Rowena Through the Wall: Expanded Edition (38 page)

I gulped. "I found it on my night table."

"More likely it found you. The bracelet chooses whom to give its power to. It's chosen you for some reason. I can't fathom why. Have you tried to take it off?"

"It won't budge. I can't even find the latch anymore. It seems to have vanished."

Cedric cursed. "Why? Why would it have chosen you?"

I could think of only one reason. I withdrew my hand and hugged myself with both arms. "Sargon's mother was my great-aunt. Did you know that? Not from your side. From the other."

He swore again. "And you are the last remaining female of the line. That's why."

Why was he so upset? This bracelet seemed to scare him, yet it didn't seem to have any power that I could detect.

"I must find a way to control that power," he muttered.

He was silent. I could sense his deep, churning thoughts.

"I know you don't want to leave Castle Huel, Cedric. Don't risk banishment, please."

"If it comes to battle, I'll be ready soon. But this witch's bracelet is a mighty complication."

"You can't do battle with Thane until I am free of it? Why?"

"I daren't risk it. You can't control it. It could channel my magic to support the house of Sargon."

He stared at me and I was lost in the brilliant green of his eyes. "I must consult with someone who will know how to master the bracelet. I need my freedom to do that."

Thank God! He would leave me be for now.

He cursed. "I loathe this, leaving you here." He stood and pulled me to my feet.

"It's best. I'm safe here and so is the babe."

Cedric's eyes burned into me and I felt the draw come back to life. He reached for me and kissed me deeply, thoroughly.

"Our child," he said with wonder. "You will be with me when it is born, I promise you."

"Go now. Quickly. Be safe." Don't kill anyone else, I silently pleaded.

He grabbed me once more, kissed me, and then just as suddenly, released me and blended into the night. I felt my whole body shudder from the pain of separation, and then—abruptly—release.

Thank God.

The night sounds followed me as I hurried back to the castle. It was trickier to open the postern gate from outside, but I managed. Very quietly I made my way back to the library door and slipped into the royal suite. Thane was as I had left him, sleeping soundly. I slipped off my dressing gown and wondered what I could possibly do next to postpone the inevitable battle of the Titans.

Chapter 38

Next morning Kendra and I decided to gather wildflowers. I could see from the library window that the meadow adjacent to the castle was ablaze with color.

"This place is so vibrant," Kendra exclaimed. She bent over to snap off a buttercup stem.

"It's not like the desert, is it?"

I was happy. The orange beams of sunlight were dazzling. I left Kendra picking flowers and leaned back against a stone wall, closing my eyes to better drink in the sweet scents.

Someone close by whispered my name.
"Rowena."

I opened my eyes and saw no one. Was it the wind?

I peeked around the wall.

A great big bear of a man stood not five feet away.

"Collin!" I smiled in recognition. "What are you doing—"

A hand came round behind to cover my mouth. "Shhhh," a voice said in my ear. "It's just us."

Janus?

"Gag her," another man snapped. "Don't take a chance."

I knew that voice. I friggin' knew that voice. Anger rose in me. I started to struggle and several more arms came from nowhere to hold me still. I counted Collin and Roderick, who looked apologetic, and a red-haired man whose name escaped me. Janus removed his hand and before I could even squeak, a rolled up cloth was shoved in my mouth secured with a gag.

"Get the bag," Gareth said harshly.

I tried to scream, but it came out muffled. They had the bag over my head and tied in no time. I tried to kick and connected once. Someone yelped and swore.

Gareth picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. I knew it was him by his body, his scent.

"I'll take the bag off when we get out of sight," he said.

They walked quietly and no one spoke. I could sense several horses eager to run.

"I'm putting you on astride. Put your left foot in the stirrup here and I'll help you up. Don't even think of kicking him forward. I've got four men holding him in place."

It was the strangest sensation, mounting a horse blind-folded. Someone held my skirt up so it wouldn't rip. This was a taller horse than I was used to, a man's horse. Gareth jumped up behind me and his arms reached around for the reins. We moved ahead at a cautious pace.

"I've played the idiot long enough," he said. "I let your bastard cousin live because you wanted it and I was a fool. I'm not giving in to you anymore. You're coming with me and that's the end of it."

I screamed a whole bunch of things at him, but they all sounded like muted cotton.

"Wait a few minutes and I'll take that off."

It was hot in the bag and my eyes pooled. When he finally slowed to untie the bag, tears were running down my cheeks.

"Don't be like that," he said roughly. "No feminine wiles. I'm at the end of my patience with you."

As my nose got stuffy, I started to choke.

"Great Gods," he cursed. "Janus, hold up there." He undid the knot at the back and took off the gag. I reached in quickly to remove the cloth, nearly gagging in the process. I coughed and gasped about six times.

Then I found my voice. "You son of a bitch!"

"Odin's breath
! Back on it goes." He tied the gag and I elbowed him in the chest once, not too hard because I didn't want to be roped up. He cursed again. I was still trying to catch my breath as he kicked the horse forward.

Gareth headed north along the cliff edge. Eventually he would have to turn east to reach Norland, which was a half-day's ride from here. I lay my head back on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

Could I have been more careful? Was this inevitable?

Poor Kendra. No doubt they had her roped up and I was responsible for it all. Surely Gareth would keep his men in line. He wouldn't let them hurt her.

Thane would have a fit when he found us missing. And the Earl—poor old Grandfather—all I ever did was bring him angst. What a sorry turn of events.

