Surrender (40 page)

The roaring in his ears eased enough to hear
someone's light shoes whispering on the floor. 'Twas Grunda. She
put her hand on Graemme's shoulder.

"Hsst! Follow me!"

She motioned to the doorway hidden by a
tapestry on the wall behind the Chief's chair. Once they had
entered the dark hallway, she looked around to be sure they were
alone.

"Did ye note a woman in a gray cloak when we
arrived this day? She kept to the edge of the crowd. She slipped
away when ye drew near."

"Only a glance. A village lass?"

"A village lass also attending dinner this
night?"

"What are ye getting at, old seer?"

"She is not what she seems. She tries to
disguise herself. When Muriele fled Blackbriar, I did the same for
her. The lass' hair isna brown, but blond. She isna stout but is
slender as Elyne, though not tall."

"Ye have a feeling about her?"

"Aye. 'Tis evil. She left as soon as she
heard the Chief repeat about Magnus leaving on Monday. She kept her
back to the wall and edged toward the door. When the crowd got
rowdy, she slid out of the keep like a cat stalking a mouse."

When Graemme began to speak, she pressed her
fingers to his lips.

"I followed. She was alone. The guards didna
even see her disappear through the postern gate." She gave a
disgusted huff. "They didna see me follow, either. A horse awaited
about fifty paces into the woods. I cleared my mind and closed my
eyes to feel her movements. She made her way up the hill south of
the watch tower where we approached the castle. She has gone to
tell her master what he longs to hear."

"Do ye know who her master is?"

"Nay, not as yet. I will go atop the tallest
turret. The moon is full this night. I will take a white crockery
of water and see what occurs in it."

"A basin of water? How can water help?"

"I will clear my mind of all thoughts. If
there is something afoot, a vision will appear in the water."

Graemme shook his head half believing the old
seer was demented. But the other half told him she had always been
right about her other predictions. He nodded and started to make
his way back into the great hall, but stopped. Her eyes held him
steady.

"Ye must know where yer heart lies."

He frowned, wondering what she meant when she
turned and faded into the shadows of the dark passage. As children,
he and Magnus had wandered the hidden passageway many times and
found it led to the top of the keep. Other than his father, he
didn't know anyone who had ever explored its darkness.

He waited until he heard laughter bursting
from men's throats and knew it was safe to enter. Everyone watched
tumblers dressed in outlandish clothing and fanciful makeup as they
pretended to fall, one after the other, until the cleared space
amongst the diners became so cluttered the next acrobats had to
straddle those on the floor.

Slipping into his seat, he gave just a slight
tip of his head to Magnus, sending a silent message he would meet
with him when he left in the middle of the night. Leaning back, he
stretched his arms out at the sides and gave a huge yawn.

"Father, I fear I am near falling asleep at
the table. We all need a good sleep to make up for the days of
travel."

Magnus agreed right away, with a lurid smile
at Muriel. "A down mattress and soft sheets, love. I may be sleepy,
but not enough to take my mind from swiving!"

He laughed at her flushed face and helped her
to rise at the same time as Graemme had hold of Elyne's elbow.
Neither woman protested, for they too were tired from their
travels. Chief Angus nodded and called for the next entertainers to
come into the room, and for the servants to bring in another barrel
of ale. If the drinking and eating continued, no one would note the
warriors who would quietly slip away, one by one.

Elyne was no fool. She had seen the looks
passing between the two brothers and their father. Also, Bryan and
Colyne had already left, wriggling their brows, each leading a lass
out of the keep.

When their bedchamber door closed, Elyne
twirled around and confronted Graemme.

"What is going on tonight? I saw the looks
passing between ye men and know ye are up to something."

"We have learned someone is going to waylay
Magnus when he leaves. Grunda and I both saw a woman who appeared
to be listening for information about when that would be. Father
announced Magnus would not leave until Monday. Afterward, the woman
slipped out of the castle by the postern gate and headed to the
east. Magnus really plans to leave in the middle of the night, soon
as everyone is abed."

"Will they not be riding into a trap?"

