Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) (3 page)

Domina and Constance stood against the short brick wall that so abruptly ended the way forward. Between the women and the attackers, Giles and the two other men-at-arms stood with swords drawn, ready to engage.

“Stay well back, my lady,” Giles ordered. A nervous quaver broke through his warning. He was over twenty and trained to fight. However, the soldier had never been asked to defend his mistress from a direct attack before.

Still, the men-at-arms carried swords. The men who obviously intended to rob them held only knives. In fact, the big man at the back didn’t even have a weapon, though his size meant his fists would be punishing all on their own.

When the fight began, Domina put her arms around a terrified Constance. She watched the scene as well as she could, but the near-darkness and the chaotic movements of all the men made it nearly impossible to tell what was going on.

Giles cursed out loud when one of his companions stumbled to the ground. The thieves jeered, and one even tried to rush toward the women. Domina slid one hand down to grip the hilt of her dagger. If only she knew how to use it in a fight! She doubted these men would respect her gender or her status enough to not harm her.

“What’s happening?” Constance moaned, her head buried in Mina’s shoulder.

Mina was about to lie and tell her that all would be well when something new happened.

The attackers, who had been almost jovial, suddenly began to shift their positions, yelling commands to each other.

“Someone’s come,” Mina whispered, hope rising in her. A city watch, perhaps?

Whoever arrived on the scene was certainly
not
on the side of the thieves. Mina strained her eyes, catching the glint of blades as they swept through the alley and briefly shone in the meager light.

The thieves didn’t know what to do, and being attacked on two sides destroyed their confidence. One of them abandoned his fellows and dashed away. Another tried the same thing, only to be knocked to the ground by one of the newcomers. Two more finally coordinated an attack on the nearest stranger.

Mina gasped when she saw the initial rush. The man would be killed, all for trying to stop a robbery. She closed her eyes, unable to watch a slaughter.

She heard men yell just as metal scraped on metal. A cry of pain burst through the darkness. Mina bit her lip, and peeked.

The stranger stood over one of the thieves, who was on the ground, holding his arm tight to his chest. Another had lost his knife and did his best to scramble toward where it lay…which happened to be right at Domina’s feet.

The thief saw the knife, next to the hem of a lady’s skirts. His plan could be read in his eyes: seize the knife and hold the lady hostage. Mina narrowed her eyes and took one step, putting her foot down firmly on the blade of the knife.

“How dare you even think it,” she hissed at the young thief.

His surprise at her reaction made him stop for a full second, which was all the stranger required. He swept forward, in a move that must be a killing stroke.

Mina looked away to avoid what she knew would be a bloody end to the thief.

She heard a grunt, and then nothing.

“All done,” a new voice said. “You may look. I only knocked him out—there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I’m not afraid,” Mina countered instantly, though the shaking of her limbs told a different story.

“No, not much, are you?” the man replied, a certain amount of approval in his voice. “And your companion?”

“Constance,” Domina said softly. “It seems to be over.”

“Oh, praise Him we’re still breathing,” Constance said fervently as she stepped away from Domina. “Are you all right, my lady?”

“Yes,” she said. “Thanks to…”

She hesitated as the man took a step forward, into a little pool of light. He was dressed in well-made but otherwise ordinary clothing, nothing more than a linen tunic and hose. Yet the lack of armor hadn’t stopped him from rushing into the fray. He had to be a knight, for he did carry a sword. He was also built like a man who fought for a living, and the simple clothing didn’t do much to conceal a well-muscled, trim figure. He was a little taller than she was, with thick brown hair but surprisingly blue eyes, set into a narrow, clean-shaven face.

With a jolt, she realized he was smiling at her, and she was compelled to smile back.
Am I completely out of my mind?
she wondered.
He could be another thief!

But he said only, “If you don’t mind standing a moment more, my lady?”

Without waiting for her reply, he turned back to the remains of the short, ugly fight. He joined his companion, who was several feet further back, and completely in shadow. Mina couldn’t tell a thing about the man except that he was also a knight—to judge by the fineness of the sword he carried—and that he was both taller and broader than the blue-eyed stranger.

