian and Seamus.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering her question, he returned to the opening and l
evered himself up a bit so he could see the bailey around him. Aidan had descended from the wall walk and was speaking to Robert.
“Aidan,” Ronan barked.
Aidan turned sharply, but it took him a moment to determine exactly where his brother’s voice was coming from. His eyes widened when he saw Ronan’s head sticking out of the hole.
“What are ye doing?”
“Fetch Ian and Seamus—tell them I need them tae see this immediately—then I’ll show ye.”
Aidan nodded.
“I just saw them dicing in the shade of the west tower,” Robert told him.
“Thank ye.” Aidan hurried off and Ronan dropped back into the hollow.
“What are you planning?” Lia asked suspiciously.
“My da once told me that Ian was one of the best sappers a battle commander could want. He has forgotten more about sapping than most will ever know. With Seamus being his shadow, I have a feeling Seamus is learning from him.”
“Sapping? This is the second time I’ve heard the term. What is it?”
“Sometimes an attacking army will have men dig tunnels tae the corners of towers or walls. From there, they can weaken the foundation and the stone will collapse. That’s sapping.”
“All right, but we’re not the enemy outside our walls.”
Ronan grinned again and shook his head. ”Wait for Ian and Seamus tae get here, I want tae make sure my idea is even feasible first.”
They didn’t have long to wait. Ian dropped into the void with the ease of a veteran, Seamus right behind. Aidan followed them.
“Home sweet home,” Ian said. As he gazed at the foundations and the ruins they covered, he whistled softly. “All right, laddie, I be here. What’s the problem?”
“That massive siege engine outside our walls be the problem. But I wanted tae show ye this.” His hand moved across a specific point of the red brick that was under the foundation of the curtain wall. “I wanted ye tae see this brick here: it’s not the same color red as what’s around it. It appears tae me as if it forms the shape of an arch.”
Ian peered closer, his brow wrinkled. He clamped his pipe between his teeth and puffed on it. “Aye, laddie, this was an archway, and they filled it in later.”
“Aye,” Ronan said nodding. “Then it occurred tae me tae ask what be on the other side?”
“If they filled in the arch, they probably filled in a passageway it opened tae.”
“Aye.” Ronan grinned at him. “A passage. Ian, instead of tunneling in, what if we tunneled out?”
“Out, laddie? Now why would ye be wantin’ tae do somethin’ as daft as that?”
“Because if I can use a tunnel tae get behind the enemy, I can destroy that siege engine before they finish putting it together.”
Ian’s brows flew up his forehead and he continued to puff on his pipe. “Aye, laddie,” he said softly. “The mortar still appears strong. We would have tae reinforce the opening and the tunnel as we went, but it can be done. But are ye sure ye want tae do this? If the enemy discovers the opening, they will walk right in here and dance a jig on our graves before they’re even dug.”
Ronan nodded. “Fetch me when ye be ready tae break through, and between the two of us, we can hide the entrance. But I need it fast, Ian. It will probably take them a month tae put that large of a siege engine back together. I’ll need the tunnel completed before that.”
“Pssshaw,” Ian said. “That be nothing, laddie. We’ll have it done by the time ye need it.” He faced Seamus. “Gather the crew, we’ve got work tae do.”
Seamus nodded and scrambled out of the void.
Ian faced Ronan again, his green eyes sparkling with mirth. “Well, laddie, I haven’t had this much fun since yer da was taking us hither and yon tae help our allies.”
“I kenned ye’d be the man tae call on, Ian,” Ronan said gripping his shoulder. “I’m leaving the gates open so the villagers can seek shelter, but as soon as that army arrives, I’m barring them. So if ye need anything, tell me as soon as ye can.”
“Aye, I’ll ken more once I can see the earth with my own two eyes and hold it in my hands.”
“Thank ye.”
The old man nodded and returned to eyeing the wall and the arch Ronan had pointed out.
“Let’s leave them tae this,” Ronan said. He levered himself out of the void then reached his hand down to help Lia. Aidan crouched, lacing his fingers together, and Lia used his hands as a step. She caught Ronan’s hand and he easily lifted her over the edge. Aidan quickly followed.
“I need tae check with the sentries,” Aidan said. “As soon as I have the tallies, I’ll come tae the solar.”
“Aye,” Ronan said and guided Lia away.
