Dauntless (Valiant Hearts Book #1) (12 page)

Timothy strove to keep his temper steady. It was not as if this man knew how important Merry was to him. “Goodness no! She is to be treated as a guest. For now send meals of the best quality to her room. Perhaps in time, I shall persuade her down to supper.”

“Then I assume she is of the noble class.” The steward smirked.

“What business is it of yours?”

“’Tis just that Lord Wyndemere does not waste his best food on commoners. I would not want him to think I mishandled the situation. Your authority has limits, you know.”

Timothy could not help but wonder in that moment if his authority might extend to knocking this fellow out cold upon the floor, but he reined in his anger once again and took a steadying breath. “I believe she is. Matilda has assessed that she must be from a noble background.”

“Well enough, then,” Bainard said with a sniff before walking out the door and slamming it behind him.

He had not even waited to be dismissed. But Timothy could not waste energy on the uppity fellow right now. Somehow he must find a way to convince Merry to trust him. Woo her back to his side. Remind her what a life of freedom and luxury could feel like.

He might even have considered running away with her, if he thought for one moment that she cared for him—which clearly she did not. There must be an answer. Somehow he must find a way to save her.

As jangling and neighs heralded the return of the men from their mission, Allen’s heart soared. He studied the shadowed figures cresting the closest hill against a backdrop of setting sun. Red, tall and broader than normal in his armor. Cedric, gangly and comical. Robert, wiry and leaning forward with purpose. They had dared not sequester an actual nobleman’s destrier for the mission, but the hearty stallion they had found in a farmer’s field near Endsworth bulged at the middle, where it was loaded down with ample provisions.

Barely able to breathe, Allen sent up a simple,
Please, God!
When no small fourth figure appeared, his heart plummeted.

He had all but convinced himself Merry had decided to meet the men along the trail. Why else might she stay away so much later than planned? But she was nowhere to be found, and he could no longer account for her delay.

“Ho!” shouted Cedric. “All hail the conquering heroes!”

“Come see what we brought you.” Robert patted the horse.

From the clearing below, Gilbert gave a cheer. “We knew you could do it!”

Giggling children dashed up the hill to greet their champions. Cedric tossed apples, as shiny and pleasing as rubies, to each of the little ones. The young ladies left their dinner preparations to ooh and aah over the bags of nuts, dried fruit, flour, and spices.

“I can hardly believe it.” Kate pushed her stringy hair from her eyes and rummaged through the sacks. “We shall eat like kings this winter.”

Jane offered Red a smacking kiss on the cheek. “You’ve done well. I’m so proud of you.”

Red’s face turned the shade of his name. “Aw, ’twas nothing.”

Allen struggled to push aside his mounting concerns and join the merriment. He thumped the men on their backs and offered the appropriate congratulations. He smiled at the children, but the expression felt strained upon his face. He nodded to Jane and Kate in response to their excited chattering but could no longer decipher a single word.

Merry was missing. Had it been any one of their group, he would have been concerned and distracted, but he would not have experienced the hollow ache that now filled his chest.

Robert wrapped an arm around Allen’s shoulder and led him off to the side of the celebration. “What is it? Where is Merry?”

Thank goodness Robert missed nothing.

“I don’t know. She went hunting, but I expected her back hours ago. I am going to search for her.”

“Are the others aware?”

“I don’t think so. I’m the only one who knew of her plans for the day. Let them enjoy their fun.”

“Of course.” Robert nodded and scanned the area. “Take the horse. You’ll travel much faster.”

“Excellent idea. Please ready him for me.” Allen hurried to
his hut to gather weapons and a few supplies, in case he spent the night in the forest. By the time he returned, Robert had prepared the horse.

“’Tis not like Merry to get lost,” Robert whispered beneath the continuing commotion.

Allen gave him a significant look. “No. ’Tis not.”

Robert’s keen eye shot to Allen’s sword at his waist and the dagger poking from his boot. “Good, I see you’ve planned for any contingency.”

