When Lightning Strikes (25 page)

The wall door closed behind her and she was alone in the dark with only her candlelight to guide her down the steep slope.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sarah walked slowly down the long, narrow passage, which seemed to be sloping downward. It made sense since they had been on the upper floor of the keep. Her candle flickered in the darkness and she prayed it would not go out in this God-forsaken passageway with not one smidgeon of light to help her see well enough to start it back up again! She cupped her palm carefully around the flame as she walked, taking care to watch her steps as she continued down the slope.

She walked for several hundred feet until she came to a fork in the passage. Which way should she go? If she turned she may likely go deeper into the walls of the keep. If she stayed straight, she may end up underground somewhere. She couldn’t feel any breeze coming through the passageway right now so she was going to have to make an educated guess. She decided to turn to the right, trying to remember which direction she had walked to get to the stairs when she had come into the keep and reversing the picture in her mind to guess which way might lead to an exit.

The path kept on in a straight line for some time before turning again and Sarah began to wonder if she had gone the right way. Perhaps she should go back and head down the other path. This way seemed to be taking her in some kind of circle through the walls from what she could tell. She turned back around and headed back down the path toward her original route. Luckily there was only one way to go to get back.

She was becoming more and more afraid that she had wasted her time walking this way down the wrong path. She hoped to God Margery was right that Navarre would be out cold until morning because if he woke up and found her down here, he would no doubt kill her on the spot. And Margery too!

Finally she reached to fork in the path and she turned to the right heading downwards to God knows where. She could feel the light breeze again which she took to be a good sign. If air could get in here, then she could find where it was coming from and get out!

A few minutes later, the passageway opened up into what looked like a huge chamber. Sarah held the candle up above her head and looked around. There were smaller chambers inside of it with wooden doors and crossed bars. Chains with manacles hung from the walls and there were long wooden benches. This was some kind of dungeon. It made her skin crawl. Then a new fear shot through her. What if there was someone locked up down here and there were guards posted? She stepped backward very quietly and stood in silence for a moment. The chamber appeared to be deserted. She sighed with relief.

Slowly she stepped forward into the dungeon and began looking around for a door or window. Light was coming from the side of one of the cells. The dank, musty smell that assailed her nostrils almost choked her as she walked across the chamber. This place must have been abandoned for years from what she could tell. Spider webs hung from corners in the ceilings and everything looked decayed and rusty. She stepped forward and looked through one of the heavy cell doors and could see a window cut into the wall with bars across it. Moonlight was spilling eerily through the grate. Certainly if there was a window here there must also be a door somewhere or a gate leading outside! At least she hoped so.

She spied what looked like another passageway off to the left with stone steps leading upward. As she stepped forward into the dark stairway, she felt the wind being knocked from her body as a very strong arm dragged her backwards and a hand forcibly covered her mouth before she could scream or even bite. He wrestled the candle from her grip and quickly set it in a sconce on the wall.

“Quiet,” he whispered.

Navarre! Oh, Jesus…he woke up! Calm down. Don’t fight…perhaps he will let go and you can fight or run or something,
she thought to herself as she tried to calm her ragged breathing. Reasoning would not be an option. She already knew this.

A second later the grip on her loosened and turned her
body to face her captor, just as his lips came down on her own, smothering her with his kiss. So much for not fighting. She wasn’t going to let him rape her without a fight. She tried as hard as she could to punch or kick him in the shin, but his grip was like iron and she couldn’t move. She stopped thrashing to try to get some wind into her lungs and second later recognition dawned on her face at the taste and feel of her husband’s kiss.

She pulled back for just a moment then pulled his face close to her own. “Dominic? Oh, my God, Dominic…it’s you!”

She kissed him back with a ferocity to match his own.

“How did you get in here?” she asked when she finally came up for air.

“The way you were about to go out. There is a gate at the top of the stairwell and thanks to the steward Reginald, it is unlocked. My horse is there and he has brought a horse for you as well, cherie.” He sighed. “And obviously it seems that you have arranged your own escape quite well without my gallant rescue. Marco will never give me peace from this day forward.” He laughed good-naturedly. “Mayhap you could tell me of how you managed this when we are free of this place.”

Sarah flushed. “Believe
me, I
don’t
want you to think that I don’t need you. Or that I’m not glad you came.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

A moment later he took her arms from his neck. “Well – at least this time you are happy to see me. We will have time for this and much more, later. Now we must leave and get as far as we can whilst we have the chance.”

Sarah nodded. He took her hand and started for the steps. Without warning he stopped and turned to her as his expression darkened. “Sarah. Did he….? He barely whispered out the words before choking off his sentence. “Please do not lie to me for fear that you will hurt me or that I will risk my life to avenge you. It is my right to know, as your husband.”

“No…he didn’t. Margery, the old servant lady gave him some kind of sleeping potion before he could force me. She helped me leave. She knew I wasn’t Melissande.”

Even in the dim light, she could see the relief cross his features, but no lessening of the anger. She wondered if he doubted if she was telling the truth. She brought one of his hands to her lips and kissed it.

“Dominic. I swear to you on my life that he didn’t sleep with me. He saw me naked. I couldn’t help that. He came into the chamber while I was bathing before I could stop him, but I escaped before he was able to do anything more.” She stopped short of telling him the details of being pinned to the bed. “Thank God Margery was there to help. He was about to rape me when she knocked on the door and insisted that we have some wine. She drugged his cup and he was knocked unconscious.”

His posture relaxed a bit and he reached out and stroked her hair lightly.

“I believe you. Come.” He grabbed the candle from the wall and took her hand as they started up the stone steps.

A noise behind them caught Dominic’s ear and he pushed Sarah behind him and drew his sword in one swift momentum.

