Velvet & steel (18 page)

"I... I'm frightened."

Royce came to her and took her in his arms. "Do not think on it now, Lynette. There is time to find our answers. Trust this... Beltane will not have you. That I vow."

His vow frightened her even more. If Beltane wished to force Royce to fight, she would be the cause. She couldn't bear the thought of his death. Her whole body trembled. He took her to their bed, and spent careful and long hours erasing all the terrifying thoughts in her head. Tomorrow ... he thought. Tomorrow he would find the answers for himself, and tomorrow Beltane would be finally and irrevocably warned.

Royce slept little, and he slipped from the bed long before Lynette awakened. But even then he was too late to find William. The king had left the night before, and was many miles away by morning.

Royce then sought out Tearlach and Beltane. When he entered the hall, it was as if Beltane were waiting for him, and in fact, he had been. He knew Royce would come, for he knew Royce well.

"You took longer than I expected," Beltane chuckled. "I had wagered you would be here at the crack of dawn."

"If you wagered I would be here, then you must have wagered as well on the outcome of my visit."

"The outcome? Of a certainty. You will threaten, and grow angry, and eventually you will know that you are going to lose what you now consider your prize possession."

"You are a fool, Beltane, if you lust after Creganwald, and more a fool if you desire Lynette."

"And you are a fool to think I would not. She is a delightful creature, is she not? Tell me. Royce. have you bedded the wench yet?" He smiled his satisfaction at the reaction Royce struggled to control. "But of course you have. I had thought you beyond the taking of a virginal little slave... ever since you laid your last one in her grave."

This time he did not get the reaction he expected. and he pretended wondering shock. "Tell me not that you have found love again." His tone was derisive and malicious. "How unique, and how wonderful. When she warms my bed. I will remind her of you."

"I will warn you this one time, keep your distance from Lynette or my sword will taste more of you than it did the last time." Royce's voice was frigid.

"I will look forward to it." Beltane's voice was as deadly cold as Royce's. "I have waited long to challenge you."

"You don't cease to amaze me." Royce chuckled. He meant to push Beltane's temper, for he was a man who showed little control when anger took over. "I had thought you nursed your wounds for a long time after the last time we met. I imagine it will take another lesson to make you understand who is the better."

With satisfaction he saw Beltane's eyes flare and his face grow mottled. He was certain that if Beltane had had his sword near, he would have attacked. Perhaps with another push...

But before he could speak again, another firm and strong voice came from the the entranceway to the hall.

"Have you come here for battle. Royce?" Royce and Beltane turned to see Tearlach coming toward them. He had a smile on his face and a look of confidence that Royce knew could not be shaken as easily as Beltane's.

"Nay, not to battle, just to bring a warning."

"A warning?" he said with feigned wonder. "Now, why bring a warning to us? We are but knights of William, like you. We only abide by his commands."

It was his sureness, the look of satisfaction in his eyes, that worried Royce. This man held a secret that he meant to use against him. But what? What secret would turn an honorable man like William against him, and cause him to break his word?

"Tell me, Royce, would you raise your sword against the king's command? I think not. When the king returns we will have this out, and you will see that, bastard though he might be, he still recognizes that his crown can be better served by those of nobler blood."

Royce felt the threat to the marrow of his bones, yet he could not believe that William would resort to such deception. He had fought for him for years, and had known that William's own circumstance made him understanding. Why had he given him Creganwald if he meant to place it in another's hands?

" 'Tis the maid." Beltane smiled maliciously. " 'Tis the maid he cannot bear to lose."

"Ah." Tearlach breathed the word softly. "So. Another lass ... another Sybella?"

"Is that what drives you, Tearlach?" Royce asked softly. "Does it still plague you that I won what you thought to hold? Did Sybella's coming to me deny you the wealth and lands your son wanted? Or did it sit heavy on you that she chose a bastard with only his sword instead of Perrin?"

"Don't speak his name! He was a knight honored. He was of purer blood. He was the one who should have been chosen!"

