The Commander's Desire (32 page)

Elwytha frowned and opened
her mouth to speak, but Richard raised his hand. “It matters not to
me. But if you would pen…nay,
love
…their words so much, I decided a
night in the monster’s hands would serve you well.”

She gasped. “You wished me to suffer?” Never
mind she hadn’t. It had been her brother’s evil intent. She could
scarcely believe her ears.

Richard smiled. “Did you suffer, sister? Or
did you enjoy it?”

Outraged, Elwytha swung to slap him, but he
caught her hand. “Tell me the truth,” he hissed. “Are you for me,
or against me?”

Elwytha wrenched her arm free and glared.
Clearly, no peace lived in his heart.

Dread gathered. Still, she would press for
information in order to divert the plots Richard clearly intended
to carry out. And she had other questions for him to answer, too.
“Why did you order an attack on us at the loch?”

He barked out a laugh. “Now
we address the truth. Yes, Elwytha. Answer my question first.
Truly, do you love the monster so tenderly? I hear you fought to
the death for him.” His brow lowered, looking menacing, his eyes
cold. “What of my crown? I’m your
brother.
You owe fealty to me. Do you
serve me, sister?” He gripped her arm again, and to her shock, she
felt the prick of a blade at her neck.

Elwytha gasped. “You would kill me, brother?
Did you send those men to kill me, too?”

“
My men are fools,” Richard
hissed. His bearded face came closer. “Are you, as
well?”

Elwytha’s heart beat rapidly, but she
struggled to think rationally. Richard threatened her because he
doubted her loyalty. She must convince him of it—what good would it
do the Commander if she were dead? Verily, what good would it do
her?

“
Brother,” she said, as
evenly as possible, “I have followed your plan, even though your
men attacked me. What further proofs do you wish of my
loyalty?”

To her surprised relief, he released her. But
for how long? Fury still burned in his blue eyes. She would need to
be careful…and very, very convincing. “Truly?” he said smoothly.
“Then why does the monster still live?”

“
You did not come, and now
I’m married to him,” she retorted, struggling to slip into the role
of upset sister rather than disbelieving, distrustful sister. “Was
that your wish?”

“
So kill him, and be rid of
your unwanted husband.”

“
I waited for your arrival.
For the speedy rescue you promised. Is it still
promised?”

Her brother’s eyes narrowed. “You doubt
me?”

“
I have no wish to die,”
Elwytha told him. “As soon as the Commander is found dead they will
come after me.”

“
Silly sister. You will have
hours to make your escape.”

“
What do you
mean?”

“
Tonight, after you satisfy
him, he will sleep. Kill him then.”

Her face flamed and horror sickened her. “You
would use me as a murdering whore!”

“
No. A murdering wife.” He
smiled, a nasty one.

Fury arose, but Elwytha heaved a breath,
trying to calm herself. Trying to plot a game to trick her brother.
To secure the Commander’s safety.

He said, “Kill him, and so seal your fealty
to me. Then I promise you continued protection within my castle
walls. If not...” He left the warning unsaid.

“
Do you threaten me yet
again?” she asked in a low voice. “Did you wish me to kill him at
first light this morning, when you sounded your horn? When I had no
chance of escape? Do you truly wish me dead, brother? As you wished
our brother dead?”

Her brother went quite still. “You accuse me
of treason,” he said in a hiss.

“
We both know you hated
Thor. I ask for the truth. You would barter my life for a false
peace. For the death of the man you say killed our
brother.”

“
Ah. The monster has filled
your head with lies.”

“
No, he hasn’t.”

“
Don’t tell me you desire
him.” His words twisted, ugly. “Or do you admit allegiance to a
murdering heathen over your own brother?”

Elwytha looked away, heart pounding. She had
almost slipped. “No! Of course not.”

“
Yet you question
me.”

In keeping with her act, she spurted, “I
question why you did not come as you promised. I wish to know my
avenue of escape tonight. Are these unreasonable questions?”

