Warriors Of Legend (27 page)

An hour later, Micah’s concern turned to fury as Marjorie stood before him, wringing her hands. “We cannot find her, my lord. We’ve searched everywhere.”

Rage boiled in his veins. His throat constricted so much that it hurt. The memory of Kate’s words, how she tried to escape from marriage to MacLeary, haunted him. She had seen her opportunity today and bolted, so she would not be forced into either marriage or a convent after all. Pain surged within Micah’s heart. He forced it down and convinced himself it was anger. His fists clenched and his body bowed with the urge to smash something.

It did not make sense. Why would the woman toy with him? Unless Kate was lying and feared Micah would discover the truth. Perhaps she had convinced him to wed her simply to give her time to make her escape. He hated the idea. Unfortunately, it held. It buried its claws into his spirit and festered.

He smacked his fist against a door, fury tunneling his vision.
It was all a lie!
His heart screamed in agony. How had this happened? How had she managed to take him so unaware?

“John!” Micah bellowed. “Hubert!”

John ran to his side with Hubert a step behind. Bless his friend for being so steadfast. John was always reliable unlike some women he could name.

“What is it, Micah?”

“Form search parties, the wench has escaped me.”

“What?” John asked, his eyes widening in confusion.

“Kate is gone.”

“She ran away?” John stared at him then glanced at Hubert who took the cue and darted off. “How did she get out? Why would she run?”

“I don’t know but I will find out.” Micah turned on his heel and moved to get his armor. The anguish in his heart only fueled his rage. He would make her pay for this insult.

“Sir,” a timid voice said.

Micah saw William fidgeting nervously. “Not now, William, I have neither the time nor the patience.”

“But, sir, I don’t think Lady Kate ran away.”

Micah glared at him. “How would you know, boy?”

William took a deep breath, shifting from foot to foot, as if warring with himself. “If Lady Kate planned to run away, why would she buy you a wedding gift?”

Micah felt as if the lad had just slapped him. “What?”

“The lady asked me to put the gift in her room so you would not see it. She wanted it to be a surprise.” William walked to the stairs, with Micah only a pace behind. “I am not sure if I should ruin her plan, but I honestly don’t think she ran away.”

“It might be a ruse,” Micah said tightly.

“Praying your pardon, sir, you didn’t see the look on her face when she found the gift.”

Micah arched an eyebrow. “So you are already an expert on women?”

William shook his head and opened the door to Kate’s room. He moved to a chest and pulled a huge cloak out. Micah blinked in astonishment. It was, indeed, handsome. He took the cloak from William, his fingers sinking into the thick fur. Two large metal knot–work broaches with a heavy chain secured the front. Micah stared at it, befuddled, yet trying to think through his anger. It was a fine gift…a gift fit for a baron, in answer to the dagger he had bought for his future wife.

“My lord,” Hubert shouted and slid to a stop in front of the door. “There is something you must see.”

Micah did not like the note of alarm in the huntsman’s voice. He put the cloak on the bed and strode after him. “What is it?”

Hubert hurried back down the stairs. “I last saw the lady heading for the storerooms. I looked there before gathering the men.” He paused and descended the stairs, leading below. “I did not like what I found.”

“But I thought the servants checked the storerooms.”

“Sarah did,” Marjorie said as she followed.

Hubert opened a door and pointed.

Micah’s gaze swept the room. He spotted a lantern burning on the shelf, the candle no more than a puddle of wax. He scowled. No one would dare leave an unattended lantern burning in a storeroom, it might set the entire keep ablaze. Micah scanned the floor and a glimmer caught his eye. He blinked. It was the dagger he had given Kate.

It had fresh blood on it.

Micah’s heart skipped, thudding painfully under his ribs. Rage melted into horror. He crouched and picked up the delicate knife. The blood was fresh, but well on its way to drying completely. Micah saw the parcels scattered on the floor.

What had happened? Had Kate truly run from him? He forced his mind to work. If she had been attacked and used the dagger against her assailant, then the dried blood marked the incident about the same time as the merchants’ departure. He looked up at the solitary lantern – the puddle of wax supporting the time frame.

Good Lord, nay!

