Dance of Desire (57 page)

"Rudd, please. I want the truth."

"I swear I did not lie." As though he sensed the rebuttal burning on Fane's tongue, Rudd raised a hand. "There will be eye witness accounts that imply my guilt. Those could not be avoided. I could only collect evidence against the traitors by pretending to be one of them."

A disgusted laugh shot from Fane. "What trickery do you speak?"

Rudd looked sheepish. "I admit, I went along with Garmonn's ideas at first. I, like many others, did not want a crusader barbarian as sheriff of our lands."

"Rudd!" Rexana gasped.

"When I realized that Garmonn planned to overthrow the king . . ." He dragged his fingers through his tangled hair. "I could not withdraw from the plans. I knew too much. Also, I could not risk Rexana being threatened or harmed." His face reddened. "I knew Garmonn had wounded Thomas, and that he would hurt or kill others to get his way."

Her eyes widening, Rexana said, "How did you know? Thomas told me he did not see who wounded him. Snow was falling."

"Garmonn told me one night, when he was very drunk. He laughed and thought it great sport. He told me he had shot a peasant to impress you. I had helped you save Thomas a month earlier, and guessed he was the man Garmonn wounded."

Loathing blazed through Fane. He vowed to see Garmonn punished for his ruthlessness and manipulations.

Rexana crossed her arms. She looked worn, as though the day's turmoil had overwhelmed her. As Fane drew her against his side, she shuddered. "Oh, Rudd. He said he would kill you if I told anyone of that day."

Rudd's gaze hardened before he stared down at Garmonn's motionless body. "The night he told me, I knew I had to stay with the traitors until I could prove their deceit."

"This is a fascinating tale," Fane muttered, "but you plotted to kill me."

"I devised a plan, aye, but did not intend to follow through. Garmonn began to suspect me, so I had to defray his distrust." Rudd shrugged. "I joined the fight earlier not to kill you, but to ensure Garmonn did not win."

Irritation thinned Fane's temper. He could have defeated Garmonn on his own. "Naught you have told me proves your innocence, Villeaux."

"I have documents. I planned to send them to the king, but I will give them to you."

"Where are they?"

Rudd's gaze flicked to Rexana. "I will need your brooch."

She fingered the gold arrow, clearly reluctant to part with it. "Why?"

"You, dear sister, hold the key to the truth. I did not trust anyone else."

A puzzled frown furrowed her bow, yet she unpinned the brooch and handed it to her brother. Fane followed them to the fallen tree. Cradling his hurt arm, Rudd eased over the log. Fane assisted Rexana over. Rudd walked down to the end of the tree, which drooped into the pool, then reached into a hollow in the rotting wood.

Warning pricked at the base of Fane's skull. Pulling Rexana aside, he raised his dagger. "If you try to trick me —

Rudd sighed. "No trickery, I promise."

Leaves rustled. Bark dropped from the hollow. A moment later, he brought out a small box. The metal lock was an odd shape. He set the box atop the log and pushed the fletching end of the brooch into the lock. With a click, it opened.

As Rudd raised the box's lid, Fane strode closer. Rolled parchments lay inside, many bearing wax seals.

Rudd wiped his sweat-beaded brow. "There are records of meetings, signed promises of military support, as well as letters I said I would deliver but never did. I also have a statement of the traitors' purpose, penned by Garmonn. Enough evidence to imprison him and the other traitors for years."

Rexana's face glowed with pride.

Tearing his gaze from her, Fane smothered an oath. If the box did indeed hold this trove of documents, Rudd had fulfilled an extraordinary duty for the king. He had risked his life to work amongst men who would have killed him if they knew his true purpose. With honor and discretion, he had shielded Rexana from the danger, and fooled even a crown appointed High
Sheriff.

Yet, 'twas also possible the lad had made up his account to save his neck, and the documents were forged.

Fane closed the box with a snap. "I will consider what you have told me, and review these parchments."

"I expected as much." Rudd slumped against the fallen tree. In the stark sunlight, he looked wan.

