To Capture Her Heart (22 page)

“Rosalind!” he shouted with relief.

The queen was standing next to Clarice, dressed in the outfit of a servant, a goblet of wine in one hand. “Oh, you are just in time to sample the new shipment of mead. Come, try some for yourself.”

“Aye, try it,” Clarice urged as she shot Gavin a nervous glance.

Gavin raced forward as the queen inched the goblet towards her lips. He barely made it to where she stood before the goblet reached her mouth. He hardly registered Clarice's shrieking as he slapped the drink from her hand. The goblet soared through the air, spraying droplets of golden liquid all around, the majority of it finding its way on top of Clarice.

Rosalind was speechless, her violet eyes blinking in awe at what had just occurred. “Why did you do that?”

“My apologies, Your Highness, but that mead was poisoned. She,” he said, pointing towards Clarice who was crying out in agony as she clawed at her skin, anxious to be rid of the poison that was seeping into her flesh, “had planned to kill you and it seems we got here just in time.”

The queen turned questioning eyes to her husband who rushed to her and scooped her into his arms. “I had no idea,” he murmured into her hair. “Had Gavin not come for me just now, you'd be dead.”

Rosalind let out a sob as she clung furiously to her husband. His soothing words eventually calmed her, but Clarice's wailing did not cease.

“I hate you, Gavin Dekever! You've ruined everything.”

All three of them turned to watch with morbid curiosity as her skin sizzled and burned, slowly changing from a putrid yellow, to a dull green, and eventually to black as the skin began to shrivel and peel back from her muscles. It was a grotesque sight to behold, but they couldn't seem to look away.

Gavin stepped out of the way as Clarice lunged for him, her hands acting as claws. She fell to the ground and moaned, her motions slowing considerably. He remembered all too well how the poison had drained him of all of his strength and sat back and watched as it did the same to her.

He might have felt pity for the girl had she not tried to kill him and the queen. But the evil that resided in her was best left to the gruesome demise. Long, painful minutes passed as they watched her horrifying and agonizing death. No one moved until they witnessed her taking her last breath, her body barely resembling the statuesque beauty she once was.  

King Terric started backing out of the room with his wife still clinging to him. “I will send some servants to discard of her body.”

“Very good, but we still have a problem,” Gavin pointed out, hating to be the one to bear even more bad news.

“What is that?” the king asked.

“She wasn't acting alone. There was a man who was her accomplice in all of this.”

“Where is he?”

“That I do not know. We will need to send forth the defenders to search for him. I have reason to believe that he is within the castle walls.”

“Tell me what he looks like. We will dispatch the entire force of defenders immediately. I don't want them to stop until he is found.”

“I don't know what he looks like,” Gavin admitted. “We will have to ask Gwen.”

“Gwendolyn? What does she have to do with any of this?”

“Let us go to your bedchamber where I left her. I will explain on the way.”

Gavin spoke quickly, trying to fill the king and queen in on all of the details he knew, starting with Clarice's plan to woo him and manipulate him into killing them both himself.

“So, that is why you quit your post, to marry her?” the king asked.

Gavin felt sheepish. “Aye, but I honestly did not know her true character, though it bothers me that I was so easily deceived.”

“Do not feel foolish,” the queen interjected. “You were smart enough not to fall for her plan, which speaks volumes. And I for one am beyond grateful that you were humble enough to come back to Herfordshire Castle in hopes of retaining your post. I do not know if I would be alive without you.”

The praise made Gavin feel uncomfortable, so he quickly began recanting his tale. He told them of Clarice and Roreck's second attempt to murder Queen Rosalind by manipulating Gwendolyn into giving her the poison, which she thought was a potion that would transfer Rosalind's gift of transporting to her.

“Poor Gwendolyn,” Queen Rosalind said sympathetically. “What an awful predicament. I almost partook of the potion just this morning, but she knocked it from my hands. That's twice today my life has been spared.”

“Blast that magic festival,” Terric swore. “Had I never allowed her to go, none of this would ever have happened.”

