Heart's Ransom (Heart and Soul) (6 page)

“What is it?” he growled.  “If they have come to free you, why are you so terrified?”

“My father did not send them to free me, but to slay me.”

“What?” Talon asked. 

Gwen’s body quivered violently.  She did not see these men as her saviors, but executioners.

“I should have never removed my armor.”

“I’m sorry,” Gwen choked, tears streaming down her cheeks.  “I never should have asked you to.  I thought we were safe here.”

Any thought he might have entertained of her plotting this vanished.  He had told her this glade was safe and she believed him.  He only had himself to blame for this.

“What do you want?” he snarled at the men.

“Your lady,” one man said stepping forward.  He pointed his sword at Talon then grinned viciously.  “Let us have her peaceably and we will let you live.”

Black rage shot through Talon’s heart.  He would die before he allowed these men to lay a hand on Gwen.

“Nay,” Gwen whispered.

“Now, lady,” the lead man said, his voice mocking in its sincerity.  “We only wish to return you to your beloved father.”

“Tosspot,” she spat, but her anger did little to hide the fear coloring her voice.  “I know who you are.  My father hires you every time he wants someone dead.”

A terrible chill clamped around Talon’s heart.

“When you arrive in my father’s hall and receive gold, a few days later a body is found, and it is always someone who gave my father grief at the time.”

The man’s smile vanished, an icy gleam of professionalism in his eyes.  “You are an
observant little wench.”

“A hired assassin?” Talon asked Gwen.

“Aye.  Calls himself Griffen.  He is paid not to be subtle about it but to set an example with brutal murders to terrify others into obedience.”

“And your father hired him to do the same to you?” Talon asked, aghast.  Surely, no father could do such a thing to his own--

“I fear you have it aright,” Griffen said, his lip curling into a sneer.

“Why?” Gwen’s question sounded little more than a squeak.

“Not my place to ask, but I do know your father now has a new heir.”

“New heir?” she screeched.  “Impossible!”

“A new wife too,” Griffen said.  “Married just a sennight ago.  She’s widowed and has a son about your age from her first marriage.  Your father adopted him and named him heir.”

Talon’s heart dropped like a stone.  Gwen was now officially worthless.  If Powys had Rose, he would never release her for Gwen.  His gut twisted painfully and he glanced again over his shoulder. 

Gwen’s face lost all color and her shoulders sagged.  She looked at him, her eyes a pale green with fear, wide and brimming with tears.  “Then whatever you planned is useless,” she whispered so softly he could barely hear her.  “You may as well give me up to them and let it be finished.”

Horror that she would think he would allow such a terrible thing clawed at his soul.  “Nay,” he said tightly.  “I will not let them touch you, Gwen.”

She stared at him, anguish marring her features, and doubt plainly evident.

Self-loathing rose within him, that she could think him so callus sickened his stomach.  But he didn’t really blame her, he had brutally abducted her from the trail, kept her his prisoner, forced her to beg for the tiniest freedom. None of this was her doing.  No wonder she feared he would give her up to these bastards.

Talon glared his challenge at Griffen.  “You are brave to kill an unarmed man.  Allow me a weapon, fight me for her, if slay me, you can have her.”  Gwen fingers latched so hard on his arm; she nearly stopped the blood flow to his hand.

Griffen laughed.  “If I was burdened with something as wearisome as chivalry, I might accede to your demands...and would probably die in the process.  But since I was not born a fool, I decline your challenge.  I am sorry to do this, but since you refuse to move aside, I have no choice.”  He glanced at his men.  “Kill him!”

“Nay!” Gwen screamed, hauling back on his arms.  Talon tried to free himself of her grasp so he could at least use his fists, so he could die fighting, but she somehow dragged him into the trees.

“Look out!” she screeched.

Talon ducked and the sword launching at his head slammed into a tree and stayed there.  He kicked as the man tried to free his sword.  Talon’s foot landed solidly in the man’s groin.  With a gasp, the attacker dropped.  Talon grabbed the sword still imbedded in the tree, freed it, and decapitated the man.  He noticed suddenly that Gwen had released him.