Sliding her arms around her brother's waist, Rexana hugged him. His eyes closed, and he hugged her back.

Fane ignored a jealous pang. He looked at his men, herding the traitors to the glade's center. "We will return to Tangston Keep. There, Rudd, I will decide your innocence. Or guilt."

Some time later, Rexana stepped into the passage outside the solar, closing the doors behind her. As she nodded to the guards, smoke from the wall torches wafted to her like veiled secrets. Anticipation swirled up inside her.

Fane had promised to summon her once he had studied the box's contents and questioned Rudd. She had bathed, dressed in an embroidered pink gown, and dried her hair by the fire. Fane had not come. Was he
still mulling her brother's fate? Or, had Fane deemed Rudd guilty and was reluctant to tell her?

They had arrived back at Tangston just before dusk. Fane had been quick to get her away from Rudd and the prisoners. As soon as Fane had dismounted, he shouted for Tansy. "Refresh yourself, love," he had said, pushing her toward the beaming servant. "I will fetch you when I have made my decision."

"I want to stay with you."

Fane touched her cheek. "I will fetch you." After silencing her protests with a kiss, he had ordered the traitors taken to cells and begun discussing dungeon security with Kester.

Pausing at the end of the shadowed passage, Rexana braced a hand against the wall. Fane's rumbled voice carried from the hall below. He did not sound angry. A woman murmured before an object clunked on a table. A chair scraped on the floorboards.

Rudd spoke, his tone strained. What had he said? Rexana moved closer.

Her brother gasped, then groaned. He sounded in agony.

The hair at Rexana's nape prickled. Her imagination filled with grim images. Fane did not approve of torture, but if Rudd refused to talk, mayhap he had found another means to —

Her brother yelled. "
Zoundchs
, that
shurts
."

His words were slurred. Drugged? Shock and outrage slammed through her. She grabbed her skirts. Her feet pounded on the wooden landing, and she stared down over the rail.

Fane glanced up from where he sat at the lord's table. The brooch and box sat near him, the documents scattered within his reach. "Ah, Rexana. I planned to come get you soon."

Her gaze flew to her brother, seated at a table below the dais. His tunic and shirt lay rumpled on the floor. Celeste stood beside him, peering down at his bare, bloody shoulder. She held something between her fingers. What?

Rexana thundered down the stairs. A biting herbal scent assailed her, and she wrinkled her nose. "What goes on here?"

"
Rexshana
." Rudd stretched a hand out to her, then winced. Shaking her head, Celeste bent over his wound. He flushed. "
Ousssccchhh
."

Rexana ran to his side. He reeked of ale. A full pitcher and mug sat next to his good arm. "He is besotted!"

Fane pushed up from his chair. "No man would have his arm stitched without downing a few stiff drinks first."

"Stitched?" she repeated in a weak voice. Celeste held a bone needle. Near her on the table was a bowl of pungent, greenish-colored herbal water, no doubt used to cleanse the needle as well as Rudd's mangled flesh.

Rexana's stomach churned and she looked away.

Fane crossed to her, his expression somber. "His wound is deep. Yet, with stitches, it should heal well enough." A faint grin touched his lips, igniting warmth within her. "I had not summoned you yet, because I hoped to spare you having to watch."

She stared up into his dark, mesmerizing eyes. "I thought you had forgotten me."

"You were impatient, wife."

His acute assessment rubbed her frayed nerves. She sighed. "Well? Have you reached your decision? Are you convinced of my brother's innocence?"

Fane's gaze lowered. Frowning as though struggling with difficult words, he said, "It seems I may have been mistaken."

"Indeed?" She smiled.

"Rudd's collection of documents is impressive." Fane shook his head. "I can think of no reason for him to have gathered them, but that he planned to send them to the king."

"
Riyghto
, Linford." Rudd's fist thumped on the table. He slurped more ale, then loosed a loud belch.

Rexana drew a shaky breath. "Do
you
believe, beyond doubt, he is not guilty of treachery?"