Micah bolted to his feet. “She was taken.”

Chapter Seven

Fully armored, Micah divided his men into search parties. He then sent them across the frozen dale–lands to look for some sign of Kate, in case someone beside the merchants had spirited her away. But Micah, John and Hubert lead the largest group of soldiers at a hard gallop after the merchant wagons.

Micah cursed himself for believing the worst about Kate. He should have known she had more courage than to flee him. She had run in the past, but that was when MacLeary had tried to destroy her. Kate had told Micah she wanted the marriage. He had no reason to doubt her. The delicate dagger proved she had fought to stop the attack. Or…his heart lurched…it had been used against her. He forced the terrifying thought away. Micah could not bear to think of her hurt. He had to believe she had wounded her attacker, not the other way around.

He condemned himself for failing her. The merchants had a huge head start. Hubert reined in his blowing horse and Micah followed suit, pulling his mount to walk along side.

“Hubert, are you sure the merchants are the ones we should be following? What if we are riding in the wrong direction and putting even more distance between ourselves and Kate?”

Hubert shook his head. “I don’t think so, Baron.”

The bile rose in his throat. “One thing is certain, I know exactly who is behind the kidnapping.”

“MacLeary,” Hubert said with a nod and sighed. “I pray pardon, my lord, but I still do not entirely understand this tangled web.”

Micah’s jaw tightened. “When Henry assumed the English throne, he developed a new charter. I defied my uncle during the rebellion and supported Henry because of it. For the first time in English history, a king has enacted laws and also bound himself to them. In the past, monarchs have ignored their own rules if they found them inconvenient.”

“Aye,” Hubert said bitterly. “William, the first son of the Conqueror was a perfect example of that. He oppressed all of England.” He paused and thought for a moment. “So because of the charter you supported the king.”

Micah nodded. “But there is an important fact of this charter regarding Kate. One of the new laws guarantees a woman her inheritance.”

“So that’s why MacLeary murdered her family. He made her the surviving heir.”

“Aye. But it gets a little complicated.”

Hubert snorted. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Micah chuckled. “Should a lady wish to marry, Henry will approve the union unless the lord is an enemy. Since MacLeary is Henry’s foe, the laird also needs the support of the Scottish church. In order to have legal claim to Appleby, MacLeary has to marry his son to Kate. The Scottish church will uphold the marriage, and Henry will lose control of Appleby.”

Hubert shook his head, his green eyes flashing. “So that’s why MacLeary took her. He will spirit her to Scotland and force the marriage. He couldn’t take her to Scotland before because he did not dare leave Appleby.”

“Aye.” Thinking of Kate in MacLeary’s clutches again made Micah’s blood run cold. He pushed his horse faster, marveling at the strange sensations coiling within him. Appleby Castle had been his goal, defeating MacLeary, and earning the appreciation of his king. He never expected to find Kate. He also never expected to be forced into a marriage not of his choosing. But if anything happened to her…he shivered as icy claws gripped his heart.

It was all worthless without Kate. Appleby Castle would be an empty stone keep, the honor of his name meant nothing without the vibrant life that was his
chérie automne.

Micah wondered why he wanted Kate by his side. These emotions were strange, he could not control them. He had to stop them before they became a liability. But as he tried to master the unusual feelings within him, he tugged at the fur cloak he now wore. Kate might be upset with him for wearing the wedding gift. The cloak, somehow, gave him a link to her.

He glanced at their blowing mounts. “We need to ride, Hubert. I fear what MacLeary will do to her.”

“Aye, Baron,” Hubert said and pushed his horse into a gallop.

***

Kate opened her eyes to blackness. Terror assailed her and froze her already numb limbs. She sat up, and blinding pain cut through her skull. Her stomach rolled and threatened to twist itself into vicious knots. She gulped deep breaths, fighting to control her fear.

Where was she?

About an inch of water covered the floor. Kate quivered as her fingers felt the slimy stone underneath her. The muck was thick and the walls seemed slightly concave. An agonized moan ripped through her. She had to get out. She couldn’t breathe. Where was the water coming from? The blackness pressed down on her with a terrifying weight, driving the air from her lungs. Kate tried to stand, but agony shot through her head again. She collapsed back into the muck with a splash.