"He was a man who knew as little about honor as Beltane ... or you. He was a man who cared little for the woman, and more for her possessions and her closeness to the king. Sybella knew him well... and chose for herself. She thanked God that the king let her choose. Creganwald has been given to me to hold .. . and so has Lynette."

Tearlach glared at him for a minute, then fought for control. He smiled. "There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip. Kings have been known to change their plans when it is expedient for them."

"Not William," Royce said firmly.

"You have such faith," Tearlach chuckled. "Shall we just await William's return and trust to him to do what he wills?"

"I will, just as I will watch my back, and protect Lynette." Royce turned to Beltane. "But listen to this and listen well. Keep your distance from Lynette, Beltane, or God will not be able to protect you from me. I will see you dead if one hair of her head is touched."

"I need not fight for what will be freely given me in good time. Go, and teach her well to please a man, for soon a true man will be riding between her thighs. I shall be grateful for your instruction."

Royce felt a surge of rage such as he had never felt before, and it took every bit of will not to play into their hands and attack Beltane. He felt a driving need to see him lying in his own blood.

But he knew that was what they wanted ... to tell the king that Royce had deliberately provoked them. No, he would await William's return to London, and force them to see William as the king Royce knew him to be.

"Remember what I have said, Beltane," Royce said quietly. 'Your life hangs in the balance, for if you reach to take what is mine, I will take both your hands... before I kill you. Remember that." There was a cold silence. Beltane's smile faltered, and then Royce turned to leave.

"That bastard!" Beltane gritted. But Tearlach turned a cold eye on him.

"That bastard is a very clever man, and would provoke you to fight before the king has played out my game. And you would fall into his trap. You would let your anger control you until you found yourself face to face with death. Then all our plans would have been for naught. Hold that ugly temper of yours, or it will defeat us."

"It should arouse your anger as well. Perrin died at Royce's hand, and over Sybella, who should have belonged to Perrin from the beginning. Do you stand by and let him insult us, while Perrin lies in his grave?"

"Think you," Tearlach said through clenched teeth, "that I forget... that I will ever forget? But I will not play to his hand. No, I will succeed through his own faith in his king. I would leave him powerless to do anything but relinquish what he holds dear. Do you not think it will pain him more to have it taken when he cannot battle? If he chooses to fight"—his voice lowered —"who does he fight... his king? Would he be guilty of treason?"

"I would see him dead." Beltane ground out harshly.

"Aye, see him dead... but not until you have made him suffer. There are ways to finish him... but not until he pays in full/"

Beltane made a frustrated and angry gesture and strode from the room. Tearlach watched him go and scowled darkly. Beltane's temper would be their undoing yet. He would have to keep a close eye on him.

Royce rode as if the furies of hell followed, rode until his anger was temporarily exhausted. Only then did he return home. When he walked into the hall it was as if a pall had fallen over it. He strode across the floor to face Robert, who had risen to meet him.

"What has gone wrong? Where is Lynette?"

"She awaits you in your chamber."

"What has happened, Robert?"

"Word has come from Creganwald. Lynette's father is deathly ill. They plead for her to return."

"Damn! This is the worst time. How can we leave when the king has commanded us to stay until his return? We must have his decision. Robert, for there are forces at work whose methods I do not understand yet."

"Lynette will want to go to her father as fast as she can. I do not see how you can hold her here. At this moment she weeps."

Royce looked toward the stairs, then clapped Robert on the shoulder and went to mount the stairs.

He paused by her door for a moment before he pushed it open and stepped inside. Lynette was seated by the window, and when she turned at his entrance he could see the tears on her cheeks. He went to her and took her in his arms.

Lynette rested her head against his chest and felt the comfort of his arms. When she drew back and looked up into his eyes, he saw her need and knew what she would say before she said it.

"Royce. I would go to my father."

"Lynette ..."

"He is near to dying."

"We cannot leave before the king returns."