Elyne began to wring her hands and pace about
the room. Graemme followed behind her, quickly plucking at all the
ties holding her kirtle together in back.

"Nay. Magnus will not return over his usual
route, but will go southeast and come up from below Blackbriar. The
raider who waits to waylay Magnus' party will be empty-handed."

Elyne had been so engrossed in this news she
was barely aware Graemme had already removed her kirtle and was
determined to swiftly make her as nude as the day she was born. She
didn't mind. Magnus' suggestion of a down mattress had been
tempting. To make it even better, Graemme's bed was huge. They
could roll and thrash about to their hearts content and not end
with bruised bodies on the floor.

When the cold air hit her skin, her eyes
widened with surprise.

"I am nekid and ye are still clothed!"

"I dinna have time to undress. Grunda is
foreseeing where the spy has gone and will surely come to let me
know."

She crossed her arms, covering her breasts,
and refused to back up to the bed.

"See?" He grabbed the hem of his kilt and
lifted it high. His rampant cock was ready and eager. "Clothing
doesna hinder me!"

He came close and thrust his hips at her. His
cock felt enticingly warm and, er, very interesting on her bare
stomach.

A few short breaths ago, he had been the
aggressor. She took over. He found himself backed up to the bed and
sprawled across the mattress. Before he could blink his eyes twice,
Elyne straddled him, took his hot weapon in her hand and promptly
began to rub it over her already slippery entrance.

His gasp of pleasure was all she needed for
encouragement.

Rising on her knees, she nestled down on him
until the head of his tarse broke into her hot sheath. When he
expected her to seat herself firmly, she grinned slyly and popped
up, leaving him wanting.

"Lucifer's crooked eyes, woman! Ye tease when
ye should be rocking away afore Grunda appears."

His breath came in gasps, but she resisted
when he tried to push her down again. She leaned forward, pulled
his plaid over his chest to the side and latched like a starving
bairn onto his left nipple. She played with him the same as he had
always played with her. Bringing him to a peak where he thought he
would explode, and then retreating until he caught his breath.

She started over, and each time, he became
more aggressive. But Elyne's legs were strong and he feared if he
used more force, he would bruise her lovely thighs. Finally, he
surged upward. Now he had control. He rolled until she was on her
back and began to plunge into her like he couldn't get deep enough
or fast enough to suit him. Finally, her nails scratching on his
back warned him he'd best bring her release or else he'd look like
a wildcat had mated with him.

He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth to
keep her from crying out.

When she finally could think again, she
giggled.

"Funny? I guess I did not do it right else ye
wouldna be grinning like a simple lass."

"Look where we are, husband."

"Graemme raised his head and everything
looked out of place.

They had wrestled themselves across the
center of the bed until they slid onto the floor. From there, the
ceiling was higher than usual and the bed appeared huge.

Panting for breath, they sprawled twisted
amongst sheets and wool blankets atop the wolf skins on the
floor.

Graemme laughed so heartily Elyne squealed
and slid to his side, afore she, too, saw the humor in it.

"Hsst!"

They both stilled.

"Was that ye?" Elyne lifted on her elbow and
looked down at Graemme's surprised face.

"Nay! Of course it wasna him. He was far too
busy thinking on his pleasures than heeding my scratching at the
door," a gravelly voice whispered.

"Grunda?"

She answered with a snort.

"Ye'd best straighten yer clothing and get
below. If ye had been quieter in yer loving, ye would have heard
Magnus and his guards gathering in the bailey."

Elyne's head popped up above the bed when she
rose on her knees. Seeing the old woman's look of satisfaction, she
grabbed her kirtle off the floor and tugged it over her head by the
time Graemme adjusted his kilt and stomped on his boots.

Picking up his sword, he whispered loud to
Grunda on his way to the door, "Lace her for me, old one. She'll
want to wish Muriele God speed."

He was gone in a flash, only taking time to
ease the door shut without a sound.

"Come girl," Grunda said as she twirled her
fingers in the air, "I didna wake Ada to tend ye. She and the
blacksmith's son had a long night of it."

