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“Of course, it does.” She turned to Trystan. “We have another a week of travel. Will that give you enough time?”

The boy let out his breath and his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know, milady. It’s better than losing the bet at this moment, so I accept the challenge.” He looked defiantly at his lord. “Must she do it correctly on the first command?”

“Nay, I do not expect a polished horse in a few weeks. But if you can get her to perform the movements, I will be satisfied. In fact,”—he looked at Melissa before continuing—“mayhap Lady Arbrec will be the judge. She has shown excellent horsemanship skills during our travels.”

Melissa smiled, both at the offer and the surprise at hearing herself addressed as Lady Arbrec. “I would be happy to determine the outcome of this wager. Now I must take my leave. Please inform Lord Arbrec that I have retired to our room.”

Sir Blackbourne rose as she stood and followed her across the tavern.

His orders had been to never let her out of his sight when Rolf could not protect her.

She had given up arguing with either of them.

The dim stairway was free of the smoke that filled the room below.

She picked up her skirts and carefully made her way up the narrow steps, the noise becoming more muffled as they moved down the hall.

Small tallow lamps let off a faint glow, just enough to find one’s way to their door.

“I don’t mean to goad the boy. He must learn, though.”

“Learn what?” Melissa had found William to be a kind man beneath his huge exterior. She had been surprised he would deny his squire the winnings. The boy was obviously talented with horses. “He did a beautiful job with the palfrey.”

“It was too easy for him. Gentling the horse was no effort because of his natural talent. What lesson did he learn from that?” He shrugged his broad shoulders, the chain mail he always wore chinking softly.

“Life is a hardship. There are surprises around every turn, my lady. He must learn to accept that and be ready to adapt. A man is often not given his due, and how he reacts may determine if he lives or dies.”

“You are protecting the boy, then?” She laid her hand on his arm. “Was I wrong to interfere? I am sorry.”

“Nay, he will have to work hard now in the next week for a chance at the prize. That is what I wanted.” He gave her a wink. “He still learns a lesson, and I am redeemed in his eyes when he wins.”

“You seem confident.” Melissa understood that William wanted to teach Trystan the things his dead father could not. “I hope he succeeds.”

“He just needed a bit of a push, my lady. Arrogance never does a man any good. He appreciates what he has earned.” He chuckled as he turned away then said over his shoulder, “I bet he’s up before dawn working that poor horse. They will both be ready for a rest when we reach Misfit Manor.”

“Misfit Manor?”

“Er, Rolf’s, er…you’ll have to ask him about it. It’s not my place.” And he disappeared down the stairs with the speed of a much smaller man.

Melissa removed her clothes and climbed into the bed with only her linen underdress on. She shivered when her skin touched the cold coverings but the room itself was warmed by a small brazier in the corner. As her body warmed, her lids drooped with the need for rest.

“You are beautiful when you sleep.”

The voice woke her from a pleasant dream. “Where have you been? I was having an excellent dream.”

“Tell me about it.”

“It was Christmas and everyone had gathered at my childhood home. You, William, and Trystan had all joined us. The Yule log was burning in the hearth. We drank and toasted to good health and planned the Twelfth Day activities.” Melissa looked into his tawny eyes and saw the hurt.

“I am not complaining, Rolf. We were able to stay two days with Sir Blackbourne’s family at Christmas.

The meal and entertainment were splendid. ”

He put a finger on her lips. “And you will miss Twelfth Night. I will lavish gifts upon you next year.”

She reached up and clasped her hands around his neck, pulling him down to kiss him. She smiled against his lips as a moan rose from his throat. “You are my gift this year, my lord husband.”

“Mayhap I should be giving you something then.”

***

The neigh of a horse woke her from a sound sleep.

The other side of the bed was empty. “Rolf?” When she touched the pillow, it was cold.

He had been gone for some time. Melissa padded over to the window and opened the shutters.

The cold air made her skin prickle, but it felt good and cleared her head.

Their room looked onto the small side yard of the inn.

Trystan was riding the palfrey bareback, moving the bridle and his legs to direct the horse.

She watched him pull the right rein just enough to bend its neck.

He held out the left rein and pressed his right leg against the animal’s belly.

The horse moved to the side, his left hooves first followed by its right hooves.

He did this thrice more until the horse crossed its right legs over first, then he patted its neck as reward.

She noticed Trystan wore no spurs but saw the animal was eager to please.

The door opened behind her and Rolf joined her at the window.

“He’s determined to win a month’s wages.” Rolf smiled at the boy as he changed the horse’s direction. “It’s a trifling amount, but he has a notion to buy a good sword. He wants to be trained properly as a knight.”

“What age did you begin?”

“I was eight when my father put a wooden sword in my hand. Trystan has surpassed that.” His arm went around her waist, and she could feel the hard leather of his gauntlets against her hips. Melissa laid her head on his shoulder.

“Where have you been? I’ve grown used to waking with you beside me.” She nuzzled his neck. “What was so important in the middle of the night?”

“I went to see Merlin.”

“What? How did you…” Merlin was in the Caledonian Forest near Rolf’s home. No man could have made the trip in a few hours. He seemed to read her mind.

“Aye, only a bird could travel so swiftly.”

She could feel his smile and slapped him on the chest. “So you were my golden-eyed falcon this night?”

Below, Trystan slid off the horse and led it back to the stables.

Rolf took her hand and escorted her back to bed.