“
Your attitude belies your
servitude to me. Your pride will be your downfall, sister, if you
do not repent.”

Unwisely, she countered, “You mean if I do
not submit to your orders.”

“
Kill the monster,” he spat.
“Or I will. But know that if I do it, you will have no place in my
castle. On the other hand, if you kill him, you will enjoy many
years of peace and safety.”

Her flesh prickled. Elwytha did not trust her
brother’s promises. For the first time, she accepted this truth.
The Commander may be a heathen, but he always spoke the truth to
her. He treated her with respect; not as a pawn to be played to
further his goals, and then discarded when he felt threatened. And
she loved him.

No love lived in her brother’s eyes. Only an
appetite for murder and a lust for power. If she resisted him—if
she refused to submit to his demands—he would kill her, even now.
The realization—the fear of it—sickened her.

If she were armed, Richard would not be so
bold, but right now, he knew he had the advantage. And he felt
threatened by her. She read it in the barely suppressed rage in his
eyes. The Commander had been right. She must tread carefully now,
for the future—her future—lay in her hands. As well as the future
of two kingdoms. Peace or war? Life or death?

Sounding as cold as she could, Elwytha said,
“As you wish. I will kill him this even. Plan my escape at
midnight.”

Her brother’s lips curled up. “Good. And I
will take care of the Prince.”

“
What do you mean, you will
take care of the Prince?”

Richard’s glance slid away. “I will protect
you, should he try to bar your escape, of course.” Her brother
flicked a glance over her face. “Fear not, sister. You will be
safe. At midnight I will meet you at the drawbridge.”

Elwytha nodded. Her mind screamed down
different paths, seeking back up plans and avenues of escape.
Tonight she would betray him. What would be the consequence?

* * * * *

The Commander turned away from the half
closed door, and the hand that he’d raised to knock long minutes
ago fell to his side.

It felt like someone had rammed a sword down
to his lungs. He felt destroyed, as if his heart had been cut open
and left to bleed. Treason! Elwytha plotted to kill him. It had
been her plan all along.

He had been a fool. A
fool!
An anguished cry
gurgled in his throat, and he shoved a hand at his ear, as if
trying to silence the words of treason he’d just heard. Then he
realized the Prince’s enemies could come out at any minute. He
began to walk, fast, unmindful of direction. He strode outside,
across the court, and found sanctuary in the armory. He leaned
against the wall, heaving great breaths, wanting to turn his mind
off, and the pain, but he could not.

In his weakness he had dared to hope that she
cared for him.

He smashed his fist against the stone wall.
His knuckles split and bled.

He didn’t care.

The Commander slid down the wall, to the
floor.

He squeezed his eyes shut,
and lifted his face to the heavens. How had it happened?
“
How?
” he
roared.

He had dared to hope for something good in
his life…but God would not be mocked. He’d sown death and
destruction, and so he would reap death and destruction, to his
very soul. The Commander could never remember crying, but he wanted
to now.

“
I
wanted her,
God,” his voice broke. “I
would do anything for her! I’ve repented of my past. I’m trying to
follow the right path. Whatever else You ask, I would do
it.”

But it was too late. His bargain with his
Maker was useless. Elwytha did not care for him. She had chosen to
betray him. He had wanted to tame her, but she had, after all,
tamed him, and taken him for a fool.

Anger rose, folding through the hurt inside,
but nothing appeased the scorch in his soul. Elwytha had betrayed
him, and even now coldly plotted their last night together. He
clenched his fists and swallowed back a ragged breath. She meant to
lie to him one more time, to use his passion for her to dull his
mind to her treachery.

Very well. He would allow it.… He could not
lie to himself. He wanted it, God help him. One last time he would
satisfy himself with her. And then, when she uncovered the deadly
blade of her true intent, he would finish this thing between them.
Once and for all.