Elyne presented her back so the old woman
could pull the ribbons tight.

"'Twas kind. Thank ye." Elyne said over her
shoulders as she held the bodice up around her breasts and wriggled
until the kirtle fitted comfortably. A few more quick moves and she
had her shoes on and ran out the door and down to the front
bailey.

When Elyne burst through the keeps doorway,
Muriele smiled and waved.

"Ye have a rosy glow of a well sated wife,
Elyne," she teased.

"Bleh! 'Tis no such thing. The glow ye speak
of is naught but from running down the staircase!"

"Oh? When I passed yer bedchamber, I must
have imagined yer voice telling Graemme he was killing ye with
pleasure." She grinned and enveloped Elyne with a loving hug.

"We will be within days of each other,
Muriele. 'Tis only a half-day longer than traveling to the convent!
We should see each other often."

"Well, now, my bonnie ladies. We must leave,"
Magnus said.

As the portcullis squeaked up and the
drawbridge lowered, Graemme put his hands on Elyne's shoulders and
moved her back from the horses. With a solemn nod at Graemme,
Magnus threw Muriel up into the saddle. Once she settled her feet
in the stirrups, she arranged her slit skirts to cover the knives
strapped to her calves and adjusted the short sword belted at her
waist. She looked the ideal warrior woman, a fitting mate for
Magnus the Ruthless.

Elyne felt a sense of loss seeing her friend
waving as she crossed through the barbican and rode out over the
drawbridge. After the long line of warriors left, they were barely
a shadow moving through the night.

"Why are more warriors coming out of the
stables leading their mounts? And their standard bearer carries
Magnus' banner?" Elyne's stomach turned, knowing the answer afore
she asked. She drug her feet as he led her back into the keep to
the great hall.

"We have laid a trap for anyone looking to
capture Magnus. Father sent a patrol to hide in the woods a few
furlongs away, the perfect spot for an ambush. Closer to the sun's
rise, I'm taking more men up the hill. They'll think I am Magnus.
When they attack, they'll be surprised."

"Won't they know ye are not Magnus when
Muriele isn't with ye?"

Graemme shrugged and didn't say anything. By
the way he didna meet her eyes, she knew what he'd planned!

"Dinna tell me ye are using Ysabel as a
lure!"

"'Twas her own idea. She went to Father and
asked we do this for her. She said it would soothe her conscience
for having pretended to be Muriel afore."

"I canna believe ye'd do this! What does
Colyne say?"

"Colyne? What right does he have in this
decision?"

"Fool! He loves her." Elyne snorted and put
her hands on her hips.

"Ah. So that is the reason he insisted on
arming her and having our best men surrounding her."

"'Twill work."

Grunda had appeared so silently when they
entered the great hall she seemed to be made of smoke.

"Aye. After ye looked into the bowl of still
water and told us what they planned."

"Their surprise will be their undoing." She
heaved a sigh. "Though, their master will get away. Again. He is
near mad. His leman believes he is pure and ye and Magnus are evil.
He keeps his body and face hidden."

Elyne had no stomach for breaking her fast
this morn. Though the sun was not yet up, the great room was
crowded with hungry men. All too soon, Colyne came into the room
with Ysabel. The resemblance was unnerving, for Elyne had to look
at her up close to tell it was not Muriele.

Why was she so uneasy about Graemme's leaving
with them? Grunda assured her all was going to work out for the
best. But what if the
best
made her a widow? Why should
she care? Hadn't she wished more than once Graemme would disappear
from her life? Why, she'd even disliked him so much she'd bitten
him!

When had her feelings changed to worrying
about his safety?

Too soon, Chief Angus nodded his head at
Graemme. 'Twas time. The darkest part of the night was gone and the
bailey filled with warriors anxious for a fight.

It seemed like a repeating dream to Elyne
when she hugged Ysabel and saw Colyne help her onto her mount.
Worse was when Graemme smothered Elyne in his arms and kissed her
so heartily his father chuckled. She gave him an accusing glare.
What if Graemme never came back? She was near to crying.