To Capture Her Heart (2 page)

Throwing the wool cloak over his arm, he stepped into the masses of people as he rubbed his jaw, feeling the scruff of his beard scratch against his palm. His work for the day was over, but he didn't feel like celebrating. In fact, a deep sense of loneliness consumed him, though he was surrounded by almost the entire kingdom of Darth. His eyes wearily darted through the crowd hoping desperately that he wouldn't see the one person he hated with all of his heart—his former fiancée. He hadn't seen her since the night she had told him she was in love with another man, and if he had his say in the matter, he'd like to keep it that way.

When his brief but thorough inspection left him satisfied that she was nowhere near him, he turned to leave. His mind was distracted with a plethora of unpleasant thoughts as he felt a body crash into him. The slight jar of his body caused him to think he had surely been run into by an over-exuberant child. Turning to make his apologies, Gavin grabbed the small girl by her shoulders to steady her saying, “My apologies child. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going.”

Sapphire eyes turned to fire as the slight woman in front of him hissed between deep, labored breathes, “I...am...not...a...child!”

Gavin cocked his head back and let his eyes roam slowly over the girl, seeking proof that indeed she was not. Truth be told, the girl was not much larger than a child, her head barely reaching past his chest, and her figure was not voluptuous like most women he knew either. He watched as her eyes narrowed into angry slits at his scrutiny, and he had to tamp down a smile that was threatening to break through his carefully masked visage.

Finally he spoke, “You could have fooled me. I prefer my women with curves.”

If he thought her angry before, the look she was now giving him was downright deadly. There was only a moment’s pause before she snapped back acerbically, “Well I prefer my men with manners.”

Gavin let out a loud laugh for the first time in ages, but before he could goad her further, the little imp had turned and fled. He watched as her raven braid flew in the wind behind her, noting that she ran abnormally fast. For a brief moment, he pitied the man who ever captured her heart, knowing he'd have his work cut out for him trying to keep up with her.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he took off, heading towards the stables where he had paid to keep his destrier during the execution. A long ride on the back of Ichabod was exactly what he needed right now. He was half way to the stable when he heard a familiar voice call out to him. “Gavin, wait up.”

He cringed as Tristan, the former lead defender for King Eustace, called out to him. Since King Eustace's death, Tristan was now tasked with the job of defending Terric de Valles, the man engaged to Princess Rosalind and set to become the next king of the Southwestern territory. Gavin stopped in his tracks but didn't turn towards the familiar voice. He waited for Tristan to saunter up next to him before turning to see what he needed.

“Where are you off to, lad?”

Gavin felt irritation coarse through his veins at being addressed by Tristan in such a belittling manner, as if he were merely a child, and he didn't even attempt to hide the emotion. “'Tis none of your affair. I've completed my duties for the day and am off to enjoy my freedom.” Shouldering past Tristan he muttered, “Do you mind?”

Tristan wasn't fazed at all by Gavin's brusqueness. “I don't mind at all, but King Terric might. He sent me to fetch you.”

“Me?” Gavin asked in surprise. He had yet to have a personal conversation with the man. Of course he knew of him, the entire kingdom did. He had long served Darth as the High King, King Lawrence's lead defender. He was somewhat of a hero throughout the land. And, the fact that he was now set to wed Princess Rosalind, only seemed to up his esteem in the eyes of most. Gavin was sure he would make a great king, though why he needed to speak to him personally was a mystery.

“What does he want?” Gavin asked curiously.

Tristan shrugged his shoulders. “I'm not certain, though I suspect he has some task for you to perform.”

Gavin puffed his cheeks and exhaled a whoosh of air from his lungs. “I just finished the bloody task I was assigned. Pray tell what he wants of me now. Perhaps he would like me to cart off the traitors bodies and bury them?” He couldn't keep the bitterness from creeping into his voice as he spoke.

Tristan watched him with amusement until he finished his little rant. Then, he shrugged his shoulders once more in the same nonchalant way he had before. “'Tis nobody’s fault but your own that you keep getting assigned the most unpleasant of tasks.”