I took stock of my possessions. Just the one dress again, the newly washed rose muslin. My fanny pack. The bracelet, though it wouldn't come off. The Tintagel broach was around my neck on the chain, but I hardly needed it to keep me safe. Gareth was the one who had given it to me, after all. Thank goodness I had on my cowboy boots, although I would miss having soft leather slippers for daytime.

I slept for some time, lulled by the sway of the horse and Gareth's familiar scent of hay, leather and something thoroughly masculine.

It was nearly dusk when we came to a small encampment in the hills. Four tents were pitched in a field and several men stood by a fire on the rocks. There were shouts and greetings. They all looked over and a few came forward to take our horses.

Janus slid off his mare and came to help me down.

As soon as I hit the ground, I tore the gag off. "You son of a bitch! How dare you kidnap me!"

Gareth dismounted and strode forward. "Kidnap? I rescued you!"

"It's not rescuing when you gag and tie me like a hog." I whacked him across the face with my open hand. "Ow!" I cursed and cradled my right hand. "That hurt like hell."

Behind me, Janus laughed. I think the rest of the men were in shock.

"You're crazy. I was only taking you home to Norland where we belong."

I stood with my mouth open. Hells bells. In Gareth's eyes that would be true.

"And don't give me any of that innocent business," he continued, "because I have a right to be mad." His arms flailed in the air. "That whole debacle at the tournament? That was your fault. I had it all worked out. Days of planning, calling in allies from all across the north. My men were in place and Cedric under my sword, helpless. One lunge and he'd have been dead. Then you pull that stunt in the courtyard and I have no idea where you are. I can't find you and the whole south is in chaos." His voice grew bitter. "And now Thane puts in a claim. I should never have given in to you. Never."

This shook me. I was raised a liberated woman and had always prized my independence. Then why was I finding this confession of his so moving? There was primitive stuff at work here that went well beyond my understanding. The man had raised an army, for pity's sake, and if that wasn't humbling...

"Oh…well," I mumbled. "Sorry about that."

His jaw unclenched. "It won't happen again, I assure you. I've risked my men enough."

"Gareth, you can't keep me chained to a wall."

"Why the devil would you need to be chained? I just want to keep you safe with me up north where I control things."

"Well, maybe if you had told me what you guys were planning to do…"

"You're impossible. Had I told you, would you have allowed me to kill Cedric? Of course not. You're far too kind-hearted. But he's a fiend and he needs killing. I'll manage it next time."

I was distracted by another fear.

"Kendra?" I spun in a panic, searching.

"Here!" She dashed forward in a whirl of energy. I was nearly knocked over by her hug. A familiar figure moved up behind her.

"This is Roderick," she said when she let go of me.

"I already know Roderick." I nodded to him. "The bloody nose is new. Did you do that?"

"Well, I didn't know he'd be nice, at first," she said.

Someone snickered.

"Shut up, Janus," Gareth ordered.

But Janus was all-out howling now.

Kendra turned to Gareth. "Oooo, Row. It's Thor from the movie."

I remembered then that Kendra had never met Gareth before.

"Kendra, Gareth. Gareth, my cousin Kendra."

Gareth nodded but his face stayed hard.

I decided to stay equally firm. "Tell your men that if any of them touch her, I'll kill them. Actually, what am I saying? She'll kill them herself."

"No I won't," Kendra said, smiling. "I like them."

I sighed and closed my eyes. How was I going to keep this girl safe in a place like Land's End? Too much had happened and I was weary.

"Gareth, can Kendra and I have a tent for some privacy? We have some things to discuss."

He nodded curtly and I was relieved. We had a truce, but we weren't exactly on good terms yet.

I thought back to our time together. Had it only been three days? You can pack a lot into a few days. Maybe this interlude wouldn't be a bad idea after all. I had to think strategically. I would miss Thane, but at least he would be safe from Cedric.

I turned to the Janus and the others. "It's good to see you." I reached my arms around young Roderick. They had to go a long way up. "You too? I swear you've grown." He blushed.

"And Collin, dear Collin." He gave me a big bear hug. It felt good. His beard tickled my forehead.

"Rowena, behave!" Gareth growled.

I turned to snap something back, but was caught by a shiver.

"She's cold," Collin said. "No wonder. That gown is nearly threadbare."

Roderick leapt forward to put his cloak around my shoulders.

"I have no clothes," I said with a sad frown.

"So like a woman to worry about her clothes." Gareth shook his head. "I'll dress you in a hundred gowns, never fear. And your cousin too. But first I need to talk with my men. Janus, show them to my tent."

Janus led us to the tent furthest away. He held the flap open and signaled for us to enter. I hesitated and let Kendra go first.

I'm not a tent sort of girl. In my experience all sorts of critters like tents. I didn't
think
there were rattlesnakes and scorpions in Land's End, but I still had a lot to learn about the place. Including how to get out of it.

The tent was a kind of canvas and it smelled musty. There were a few fur rugs thrown on the floor, but that was it.

"We'll be safe here with them," I told Kendra with no confidence at all.

"You weren't kidding when you said Gareth was a Viking. He looks right out of a movie."

'Movie, yeah. That's what this adventure reminds me of. An extremely poorly directed, low budget film."

Kendra laughed. "I've never had such fun in all my life."

I sighed and sat down on the furs. Clearly, she was hopeless.

So here we were again in a place we hadn't planned to be. At least the natives were friendly. Too friendly, but I was learning how to deal with that. In the last few weeks, I'd had to adjust my feelings about what was right and wrong.

"You know, I'm not nearly this permissive back home."