Page 30

S underland

Her eyes burned from the bitter wind. The horses had kept a steady pace for hours.

Melissa closed her eyes and tried to stay calm.

The amulet under her chemise was warm and had dulled to a steady, light pulse.

Can you see me, Merlin? Oh, sweet Mary, help me.

They stopped at one point, changed horses, and continued on.

Her body ached from the long, jarring ride; the rope cut into skin and had cut off the feeling in her arms.

As dawn broke, she lifted her head to see the outline of a castle, high on a hill.

To her right was the sea. Its foamy waves beat angrily against the shore and made her stomach roil.

Where was she? Looking at the many turrets, the large square keep, and thick castle walls, a memory battered at her brain.

Need to take down the old keep… Added onto by each generation…

Impregnable… The sea behind… Sunderland.

The trek up the long, twisting lane to the castle grounds was excruciating.

The nausea returned, and her mouth watered.

She swallowed hard. A castle wall surrounded a large square structure.

Outbuildings extended from each corner bastion.

It did indeed appear as if each earl had added his own vision.

In the center, another castle with four turrets towered over of the original stone keep.

Even if someone were to breach the thick stone walls, how would they find her?

Melissa began to memorize the landscape, looking for boulders or anything where she could hide if she escaped.

There was no moat. Sitting atop the cliffs, it would be impossible to approach the fortress without notice.

As they drew closer, she saw the soldiers patrolling the battlement.

She needed to stay calm if she were to find a way out of this.

The amulet pulsed reassuringly against her breast. Did the amulet allow Merlin to observe her surroundings?

Could he see through her kirtle and tunic? Why didn’t you ask more questions?

The two men announced their arrival. Moving through the portcullis, she watched the barbican slowly rise.

The courtyard was hectic. Soldiers were milling about and Melissa’s heart sank at their numbers.

The men parted and Charles appeared, dressed in chain mail and hauberk, the coif on his head had the same dangerous glint she saw in his eyes. He was ready for battle.

“Get your hands off my betrothed, you stinking mongrel,” he hissed at the man holding Melissa on the horse. “Come, my beloved.” He reached up and pulled her from the horse, quickly untying the rope.

She rubbed her arms to force the blood back into them. Her legs wobbled and gave way. Much to her horror, the sky began to spin, and then she was in Roker’s arms. He carried her across the bailey, into the main keep, and up the stairs. When he put her feet back on the ground, she whirled on him.

“How dare you have me kidnapped! I must be freed at once. The King will have your head for this.” With hands on her hips, she hoped to strike a strong, confident pose. Inside, her heart pounded and her belly remained queasy.

“I doubt that very much. He’ll have Arbrec’s head, by the time I am finished. Now,”—he smoothed her hair that had come free of her plaits—“rest is in order. You will see things in a better light after you have had a bath, some hot food, and sleep.”

A female servant appeared, her head lowered as she took Melissa by the elbow and led her away. She tried to resist, but the duke’s tone made her belly tighten with fear. “Do not attempt an escape, my dear. I would hate for my wife to have an accident before we even say our vows.”

She was led to a third floor chamber where a hot bath awaited.

Towels and soap lay on a table and a fire crackled in the hearth.

On the window seat was a silver tray with a pitcher, cup, bread and cheese.

Across the bed lay an exquisite tunic of gold and light blue, tiny interlinked chains embroidered along the cuffs, neck and hem.

A silk chemise lay on top of a cream-colored kirtle.

“I will assist—”

“Go! You will not touch me.” Melissa’s voice shook in anger.

The frightened servant fled the room. The heavy door closed and a bolt slid and clinked on the other side.

Melissa finally succumbed to the fatigue and sank to the floor.

The tears broke free as she lay curled in a ball, sobbing and beating the carpet with her fists.

The amulet, quiet since her arrival, began to vibrate softly against her skin. She pulled it out and studied the changing, swirling colors of plum, lilac, and violet. The swirls continued until a form began to take shape.

“Merlin, oh Jesu! It’s you. Can you help me?”