Gavin knew that, but he didn't much appreciate the reminder. He fought the urge to slug Tristan in the face; instead he asked, “Where is he?”

“By the executioner's block.”

Taking off in the opposite direction than where he had previously been headed, Gavin began making his way back to where he had just come from. It was easy to spot Terric, though he was surrounded by an inordinate amount of people. He was taller than most, but it wasn't just his height that caused him to stand out.  There was an air of authority about him that seemed to draw people like moths to the flame.

Gavin marched right up to where he was standing and tapped him on the shoulder. Terric turned, his face breaking out into a smile. “Ah, 'tis just the person I wished to see.”

“What is it you need of me?” Gavin asked, trying his hardest to control his irritation at having his time to himself interrupted.

“I have an assignment for you, a very important one.”

Gavin highly doubted that. Ever since he had come back to Herfordshire Castle, the work he had been required to do had been anything but important. Minus the execution of Asher, his duties had always been menial and tedious, the leftover chores that no other defender wanted to bother with. The only reason he had been assigned to perform something as important as the execution was because it was a dangerous and risky position to be in. Criminals rarely worked alone.  There were often a number of close friends and allies who were fortunate enough not to have been caught, and it was common enough for them to seek revenge on the executioner who had beheaded their comrade. His task of executing Asher in no way made him a hero, only a target for potential harm.

“Let's speak in private,” Terric said, as he gestured for Gavin to follow him away from the stage and the subsequent throngs of people. As soon as they were out of hearing distance from most, Terric spoke. “I have a younger sister who is very impetuous.”

Gavin paused and gave Terric a strange look, his eyes squinting in confusion. “This is what you wished to speak to me concerning?”

“Aye. I have too many duties to oversee at the present moment, and I need somebody to look after her.”

Gavin snorted. “You are asking me to tend her? Isn't there a nursemaid who can perform the task?”

“She's not a child, exactly, but she's not ready to be out on her own. She recently took off towards the castle by herself and I worry for her safety. I need you to go fetch her and bring her back to me where I can keep an eye on her.”

“'Tis a new low,” Gavin thought.

Only he hadn't realized he had spoken out loud until Terric put a firm hand on his shoulder and said, “I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't trust you. To me this is a matter of great importance. If anything happens to her...” he left the threat unspoken.

Gavin had no choice to agree to the preposterous idea if he wanted to keep his job. “Very well. Which direction did she go?”

“She took off running that way,” he gestured just over Gavin's shoulder. “Though why she was in such a hurry is beyond me. Something tells me that she went to Brantonwall Castle's gardens. You can start by looking for her there. She is about this tall,” he said, indicating a spot about two thirds the way up his chest. “Her hair is as black as a moonless sky, and her name is Gwendolyn.”

Chapter 3

Scolded

Gavin had the sinking suspicion that he had already encountered Terric's sister. After bidding him a brief farewell, he turned and began jogging towards Brantonwall Castle, the same direction the girl-child he had so offended earlier had gone. Ignoring the celebratory sounds all around him, he tried hard to tamper down his irritation at his new assignment. He wanted nothing more than to disappear into a pub and drink a frothy, cold mug of ale in solitude where he could drown out his vexing predicament. His pace quickened, as he realized that the sooner he gave the girl a scolding and sent her back to her brother, the sooner he could realize his simple dream. He really didn't ask for much out of life, not anymore.

Brantonwall Castle looked even larger up close, with its imposing stone walls that stretched high into the sky. Gavin took but a brief moment to admire the stately fortress before turning and making his way to the garden entrance. He entered the meticulous garden, his pace brisk as he looked around for a glimpse of the girl. Wandering through carefully cared-for foliage, he debated whether he should call out for the girl or not.

Gwendolyn. That's what Terric had said she was called, but to him, it didn't suit her. It was much too big of a name for such a small imp. At the moment, the only things he could think to call her were not proper at all. Just as he reached the far end of the garden, a box maze opened abruptly to his view. He threw a glance over his shoulder to inspect the gardens one last time for the girl before he surreptitiously entered the maze.

