Connie Mason (26 page)

“ ’Tis dark outside,” Raven whispered. He sensed her fear and wished he could tell her the exit would lead to freedom, but he could not.

“The dark works in our favor,” Drake said as he drew her against him. Her arms circled his neck, and she pressed herself against him, hugging him tightly.

“I would rather be in this dark hole with you than in Waldo’s bed,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Raven, I—”

She placed a finger against his lips. “Nay, ’tis the wrong time to express feelings. I am another man’s wife, and one day we must part. Let me take what comfort I can from you in the time we have left. When you take a wife, I will disappear from your life.”

Drake felt her pain and knew not how to ease it.

“I will do everything within my power to protect you,” he promised.

“Do not make rash promises,” Raven whispered. “I belong to another. Naught will change that. I do not want you to suffer on my behalf. I will do what I must to keep you safe, even if it means returning to Waldo.”

“You will
not
return to Waldo,” Drake said fiercely. “I will go to the king myself and plead your cause.”

“Could he dissolve a marriage?”

“Your marriage was never consummated,” Drake reminded her. “Anything is possible if you desire it enough.”

“Then I shall wish it with all my heart and soul,” Raven said fervently.

Drake felt as if the shield he had placed around his heart had been breached. Since that disastrous day when his plans to elope with Daria had been thwarted, the shield had remained firmly in place—until Raven entered his life. He wished he could give Raven her heart’s desire, but he could not, not yet. He had no solution to Raven’s problems so he kissed her instead, trying to convey without words that he would not abandon her to Waldo. Then he released her and handed her the torch.

“You keep this. If the cave exits where I think it does, moonlight will guide me.”

“Be careful,” Raven called after him.

The exit was so small Drake had to drop to his hands and knees and crawl through. He emerged from the cave and gave a whoop of pure joy when he looked up and saw the moon and stars beaming down upon him. He gulped down several deep breaths of fresh air before returning his attention to the cave. He saw that its exit was precisely where he’d thought it would be: on a hillside surrounded by trees and gorse.

“You can come out now,” he called softly to Raven. “Leave the torch; we do not want to announce our presence. It will burn itself out in time.”

A few minutes later Raven’s head popped out of the exit and Drake knelt to help her through. She was shaking. He held her for a moment, loath to let her go but aware of the danger that existed for both of them.

“Think you Waldo will find the tunnel?” Raven asked.

“Eventually,” Drake answered truthfully. “A thorough search of the keep will reveal the door behind the tapestry in your bedchamber. We had the advantage of knowing which tunnel to follow; they do not. Nevertheless, we must hurry. We are afoot; Waldo’s men will be mounted.”

“How long do you think we have?”

“It will take time to search every nook and cranny of the
castle and outbuildings. My guess is that we have a day or two before they extend their search to the forest.” He offered her his hand. “Come, I will lead the way.”

“I do not want to go to Wales,” Raven said, aware of Drake’s plans to take her to Granny Nola’s house. “Take me to Windhurst with you.”

“Nay, ’tis likely the first place Waldo will look for you. Michaelmas approaches, and with it winter. For the first time in my life I will pray for an early snow.”

“We must go directly to Windhurst,” Raven insisted. “There is no time to waste.”

“Nay, you will not be safe there.”

“I care not,” she said stubbornly. “Be practical, Drake. We are afoot. Had we coin we could purchase horses in a village, but we have naught but the clothing on our backs.”

Drake gave her a mischievous grin. “I planned to steal horses.”

“We are wasting time. I am going to Windhurst and that is final.”

Drake stared at her in consternation. Raven had grown from a pesky, impertinent child to a feisty, courageous woman. He wished he had known her during her formative years so he would have insight into what had molded her into the kind of woman she was today.

He gave a defeated sigh. “Very well, but ’tis against my better judgment.”

Moonlight guided them as they made their way through the silent forest. Drake did not want to frighten Raven, but he feared their lack of horses would hinder them. He had not been joshing when he’d said he intended to steal horses. They had far to travel, and he knew Raven was exhausted, for he was nearly dead on his feet himself.

Suddenly Drake stopped, pressing Raven’s hand in warning. “Did you hear that?”

“Nay, I heard naught.”

“Listen.”

Drake remained perfectly still and so did Raven as they listened to the night sounds around them. A horse snorted and Drake stiffened.

“Do you hear it now?”

“Aye. What does it mean?”

“Someone is camped nearby.”

“Poachers?”

“Mayhap.” But he did not think so. “Stay here while I take a look.”

Drake crept through the thick gorse toward the sound he had heard. He stumbled upon the camp without warning, for no campfire had been built to give the campsite away. Drake saw a man lying on the ground, wrapped in a blanket, his head upon his saddle. He searched the site for others and relaxed somewhat when he saw no one but the one man. Catlike, he circled the campsite, tense, waiting. Was the man friend or foe?

Moving stealthily, he crept from tree to tree, stopping short when he spied a pair of horses hobbled close to the campsite. Two horses. That puzzled Drake, for he had seen only one man. One horse lifted its head and swished its tail. Drake was speechless when he recognized his own Zeus. And the second horse belonged to Sir John. Zeus snorted a greeting.

Suddenly a shadow fell across his path and Drake reached for a weapon that did not exist.

“I thought you would never get here, my lord.”

“John!”

“Aye. What took you so long?”

“How did you know it was I?”

“Zeus. Your horse sensed your presence before I did. I pretended sleep until I realized ’twas you snooping around my campsite.”

“Were you so certain I would appear, then?”

John smiled. “Aye, I never doubted it.”

“Where did you find Zeus?”

“One of your men found him after Waldo dragged you away. Most of our warriors survived the battle. When I returned from Builth Wells, I found them camped in the forest. They were waiting until they learned your fate.”

