A Warrior's Promise

by Donna Fletcher

  He watched Reeve walk back and forth, his brow wrinkled with concern. He didn’t want to add to his alarm by letting him know he felt the same. Why hadn’t they returned? Had something happened?

  Reeve stopped abruptly. “You feel the same. You think they should have been back by now too, don’t you?”

  Bryce nodded. “You’re right. I had expected them to return by now.”

  “Something is wrong. We need to go after them,” Reeve insisted.

  “What? No faith in your women?” Duncan asked, joining them.

  “I’d like to see if you’d be saying that if Mercy were with them,” Reeve challenged.”

  Duncan grinned.

  “Don’t dare laugh,” Reeve warned. “You know I’m right.”

  “You are right,” Duncan admitted. “I’d be mad with worry.”

  “Then why make light of the situation?” Reeve asked, annoyed.

  “Because your women are safe and well and headed this way,” Duncan said, pointing past them.

  Bryce and Reeve turned to see Charlotte, Tara, and Old John entering the village. Reeve went to run, and Bryce grabbed his arm.

  “They return victorious. Give her the honor she deserves and stand here with pride and wait for her.”

  Reeve blew out a frustrated breath. “You’re right.”

  Bryce and Duncan exchanged grins as Reeve started pacing once again. And when the trio was only a short distance from them, Reeve could contain himself no more and hurried to lift his wife off her feet and plant a solid kiss on her lips.

  “You’re not angry?” Tara asked, once he placed her feet on the ground.

  Reeve shook his head. “Worried when I found you were gone. Just tell me next time so that I know where you go.”

  Tara wrapped her arm around his. “I love you more now than ever.”

  Reeve leaned in, and whispered, “Later you can show me just how much.”

  Tara laughed. “That’s a promise.”

  Charlotte grinned as she passed Tara and Reeve, and when she reached Bryce, she gave him a quick kiss, and whispered, “Thank you for not coming after me.”

  He gave her a quick kiss back and answered with a whisper, “I knew you could do this on your own.”

  She smiled and took his hand as she introduced John and told him about Donald being his da. It wasn’t long before father and son were reunited, tears flowing freely from both as they embraced each other, not wanting to let go.

  Food and ale were generous as father and son talked at a table in the great hall. Bryce knew that Charlotte was eager to hear what John had to say about the prison, but he knew that she also understood that father and son needed some time first. She would want it that way when she found her da, and so she would give it to another.

  He sat with an arm around Charlotte at the table before the hearth, his family laughing and talking and he feeling more content than ever. He wanted to tell her that he had missed her in the short time she had been gone, but now wasn’t the time. Her hand rested casually on his thigh, but her attention was fixed on where John sat talking with his father.

  His thoughts might be on her, but her thoughts were on her da, and he needed to focus there as well and be ready to do whatever it took to rescue her father. He had promised her, and he would not break his promise.

  “Is there any of the delicious bread left from this morning?” Tara asked with a smile at Mara.

  “Not a crumb,” Reeve said. “We ate it all and told mum to have Etty bake more. It was delicious.”

  “That it was,” Duncan agreed, and Mercy nodded her approval.

  “I got barely a crumb,” Carmag said. “And after tasting it, I wish there had been more.”

  Tara laughed, and Charlotte joined in.

  Bryce was pleased that the conversation had diverted her attention and brought a bright smile and a laugh to her lips.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked, giving her a playful squeeze.

  “Ask your mum,” Charlotte said.

  Mara’s cheek burned bright red, and her eyes danced with joy. “I baked the bread.”

  Her husband’s and sons’ mouths dropped open.

  “Impossible,” Carmag said, and got a swat in the arm for it. “It’s just that—”

  “Don’t bother to lie,” Mara snapped. “I know that you all don’t like my cooking.” She waved her hand to silence them as each tried to disagree. “No lies, I said. I know my cooking isn’t good.”

