Borderland Beauty (19 page)

Stroking a finger across his lips, Odo looked form Lucy to Dominic and back again. “Why do you do this?”

Lucy gulped and glanced over at him. “Because I love him, my lord.”

Even as Dominic’s heart shattered, it soared in triumph. She loved him! He wanted to utter the words in return but he could not, not in front of Odo. He had revealed weakness enough. Locking his eyes onto hers, he willed her to understand.
I love you, Lucy. More than life itself. Now flee.

He would have to kill Odo and probably die in the process. If he could just create enough of a distraction, mayhap Lucy could escape.

“Aye, well, many a foolish thing has been done in the name of love. You have yourself a deal, lass.”

A faint smile played across Lucy’s lips and Dominic wondered how she could possibly be glad of such an outcome. Reckless, foolish lass. His life would have been an easy price to pay for her safety. Why could she not have done as he asked and remained safe behind Thornewall’s sturdy stone walls?

Motioning for one of his men to release Dominic, Odo grasped Lucy’s arm and drew her close to him.

As soon as the shackles were unhooked from the wall, Dominic jerked furiously on them, the metal cutting into his wrists. “Damn you, Odo. I will kill you, I swear it.”

A second man grabbed at the trailing chains in an effort to control him but still he fought against them, inching closer to their leader. Odo sneered and snatched an eating knife from the table, pressing it against the curve of Lucy’s breast.

Freezing, Dominic watched the blade as Lucy’s pale skin trembled. He allowed his hands to relax and Odo nodded with satisfaction. “Play nicely, Thornewall, and you’ll have your lovely lass back in your arms before long.”

Dominic’s gut twisted and heat surged beneath his skin. He doubted it. Once he handed over the money, he would never see Lucy again. When he was free of these wretched shackles, he was going to wring Odo’s neck, he was going to string him up and tear him to pieces, he was going gut him from head to toe…

“Remove his chains, but keep the shackles on. If he can make it back to Thornewall with those on, then mayhap he is truly deserving of such a fine lassie.”

The chains clunked to the ground and Lucy visibly sagged with relief. Dominic shook his head in disbelief.

“May I say farewell to him?” Lucy asked.

Odo’s eyebrows darted up as he considered her. “Aye, as you will. One wrong move from either of you and I will run her through, Thornewall.”

Dominic clenched his jaw, biting back the stream of curses and insults. His mind raced as he glanced around the hall. For the life of him, he could not see how to get Lucy safely out of Odo’s clutches. He did not doubt that Odo would make good on his promise to kill her should he make any false moves.

The knife on Lucy’s breast came away and Odo shoved her towards him. She threw her arms around his neck with a barely perceptible sob. Dominic pressed against her, cursing the restraints that prevented him from taking her in his arms.

“What have you done, Luce?” he murmured into her hair as he pressed a desperate kiss to her forehead. “What have you done?”

“All will be well,” she whispered. “I promise you. All will be well.”

Flattening herself against him, she spread kisses across his face and lips.

“That’s enough,” Odo barked, snatching Lucy’s arm again and hauling her back.

Dominic’s jaw twitched as he watched Odo manhandle Lucy.
Think, Dominic, think
, he commanded himself.

Two of Odo’s men grabbed him by his arms and dragged him toward the door. He fought against them briefly but he ceased his struggles as Odo waved his knife in front of Lucy’s face, the candlelight glinting off the metal.

With one last glance at Lucy, he allowed himself to be hauled out into the bailey. His body ached from the beating and his legs quaked beneath him but it was nothing compared to the agony in his chest and the sickness in his stomach. God only knows what they would do to her.
His stomach roiled as he considered the possibilities.

The heavy wooden doors were heaved open with a creak and he took a moment to study the defences of Ravenscroft. A handful of men stood on the ramparts but aside from the two holding onto him, there were only two others in the courtyard - currently lugging open the doors. The men holding him had a firm grip but that meant they would take some time to reach their swords. Mayhap he could escape them and then he could…. he could what?

With his hands tied, he was next to useless. He would likely get both of them killed. He balled his fists until they hurt. He wanted to roar and rage and tear at the men holding him but he could not. Despondency settled in his gut as they drew him nearer to the slowly opening gate and further away from Lucy.