She sunk into the feathered mattress and watched as he removed his gauntlets, hauberk and tunic.

“Come lay beside me and tell me about your past. I can see you are troubled, and it is time I know the entire story.”

He sprawled out next to her, untied the strings at his neck, and cupped his hands behind his head. With a heavy sigh, he began.

“I suppose I should start at the beginning.”

“Yea, I’ve been waiting for that.” She wriggled next to him until she was comfortable, soaking up his warmth. Her fingers stroked the coarse hair on his chest. “I’m not sure I remember the little you told me in London.”

“It was after Arthur and his difficulties.

Merlin was older and had met Vivien when he visited the Lady of the Lake.

He was besotted, but no amount of wooing would turn her head.

So, he lured her with a promise of magic.

She agreed to become his pupil in exchange for allowing Merlin the opportunity to court her.

“Vivien was an avid pupil and became fond of Merlin. But even after her apprenticeship, she still did not love him. Merlin could not understand why she refused him. It was common for women to marry without love. He offered her years well beyond a mortal’s life span, but Vivien loved another.

His temper has always been short, and it flared again upon hearing this. ”

He shook his head as if he had been there. “Merlin would not abide the thought of another man bedding her. So, he cast a love enchantment on her so she could not share her affections with anyone else.”

“Nay,” Melissa interrupted, her disgust apparent. “Knowing her regard was false could not possibly make him happy.”

“Let us remember this is Merlin. A man who does not like to be crossed. As the dust of the enchantment settled upon her, Vivien struck back. She entrapped him in a Rowan tree with only one way to break the spell. Each generation, the first-born male would have the chance to find genuine love without the use of deceit or magic. When this happened, the curse would be broken and Merlin would be free.”

Melissa chewed on her bottom lip. “It doesn’t really seem that difficult.”

“Many of the first born died too young. Some were lazy and used magic. Others forced the women to marry them or refused to believe in the curse.”

“How long have the Arbrec males been attempting this?”

“Over four centuries.”

“Then why is it so urgent that you break the curse?” She thought the men in his family must be very hardheaded or very dull. “If it’s been going on this long…”

“The tree that encases him is dying. The curse must be broken before it does. Spring is coming and if no buds appear, Merlin will fade with the tree. When that happens, the sorcery that has been the Arbrec legacy for centuries will end.”

“Oh, no.” Melissa sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her chin. “But here we are, yet he is still trapped?”

“That is why he sent for me.” Rolf pulled the plum-colored amulet from under his tunic.

A light flickered from inside changing the stone from lavender to violet to plum again.

“He says he feels his limbs loosening but cannot free himself. Merlin wants to meet you, to see if he can figure out what still needs to be done.”

“I had hoped to meet a man rather than the trunk of a Rowan.” She almost giggled but stifled the urge. “Tell me what happened with your father.”

Pain flickered in his eyes as he scrubbed his face with both hands. She put a hand on his cheek. “I wish I had some magical power to erase the hurt.”

“You have healed me more than you know.” He kissed her palm then took her hand and laced his fingers with hers.

“My father Giles enjoyed material things.

He had earned some wealth and a reputation on the tourney field.

That is how he met my mother, Deirdre McNaught, the daughter of a Scottish laird.

He fell in love with her, but his ambitions were high.

After a good showing at a tourney, another lesser but affluent baron offered him the hand of his daughter. He accepted. Merlin forbade him to wed her, but my father insisted that nothing in the curse said the firstborn had to marry—only find true love, and he had.”

Rolf’s father had been selfish and vain. She was thankful his son had not inherited such traits. “So he thought he could outwit Vivien.”

“Aye. My mother ended up with child. His conscience, or perchance his love, drove him to her after my birth, but she lay deathly ill of the childbed fever. Before she died, he promised to raise me as his true son. He kept his word. I never knew I was a bastard until Merlin sent for me on my tenth name day. My father left me there to be raised by Merlin and Edric. When my training finished at eighteen, I pledged fealty to my liege lord, the Earl of Leicester, and began my search for you.”

Melissa blinked back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. Her childhood had been happy and carefree, filled with love. The life he had led up until now sounded so dismal. Yet, he was a better man than most.

“Did you never see your family again?”

“Merlin told my father he was not a monster. He and my sister were allowed to come each solstice. But my father…” Rolf’s voice turned husky, the impassive tone slipping for a moment. “He never missed a visit. I know that he loved me and that gave me comfort.”

“It is good that you and your father cared for each other. A man cannot pay for his mistakes for a lifetime.” Melissa knelt before him and smoothed back the dark waves that covered his moist cheeks.

From sweat of remembering the unpleasant past or tears of grief, she did not know.

He was too proud to admit either. She pulled his head to her chest, rocking back and forth while he clung to her.

“You were my light, my star that led the way in my dreams. When I became a man, you were the reason I kept going when I thought I might die in battle or from a wound.” He lifted his head and cupped her face, his eyes searching hers as his thumbs stroked her cheeks.

“I didn’t know how hollow I had become, until I saw you that day in the woods.

You make me whole, Melissa. You give me life. ”

Now she clung to him, determined never to let go.

Rolf needed her as no one ever had, and she welcomed such a bond.

She opened her heart to him with no reservations.

Whatever it took to free her husband of this curse, she would do it.

But first, it was time to have a few words with that arrogant, self-seeking wizard.