He took Lia to the solar, but even though he had diverted her with his rediscovery of the void, her shaking had not really eased. He guided her to a chair, poured a cup of wine, and crouched before her. She lifted the cup to her lips, trembling so hard she nearly spilled it. Ronan waited, watching her in concern. When she placed the cup on the table, he captured her hands in his.
“Lass, please tell me what vexes ye.”
“I . . . I’m not sure.”
He frowned, his fingers tightening on hers.
She drew in a deep breath. “The trebuchet,” she whispered, her brows furrowing. “I think I remember the sound it makes when it launches.”
Ronan’s thoughts scrambled. He remembered her saying she was a foundling. “Sueta found ye in Cumbria.”
“Aye.”
His hand tightened on hers. “What do ye remember?”
Her shaking increased tenfold and a tear spilled down her cheek, followed quickly by a second.
“Nay,” he whispered, brushing them away. “Forgive me, I dinna mean tae make ye cry. But I think this be important.”
“Wood under my feet,” she whispered, “stone walls around me. There came that strange sound I mentioned afore. Then a great booming noise. The wood under me shivered and rolled like the waves crashing against the shore. I couldn’t keep my feet, I couldn’t run.” Her tears flowed faster.
Ronan stood and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, his hand gently caressing her hair. He settled his cheek on the top of her head, murmuring soft reassurances.
“I remember fire,” she whispered, her voice so soft he could barely hear her. She clung to him, depending on him to remain standing. “The heat was unbearable. I screamed and cried for my mother. I couldn’t find a way out. Then a woman appeared, running through the flames. I thought at first it was my mother, but she wasn’t. She scooped me up and carried me out of the flames. She kept my head tucked against her so I couldn’t see where we were going. Then she put me on my feet amidst a throng of people and disappeared into the crowd. People were pushing and shoving. They knocked me down, I struck my head and they nearly trampled me, but I managed to crawl away. I remember standing on a rock, trying to see over the people, through the blood in my eyes—all the time the only thing I could do was cry, Mother . . . Mother . . . but my mother never came. I never saw her again.”
“Lia, I am so sorry ye suffered so terribly. How many days before Sueta found ye?”
“I know not, I can’t remember. Sueta believed it was due to the blow to my head. I only know she found me wandering in the smoking rubble, still crying for Mother. For a time, Sueta thought it was the only word I could speak.” Her sentence ended in a choking gasp.
Ronan’s heart twisted against what she had suffered. His arms tightened around her as she sobbed her anguish, her tears hot against his skin. For a time, all he concentrated on was calming her grief.
“Lass,” he whispered when her sobs finally slowed. “Because ye ken yer letters in three different languages, I’d wager ye were nobility.”
She gulped down a sob and looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed and liquid. “What?”
“I believe ye were the child of the noble family that held the castle.”
“Castle?”
; “It had tae be one for a trebuchet tae be brought against it. They wouldna trouble with such a siege engine if there werena walls tae be breached.”
“But I’m not sure if the sound I remember was a trebuchet. I was so young . . . everything blurred together. Some images make no sense.”
“Aye, but ye are correct, it makes a telling sound when it releases. But the noise of the impact, the floor under yer feet acting as fluid as water—ye have described a strike that only a trebuchet can offer.”
“But I might have been a daughter of a servant.”
“Sometimes nobility will teach servants tae read and write tae assist them in the running of the keep, but it is typically Common English. Rarely is it Latin—only if the servant assists the steward or constable of the keep. But learning the letters of three languages? Nay, lass, ’tis unlikely ye were the child of a servant. I’m willing tae wager you were a child of a noble family who appreciated extensive book study and the knowledge of history.”
Lia stared up at him as if struggling to comprehend his words.
Unbidden, his fingers gently dried the tears from her cheeks. “After I destroy Edward’s precious War Wolf and send these spineless curs running back tae him, I will endeavor tae discover yer heritage.”
“But, why?”
“’Tis important ye ken it. Ye may be an heiress and have good land awaiting ye.”
“You . . . you would send me away?”
His lips lifted and his gaze focused on her mouth. “Nay,” he whispered, lowering his head. “I’d have ye by my side for the rest of my days.” He touched his lips to hers and lightly toyed with her mouth. Her hand touched his chest and fire roared through his body, bringing him brilliantly alive. His kiss deepened, and the anguish he had known vanished as she responded so wonderfully to him.
A knock sounded on the door, interrupting their moment. Lia jerked away from him, her expression stunned, and her face still much too pale for his liking. She stared at him as if coming out of a trance.
“What’s wrong?”