But for now, he would warn the Prince of
Richard’s treacherous plot and the danger to them both. Rising on
wooden legs, he reentered the sunshine, heading for the castle. But
the warmth could not touch him. The cold blackness that had
retreated during his two weeks with Elwytha flooded through his
soul again. It just might kill him, but he no longer cared.

* * * * *

Richard’s threat to take care of the Prince
worried Elwytha as she headed for her chamber. What did he plot? To
kill him? Anxiety twisted through her. She no longer trusted
Richard. He frightened her. He had pretty much said he’d kill her
if she didn’t do as he ordered. And verily, what guarantee had she
that he’d spare her if she did obey?

Clearly, he felt threatened and suspicious of
her. He loved his crown and his life too well to allow a threat
such as herself to live within his walls.

Was that why he had ordered her to marry for
peace—to push her outside his walls? Or did he wish their enemies
to slay her after she killed the Commander? Then he wouldn’t need
to do it himself.

A shudder shook her.

Richard had killed Thor. She knew it now, but
had no proof outside of his murderous rage this afternoon…and his
absolute lust for power, and the treachery that twisted like snakes
through their native soil—his heart.

Carefully, Elwytha thought through her plan
to trick him this even. To convince him to leave the palace without
bloodshed.

But what if he attacked the Prince?

If so, his treachery would earn its own
reward. She could not save him from that fate.

But she could warn Mary. Her husband was the
Prince’s personal guard. Elwytha need not say she suspected ill of
Richard. Her heart still would not let her betray her brother, her
kin. Familial loyalty had been bred too deep. But she could tell
Mary that when into his cups, Richard could become unruly. Henry
could be warned to keep a sharp eye open to protect the Prince’s
life.

Yes. Elwytha adjusted her course and headed
for the kitchen. The Prince’s blood would not be on her hands.

As Elwytha hurried to speak to Mary, she
struggled to work out the final details of her plan to trick her
brother this even. Unexpected questions surfaced as well. How did
Richard plan to cross the drawbridge? Or did he plan to kill the
Prince and then lower it? Disquiet grew within her.

Her plans to out trick Richard’s plots
twisted inside her, vexing her, sickening her, as she tried to work
out all of the finer points. Richard was her brother. She’d loved
him all her life. What if she was wrong about him?

Doubt assailed her.

Elwytha bit her lip, wishing she could flee
from this untenable situation. Only one thing remained clear above
all. She loved the Commander, and would not let Richard kill him.
She would do anything necessary to ensure his safety.

Chapter Twenty-One

The feast was hardly
jovial
that even. The Commander never
showed up, so Elwytha had to make conversation with Richard and the
Prince. An uncomfortable, prickly situation, that. She gladly
retired early, eager to escape Richard’s cold, meaningful glances,
and the Prince’s curled lip. Neither ruler had drunk more than one
cup of ale. As she knew both loved the beverage, it only boded ill
for later.

In her chamber, Elwytha felt nerves as she
dressed in the fine white robe the Commander had given her when
she’d first arrived. Somehow, it seemed fitting. Their relationship
had come full circle. Tonight he could remove it from her with one
quick motion. She bit her lip and gazed into the mirror. Worry
darkened her blue eyes as she brushed her hair for the last time,
but she struggled to ignore it. Even now, her decision to betray
her own flesh and blood haunted her. Would he suspect her
treachery? Would she live the night?

She turned as the door shut. The Commander
stood in the doorway, staring at her.

She forced a trembling smile to her lips.
“You’re home.”

“
Yes.”

Why was he looking at her like that—as if
he’d never seen her before? “Are you all right?”

He moved abruptly into the room. “I’m fine.
It was a hard day.”

“
I wondered why I didn’t see
you at the evening meal.”

He turned to the side and shucked off his
jerkin. “I’m sorry I couldn’t attend.”

An unusual energy radiated from him, making
her feel uncertain and cautious. “Perhaps you wish to rest alone,”
she suggested hesitantly.

“
No!” He turned to her, and
an unknown emotion glittered in his eyes. “No. I wish to be with
you tonight.”