“My lady,” Giles said, rushing up to her. “Are you well?”

“No injuries,” she assured him. “The others?”

“We’re all safe, my lady. Some cuts and bruises is all.”

Mina breathed a sigh of relief. “And those men who attacked?”

“They’ll be hauled off to the proper authorities,” the stranger replied, as he returned to Mina.

Giles put out his sword, still tense from the fight. “Hold. Who are you?”

“Giles,” said Mina. “These two men mean us no harm.”

Her order was enough to make Giles lower his sword, though the stranger added, “She’s right. We heard the scuffle, and sought to end it. That’s all.”

“How do we know that?” Giles asked.

“Because my friend has already volunteered to escort the thieves to the nearest dungeon,” the other said. “By all means, have one of your men assist, if that will convince you.”

“I can go, my lady,” said Roger, the oldest of the men-at-arms.

“Then do so,” Mina said. With a nod, Roger moved to help take the attackers away. He and the still-shadowed knight dragged the remaining miscreants off.

“You can put that away now,” the blue-eyed knight told her, his gaze sweeping over her.

“What?” Mina was fully cloaked, and the only thing the stranger could see of her was her face and her hand…oh. She looked down at the dagger in her grip. She hadn’t realized she’d drawn it. She slid it carefully into the slender sheath tied to her girdle, then pulled her cloak to cover her gown again. She reached up to check that her hood was still on, hoping that her distinctive hair was concealed.

She noticed his eyes tracking her movements. “Only an uncouth man stares at a lady,” she warned him. Just because he saved her from footpads didn’t mean he could look her over like a lamb at market.

“I only wanted to ensure that you suffered no injury,” he said smoothly. “I see no damage, for which I am grateful.”

“I am unhurt,” she confirmed, now feeling terribly awkward. “I thank you.”

“You’ve just come to London,” he guessed. “Or you would have known better than to be on this street at this hour.”

“We had no choice,” she began to protest. “We have been on the road since dawn—”

“My lady, I meant no insult,” he said. “Merely making an observation. Let me escort you to your destination. I would not see you molested again.”

“We don’t know where to
go
,” she said, frustration cracking her attempt to remain calm. “We were looking for rooms, but the hour and the darkness conspired to make us lose our way.”

“These streets can confuse anyone,” he said. “I remember how lost I felt the first time I saw London. There’s an inn not too far that would suit a lady of your standing. Can you walk?”

“Yes!” she said. The promise of an inn, with a place to sleep and a meal to eat, was enough to revive her.

“Luc of Braecon, at your service,” he said, with a slight bow.

“Braecon,” Mina repeated slowly. “That name I’ve heard. Shropshire?”

“Yes, that is where my father, who is baron now, holds his estates.”

After a moment, she said, “I am called Domina. As you guessed, this is my first time in London. You are kind to assist us.”

“My pleasure.” He offered an arm to her, and after a slight hesitation, she accepted it. Her entourage fell into step behind them.

Her new protector said very little as they walked, and he must have sensed her trembling. He glanced at her.

“It’s not far,” he said again, in encouragement.

“Good,” she replied shortly. Then she added, as if it were shameful to admit, “I’m so tired.”

“You traveled all day?” he asked.

“It seemed foolish to stop so close to the city,” she said. “But then the gates were busy and crowded, and it took longer than we thought…” She unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm. He seemed so solid, as if he really could protect her from anything the night could throw at her. For an instant, Domina wondered how it would feel to lean against him, to take a deep breath while he held her. Her exhaustion gave way to tingling awareness, and Mina quickly told herself to stop imagining such odd things.

“Very brave, for a woman alone,” he commented, his voice warm.

“I’m not alone,” she said.

“No husband, I meant.” He phrased it almost as a question, as if it mattered to him.

“The distance is no shorter for married people.”

“It might seem shorter to them, at least at night,” he said, offhandedly.

She halted in surprise. Did he really just
say
that?

He seemed to realize the effect his statement had. “Ah, I apologize. I haven’t been in the company of ladies lately.”