“Nay,” Gavin interjected. “That isn't so. Clarice was Asher's niece, the illegitimate daughter of his only sister. It seems that once he became lead trajector for Darth, he began supporting her and her mother. His death was a bitter blow. Not because she held any great affection for him, but the lifestyle he had begun to supply them with was comfortable and addicting. She sought to kill the queen so she could seduce her way into your heart, becoming the next queen of the Southwest.”

King Terric recoiled. “Blast it all, I would never have looked at another woman the rest of my life if something had happened to Rosalind. She's not someone who could ever be replaced in my heart.”

“I understand,” Gavin said empathetically, for he felt exactly the same way about Gwendolyn.

“And where does Roreck fit in to all of this?”

Gavin shrugged. “I don't know entirely. All I know is that he is the brother of Alexandir Goff and is seeking his revenge.”

“The man who killed Rosalind's parents?” Terric asked incredulously.

“Aye, the very man.”

Approaching the king's bedchamber door, Gavin knocked. “Gwen, 'tis me. Unbar the door.”

The only response he got was Gwendolyn's blood curdling scream. Gavin's heart dropped. He hoped it wasn't too late.

Chapter 27

Deepest Gratitude

Panic flooded through Gavin's veins as he rammed his shoulder angrily into the wooden door, but it was useless, the door wouldn't budge.

“I told her to bar the door,” he explained as he looked to Terric, hoping desperately that he would have an answer. “Is there any other way in?”

The king ignored him, pounding his fist on the door. “Gwendolyn, are you alive? Can you hear me?” He was met with only silence.

“Terric,” the queen said, grabbing onto her husband's arm. “I'm going in there.”

“Nay,” he said, horror stricken. “I will not let you risk your life, or our baby's.”

“But it could be the only way. I cannot just stand here and do nothing. Please,” she pleaded. “If I can discreetly unlock the door that adjoins my bedchamber to yours, you and Gavin can have access to the room, and Gwendolyn.”

King Terric slowly nodded his head. “You will go in and unlock the door, nothing else.”

“Aye,” she agreed.

“Hurry,” Gavin roared, hating every second that he was apart from Gwendolyn, unaware of her fate.

Queen Rosalind disappeared from their view as Gavin and Terric scurried to the adjoining chamber. The men hovered near the door, anxiously waiting to hear the click of the lock.

Time seemed to stand still as both men waited, anxious for the safety of the women they loved. Just when Gavin thought he'd go out of his mind, the lock clicked and the door was opened slowly, quietly. Gavin pulled his sword from the scabbard and pushed into the room. His eyes scanned the surroundings. Millicent was lying in a heap by the bed. Gavin's heart stilled. Was she dead? He had no time to find out, for he needed to find Gwendolyn.

“Don't come any further,” a gravelly voice threatened.

Gavin turned to see an average looking man huddling in the corner with Gwendolyn trapped tightly in his arms. He saw her blue eyes flicker with relief, but only briefly before fear overcame her once more. Gavin sized up the man and almost laughed. He was at least a head shorter than he, and Gavin was positive he could take the man without any problems, that is if he had not been holding a dagger over Gwendolyn's heart. One wrong move and he knew that she would be dead. He couldn't risk her life.

Terric was standing next to Gavin, his sword drawn as well. “What do you hope to accomplish by killing her?”

“I hope to make you suffer,” Roreck snarled, his upper lip curling angrily.

“And then what?” Terric belayed a calm assurance that Gavin did not feel. “Are you planning to take on two of the best fighters in Darth single handedly? I assure you that you will not be leaving this room alive if you kill her.”

Roreck tightened his grip on Gwendolyn, bringing the dagger so close to her chest that the tip of the blade was poking into her skin. Gavin inhaled sharply as he stepped forward, every instinct in his body screaming that he protect her.

“Don't,” Roreck commanded.

Gavin halted but only because he heard Gwendolyn whisper through her tears, “Please Gavin, do as he says.”

“Very smart of you,” Roreck praised mockingly. “If you wish to see the girl live through the next five minutes, you will do as I say.”

Turning to the king he said, “I wish to be compensated for the loss of my brother.”

“You can't be serious! How dare you have the gall to extort me,” Terric roared. “Your brother killed my wife's parents, the former king and queen of the Southwest. You will receive no compensation for the loss of that traitor. None.”

