He put his big, calloused hand around her throat and slowly tightened his grip until Keira found herself struggling to breathe all over again. “I can take my fill of ye, be ye dead or alive, woman. Makes no difference to me.”
Keira was so shocked by those cold words, she stopped clawing at his hands and gaped at him. When she caught the shadow of movement behind Rauf, she was almost glad she had revealed how his words had so appalled her. Within a heartbeat after she had glimpsed that shadow, a thick piece of wood slammed into the side of Rauf’s head. He grunted and fell to the side. Keira reached for the hand Meggie was holding out to help her stand, but the faint sound of movement at her side made her tense.
“Run, Meggie,” Keira tried to scream, but her words came out as a hoarse croak, and the warning was too late anyway.
With a roar of fury, Rauf leapt to his feet Meggie tried to hit him again, but he tore the rough club from her small hands and threw it aside. Then he grabbed Meggie, oblivious to the girl’s fists and feet as he got a firm hold on her.
“I ken who ye are,” he said. “The cooper’s brat. Weel, that coward fled with all his wee laddies, didnae he? Saved his disrespectful son, but left his wee bitch behind. So be it. I will kill ye as I wanted to kill that fool brother of yours.”
Ignoring how her body ached, Keira scrambled to her feet. She threw herself onto Rauf’s back, wrapping her legs around his waist and one arm tightly around his neck. With her free hand, she hit him again and again.
“Let her go, ye filthy bastard!” she cried. Hearing how soft and hoarse her voice was, Keira feared he might have damaged something in her throat, and that made her even angrier. “Let her go, or I shall scratch out your eyes!”
A deep, rumbling growl escaped the man. “I could just snap her wee neck.”
“Aye, ye could do that, and her dying will be the last thing ye e’er see for I will blind ye. I swear it.”
For a moment, Keira feared he would actually follow through on his threat. Then he yelled out a curse so loudly her ears hurt and hurled Meggie away like some dinner bone. Keira cried out when the girl hit the ground hard and did not move. She had no time to grieve or even see if it was necessary, for with his hands now free, Rauf proceeded to do his best to tear her from his back.
Keira quickly realized she could not hang onto the man for very long. It was all she could do just to shield her head from the blows he tried to inflict by simply keeping her head tucked hard up against the back of his. Even the awkward, glancing blows he struck her, however, were more than she could bear. Yet she did not know how she could fling herself from his back and move quickly enough to escape, let alone protect Meggie as well. Then he grabbed her legs in a painful hold and started to pry them from his waist.
Just as she began to fear he would actually break her legs, a sword entered her field of vision, and it was pointed straight at Rauf’s throat. She stared in surprise at Liam. Behind him, she could see Sigimor helping an unsteady Meggie to her feet. Then, two large hands grasped her around the waist and pulled her back, away from Rauf. She glanced behind her to see that it was Ewan who had put an end to her dilemma. Behind Ewan stood her brothers.
“Ye are a verra stupid mon, Rauf Moubray,” said Liam, backing up a step. “Ye could have escaped, mayhap e’en lived a few more days ere we hunted ye down. Instead, ye stop here to torment two wee lasses.”
“Ye think I didnae ken I was a dead mon already?” Rauf asked. “Mayhap I just decided it would be fair to make ye pay some price for taking Ardgleann.”
It was over, Keira thought, and slumped against Ewan. Her whole body ached, and her legs felt too weak to hold her upright for much longer. She was just about to ask why someone did not hurry up and kill Rauf so that she could get some rest when Rauf drew his sword and no one did anything to stop him. Taking a deep breath in the hope of making her voice louder and firmer than it had been so far, Keira intended to tell these fools that a man like Rauf Moubray did not deserve a chance to die in honorable combat. It was her opinion that he should be gutted like the pig he was. Before she could utter one single word, however, a large hand was gently, but firmly, placed over her mouth.