The white hills greeted him and Dominic wondered if he would even survive the journey home. Nay, he would. He had to. He would raise an army and tear Ravenscroft keep down brick by brick until he had Lucy back in his arms where she belonged.

The day was bright, the sun glinting off the glistening snow. He narrowed his eyes as the glints grew brighter.

Hell’s teeth, helms!

It was the Thornewall men. They must have crawled their way across the snow and hidden in one of the many hollows that surrounded the castle.

Canny lass
. Lucy had used the exchange to get the doors open. If he could keep the gates open long enough, the Thornewall soldiers would be able to enter and take the castle.

No one had spotted the soldiers yet, the snow was too bright and all eyes were on him. He darted a look at the men on either side of him. He prayed they would not cut him down, not yet. Once Lucy was safe they could do what they wanted with him, but he counted on them wanting him alive so he could pay the ransom.

With a roar, he threw himself against one of the men. The man tumbled, crying out as he fell onto the snow with a thud, his ankle twisting beneath him. Dominic remained upright thanks to the other soldier clinging to his arm and he propelled himself sideways, striking the man with his shoulder. A bolt of pain surged through his side but he ignored it, slamming down into the prone man with an elbow.

The men at the gatehouse hurried towards him, swords drawn. Behind them, the Thornewall men neared, now clearly visible against the white of the snow. Dominic clambered to his feet and grinned at the two soldiers as they waved their swords warningly.

One swiped at him - not a blow intended to kill, just to hurt - but he dodged to one side and the swing went wide. The smaller soldier brought the pommel of his sword forward and it landed on his shoulder. A frisson of pain ran down his arm but he gritted his teeth and smashed his head into the guard’s unprotected nose.

The guard yowled and Dominic’s head jarred as it caught the steel of the guard’s helm. Blood seeped quickly down his own forehead but the other man fared worse and staggered about as he clutched at his shattered nose.

A cry went up and the larger watchman spun around to see the Thornewall men barrelling through the gate. The man twisted back to Dominic and raised his sword as the Ravenscroft soldiers clambered from the walls to put up a defence but before he could swing his eyes went wide and he fell forward.

James flashed a smile at him from under his helm as he withdrew his bloodied sword.

“James! God’s blood, you are a welcome sight. Come, we must get to Lucy.”

“Aye, my lord. Is she unharmed?”

“Aye, for the moment. I would have words with you for allowing her to continue through with this folly but I suspect she was most persistent.”

“Aye, my lord,” James said with a twist of his lips, “most persistent.”

Dominic thrust his arms forward. “Can you remove these?”

Peering at the shackles, he shook his head. “I’ll not get through them with my blade. You need an axe. Or better yet, the key.” He glanced around at the bailey which was steadily emptying of Ravencroft men as the Thornewall soldiers beat them back into the keep. “Remain here, my lord, while we get the lady.”

“I’ll not stay here.” He had to get to Lucy.

“My lord, you’ll do little good as you are,” James reasoned.

“I’ll chew Odo’s damned face off if I have to.”

He snatched at the fallen soldier’s sword and hefted it into his hand, swinging it experimentally. He would be unable to swipe as wide as he would like but he could still cut enemies down easily enough.

The two men sprinted up the outer stairs, slashing at anyone who blocked their path. Most of Odo’s men had already retreated into the keep and were trying to close the inner doors but the Thornewall men were upon them before they had the chance. Their angry yells echoed off the stone walls and Dominic recognised the bloodlust on their faces as he forced his way through them, his pulse racing. Today would be the day they repaid the Thornewall blood spilt by reivers these past years.

The smoke from the open fire clouded the room and the scrape of steel against steel surrounded him as a metallic tang permeated the air. Dominic’s stomach lurched as he searched desperately for Lucy in amongst the tangle of brawling men and grey smoke. He peered through it and realised that it was not the fire causing it, but a tapestry that had caught alight during the brawl.

He released a long breath as he spied her before his heart pitched into his throat. Odo had dragged her into one corner of the hall and she was fighting against his hold. With a snarl, Dominic slashed at the men in front of him, shoving them aside, his gaze fastened to Lucy.