Domina wasn’t particularly assuaged. She only said, “I hope the inn is close by.”

“Touché,” he said. “I’m afraid that it is.”

Only a few moments later, he led Domina and her little entourage to the doorway of the inn. Above the door, the sign showed a picture of a goshawk.

“Giles,” Domina said. “See if the innkeeper has adequate space for us all.”

“Yes, my lady.” The man-at-arms gave Luc a suspicious sidelong glance, to which Luc reacted with exaggerated innocence. “I won’t be long, my lady,” Giles said before he went in.

Domina took her hand from Luc’s arm and stepped away from him, in the guise of offering a curtsey. When she dipped her head, the heavy braid of thick, dark red hair slipped over her shoulder.

Luc’s eyes widened, but he said nothing as she quickly tucked the braid back under her hood.

“I thank you for seeing me and my people to safety, sir,” Domina said with intense formality. “I bid you good evening.”

Luc smiled invitingly. “That’s all? What if I asked to see you again? You’re in London for the first time in your life—I would be delighted to show you the city. Tomorrow, perhaps.”

“I am not here to sightsee,” she said coldly. “I have come on a matter of business. Once that is concluded, I will return to my home.”

“Then you would deprive the world of your beauty.”

She outright glared at him. “What did you say?”

“It was a compliment,” he said. “Most women enjoy receiving them.”

“Then you should go find the company of such a woman. I do not wish to detain you any longer.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say you’re detaining me.”

“Sir—”

“Luc.”

At that moment, Giles returned. “My lady, if you’ll come this way, the innkeeper says a suitable room is available for you and Constance, and space in the common room for the rest of us. I asked about food—there’s still beef from the evening meal. He’ll have it served shortly.”

“Excellent, Giles,” she said. “I knew I could rely on you to see to everything.”

She gestured for the others to proceed into the inn before her. Then she turned back to Luc.

“Sir—”

“Luc,” he repeated. “Luc of Braecon.”

“I didn’t forget your name,” she said.

“Nor will I forget yours.”

“Regardless, I do not expect we shall ever see each other again.” She paused. Though the man’s presence set her nerves jangling, her manners wouldn’t let her simply turn away. “Thank you for what you did back there…you and your companion. Good night.”

She whirled around and hurried inside before he could stop her. But really, what could he say? She was likely correct—the chances of crossing her path again in London, or anywhere else, were remote.

Yet, even as she stepped inside, part of her hoped he’d object, or even reach out to detain her, to persuade her that perhaps a day in his company would be something she dared to do. If things were different, she’d like to see him again…however fate chose to bring it about.

* * * *

The next day, Luc sat at court among the many onlookers and courtiers, watching the king receive various nobles and others on matters of business. Luc didn’t necessarily enjoy such activities, but he had long dreamed of rising in station beyond what he would inherit from his father’s title. In truth, Luc would settle for nothing less than being named an earl and earning a seat on the king’s council. The privy council consisted of the men who were a king’s most valued advisors, loyal and able to offer aid to the king. Luc had no doubt the king knew his loyalty.

After all, his family shared blood with Stephen’s, and his father was one of the first men to publicly declare for Stephen when he announced his intention to take the crown of England. Luc fought for the king, and took a wound in battle for the king. He’d sit through as many dull days of court as necessary.

In return, Stephen would one day grant Luc more honor. He’d name him earl, choose a suitable wife to build an even stronger alliance, and offer lands worthy of his new title. Then Luc would serve as one of the privy councillors, helping the king shape the very future of the realm. Assuming, of course, that the empress didn’t manage to seize the crown for herself by then. Stephen’s future was far from certain, and that meant Luc’s future also held some doubt. Still, he believed he’d rise. He wasn’t born with ambition for nothing. He could almost taste the triumph that lay ahead.

Still, today was the sort of day when that dream seemed far away compared to the dull details of days at court. Luc was distracted, barely paying attention to the many people coming in and out of the king’s presence. Most of the matters had no bearing on him, so his wandering mind didn’t pose a difficulty.