He put a long, wrinkled finger to his lips. “Shhh, Rolf is on his way. Play his game and all will be well. Keep this amulet hidden. Without it I cannot protect you.”

“There are hundreds of soldiers inside the castle wall. He means to make me his wife.” Her eyes burned as the tears began again.

“Stand strong for the babe. Do nothing to antagonize the man.” His voice began to fade.

“How do you know I am with child?” Her hands went to her stomach without thinking.

“I know everything, my dear. Stand strong and have faith.”

The stone’s swirl of purple began again. Melissa removed her shoes and placed the pendant inside a leather toe. It would be safe there while she bathed. Putting her hand in the wooden tub, she found the water still tepid. It would do. She needed to clear her head.

Merlin was right, she had to stay alert and be ready for whatever plan Rolf may have for her escape. Please God, keep him safe. When she had dressed again in the fresh clothes that had been left for her, she tucked the amulet back under her chemise and crawled onto the bed.

The sound of scraping metal woke her from a dreamless sleep.

She sat up, her hands touching the quilted, silk bed covering.

How long had she slept? The only light in the room came from a sliver of moonlight and the glowing embers of the fireplace.

The door opened and a dark figure holding a candle entered the room.

The flickering light cast a ghostly light on Roker’s face.

She tied the strings at the neck of her tunic closer, hoping it hid the erratic pulse of her throat. He would feed on her fear.

“I hope the accommodations are adequate, my sweet. Until we have an understanding, and you are no longer under the whoreson’s spell, I’ll have to keep you here.

” The mattress dipped as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

He traced a finger along her jawline. “Your features are so delicate and fine. We will have handsome children.”

She stifled a gasp. Would he… Melissa pushed it from her mind. Thinking of “what if’s” would only drive her insane. A moment at a time; a day at a time. But the thought of insanity entered her mind again as she looked at his glassy black eyes.

“My dear, you didn’t eat.” He crossed the room to the window seat and placed the candle on the tray.

“You waited for me? How thoughtful.” He poured two cups of wine and held one out.

The movement was a command not an invitation.

She rose slowly from the bed, grateful that her legs could hold her up again, and accepted the cup.

“May we sit by the fire, my lord? I find I’m chilled,” she asked, surprised at her steady tone. The farther they were from the bed, the safer she felt.

“Yea, I’ll bring you some bread and cheese.”

The thought of food made her mouth water. She had lost track of time. Had it been one day? Two? She accepted the metal plate and chewed on a piece of bread.

“How do you feel?” His tone was sincere as he sat down next to her on the cushioned bench.

He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and rolled the cup back and forth between his palms. “I must apologize for my, er, men-at-arms. I fear I did not stress to them enough to be gentle. I hope you are not bruised or overly hurt?”

She shook her head. “Only sore from the long ride.”

He studied his cup for a long moment. “I came back here after London to lick my wounds and decide my options. While I prepared for Ireland, it occurred to me that Arbrec’s magic was a strategy.

If I could remove you from his influence, his power over you would vanish.

It may take time but you will come back to me.

” He ran his palm over her thigh and held it on her knee.

“We have a bond between us, Melissa. You will feel it again. Fate will have his way.”

I pray that fate will. “My lord, you do realize I was married by a priest at St. Paul Cathedral?” Perhaps the wrath of God would make him see sense.

He waved his other hand, the wine splashing over the cup’s rim.

“That will be annulled once the cur has been declared a warlock. I will see him burn.” Charles misinterpreted her intake of breath.

“Nothing for you to worry about. I would never let my fragile wife witness such an atrocity.” He massaged her knee as he spoke.

Melissa kept the distaste from her face and focused on the bread. She had to eat something for the babe in her womb. She chewed and swallowed, washed it down with some mulled wine, and took another bite. “You look well, Charles.”

He turned to look at her, surprise in his black eyes. “I knew you cared. The magic is weakening. Once you are free of it, I will allow you to stay with my mother in her apartments.”

Hope flared. Surely his mother could make him see sense. “I have been longing to meet her. Will she accompany us to Ireland?”