“Hush, lass,” Ewan whispered in her ear. “This way is for the best. Liam can explain the way of it all later.”
All Keira could think of as Liam and Rauf began to fight was that the explanation had better be very good. Ewan started to remove his hand, but she placed hers over his to hold it in place. Even though she knew full well that crying out in any way as a man was engaged in a fight could dangerously distract him, Keira was not very confident that she could remain silent. She felt Ewan nod, revealing that he understood her concern.
Despite the fact that Liam was obviously suffering some pain in his leg, the fight was over very quickly. Rauf was good, but Liam was much, much better. No matter how good Liam was, however, Keira swore to herself that she would try her utmost never to watch him in a fight again. Her heart simply could not bear the strain.
Liam wiped his sword clean on Rauf’s jupon and sheathed it before moving toward Keira. His leg, having decided it could take no more abuse this day, buckled beneath him after only a few steps. He managed to catch himself just enough to be saved from the humiliation of sprawling gracelessly in the dirt. Liam managed a smile for Keira as she knelt by his side. Now that his fear and anger had eased, he was all too aware of the pain in the leg. He had pushed himself too hard and asked too much of it in the last few days.
When he had realized where Rauf was headed, Liam had felt terrified for Keira, but also for himself. He feared losing her, feared never hearing her laugh again, never hearing those soft murmurs and humming noises she made when her passion was running hot, and never knowing if she loved him. Ignoring all the advice to be calm, he had raced for the camp. Sigimor grabbing his reins had been what stopped him from loudly announcing his approach to his enemy. The only thing that had kept him from feeling utterly humiliated by his blind recklessness was the knowledge that both Sigimor and Ewan had suffered the feeling themselves and understood.
The stealth he had needed to reach Rauf before the man saw or heard him had been hard-won when he had seen how the man was trying to hurt Keira. Telling himself over and over again that she was alive was all that kept him moving slowly and silently. He even took a moment to start planning the lecture he would give Keira for not hiding and for attacking a man a foot taller and several stone heavier than she was. Now, however, he could take his ease; rest his throbbing, overworked leg; and perhaps, bask a little in the warmth of her gratitude and praise for a job well done.
“Ye idiot!” Keira began to unlace his boots, terrified that he had damaged his leg in some way. “Your leg is barely a week healed, and ye are leaping about getting into sword fights.”
Concern for his well-being was almost as good, he told himself. Then he frowned. There was something wrong with her voice, and he did not think it was so soft and raspy because she was fighting tears.
“What has happened to your voice?” he asked.
Relieved from finding only a little swelling when she finally bared his shin, Keira replied, “Rauf decided to show me how easily he can strangle a wee lass with only one hand.”
She pushed away his hand when he attempted to look at her throat, hidden from his view by her hair. Studying Liam’s face, she saw all the signs that he was suffering badly. The least she could do for him after he had freed Ardgleann and saved her life was to take away his pain. She rubbed her hands together. That was obviously enough for him to guess what she planned to do for he grabbed both of her hands in his.
“Lass, we are nay alone,” he said quietly. “Ye risk your secret.”
“My brothers already ken it, and ye trust your kinsmen, dinnae ye?” He nodded, even though he still frowned. “And I think we can trust Meggie to keep a secret.” She smiled at the young girl who had moved to stand on the other side of Liam. “Ye will swear to keep what I do now a secret, aye, Meggie?”
“Duncan told ye?”
“Weel, he told a few people, nay everyone. Thought it a wondrous dowry. Said we shouldnae trouble ye about it though, because it weakens ye to use the gift.” Meggie frowned at Liam’s leg. “It doesnae look hurt.”
Shaking herself free of the shock of knowing her secret was not such a secret anymore, Keira said, “I cannae heal with a touch, Meggie. I can take away pain and sometimes see with my hands what ails a person.”