Grabbing a handful of her hair, Odo lunged at an approaching soldier as he hauled Lucy into his hold. She bit at his wrist and he dropped her with an indignant yell. Spitting and scratching at him, she tore herself away. Dominic watched with horror as Odo brought his fist across her face and she crumpled to the floor.

Blood roared in his ears as the world went hazy and with several frantic blows, he broke free of the fight. Odo grabbed for Lucy’s motionless form but Dominic was upon him before he could reach her and he thrust his sword into his side.

Odo swivelled with a strangled cry and stared at him in surprise. Twisting the blade, Dominic watched with a bitter smile of satisfaction as the large man fell to his knees. He pulled the sword free and shoved Odo to the floor with a mighty kick.

The huge man jerked and stilled suddenly, and Dominic dragged his gaze over to Lucy, murmuring a prayer as he did so. He sagged with relief as he saw her stir but as he hurried over to her side, a great crack resounded through the room. A quick glance back told him that the flames had taken hold of the wooden joists and were eating through the old oak.

He yelled a warning to his men as another shudder wracked the building but Odo’s men had already surrendered and the Thornewall men had begun herding them hastily out into the bailey. James shouted something to Dominic but a deafening rumble drowned out his words.

Glancing up at the joists, and then at Lucy’s prone form, a surge of energy charged through him and he hurled himself forward, landing on top of her as she cried out.

With a groan and a sudden crash, the joists crumbled.

~* * *~

She couldn’t breathe. She fought and struggled to free herself but it was no good, she was pinned. Lucy gulped in what little air she could and the haze that clouded her mind steadily dissipated. She grabbed at whatever it was pinning her to the floor to find blood-slickened flesh and soft, thick hair.

A sob welled in her throat as she grasped desperately at his face, but she could not raise his head from her chest. “Dominic,” she cried hoarsely. “Dominic, wake up.” She stared at the top of his head for a moment, waiting, but he remained unmoving. “Dominic?” she croaked out again.

Flopping back, she stared absently as a tiny flicker of flame licked at the remaining joists. The dust and smoke gradually cleared and she could see that the heavy central joist had come down. Dust and masonry coated Dominic’s clothing and large fragments of wood lay across his legs. Had he felt any pain?

She turned her attention back to the remaining upper floor.
How long until it falls completely?
she wondered numbly. Tangling her fingers into Dominic’s hair, she pressed him fiercely to her chest as tears seeped down her cheeks. At least he knew. At least he knew she loved him.

Sniffing, she burrowed her face into his hair as a tremor rolled through the castle. She tensed, clutching her arms around Dominic and squeezing her eyes shut but only a light sprinkling of stone trickled over them. Her heart froze as Dominic’s body twitched. She held her breath and waited, but she could hear nothing.

“Dominic? Are you awake? Pray wake up, I need you.”

A groan.

Wrapping her hands around his head, she managed to coax his face up and her chest fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. With a moan, his head fell back against her chest.

Fresh tears filled her eyes as her body shook with relief. He was alive! Lucy glanced up at the roof once more and she bit back a cry, forcing herself to take a calming breath. “Dominic, we need to flee.”

Sluggishly, he lifted his head and grinned at her. “I love you, Luce.”

She beamed back as warmth seeped through her before shaking her head. “Aye, and I you. But you can tell me more of it later. The keep is aflame.”

Pushing himself up with a wince, Dominic glanced around at the devastation. He kicked the debris off his legs and eased away from her. Trailing his gaze over her grime-coated form, he held out his bound hands. She grasped a hand gratefully and they both staggered to their feet.

“Are you hurt?”

Lucy regarded his bruised and beaten state and shook her head with a grimace as it pounded. Dominic grabbed her and held her firmly to his side as they picked their way through the debris. Fragments of charred wood dropped from the roof and Dominic hunched over her as he urged her to move quicker.

They stumbled out into the bailey and Lucy paused for breath, but Dominic refused to let her wait and dragged her further away from the square keep, muttering about ‘keeping her safe.’ When they reached the curtain wall, they stopped and he dragged her against him, kissing the top of her head vehemently. As the insides of the castle creaked and moaned, she nestled into him, clasping his neck gratefully. The groans gave way to a crash and a plume of dust and smoke spilled out of the door.