“Like my father always said, ‘Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.’”

“I’m certain it is nothing. Perhaps she turned her ankle.” Robert sounded as if he wished to convince himself more so than Allen.

“Perhaps.” Allen hopped onto the horse.

“Godspeed, then.” Robert whacked the horse in the rump to send it on its way down the embankment toward the vast forest sprawling in all four directions.

Once a short distance from the others, Allen paused to breathe in the scent of the forest and turn his eyes heavenward. “Father God, please lead me in the right path. And please keep Lady Merry in your love and care.”

He attuned to that place deep inside of him, to that still, small voice the parish priest had taught him to heed. Although Allen’s father had not permitted him to learn reading or Latin, thinking such pursuits inappropriate for a peasant, the priest had helped Allen memorize Scriptures. Father Thomas had been a rare clergyman who concerned himself more with love and truth than with rules and appearances, or worse yet, power.

And the priest had been fascinated by the mystical connection to the Divine, by the work of the Holy Ghost, that oft-ignored member of the Trinity, in the lives of men.

Allen took a deep breath and sought to close his thoughts to all distractions, to seek the direction of God. Feeling drawn to the northeast, he turned the horse in that direction and proceeded. After a while, he sensed a need to shift slightly to his right, and the horse seemed eager to obey his lead.

The sun had fallen low in the sky. Before long, dusk would settle in, and shortly after, darkness would descend. He had no time to waste. His heart sped as he pondered what fate might have befallen Merry: injury, kidnapping, arrest, or worse. Within moments, he had lost his inner compass.

Taking more soothing breaths and chanting the words of David, he attuned to the Spirit again.
“The Lord is my
shepherd; I shall not want.”
A wash of peace and gentle anticipation kept him on course as he employed the technique that had helped him on many a frightening mission.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
: He leadeth me beside the still waters.”
When Allen veered to the right or the left, that sense of rightness would leave him, until he corrected his direction once again.
“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Allen was getting close. He knew it. His eyes scanned the forest floor and the tree branches overhead for any clues.
“
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Father Thomas had faced that shadowy valley—as had Allen’s father and brother, and his mother years earlier of a fever. They had been ushered into God’s eternal arms, and no safer or more joyful place could they ever be.

Of course he missed them. Of course the pain still tore at him at times. He might never fully understand what happened on that fateful night when their village was destroyed, nor why it
happened, but he would not allow that to dim his faith in God. Nor would he allow whatever he found at the end of this trail to destroy the most essential relationship of his life.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow
me all the days of my life: and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Come what may, he would cling to God’s goodness and mercy, and someday dwell in His most holy house forever.

Allen scanned the area again. And there it was just ahead—the clue he had looked for, yet dreaded. Merry’s bow and several arrows lay scattered across the moist, leafy ground.

He kept his breathing calm and his wits about him as he slid off the horse and surveyed the area. A bare patch of earth with gashes and upturned clods of dirt gave evidence to a struggle. He picked up a clump and let it sift through his fingers. At least she’d been alive to fight.

From the area of attack, indentations indicating giant horse hooves headed off toward Castle Wyndemere. He would follow them to the end and find every piece of information he could.

Still quoting David, Allen dared not think what this might mean. Not until he had all the information. And he dared not think what it might mean for his heart if Merry had been taken from them for good.

The next day, Allen shuffled back toward camp, dreading the news he must share with the others. The midday sun trickling through the trees did little to lift his spirits. He kicked at a pile of leaves for the satisfaction of listening to them crunch and watching them scatter in the breeze. Then he stopped and closed his eyes, seeking to gather himself before facing the children.

The previous evening he had followed the tracks for hours, with only the moonlight to show the way. They led him to the north tower of the castle. From there he had camped in the woods until he could enter the town gates at sunrise and collect whatever gossip might be available.