“’Tis still a wondrous gift”
“Thank ye. I would still prefer that it doesnae get talked about too much. Some dinnae see it as a gift.” Keira took a deep breath to steady herself, closed her eyes, and placed her hands on Liam’s leg.
Liam felt her hands start to work their magic. He softly ordered Keira’s brothers to try and find some food and drink, cider, honey, and bread being the preferred choice. Since Keira often carried such things with her, he told them to check her saddle packs first. Then he sat at the ready to catch her when she was finished, carefully planning all he would say to aid her in ridding herself of the pain she was taking into her body.
No one spoke as Keira worked her magic. Her brothers were quick to hand her food and drink when she was done. Liam had to move quickly as well in order to grab himself a little of the bounty before she devoured it all. As soon as she was done, Liam held her close and whispered a tale of cool spring rains and fields of heather. When he felt her begin to relax, she murmured a very polite thank you and then slumped against him, sound asleep.
“Does she always do that after she does her healing?” Meggie asked, finally breaking the silence.
“What? Eat like a starving piglet and then fall asleep?” Liam grinned when the girl nodded. “Aye. The healing steals her strength. She takes a lot of the pain into herself and must then try to make it go away. ’Tis a costly gift.”
Meggie slowly nodded. “Nay one she can use all the time. A good reason to keep it as secret as possible.”
“True.” Liam looked around the camp and realized someone had already tossed Rauf’s body over a horse. “I think Keira and I will finish the night here.”
“Aye, that might be best,” said Sigimor. “’Twill give us time to clear away the bodies.”
“And remove those poor souls from the walls?”
“That was already being done as we raced out of the keep.”
“Good.” Liam frowned at Artan as the man crouched by Keira and worked through her thick hair to expose her throat. “What is it?”
“Just wanted to see what damage that bastard did,” Artan replied. “It might need tending.”
Everyone cursed, including Meggie, when even in the dim firelight, the bruises upon Keira’s slim throat looked livid. Liam was sorry he had not just gutted Rauf, had allowed the man to die like the knight he never was, but he had been determined to do nothing that might raise questions concerning his possession of Ardgleann. He winced as Artan rubbed some salve on the bruises.
“Can she nay heal herself?” asked Meggie.
“Nay,” replied Liam, “but she obviously brought salve, and she will ken what she may take to soothe her throat.”
“Sir Ian and his men will nay doubt pass through to collect their horses and supplies,” said Sigimor. “I will tell him to make sure he gives ye fair warning. Let the lass have a goodly rest for her skills will be needed when she gets to Ardgleann. A few small wounds. Only two dead, and they were Sir Ian’s men. It was a good victory.”
Even as he murmured in agreement, Liam had to wonder how Sigimor had found the time to make that tally. The man never ceased to astonish him, Liam thought as he watched the others leave. As soon as he and Keira were alone, Liam carried her to their small shelter, undressed her, and tucked her into their rough bed. Just as he was about to join her there, Sir Ian and his men arrived. The man wished to discuss the battle and exchange words of gratitude, much to Liam’s dismay. The sun was beginning to rise before he was able to join Keira.
As he slipped beneath the blankets and pulled her into his arms, Liam breathed a sigh of relief. The last of his fear for her faded away as she snuggled against him, fitting her slim back perfectly against his front. He ached to make love to her, but he knew she needed her rest. He had the feeling Rauf had done a lot of damage to Ardgleann in the few months he had been there, and he knew Keira would want to restore as much as she could as quickly as she could.
“Liam, we arenae back at Ardgleann, are we?” Keira asked.
“Nay, love, we are still at the camp.” Sensing that she was more asleep than awake, he kissed her cheek. “Rest.”
“But there is such a lot of work to do.”
“Ye can start it later. It isnae going anywhere.”
“’Tis going to break my heart, isnae it?”
“Aye, I ken it might. But it and the keep will mend.”