Gavin had never been in a maze before and, in other circumstances, might have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge it presented, but not today. Coming to the a fork in the path, he debated turning around and leaving when he heard a delicate sneeze not far from where he was situated. Stilling his breath, he tuned his ears to the sounds around him. He heard a bird chirping merrily above, and in the faint distant he could still hear the crowds celebrating the day of justice. A faint rustling, akin to the sound of material brushing up against the shrubbery, gave the girl's position away. He turned and took the path on his right, wending along until he caught sight of a flash of blue disappearing around the bend.

Breaking into a slow jog, he made to catch up to the girl. Just as her full body came into view, she turned her head to see who was following her. Her large gem-like eyes widened, and the imp took off in a sprint. Gavin had to increase his pace to its maximum as he attempted to catch up to her. She was indeed much too fast for her own good, or for his own good rather, but luckily, what Gavin lacked in speed, he made up for in endurance. He could follow her all day long through the maze if he had to. Surely she'd be the one to expire her efforts first. He used that thought as a balm to his somewhat wounded pride.

When he was several paces behind her, she made the mistake of looking back to gauge his position in relation to her. She nearly stumbled into the hedge that dead-ended right before her. He smiled wickedly as he realized he had her trapped. He used her slight falter to catch up to her and clasp her roughly into his arms. She smelled delightfully of daffodils, or maybe that was his imagination. Either way, he wasn't about to let something so trivial distract him from his purpose.

“Unhand me you brute!” she screamed, as her pointed elbows came into painful contact with his ribs. Unamused by her assault, his grip on her tightened painfully around her arms as he forced them to her sides. To her credit, the girl didn't complain, but neither did she still. One tiny foot slipped beneath her skirt and made quick contact with his shin. Caught off guard, he nearly released her arms. Realizing his near mistake, he quickly tackled her to the ground, holding her small body captive beneath his own. Her eyes were wide with shock as her chest rose furiously beneath him. He ignored the way his blood heated at the feel of her beneath him, cursing his body's betrayal. Why should he feel anything for this vexing girl?

Before he had time to think any further, she was speaking in short, clipped tones that did nothing to hide her anger. “If you harm me further, my brother will see that you are killed. What is the meaning of this? Do you know who my brother is?”

Gavin gave a humorless laugh. “'Tis he that sent me to retrieve you.”

“You lie,” she stated firmly, as if his words held no credit.

“Afraid not. He insisted I track you down and return you to your family at once. So, the sooner you get back to where you belong, the sooner I can get to where I belong and be rid of you.”

She grunted angrily, which caused her entire body to shake beneath him, causing another unnerving wave of something akin to desire to course through him. “Stop moving,” he commanded sternly.

“Or what? You'll behead me?” she asked belligerently.

“Don't tempt me,” he growled.

“If, by some small chance, what you say is true and my brother did indeed send you after me, I am entirely positive that he didn't command you to assault me in the process.”

Thinking of his bruised shin he said, “'Tis I who have been assaulted, I should think.”

“Ha!” she scoffed. “You are the one on top of me, rendering me helpless. 'Tis a poor way to treat a lady.”

“I hadn't noticed you were one,” he quipped back. He hadn't meant to be such a cad; the insult had sprung forth from his lips automatically. He regretted it as he watched her face fall and felt the fight leave her body.

“Regardless of what you may or may not have observed, I am a woman and insist on being treated as such,” she said bravely, though her voice betrayed her by quivering ever so slightly. “Please let me go,” she pleaded before clamping her lips tightly together.

Gavin had thought his heart had completely hardened towards all women, but when he saw her chin quiver as she tried to tamper her emotions, he knew he had hurt her with his careless words. He rolled off of her, quickly springing to his feet. He reached forth a hand to assist her, but she ignored it completely and rose gracefully on her own, her head held high despite the put down he had delivered.

She brushed the grass from her skirt as he tried to apologize for his rudeness. “I didn't mean what I said—“