Heartsong, p.1
Heartsong, page 1
Table of Contents
Cover
Title
Copyright
Other Books By Allison Knight
Dedication
When The Full Moon Shimmers..
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
About The Author
Champagne Books Presents
Heartstong
By
Allison Knight
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Champagne Books
www.champagnebooks.com
Copyright 2007 by Martha Krieger
ISBN 978-1-897445-19-8
August 2008
Cover Art by Trisha FitzGerald
Produced in Canada
Champagne Book Group
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Canada
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Champagnebooks.com (or a retailer of your choice) and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Other Books By Allison Knight
Heal My Hurting Heart
Dedication
To my Father who taught my heart to sing
and
To Hank
Who shares all the pains and joys of this life.
You are my HEARTSONG!
When the full moon shimmers o’er the endless English moors and the witching hour draws near, soft winds sing of a rare kind of love, a precious kind of love, a forever kind of love. Those same breezes sigh and tell of a fair princess of royal Welsh blood who stood alone before her enemy, an enemy who named her witch.
The winds do moan about a handsome lord who first betrayed her, then sought her across a thousand ancient fields, his jaded heart full of remorse, his soul racked with pain.
As the luster of moonglow lightens the landscape, the winds gentle and whisper about how she took his aching heart and with her own sweet song, her song of love, her HEARTSONG, she filled him with peace and joy.
Together, they loved through all eternity.
One
The year of Our Lord 1282
Rhianna ap Brynn Ffrydd swallowed her apprehension. She leaned against the cold stone wall of their cave and watched the English warriors gathering below in the valley. How she hated them.
This place offered little protection for her and her youngest brother, Arthur. Somehow, she had to get them away from here and back to their keep. She considered what few alternatives they had.
“I want them gone from here,” she muttered, thinking aloud.
“But, they will not go,” Arthur mumbled. “They wait for the rest of their army.”
Rhianna ignored him and slid to the floor of their hiding place. The English devils had torn her world asunder for a second time. On this day, the body of her sire lay on the mountain behind their keep, his life’s blood soaking into his beloved land, cut down by one of English knights below their cave. No one guarded her home and her older brothers waited in vain for an army who had somehow escaped their careful trap.
“Garrett deShay and Edward of England are responsible for this day,” she whispered her thoughts aloud, her husky tones coloring her melodious voice.
Was it only a fortnight ago she’d heard that name for the first time? Aye! The man had sent his messenger and with a harsh, ringing voice, he’d read from a coil of parchment.
“Garrett de Shay, the Lord of Knockin, as agent of Edward, King of England, demands surrender, surrender of Castle Bryn Ffrydd and all within and without.”
The Englishman had demanded nothing less than their souls.
She had to find a way to escape, get back to the keep and her charge as well as save the lad beside her. They could not be taken captive—for although Arthur was eight summers younger than she, he was still the son of a prince of Wales. Who knew what de Shay would do to him? And she had her own responsibilities.
“We must wait until darkness descends, slip from this cave and climb over the top of this mountain,” she murmured. It was their only chance.
Arthur nodded, “Aye, escape.” His pale face reflected his fear.
“Aye,” she murmured, trying to sound enthusiastic, to wipe some of the fear from his young face. He looked even younger than his fourteen summers.
Pounding hoofs announced the arrival of more horses. Chills shook her. Could Arthur have the right of it? Had more English arrived? She tried to swallow past the lump of panic in her throat. She had to see who had come to this valley, but when she stood, her brother grabbed her arm staying her.
“Wait,” he mouthed.
For a time all was quiet then a shout from below echoed through the cave.
“You in the cave, show yourself!”
The deep voice pierced Rhianna’s heart.
“I’ll not show myself to an English cur.” Her words tumbled from her without a thought. “Leave now, or you will forfeit your lives in a pile of Welsh stones,” she shouted.
She gazed at Arthur her heart sinking. He shook his head, his face whiter than ever. She groaned with frustration. Would she never learn to keep her thoughts to herself? She should not have shouted at the enemy. Now they knew the cave held at least one Welshman.
Below the milling soldiers froze.
“A woman? There is a woman in the cave,” one soldier cried.
“We’re guarding a woman?” another asked.
Garrett dismounted, fighting to contain his rage. He glared at the men surrounding him.
“I don’t want some woman.” He flung the words at his half brother, Colvin. “Where are the sons of Alwyn ap Brynn Ffrydd? You sent word the enemy was found.”
Colvin glared back.
Sweet Jesu, how Colvin hated him.
“Nay, my Lord.” A soldier under Colvin’s command stepped forward drawing his attention. “We did not know what we had cornered.”
“Why did you not rush the cave?” Garrett asked. “All these soldiers against one woman? Or are the brothers I seek in that cave as well?”
There was no answer, nor did he expect one. Colvin was a coward. If he had not been, Garrett knew his half brother would have found a way to kill him and take Knockin long ago. Colvin coveted everything Garrett possessed. It had always been so.
However, this was not the time for reflection. He released the ties of his chest guard.
“Here.” He turned to one of his men. “Help me with this. I will see what is in that cave.”
After he repositioned his sword, he placed a small dagger in his belt then started for the steep hill that led to the cave. Skirting rocks to stay in the shadows, he climbed toward the entrance.
Once he paused and yelled, “Woman, admit your plight. You are naught but a frightened wench. Come, I bid you show yourself. I will not harm you.”
“Nay! I tell you.” The woman yelled, “Begone, before I do you damage. I will place a curse upon your head. Leave! I want no putrid English bones to sully the soil of Wales.”