CHAPTER 19
Keira looked around the bailey of Ardgleann as she clung tightly to Liam’s hand. He had let her sleep for hours, and it was now past noon. Although he had been sleeping for most of that time as well, it did not make her feel any less guilty about it. The fact that she dreaded seeing the people of Ardgleann tasted too much like cowardice, and she feared it was one reason she had lost herself in sleep. She had the strongest urge to run back to the little shelter in the wood, but she fought it. Ardgleann was her home now, and it was her duty to cleanse it of Rauf’s stench and all the memories.
It did look as if a great deal of work had already been done outside. There was little sign of the battle that had been waged, but Rauf’s mark upon the place was still clear to see. He had had no true feeling for Ardgleann, and neither had his men. There would be many hard weeks of work ahead to clear away the filth and fix all those things that had suffered from careless or thoughtless, destructive hands.
“He was a pig,” murmured Liam. “’Tis sad, but it can be mended.”
“Aye.” She looked at the doors to the keep, thick, oaken doors covered in fine carvings. “They didnae hurt the doors.”
“They are good, thick doors by the look of it. Good for defense.”
“Of course.”
“Ye have to go inside sometime, love,” he said gently. “Best to get it over with.”
She nodded and, still holding his hand, entered the keep. It took only a moment for her to realize why the heavy doors had been left partly open. Months of rough men living like pigs left an odor. Keira feared some of that smell could also have come from the corpses left to rot upon the outer walls. She shivered and then stiffened her spine. That scourge was gone from Ardgleann now. There would be the loss of some beautiful things to grieve over, of that she had no doubt, but the lives lost were of far more importance. Ardgleann could be repaired and scrubbed clean. The dead could never be replaced.
“The great hall first, I think,” she said, and Liam led her to it.
Even as she took the few steps down into the great hall, Keira looked around in a mixture of shock and surprise. There were half a dozen women working hard to clear away the filthy rushes upon the floor and scrub everything clean. Some of the furniture had obviously been lost, but the elegant tapestries upon the walls looked as if they had not been damaged. When Joan led the women over to her, Keira tensed, unsure of her welcome.
“M’lady, we had hoped to have the great hall and mayhap a few other rooms cleaned ere ye came,” said Joan.
Relaxing a little when she saw only welcome upon the women’s faces, Keira said, “Ye didnae need to set to work so soon, Joan.” She could see bruises on several of the women, and she felt her heart clench with sorrow over how they must have suffered. “Ye need time to heal, to be with your families.”
“We are healing, m’lady,” Joan said firmly. “Getting rid of every sign of those pigs is healing to us.” All the women behind Joan vigorously nodded and muttered their agreement.
A little stunned, Keira introduced Liam. She almost wept at the way he greeted each woman as if she were the finest lady. As she watched him learn each one’s name, her place in Ardgleann, and even her family, she felt someone gently tug on her arm. She turned to look at Joan and let that woman pull her a few steps away from where Liam was working his magic.
“Dinnae look so sad, m’lady,” said Joan.
“But they have suffered so,” began Keira.
“Aye, they have, and there are some deep wounds that will be a long time healing. But dinnae ye see? All the women of Ardgleann have suffered. We give each other comfort and strength now, just as we did whilst we were trapped here. Aye, a few escaped, but verra few.”
“Are there many widows?”
Joan nodded and sighed. “Verra few of the men within the keep survived. The men of Ardgleann who did survive have welcomed their women back, and that was a fine thing. ’Twill come about, dinnae ye worry. We see it all as a trial by fire, and we survived.”
“I should have—”
“Done just as ye did. Run—far and fast. We all ken what that beast had planned for ye. He ranted about here for days about nay being able to do it. Ye came back, m’lady, and we were all surprised. Ye were a verra wee lass married to a sad, troubled mon for but a few months. We were naught to ye. Hadnae had time to be, had we? But ye came back with as fine a group of men as I have e’er seen and sent that demon straight to hell where he belongs.”
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