Quivering, her fingers felt the lump on her skull. Dried blood matted her hair. It was a wonder the blow hadn’t killed her. But the pain in her head only made her fear more real. Kate dragged herself back until she pressed against the wall, fighting down the urge to scream.

Kate knew she was in MacLeary’s hands once again. She dared not make a sound. She shivered and pulled her knees up to her chin, curling into a tiny ball against the wall. But another moan escaped her. She rocked slightly, back and forth, and her muscles coiled. If she could pull herself into a small enough ball and kept silent, they wouldn’t see her, they wouldn’t hurt her again. It was so cold, so terribly cold. Her dress was soaked and covered with slime. Kate squeezed her eyes shut as tears leaked down her face.

“Micah, you promised,” she whispered and choked on a sob. “You promised you would not allow MacLeary to hurt me again.”

And how do you know I will keep my promises,
his voice answered, mocking her.

Horror seethed within her, tearing at her sanity. The walls of her prison drew closer, even though it was too dark to see them, Kate knew they sealed her in as completely as a tomb. She would die in this black pit. Kate’s awareness pulled inward, hazing the awful reality around her. As a turtle drew into its shell, her mind retreated into itself. Coherent thought faded.

The only thing real was her terror.

***

Micah ground his teeth in impotent fury as the afternoon shadows lengthened…of the second day. Aside from the anger and frustration, the fear he had lost Kate forever plagued him. Micah’s party, thanks to Hubert, had found the trail of the merchants and followed it all night and into the next day. On top of everything, exhaustion now clouded his thinking.

“Micah,” John said, pulling his horse to walk beside the destrier. “I know you are worried, but there is a good possibility one of the other search parties found Kate. She’s probably at Appleby warming herself by the fire.”

Micah shook his head. “She’s still out here, John.”

John sighed. “We need to stop and rest at the very least. The men are fatigued; they may overlook a vital clue. You need to rest as well.”

“I will not rest,” Micah growled, pain and fury surging in his heart. “I will not stop until I find her, even if it takes the rest of my days.”

“My lord,” Hubert called. He dismounted and crouched, peering intently at a track.

Micah’s lips quirked, if Hubert got any closer, he would have his nose in the dirt like a hunting dog. “What is it?”

“One of the wagons separated from the group. The rest headed straight north to Crackenthorpe, this wagon went northwest to Bewley Castle.”

Micah scowled. “Bewley Castle is relatively new. If memory serves, Bewley’s daughter inherited and she moved away with her new husband. The castle is not garrisoned.”

Hubert nodded. “The village near it developed from those who helped build the keep. Most have left, but a few remain.”

“Methinks the village might be a good place to hide a kidnapped heiress while waiting for MacLeary.”

Hubert’s lips lifted. “Methinks you have read my mind.”

Micah almost chuckled. Hubert’s easy manner helped take the edge off. Hubert mounted his horse and Micah led the party northwest.

***

Micah and his men rode into a decrepit village with most of the buildings burned or falling down. The narrow street through the center tracked muddy and rutted. A handful of people loitered in front of a shabby tavern, gawking at the arrival of the baron and his knights.

Micah’s gaze swept over the villagers, most as tattered as the buildings around him. From the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a cloak far finer in weave than the threadbare garments of the villagers. A burly man, unshaven, glared at Micah, then bolted down the street.

Micah recognized the cloth merchant instantly. And his flight only announced his guilt in Micah’s mind. With a strangled curse, he kicked his horse after the merchant.

The man tried to dart into the forest that surrounded the village but Micah’s war horse bore down on him. Before he could reach the safety of the trees, Micah flung himself from his saddle and drove the man to the ground.

The merchant managed to shove Micah off, and lurched to his feet. But Micah, a primitive fury pounding through his veins, leaped up and charged. He never thought to draw his weapon, his only desire was to tear the man apart with his bare hands.

The merchant drew a long dagger and slashed at Micah. Micah dodged the cut and slammed his fist into the man’s gut. The merchant staggered, trying to suck air into his lungs. Micah saw a splash of dried blood on his tunic, and knew instantly, Kate had scored nicely with her dagger.