"You cannot leave. But. Royce. I am just a slave. The king does not need me here to give his command, and you can send word of the day he has selected. I will return at once. I swear."

you don't understand the dangers."

"I only understand that ... if my father ... I must see to his care, and that he is given proper treatment."

"I know how you feel, and yet I fear for you. I would not have you at Creganwald without me there to see to your safety."

"What do you fear. Royce? It seems all our enemies are here. What harm could they want to do me° I am the prize they seek, and they would only anger the king should they do me harm."

"Lynette. would you stay near Creganwald and not venture outside its walls unguarded? I will send Robert with you and more of my men. so that the gates of Creganwald are safely guarded."

"Should Robert not stay with you?"

"Robert is to be trusted, and I would have him guard what is closest to me, should anything go wrong."

"Royce, what is happening?"

"I don't know."

"You have been to see Beltane."

"Aye."

"Why? Surely all can see he hates you. What has happened between you that he hates you so?"

"It is an ancient hatred, Lynette, and goes back to Tearlach's son... Perrin."

"His son?"

"Aye. It was long ago, but Tearlach remains vengeful. He is not the kind of man to face me with sword or lance, but the kind who would like me alive and suffering as much as possible."

"Why suffering? What is the wrong he feels you dealt him?"

"Perrin and I... were once foster brothers. He was the son of a knight of some bearing, while I was no one's son. Yet Robert saw to my placement in the castle of a knight for fostering. Tearlach did likewise for Perrin, and we were of the same age. Still, we were not of the same position, and there was no one who did not call it to my mind as often as possible. Perrin and I ... we grew to hate each other."

He walked away from her to stand at the window, but Lynette knew he was seeing the past and not the view that lay before him.

"I was not exactly the most pleasant of young men. Every day, I felt the differences between us. I was jealous at times, and more than once I wished it possible to face him with sword in hand and put an end to it. Truthfully, I was a miserable and wretched boy, and it looked as if I would grow into the same kind of man. My foster father taught me well what it means to be different. He was a cold man who felt I must stand alone. I learned to do just that."

Lynette came to stand beside him, and he slid his arm about her and drew her close. He did not want to say words that would hurt her, but he knew it was inevitable.

"It was after I had taken service with William. I had proven myself in battle, and my abilities were evident to all but Perrin, whose hatred for me began to fester because of William's kindness and his rewards for my loyalty." He turned to face her and drew her into his arms.

"I knew little of love, Lynette. I had never tasted it or shared it with anyone. I knew force, and hate, and the rule that I must hold what was mine by might. It was then that Perrin brought Sybella to court. We met, we loved, and we earned Perrin's spite, for he had brought her to court in the hopes she would see how important he was and wed him. When William was receptive to our request to marry, Perrin went wild. He claimed my bastardy made a union between us wrong. But Sybella and I married. We had been married less than a month when Perrin went to Sybella in my absence. He... he truly believed that Sybella... anyway, I forgot all, and I took up my sword ... I fought and killed him."

"And Tearlach has waited all this time for a chance at revenge."

"It is the first time anything or anyone has been dear enough to me for him to use."

"What do you think he plans?"

"I don't know, but it will be what I least expect. That is his way."

"Then... then I must not go?" she whispered, and he could see her distress.

"No, you must be with your father now, my love. It would be cruel to keep you from him. But Robert must go with you, and you must swear that you will give Tearlach no chance to harm you. You must not ride out alone ... ever, nor must you allow strangers within the gates. Promise me this."

"I will do whatever puts your heart at rest."

"Would that I could go with you, but if William returns and Tearlach gets his ear first, it is impossible to know what evil he will call up."

"I will be cautious."

Royce cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes. "I have found you, Lynette, and I cannot lose you. I have been half a man, and empty for so long. Guard yourself well."

She could see the fear that lingered in his shadowed gaze, and would have given anything to erase all the terrible memories he still carried. She slid her arms around him and lifted her mouth for his kiss.