Although he caught whispers of a mysterious guest at the castle, no one had any information beyond that, at least not for an outsider like him. The one bright spot in the morning was that the surprising description of
guest
indicated she was still alive—and likely not in prison. He had no idea which would be worse—for them to think her an outlawed noblewoman or a notorious thief. The situation seemed dire either way.

He’d left the horse in Endsworth, near its home, and trekked the long way back to camp alone, with far too much time to ponder. He longed to gather their forces to attack the tower, to save Merry and prove he was the hero she deserved. But he knew, once again, he needed to act in the best interest of the group, not himself.

And beyond all of that, he had been struck with the awful realization that he would not be departing to fight in the north anytime soon.

Opening his eyes again, he blinked until the forest came into focus, then he trudged over the rise and down the other side. Melancholy faces filled the clearing. No children dashed about or giggled today.

Red stood first and crossed to greet him. “The news is not good?”

“Not good. Gather the elders.”

Red nodded soberly.

Allen tossed down his supplies near the main hut and splashed his face in the water barrel. A gentle touch whisked his shoulder. For a breath, he hoped against hope that it might be Merry.

“Can I get you some food?” asked Kate.

“I’ve no appetite, but thank you. Perhaps after the meeting.”

“As you wish.” She disappeared into the hut.

Allen glanced about. Most of the elders must already be inside. A few of the younger men had taken over the watch.

Red approached and nodded again. “I think we’re ready for you.” He looped an arm over Allen’s shoulder and led him through the door, nudging him in the direction of Merry’s stump.

All eyes focused on Allen, somehow begging him to fill the tragic void.

And every fiber within him longed to be the strong leader they craved. He situated himself on Merry’s stump. Though the urge hit to sigh aloud, he pulled himself up regally instead, as Merry herself might do in such a situation. “I’m afraid I bring you dire news. To the best of my assessment, Merry has been abducted, perhaps arrested, and taken to Castle Wyndemere.”

He shared his tale, from finding the bow and arrows in the woods to spying in the town.

“And you’re certain she’s alive?” asked Robert, his voice full of hope.

“In truth, I am certain of nothing, but it seems the reasonable conclusion.”

“You’re sure that there is no more information to be had?” Red ran a hand over his face in frustration.

“Not at the moment. Not in the time I allotted for the task.” Should he have done more? Did he give up too soon? But he had to think of the well-being of the whole group. Not only Merry. Not only himself. No matter how much it might pain him.

“Well then. Let’s gather the men.” Cedric jumped to his feet. “We have to get her out of there.”

James cheered in support, and they all began to stir, but when Allen held up a steadying hand, they settled back into
their seats without question. “Not yet, Cedric. It is clear that our position has been compromised. As much as we will hate to do it, both Lady Merry and tactical wisdom would insist that we move camp first.”

“But we can’t just . . .” Jane’s mouth gaped.

“Please.” Kate pressed a hand to her stomach.

Robert stood now. “No, Allen is correct. We must see to the well-being of the children, of the whole group, first. We cannot undertake a dangerous mission in town if we’re worried about your safety.”

Now Allen truly wanted to sigh. In relief this time. Although he had not voiced it even to himself, a subtle fear had niggled at him all morning that they might not see things his way, that without Merry’s confident leadership skills, the group might fall apart. So far matters had proven quite the opposite.

“But once we’re settled, you’ll fetch her, right? Everything will be fine—won’t it?” Jane’s eyes filled with tears.

Kate embraced her, clearly needing comfort as much as Jane.

“We will certainly go after her.” Allen leaned forward on the stump, in a manner he hoped would reassure them that all was well. “Today we will pack and send a team to find a new location deeper in the woods. Tomorrow we shall move. The next step will be reconnaissance to plan our mission. Hopefully by that time she will have been there long enough that we will be able to gather more useful information from the castle servants.”

Robert moved behind his sister, Kate, to offer her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Kate grabbed hold of Robert’s hand but kept her gaze fixed on Allen. “But you didn’t answer the other question. Will it all turn out well?”