Daring a glance over his shoulder, he saw her staring at the corpse, her face gray.  “Come on!” he snarled and grabbed her arm.

He darted through the trees.  Another man came at him.  Talon blocked his thrust and just as quickly killed him.  Gwen choked, nearly freezing in her tracks.  Talon hauled her to him.  “Gwen, stop it,” he snarled.  “Where is the woman whose courage I admired?”

Gwen gaped at him, but her face was still ashen and Talon feared she might start retching.

He shook her hard.  “Where is the woman who fought me like a she-devil when I abducted her?”

Suddenly tears clouded her eyes.  “She is no longer worth dying for.”

“Blessed Saints, Gwen,” he snarled, gripping her chin with his fingers.  “You are worth my life and so much more.”

She blinked at him, stunned.

“Find your courage.  I will dance with the devil before I let them have you.  But I cannot do this alone.”

Suddenly her emerald eyes ignited.  Talon was again assailed with a wild desire to kiss her.  Either of them could die within the next heartbeat, and he wanted nothing more than to know what her lips would feel like against his if only for an instant.

A harsh cry caused him to spin and bring up his stolen sword.  He blocked, pushing Gwen away.  The man snapped his weapon around but again Talon smoothly defended.  They traded blows for a few heartbeats before the man missed a critical block and Talon slew him.  Again he seized Gwen and sprinted through the trees.

“Aaron!” Talon bellowed.  “Where are you?”  

No answer.

“I asked them for privacy,” Gwen growled.  “Not complete inattention.”

Talon’s stomach coiled into a sickening knot.  “’Tis possible my men are already dead.  These ruffians only attacked when they knew we had no defense.”

“I have more faith in Aaron than that.”

“I can only hope, Gwen.”

“They went this way,” a harsh voice cried.

Talon sprinted faster, wincing at the rocks and sharp stems that sliced his feet to ribbons.

A man exploded through the trees, within arm’s reach of Gwen.

She screamed and ducked, lunging forward at the same moment Talon yanked on her arm.  She sailed past him, landing hard on the ground.  But Talon could not spare her a glance.  Griffen, his sword flashing, charged him.

Talon’s anger boiled and he forgot he wore no armor and his feet were bare.  He was a knight and it was damn time he started acting like one.  He blocked Griffen’s blow easily, settling into a fighting stance and instantly shifting the momentum of the fight to his own.  Steel crashed against steel, ringi
ng sharply through the forest. Griffen grunted and panted, blinking in surprised as Talon forced him to block shot after shot, never allowing him to go on the offensive.

Talon’s lip curled in distaste.  This man was not a swordsman.  He had not the skill to stand in battle, only taking his victims by surprise and sla
ughtering them in cold blood. No wonder he would not accept Talon’s challenge.

Talon immediately increased the pace of the battle.  His sword snapped out and around, then back across, down and over for a quick feint then up, arcing in a downward slash.  Griffen fell for the feint, his sword swinging wildly.  With cool dispatch, Talon buried his blade at the juncture of his shoulder and neck, cleaving into his chest.

Griffen stared at him, his expression shocked as he realized he was dead, a small amount of blood trickled from his lips.  He dropped his sword and his knees slowly buckled.

Before the assassin hit the ground, Talon turned back to Gwen who struggled to her knees.  “Are you all right?” he asked as he grabbed her hand again.

“Aye...just had the breath knocked from my lungs.”

“It happens to the best of us, lady,” he said and sprinted forward through the trees.

Men behind them shouted for Griffen.  There should only be two left unless more of their group hid in the trees where Talon could not see them.

Abruptly he heard a snort of a horse close by.  “Ebon!” he cried, then whistled through his teeth.  The giant black stallion exploded through the trees, snorting and stomping.

“I know, my friend,” Talon said, dragging Gwen forward.  The horse stilled, waiting for him to mount.  Instead, Talon threw Gwen into the saddle.  “Go, Ebon, get her to safety.  I’m counting on you.”

“Talon!” Gwen cried.  She reached for him but he stepped back.