  “Then how did you get the bread to taste so delicious?” Carmag asked, wrapping an arm around his wife.

  “Charlotte.” Mara smiled, pointing at her. “She showed me what I was doing wrong and how to add a little something extra that would make it taste better.”

  Bryce beamed with pride and hugged Charlotte tight. “She’s a woman of many talents.”

  Before any more praise could be heaped on Charlotte, John approached the table.

  “It’s time we talked,” John said. “And the women don’t need to hear what I have to tell.”

  The women, all but Charlotte, got up and left.

  Bryce eased his arm from around Charlotte and took hold of her shoulders. “This is where you leave it to me now. I’ll see to rescuing your da.”

  “No!” she shouted so loudly that the other women stopped and turned.

  Charlotte jumped up off the bench. “I’ve told you time and time again.” She slapped her chest. “I will not be left out of this. I started it, and I will finish it.”

  “You don’t want to go where I’ve been,” John said.

  “I don’t care if I have to go to hell and get my da; I will.”

  “Then it’s hell you’re going to,” John said, shaking his head. “And it’s worse than you ever imagined.”

  Chapter 34

  Charlotte stood firm. There was no way she would be left out of planning her da’s rescue and the rescue itself. He expected her to come for him. He was waiting for her, had left messages for her, had stayed strong knowing she was coming for him. And she would not disappoint him.

  John was the one who finally said, “Let her hear what I have to say, then she’ll understand why it would be wise for her to remain here.”

  Bryce ran a reassuring hand down her arm. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Do you truly need to ask?”

  He shook his head and kept firm hold of her arm as she climbed over the bench beside him to sit. She took his hand and locked fingers with his to remind him that they did this together as they had vowed they would. She was relieved when he smiled at her and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

  They loved each other, and no matter what happened, nothing could change that.

  “This prison is like no other; it cannot be seen,” John said.

  “What do you mean?” Reeve asked.

  “It is but a mound with tentacles in the earth, no more. The entrance is also the egress. One way in and one way out. Every chamber feeds off one narrow hall, and at the end is the chamber from hell.” John stopped, reaching to pour himself a tankard of ale.

  His hands shook so badly that Duncan reached out and filled it for him.

  He gave a grateful nod, drank, then proceeded. “The stench was so bad, I can still smell it. The screams of those being tortured still linger in my head. The cries of agony from those left to suffer in their tiny cells loiter in my nightmares.”

  “Why were you taken there?” Charlotte asked, her stomach rolling at the thought that her da could be suffering horribly at this very moment.

  John shook his head. “I was forging swords for the king one moment, then suddenly I was taken to this hellhole, put in a cell and left to rot, to wait—” He shook his head again. “I don’t know why. One of the guards mentioned something about waiting for another prisoner to arrive, and once they were done with us, we’d do whatever the king wanted.”

  “You weren’t tortured?” Reeve asked.

  “I was made to watch them torture others day after d
ay as they burned the eyes out of prisoners, ripped patches of flesh off them, and . . .” He stopped, unable to detail any more or not wanting to. “They laughed, telling me my turn would come soon enough,” he continued with a nod. “I would have preferred death to what awaited me.”

  “How did you escape?” Charlotte asked, more anxious than ever to free her da from hell.

  “Sheer luck,” John said. “One of the guards was distracted when he returned me to my cell and forgot to lock me in as he rushed off when another guard called out frantically to him. I slipped out and closed the cell door behind me, knowing they would not come for me until the morrow. Then I went quietly and, with my back to the wall to blend with the shadows, made my way to the entrance and freedom.” He gripped tight to the tankard. “I never looked back.”

  “Do you know the location of the prison?” Bryce asked.

  John nodded. “I made special note of it so that I would never go near it again.”

  “You can map it for us?” Reeve asked.

  “I can,” John agreed. “And I will do anything to help you if you will help me find my daughter.”