“Very well,” Roreck leered, “Your sister's life in exchange for my brother's. I say that is fair.”

Gavin screamed as the dagger sliced into the delicate skin above Gwendolyn breast. Fear and fury warred within him as he sprang forth, his sword at the ready. He would kill Roreck. But just as he reached the man, he watched in awe as he crumpled to the ground, shrieking in agony. The dagger slid from his hand, dropping to the ground and sliding across the floor towards the bed.

Gavin dropped his sword, barely catching Gwendolyn before she hit the floor. He held her to him with one arm as he glanced back at Roreck. Apparently Millicent had not been dead, for she was lying  on the floor on her stomach, a bloody poignard clasped firmly in her hand. Gavin's eyes darted to Roreck who was writhing in agony on the floor, blood oozing from the deep puncture wound on the back of his leg.

Terric wasted no time pulling Roreck from the ground, trapping him firmly and securely in his embrace. “Your pitiful efforts to avenge your brother's death will be rewarded with the same fate he received. You are hereby sentenced to be executed.”

Turning to his wife he said, “Go fetch the dungeon guards. I want him locked up immediately.” Rosalind nodded her head, then quickly transported out of the room.

It took several seconds for it to sink in that they were safe. Gavin held firmly to Gwendolyn, unable to utter a word until she spoke. “I need to see if my mother is well.”

“Nay. I'm not letting you go, now or ever.”

“But...”

Millicent rose and chuckled. “Do not worry about me, child, I am well. I think there is somebody who needs you more than I at the moment.” Her eyes were sparkling with amusement, as if she hadn't just cleverly saved her daughter's life.

Gavin looked into Gwendolyn's eyes. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her firmly on the mouth, to feel her heart-shaped lips mold to his own. Holding her slight body in his arms did nothing to tamper the desire he felt for her, only inflamed it. If her brother and mother had not been present, he was sure he wouldn't have been able to control himself.

He brushed his thumb across her skin where a small trickle of blood was flowing from the superficial dagger wound, smudging the blood across her smooth, pale skin. “I love you,” he murmured softly in her ear, so only she could hear.

Gwendolyn's eyes locked on his, not even blinking. “I love you too. Did you find Clarice? Is she—“

“Dead. We got to her right as Rosalind was about to drink the poison. The poison was knocked all over her instead.”

“Was it the same poison she used on you?”

“The very same. Only she was unfortunate to receive a much larger quantity to her person. Her death was agonizingly painful and grotesque.”

Gwendolyn shuddered in his arms. “I'm just glad that she is gone, that she can no longer hurt anyone I love and that we are all safe.”

“Aye, I am as well.” He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss to her brow, though he hungered for more, much more.

All heads turned as two surly guards, followed by the queen, stormed into the room. Terric thrust his prisoner into their arms, grateful to be rid of the man. “I want a guard set in front of his cell at all hours. I will arrange for his execution to take place as quickly as possible.”

The two men nodded at the king before retreating with their prisoner. The heavy tension in the air seemed to dissipate as Roreck disappeared from sight.

“There is only one matter of business left to attend to,” Gavin proclaimed.

“What is that?” King Terric asked, wearily.

“I need to ask you for your sister's hand in marriage.”

All the women in the room gasped, including Gwendolyn.

“If you think you can handle her, you can have her,” Terric said with a smile, winking at Gwendolyn as he answered. “But in all truthfulness Gavin, you saved the queen's life and for that I would grant you anything you wished.”

Gavin pulled Rosalind tightly to him, both of her arms wrapping around his waist.

“And I'm also promoting you to lead defender.”

Gwendolyn stepped forward and protested. “Don't do that Terric, please.”

“But whyever not?” he asked, confused.

“Because I will never have my husband to myself if he is constantly by your side.” She knew all too well the sacrifices that lead defender's made to the kingdom, and she was not willing to sacrifice Gavin to such a cause.

“Very well, if that is what you wish.”

“Aye, 'tis truly my wish. But please cease giving him the most horrible jobs in the castle. We do owe him our deepest gratitude, afterall.”

Terric laughed. “I see that you are marrying a woman who is very prepared to fight all your battles for you. I hope that marriage will not make you go soft. I still need you as a defender around here.”