“Go home, Ebon!” Talon bellowed, slapping the horse on the rump.  The animal snorted and lunged, turning for home.

His heart soared in relief.  The stallion would get her to Montgomery safely. 

“Aaaahhhhh!”

Talon spun, seeing another man charging, his sword raised.  He defended.  Talon had no desire to die this day but he would make certain Gwen was safe.

“Ebon, don’t you dare!” he heard Gwen screech.  “Help Talon!”

He had no time to spare a glance from the fight.  “Ebon, go home!” he roared.

Suddenly the black horse appeared before him, forcing himself between the fighting.  Talon glanced up at Gwen, her skirts bunched at her waist, revealing the most beautiful, shapely legs he had ever seen.  The horse reared violently. Gwen’s black hair flew around her like an illumination of an enraged pagan goddess.  She folded herself over the horse’s neck, trusting the beast to know what to do.  Ebon struck with both hooves, instantly killing the man.

“Talon come on!” Her face a sickly gray, she turned Ebon, and reached down for him.

Cursing her folly, and knowing she would not leave without him, Talon grabbed her hand and vaulted aboard the giant stallion.

“Go, Ebon!” Gwen cried.  “Go home!”

The stallion once again launched himself forward.  Talon wrapped one arm around Gwen’s narrow waist as Ebon hurtled out of the trees.  They broke free of the glade and the stallion flattened himself on the road.  Abruptly his stride faltered and Talon looked up, seeing armored men before him.

“My lord!” Aaron cried.

Both Talon and Gwen breathed a sigh of relief.  Talon reached around her, grabbed the reins and pulled Ebon to a halt.  “Where in the hell were you?”

“We saw a track of raiders and followed it.”

“They led you a merry chase and tried to kill your earl and Lady Gwen.”

Rage burned in Aaron’s eyes.  “Forgive me, my lord.  The moment we realized the party doubled back on us, we returned with all haste.  There are twelve in this party.  We will finish them.”

“Be careful, Aaron.  I killed four, actually Ebon saw to the last.  But there is one left in the glade.  If those twelve are in addition...you are seriously outnumbered.”

“Worry not, my lord.  We will handle them.  Get the lady to safety.”

“I’ll send more men from Montgomery,” Talon barked as he kicked Ebon into a gallop again.

“Talon, stop.” Gwen gasped.

“We cannot--”

“Stop now!” she cried so urgently Talon pulled his mount up before he realized.  She flew off the saddle, staggered two paces away and collapsed, retching terribly.

“Sweet Jesu,” Talon whispered and vaulted off.  He wrapped his arms around Gwen’s shoulders, grimacing as he felt her body contort.  “It’s all right, Gwen,” he whispered, stroking her hair.  “We are safe now.”

Her retching finally eased.  “How....” she gasped, wiping her mouth.  “How can you do it?”

He frowned, tugging her chin until she looked at him.  He was stunned to see tears streaming down her cheeks.  “How can I do what?”

“How can you bear to kill a man?”

His heart shattered into tiny pieces as he realized just what she had done.  She had refused to escape to safety, instead able to control his horse after he had ordered it home. His arms wrapped tightly around her and he held her as if she was his last grip on reality.

“I know, Gwen,” he whispered.  “But all I think of is how much more terrible it would be for me to see you dead in place of the man I would slay.  When it comes to that question, there is only one answer...one which I never doubt.”

She choked on another sob but her arms wrapped around his neck with surprising strength.  “’Tis true,” she whispered in his ear.  “I feared you dead and knew I couldn’t let that happen, that’s why I forced Ebon to come back.”

Her words slammed into his gut as strongly as a mailed fist.  He held her tightly and buried his face in her thick hair.  “Let’s go home,” he whispered.

She nodded, still trying to control her sobs.

Talon returned to Castle Montgomery wearing only hosen, a sweat stained tunic, and carrying a distraught woman.  The servants and men at arms gathered in mute surprise.  Talon said nothing, but carried Gwen into the keep.  He was glad to note her mare had returned, now being cooled down.