  “We’ll help you, but first we must see to freeing Idris,” Bryce said, making no mention of the spy they sought.

  “I don’t know how you will ever be able to get in or out of the prison; the place is impenetrable,” John said.

  “We could attack the place,” Reeve suggested.

  “No,” Charlotte said, quickly rejecting the suggestion. “The guards might kill the prisoners before we can reach them.”

  “She’s right about that,” John agreed. “From what I saw, none would be allowed to live if the guards thought they might be made free.”

  “Map the area for us,” Charlotte suggested. “Perhaps once we see it, we’ll have an idea as to what to do.”

  They talked over the map until supper, John having left well before that, his da tired and he wanting some rest himself. Supper was soon to be served in the hall when Duncan stretched out of his seat.

  “I’m going to get Mercy,” he said. “I’ll be back shortly.

  Tara entered the hall just then, and Reeve smiled at her, but she paid him no heed and, as she headed toward the kitchen, she said to Duncan, “Stay where you are. Your wife is in labor and has been for hours. We’ll let you know when the babe arrives.”

  Charlotte jumped up. “Can I help?”

  “Have you birthed any babes?” Tara asked.

  “Several.” She beamed proudly.

  “Good, then go and help Mara,” Tara instructed, and disappeared into the kitchen.

  Charlotte gave Bryce a quick kiss on the cheek. “Wait to discuss my da until I return.” And with that, she was gone.

  Bryce looked to Duncan, who stood frozen, completely stunned by the news. Bryce nodded to Reeve, who stood, and, with a firm hand to Duncan’s shoulder, eased him down on the bench.

  “She didn’t tell me,” Duncan said, still stunned.

  “Could you have done anything?” Bryce asked.

  Duncan stared at him a moment, then shook his head.

  Reeve filled their tankards and raised his. “To Mercy, a strong woman who will birth a strong babe.”

  Bryce raised his tankard, and Duncan joined in though he downed the whole thing and held it out to Reeve to fill again.

  Charlotte smiled at the little bundle in her arms. She was petite, with a thatch of black hair. Mara joined her, holding another bundle.

  “Where she is small, her brother is large,” Mara said, grinning proudly from ear to ear. “Two grandchildren. I cannot believe it.”

  “Neither can I,” said Mercy from the bed.

  Tara had just finished getting her settled, clean sheets having replaced the soiled ones. The women had bathed her, combed the tangles from her hair, and slipped her into a fresh night shift. All was in ready for the new da to meet his son and daughter.

  “Your delivery went surprisingly fast for two babes,” Charlotte said.

  “It didn’t feel that fast.” Mercy laughed. “Though I am grateful I did not linger long in labor.”

  “I hope I pop babes out as easily as you,” Charlotte said, in awe of the little girl in her arms. Having been an only child, she had always longed for a brother or sister or both. It was lonely growing up without a sibling to play or tease or sleep beside.

  “I was only blessed with Trey,” Mara said, swaying the babe in her arms. “But the good Lord saw fit to give me three more sons, and I love them all the same.”

  “Who will go get your son Duncan?” Mercy asked.

  Mara walked over to her and eased the babe into his mum’s arms. “I will though I’ll leave it to you to tell him the wonderful news.”

  “Bring his brothers and da as well,” Mercy said. “I want everyone to share in the good news.”

  Mara nodded and left the room. When she entered the hall, the men jumped up. “All of you come with me,” she ordered.

  Duncan hurried alongside her. “Is Mercy all right? Do I have a son or daughter?”

  Mara nodded.

  “Which is it?” Reeve asked, annoyed. “A son to grow into a warrior like his da or a daughter Duncan will forever worry over?”

  Mara nodded some more and stepped aside after leading them into the room.

  Reeve went to his wife, Carmag to Mara, and Bryce joined Charlotte, whose joyous smile brought a smile to his face.

  Duncan went to the bed, where his wife sat, a babe in each arm. “There are two?”

