Rowena Through the Wall: Expanded Edition (34 page)

Her eyes filled with sadness.

Fading…

"Here she is!" Kendra called out in the distance. "Thank God."

Footsteps approached and I opened one eye.

Thane knelt in front of me, gazing down with concern.

"Thane," I said.

Sensible, steadfast Thane. How good he looked, with those brilliant blue eyes and curly black hair.

"You gave us quite a scare, Rowena."

His gathered me in his strong arms. He didn't even scold me.

"Are you okay?" Kendra asked. Logan stood beside her.

"I guess." I paused. "The portal's gone."

"Oh, no. That's why you're lying here. I figured we'd have to go back through it to talk some sense into you. So I brought along these two."

That made sense. Logan and Thane had been already through the portal with me. It wouldn't be such a shock next time. And Kendra knew where I lived.

"I don't deserve a friend like you, Kendra." There
was shame in my voice. "I left without telling you. I'm so sorry. I'm an emotional mess and I feel so guilty. I'd cry some more, but I'm all dried out."

"Of course you're overwrought. All this happening today―and you're pregnant too. All those hormones racing about."

"Remind me to use
pregnant
as an excuse for my natural stupidity in the future," I muttered.

I looked into Thane's eyes and saw only love and relief.

"What happened after I left?"

"General chaos," Thane said with a shrug. "But they all backed
down. No one was injured. There was much confusion." He brushed my hair away from my face. "Kendra found your note and came to find me. Everyone else thinks you're still in the castle. We sought to keep this as quiet as possible."

"And…Gareth?"

"He is not welcome at Castle Sargon. I've sent him and Janus away. They'll return to Norland."

"That's good of you." I said.

He could have done much worse. His brother would have.

"The moment of danger had passed, Rowena. He violated the agreement, so he forfeits all
future invitations." He took my hand. "Did you mean what you said in the courtyard, about staying with me in Sargonia?"

Now was the moment to tell him the truth. "I―"

"We should go," Logan interrupted. "I feel uneasy here."

I gazed across the valley, noti
ng the fine mist that was rising.

"We left the horses in the clearing," Kendra said.

I groaned. Not that clearing again. I hated that place.

Holding my hand firmly, Thane led the way and we walked single file out of the trees.

Immediately, I noticed something was missing.

"Where's the sorrel mare?"

I entered her mind. Why was she so upset? I gasped as a dozen horses filled my mind. I opened my mouth to warn the others.

Too late.

A haughty voice rang out behind us. "Ah, Thane, you return my wife to me. My humble thanks."

"Ivan!" I whispered.

He stood not ten feet away, with at least a dozen men around him, all armed. They moved so swiftly that Thane had no time to pull either of his weapons.

We were surrounded.

"So easy," Ivan said to Thane. He shook his head and smiled with satisfaction, towering over everyone, including Logan. "I have scouts everywhere between your castle and Huel. All I had to do was follow you to see where she would run to."

Thane cursed.

"Don't move and you will live," Ivan said. "I only want what's mine. What your brother stole." There was hatred in his voice.

Thane glanced at me, shaking with anger.

"Thane, please don't do anything." I begged.

I turned to Ivan. "I'll come willingly."

"I'll come too," Kendra said, moving to my side.

"No, Kendra, it's too dangerous. Stay with Grandfather. Ivan, let her stay with Grandfather. Please."

"But you need me," Kendra said, tearing up.

Did she have any idea of the fate that could befall her?

"I'll call for you when I need you," I said. "When it's time."

"She is Richard's lady now," I pleaded with Ivan. "You know it's too dangerous for her with your men." Men that reminded me of Willen's band, rough and unwashed. But I didn't say that out loud.

Ivan frowned. I could almost see his thought patterns. Richard was his beloved kin and he had no quarrel with either Richard or Grandfather.

"Agreed," he said finally. "Thane, you may return to your castle. I want you to live. It serves my purpose. Go back and tell my elder brother that I have won. Go back and tell Cedric that I have taken his prize. That even his rotten magic didn't help." Hate spewed from his mouth and he spat on the ground.

Ivan grabbed my arm. "Rowena, come now. Mount."

I twisted from his grasp, ran to Kendra and hugged her.

"This is so unfair!" she cried. "You're doing it again. Sacrificing yourself to save me."

"Take care of yourself, little sister." I stroked her black hair. "I love you dearly. I'll find a way to see you soon."

I released her and met Thane's eyes. "Bishop to b5."

He jerked as if hit. Then he nodded.

"Come now," Ivan ordered.

I swung up into the mare's saddle and glanced at Thane. He stood like a granite statue, staring at me with a mix of sorrow and self-loathing.

Astride his horse, Ivan grabbed the reins of my mare and we rode into the mist. The rest of his band followed.

I looked back once, but the mist was too thick.

We rode a long time before I had the courage to speak.

"Where are we going, Ivan?"

"To a place they'll never find us," he snapped.

Completely hidden by mist, we followed the river south.

I fingered the Roman coin at the back of the Tintagel broach, the coin that linked me to Cedric.

The coin that would lead him to me.

We rode south for hours, stopping once to water the horses. I did not know this land. It was very green and fertile, with rolling hills. We passed burned-out farms and razed stone houses. I saw no one. I don't know if it was the pounding hooves that scared people off or if there was simply no one to see.