“Ah, such a lovely evening for a ride under the moonlight, is it not,
brother
?” Navarre’s voice was raspy and evil sounding. The hair on the back of Sarah’s neck stood on end. How on earth had he roused from the drug? Margery said he would sleep till morning! It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he was here now, sword in hand - and they were in grave danger. What if he had called the guards?

“As a matter of fact, it is.” Dominic stated, his voice unwavering.

“Unfortunately, you will not be so lucky to enjoy it this eve,” Navarre said, as he approached them drawing his blade. “I have waited long for this moment, gypsien. You are alone here in my domain and at my mercy. You shall pay for the shame your mother brought upon my own – not that she deserves any better. But it does give me an excuse, does it not?  No matter. You shall pay simply because I despise you.” His eyes took on a look of hatred as he eyed Sarah.

“Yes, my lady. I am awake and quite well. The potion your crone conjured up to render me senseless was not strong
enough to keep me down for long as you will find out later, when I have finished with your lover. You will forget him soon enough. Or what is left of him, that is. I will see to it.” His eyes moved back to Dominic.

Dominic pushed Sarah into the stairwell as he stepped forward to confront Navarre. His eyes and ears were open for the sound of the guards that may appear at any moment, but none came.

Suddenly, Navarre rushed at him swinging his sword. Dominic skillfully blocked his blow. They crossed the large chamber, their breaths coming in great gasps as they fought. Navarre was no apprentice. He was a skilled swordsman – a former knight and fighting him in hand-to-hand combat was no easy task. Dominic knew he must somehow overtake him and remain uninjured for Sarah’s sake. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen to her if he lost this battle. His concentration steadied and he felt a calmness wash over him.

“I will enjoy watching you die by my hand, cur.
Slowly.” Navarre panted the words as his sword locked with Dominic’s and he pushed him backward to the wall. “Have you forgotten I was trained by the finest warriors the king has in service? You will not prevail.”

Dominic refused to allow Navarre’s words to break his concentration. Navarre could see this and with renewed venom he taunted his opponent again. His face twisted in a wicked grin.

“Did your dear lady tell you how much I enjoyed her sweet body lying beneath mine in my bed before she managed to escape me? Did she tell you how much I enjoyed the taste of her? I am quite skilled with my tongue you know. In fact, I think she enjoyed it as well, whether she admits it or not. Perhaps
you
have never been able to pleasure her thusly.” His eyes glinted with pure evil in the dim light.

Taken aback by Navarre’s words, Dominic lost his concentration for barely a split second, but it was long enough for Navarre to make his move.

Navarre’s sword grazed his throat as he pinned him to the wall. Sarah watched in horror as tiny drops of blood oozed from the place where the sword was pressed to his neck and he was gasping with the effort it took to hold Navarre back and keep the blade from slicing his throat.

Sarah’s heart was pounding like a hammer in her ears. The love of her life was about to die right there in front of her eyes, leaving her trapped here alone in this godforsaken century, heartbroken and at Navarre’s mercy! But to her surprise he suddenly roared out loud and with a Herculean effort, he pushed himself free throwing Navarre several feet back from him. He caught his breath for just a brief moment and centered himself, ready to attack.

“My
wife
did not enjoy one moment of her little visit with you, dog. And she has told me you have not defiled her. I believe her and I will kill you for your words alone.” Dominic’s eyes hardened like Damascus steel.

“She lies. Do you honestly think she would tell you of her pleasure at my touch? Perhaps when I have disarmed and wounded you just enough to make you bleed to death slowly, I shall chain you to the wall – so you can watch as I take her again right before your eyes. A fine way to spend your last hours before I disembowel you, is it not?” Navarre sneered as he spoke.

Dominic raced forward and like a madman he began swinging his blade anew. Navarre was at a disadvantage this time as Dominic forced him back across the chamber toward the other wall. His blows were fast and accurate and he could see that he was gaining ground quickly. He would not allow Navarre’s words to break his concentration again.

Without warning Navarre swung low in an arc at Dominic’s legs, but with the cat-like grace of the acrobat he was, he leaped over the blade and in one swift motion brought his own blade down hard and true, deeply slicing into Navarre’s left arm.

Navarre gasped in pain and dropped to his knees as blood poured from the gaping wound in his bicep. Sarah felt slightly sick at the sight of it. She could see that he was cut to the bone and one of the large blood vessels had been severed as the blood pumped out in huge spurts.

His eyes took on a crazy look as he forced himself to his
feet. He began swinging his sword wildly at Dominic in an attempt to slash him before passing out from loss of blood.

“You will not escape me, filth. I will have the guards set upon you.”

His movements were slowing and he knew Dominic had won, for now anyway. He turned on his heel and headed for the passageway grasping his bleeding arm as tight as he could to staunch the blood flow.

Dominic turned to Sarah and grabbed her hand as he bolted up the stairs two at a time. Damn! How he wanted to chase the bastard down and slice him to ribbons. Unfortunately, to stay here would place Sarah in grave danger. His time for revenge would come another day.

“We must go now. We have but moments before he summons the guards. It is dark outside now, so keep your horse along side mine. Keep pace with me no matter what and if I fall far behind, just keep riding. I will be right behind you or along side you unless they catch up to us and kill me. Marco is waiting not far from here beyond the field and he will see you to safety if I am unable.”

He panted the words as quickly as he could as they rushed up the steps. Sarah’s head was pounding and her heart was racing as she digested what he was saying.

They reached the top of the long, stone stairway and he pushed through the heavy iron gate and in one fluid movement heaved her atop the mount Reginald had provided for her. He gracefully leapt atop his own and they raced off into the blackness without another word.