  Mercy’s smile grew ever wider. “One of each. A son and a daughter.”

  Duncan collapsed to sit on the bed. “Two? You birthed two babes?”

  “And quite easily,” she said proudly.

  Duncan finally emerged from his fog and turned a huge grin on his family. “I have a son and a daughter.” Then he got up, gave Mercy a kiss, and cuddled beside her so that he could take one of the babes in his arm.

  Congratulations rang out, and everyone filed by to get a look at the new babes before drifting off and giving the parents privacy.

  Charlotte was disappointed that her da’s plight wasn’t discussed any more that night. Not that she begrudged anyone the thrill of the twins being born; she simply worried that her da would suffer unspeakable torments before she could reach him.

  It wasn’t until she was alone with Bryce in his bedchamber that the discussion picked up again.

  “Tomorrow, we’ll talk and begin to plan how to rescue your da and the spy,” Bryce said.

  “You believe he is being held in the same prison?” Charlotte asked.

  Bryce shook his head as he removed his plaid. “In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you that we learned that the spy was taken to the secret prison.”

  “From who? When? Can I speak with this person?” Charlotte asked, popping up in bed, ready to jump out.

  Bryce gave her a nudge back. “Tomorrow is time enough.”

  “There is no time to waste,” she urged, and tried once again to get out of bed.

  Bryce lowered himself over her, pinning her to the stuffed mattress with his naked body. “There is nothing that can be done tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough.”

  She intended to argue until she felt him hard against her. And while she shouldn’t be thinking of making love with him when her da needed her help, she knew that Bryce was right. There was no more she could do tonight.

  “Seeing the babes tonight makes me think—”

  “Let’s have a slew of them,” she interrupted, wrapping her arms around him.

  He grinned and brushed his lips teasingly across hers. “We have matters to attend to first, and, besides, will you be able to remain confined while waiting for the birth?”

  “Why must I?” she asked.

  “I thought you would say that,” Bryce said, shaking his head.

  Her grin faded. “You talk of a future with me. Is that what you want?”

  “It is what I’ve always wanted but wasn’t sure if I could give you a futu
re.”

  “But nothing has changed. We still have our missions. We still don’t know what the future may hold.”

  “I’ve finally realized,” Bryce said, “it will always be that way. Each day begins anew. We know not what it will bring, but we do know that we have each other, that is what truly matters. So there is no reason to wait for our missions to end, for another mission will take its place. We take a chance each and every day, but not with our love, for that is something that will forever remain the same, strong and vibrant and growing more potent every day. I know not what the future holds for us; I only know that I want to spend it with you.”

  She kissed him quick. “And I feel the same. I want to wake every morning to you by my side. I want to see your smiling face throughout the day, hear you bark orders I rarely obey, make love whenever our passion strikes, have lots of babes, and fall asleep in your arms every night.”

  “We should start working on those babes right now,” Bryce said, and whipped the blanket out from between them.

  “What do you mean a week?” Charlotte asked angrily. “We can’t wait a week to rescue my da. He could be suffering horrible torture right this very moment, and what do you do? You talk about getting men together and mounting an attack that will surely kill him if the torture doesn’t.”

  “There aren’t many choices,” Reeve said.

  Charlotte slammed her hands on the table in the great hall. “We go now with a few men, to lure out what guards we can, and sneak into the prison to dispose of the others one by one.”

  John shook his head. “They are too well guarded. An alert would be sounded and the prisoners put in danger.”

  Bryce was worried. Charlotte had grown more agitated over the last two days as they attempted to formulate a rescue plan. She was impatient and understandably so, but this had to be thought out and a sound plan implemented, or it could prove disastrous.

  He allowed her to participate in the planning but in no way would he allow her to take part in the rescue. From what John had told them about the prison and the guards who took such joy in the torture, he had no intention of allowing her anywhere near the place.

  He knew she’d be angry, but she would see the wisdom of his decision. At least he hoped she would.