At dusk, we came to a castle ruin. Stone rubble marked the placement of the ancient walls.

"We stay here for tonight," Ivan said, dismounting.

"You mean we're going farther?"

He laughed. "Oh, yes. Even Cedric can't follow us across the sea."

My breath caught in the back of my throat. If Ivan took me on a boat, my rescuers would never be able to follow.

And besides, I got seasick something awful.

The light was nearly gone. The men made a fire in the ruined courtyard and roasted wild game. Ivan pointed to a spot in the grass and I sat down. He brought me meat and hard tack that was so tough, I couldn't eat it. Afterward, he went to talk to the fellow tending the fire.

Eyes watched my every move.

A quiver of fear trickled up my spine.

These men disturbed me. Two were missing arms. All were filthy. They watched me with furtive eyes. Ivan hadn't introduced me to any of them. He was the only one who stood between me and these rough men, who most likely were criminals.

I wondered if Ivan had thought about that. Exactly how much loyalty did they feel for him, especially if they knew his plans to leave the country?

A gray-haired, bearded man glanced over at me whenever he thought Ivan wasn't looking. His eyes gleamed with madness.

I swallowed hard and looked away. Closing my eyes, I curled up on the ground. There was little I could do but trust in Ivan, and I was so tired, I couldn't find the energy to be scared.

I was half asleep when Ivan nudged me.

"Come," he said, helping me to my feet. "We have our own quarters."

Again those eyes followed us. Ivan led me into the ruin and down a flight of stone steps. It was so dark I had to keep both hands on the wall to either side of me to keep from falling. We descended into a small basement room with no windows and only candles for light. The walls were bare, the room cold. Like in Norland, there was a pile of furs on the floor. In another corner, there was a pile of clothing.

I was so exhausted, I could no longer stay standing. The next thing I knew, I was sliding beneath the furs.

Ivan returned, carrying two tankards.

"This is a problem," I said. "I can't drink too much ale. It's bad for the baby."

"We can boil water for you tomorrow. This much won't hurt. My mother drank nothing but ale and I turned out fine."

We might disagree on that, I thought.

I took a cautious sip and set the tankard down on the ground. I yawned. "I'm so tired." I closed my eyes.

He was beside me in an instant, his mouth on my cleavage and his fingers working the laces.

"I'm too tired for this tonight," I pleaded.

"You don't have to do a thing."

"Please, Ivan, wait until morning."

Lifting his head, he sighed and moved away.

Hours later, I woke up. I opened one eye. Small rays of light shot through the wooden boards that made up the ceiling. I looked over at Ivan. He was asleep on his back. I cuddled down into the furs and slept some more.

A scream woke me.

I jerked to my feet.

Cedric stood over Ivan, his sword inches from Ivan's chest.

He drove it in.

I screamed.

I heard the death gurgle and saw the blood fly. Ivan's eyes were open, staring at me as though I'd betrayed him.

I rolled away, gasping. I hid my face, unable to utter a sound.

"Get up," Cedric ordered.

He was cleaning his sword on a robe. Dear God, he was humming, wiping the blood away, his eyes flat, opaque disks.

Emotionless.

He grabbed me and hauled me to my feet.

"Don't look back," he ordered, still humming tunelessly.

I wanted to scream, but couldn't even find air to breathe.

Cedric carried me up the flight of stairs. I kept my eyes closed until we reached the sunshine. Jon and Richard were there, plus a dozen men on foot, including Drake.

Bodies lay scattered on the ground.

I tried not to look at them.

"My child," Grandfather called out from his steed.

I was shocked to see him there.

"She's unharmed," Cedric said. He set me down. I teetered and fell to my knees.

Grandfather frowned. "Where's Ivan?"

There was a pause.

"I've taken care of him."

"You've killed him?" Grandfather said, his eyes flaring in disbelief. "You've killed your own brother?"

Cedric ignored him and readied the horses.

"Can you ride?" he asked me.

I was numb and couldn't reply.

"We need to leave," he insisted. "There may be more."

"Cedric!" Grandfather shouted. "Answer me!"

Cedric turned, his bloody tunic catching the light. "Yes, I killed him. I struck him through his black heart. The cretin was taking her to Port Town to catch a ship, with none but himself and these vermin for escort. Do you know what she would be worth down there?"

Grandfather's face went white. He opened his mouth to say something and choked on the words. Resigned, he signaled with a hand. "Jon, Richard."

They hurried down the steps toward him.

"Do up your bodice, Rowena," Grandfather said, unsmiling.

I turned away and hastened to the task.

"We'll take him back," Grandfather said. "Jon, wrap him in something. Richard, help Jon."

"I'll go south with Drake," Cedric said.

"Until we learn the penalty for your crime, you'd better."

Cedric turned to me. "Rowena, mount up."

"Not with her, you don't." Grandfather's eyes were daggers. "She comes with me back to Huel."

"She's my wife!" Cedric yelled.

"You may have her back when you resume your duties at Huel. She will wait for you there. For once in your life, be unselfish. Think of the child."

Cedric paced the ground, furious. I was frozen to the spot.

"Would you kill us all as well?" Grandfather roared. "First the king, now your brother? Where does it end?"

Silence filled the air. Even the birds stopped singing.

I held my breath.

"Go now," Grandfather said tiredly. "Before I order your death myself."

Cedric swung up onto his horse and cantered off. Drake followed with several of the men.