“Where are they now?”

“I sent them back to Windhurst with the wounded. I knew you would escape, Drake. No dungeon in the world is strong enough to hold the Black Knight.”

“Your faith humbles me, John, but for a time I truly believed I would breathe my last in Chirk’s dungeon.”

“How did you escape? I can hardly wait to hear.”

“Later, John,” Drake said. “Raven will be frantic with worry if I do not return for her soon.”

John looked stunned. “Lady Raven is with you? God’s blood! ’Tis incredible. Get her, by all means. Meanwhile, I will break camp and saddle the horses. You and Raven can share Zeus’s back.”

Drake clasped John’s shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. You have quite possibly saved both my life and Raven’s.”

Raven was consumed by fear as she waited for Drake to return. She imagined all kinds of danger he could have walked into and wished he had taken her with him. He had been gone far too long, and though she knew he had warned her not to roam, she wanted to be of help if he were in trouble. Throwing caution to the wind, Raven started after Drake.

She had not gone very far when she heard the murmur of voices and paused to listen. Following the sounds, she moved cautiously forward. Then she saw them, standing in a patch of moonlight beside a pair of horses, speaking in low tones. One of the men was Drake. The other was . . . Sir John! She gave a cry of pleasure and rushed out to join them.

They must have heard her, for they were immediately on guard. Drake recognized her first.

“Raven! I told you to wait for me.”

“I was worried and wanted to help if you were in trouble.”

“Did you think to defend the Black Knight with naught but your teeth and nails?” Sir John asked, laughing softly.

Raven did not laugh. If need be, she would indeed fight tooth and nail on Drake’s behalf. “Why are you still here, Sir John?”

“I could not leave until I learned Drake’s fate. And I wanted to be here to help him when he escaped. After I left you at Chirk, I found the remnants of our men hiding in the forest. They, too, were awaiting word of Drake’s fate. I sent them on to Windhurst and remained behind. You see, I never doubted Drake’s ability to escape.”

“We must leave immediately,” Drake said. He searched Raven’s face. “You are exhausted. You can sleep in the saddle. Zeus is fully up to carrying our combined weight.”

John had already saddled both horses. “I hope you are not hungry, for I have little to offer you,” he said. “We can purchase food in the first village we pass.”

“I have no coin,” Drake said.

John smiled. “Fear not, my friend. I have enough coin for our needs.”

“I would ask a favor of you, John,” Drake said. “You have shown your loyalty to me time and again, but I would ask one more thing of you.”

“Name it, Drake.”

“Ride to Builth Wells and inform Granny Nola that Raven and I are safe and well for the moment. She will be worried about us, and you are the only one I trust with her location.”

“Of course I will go,” John said. “I will meet you at Windhurst. But first you must take the coins remaining in my purse.
I will not need them.” He removed his purse from his belt and handed it to Drake.

“Save some for yourself, John,” Drake said, accepting only part of the money.

Drake mounted Zeus and John lifted Raven into the saddle. Raven placed her arms around Drake’s waist and held fast. Then his arms came around her, holding her firmly against him as he gripped the reins and kneed Zeus forward.

A knight’s word is his honor
.

They rode throughout the night with no sign of pursuit. Raven slept in the saddle, curled against Drake. They had left the forest behind and rode over moors carpeted with heather and alongside cliffs where the sound of water dashing against rocks reverberated like thunder. Raven stirred in Drake’s arms. A few moments later she awakened, confused and disoriented.

“Where are we?” she asked, gazing up at Drake. Deep grooves of exhaustion lined his face, and she wondered how he had kept himself in the saddle this long.

“Far enough from Chirk to stop and rest,” he answered. “A village lies a short distance inland, and a stream just beyond. I passed them on my first trip to Windhurst. We can visit the village to purchase food, then rest a few hours beside the stream. The spot I have in mind is secluded and will conceal us from travelers. Zeus can drink his fill and rest while we refresh ourselves.”

“Can I bathe?” Raven asked eagerly. “My skin crawls. I am filthy from creeping around in the tunnel.”

“The water will be cold.”

“It matters not.”

Drake grinned. “I am of the same mind. I am eager to wash the stench of the dungeon from my skin.” He reined Zeus away from the cliffs.

A short time later they reached the village. It was market day. The narrow streets were filled with people and vendors hawking their wares. They bought two meat pies, wolfed them down, then purchased more pies, cheese, bread, and ale,
enough to last until they reached Windhurst if they ate sparingly. Sufficient coin remained to buy a dappled mare for Raven, a mantle for Drake, and a change of clothing for each of them. The vendor took one look at their dirty faces and added a cake of soap to their purchases.

After Drake tied the sack of provisions and the skin of ale to his saddle, he lifted Raven atop her mare and led them both away from the village. They found the stream with little difficulty. Drake seemed to know exactly where he was going as he guided Zeus and the mare to a bend in the stream where a canopy of trees hid them from passersby.

“I camped here once,” Drake explained as he dismounted and lifted Raven down from her mare. “ ’Tis a quiet spot. We can build a campfire without fear of being seen. There are few travelers in this part of Wessex.”

“Think you Waldo knows we are missing by now?” Raven asked.

“Aye. Doubtless you were missed this morning when food was brought to break your fast. ’Tis unlikely my own absence will be discovered until the guards visit the dungeon to administer the beating Waldo ordered. When Waldo puts two and two together, the entire castle will be in an uproar. He will spend a day or two searching the keep and surrounding buildings before he sends men out to scour the forest. Then it will be another sennight, mayhap longer, before Waldo figures out how we escaped.”

Raven found a grassy spot beside the stream and sat down. Drake unsaddled the horses and led them to the water. After they had drunk their fill, Drake hobbled them where they could nibble on sweet grass and dropped down beside Raven.