The fear in her husky voice eased some of Garrett’s concern. Was it possible she was alone? Mayhap he heard a second voice groan at her words.
He crept closer. Soon enough he would know if the cave held more than the woman.
Without making a sound, he grasped his sword, stealing toward the edge of the entrance. A quick glimpse revealed two figures pressed against the cave wall. One head of dark curls gleamed against the gray stone while lighter waves rested next to the first.
Another step in the shadows brought him closer. He studied the rear of the cave. Two horses shifted restlessly in one corner. He held back a chuckle. One looked much like an English battle horse, his brother’s horse. He paused, wondering how on Earth they had managed to steal his brother’s destrier.
He repressed a sigh of disgust. No other men hid here. The brothers he sought were not in this cave.
He watched the light-haired youth lean toward the other. He stared at their profiles and suddenly wanted to shout with victory. Colvin’s man, deVerny, had slain the man Edward wanted as hostage, but it appeared that here in this cave was one of the sons. He just might have a hostage for Edward after all.
However, there was still the woman. He wondered who she was. Had this youth been assigned to protect her? Could she be wife to one of the older sons? A leman? As far as he knew, Alwyn had no daughters.
He could not release her. She would sound an alarm making it impossible to get the youth to Edward. He would have to take both of them back to Knockin
Before he could enter the cave, the woman spotted him. She stumbled to her feet, turning to face him. The afternoon sun shone through the entrance of the cave, illuminating her face. He stared; he couldn’t help it. She was beautiful, breathtaking. For an instant he felt a sting of desire.
While he stood stunned with surprise at his reaction to her, she took a step toward the rear of the cave. The boy, too, was on his feet, moving toward the horses.
“Nay,” Garrett muttered, coming to his senses. Neither of them must escape.
The woman was closer to him. He grabbed for her. His hand closed about her arm, staying her.
She screamed.
He pulled her toward him.
She struggled, squirming away from him.
At the same moment, the boy charged. He held a dagger in his hand.
He lunged. The woman twisted.
The dagger missed Garrett. It sank into the woman’s flesh.
Ancient memories, ugly, intense, devastating, flooded Garrett. The woman’s painful cry pierced his memories. The boy’s scream brought him to attention.
“You were protecting me,” weak words tumbled from the woman’s lips. Garrett eased her to the cave floor.
“‘Twas not your fau...” she whispered, then sank into unconsciousness.
Once more, her beauty struck him. He turned from the woman and gazed at the boy, ready to question him. As he watched, the boy’s eyes dulled. He had seen this happen to the strongest of warriors. It happened when the mind could no longer withstand the horror of the moment.
“Sweet Jesu,” he muttered. “You did not kill her. She lives.” He glared at the youth’s chalky face.
He turned to the woman, easing the dagger from the soft flesh. Her wound was not too deep and high on her shoulder. It might have nicked a bone, but she’d recover. He wiped her blood from the dagger and stuck it in his belt.
Garrett reached up, seized the lad and yanked him forward.
“Look you to her wound,” he ordered then walked to the cave opening.
“‘Tis no mighty army we have here,” he shouted to the waiting soldiers. “Only one terrified woman and perhaps one of Alwyn’s sons.”
“Sir Tomlaine, Sir D’Arcy,” he shouted. “Bring the horses.” He glanced toward the woman and the boy, then turned back to the cave entrance and ordered, “We’ll need water and clean cloth.”
He frowned. The woman on the cave floor would hamper their travel and of certain, he wanted none of the soldiers to see to her care. He refused to ask himself why.
~ * ~
On the hillside David deVerney threw his shield to the ground and crouched beside Colvin. “Your brother is furious with me. I should begone from his sight and soon.”
Colvin sneered at his man. deVerney was a coward.
“I’ve no appetite for this either.” Colvin grimaced. He tossed his hair from his eyes. “A woman! Mayhap I’ll stop at Knockin and see this son and the woman before I travel to mine own keep.”
Colvin jumped to his feet before he choked on his bitterness. This had to be the woman he had met on the road, the one who cast a spell on him, then had taken his horse. Or had this brother Garrett mentioned aided in her attack? He’d wait until he got to Knockin for answers.
He stomped down the hill.
“Mount up!” he ordered his men. He shoved his helmet over his head and grabbed his mount.
“Tell my brother I go back to England. We are no longer needed here. I will await him at Knockin.” He paused beside a stunned sentry before he turned to deVerney. “I’ve had enough of his wars. He can fight the next one by himself.”
Colvin glared at deVerney, knowing his man wanted to ask where he’d been during the battle. ‘Twas not something Colvin intended to discuss—ever.
He galloped off, away from Garrett, away from deVerney and his own men, his thoughts savage. What a worthless waste of time this had been.
Edward wanted the border raids stopped and had ordered a hostage taken. But those orders were not enough for Garrett. Nay, his brother had to issue his own orders, as if he was the Almighty himself.
No plundering.
No castle to sack.
No trinkets to gather, no gold to collect, no way to pay off favors. No castle wenches to quench the battle lust of his men.
At least Garrett might have a hostage, so deVerney would not pay with his life.
Colvin slowed his horse and waited for his man.
“Are you certain the land has gone unclaimed?” he asked. “My brother could not be that stupid.”
When deVerney nodded, Colvin cursed. He turned away and muttered, “Garrett will pay for this folly. Someday, he’ll pay.”
He glanced at deVerney, “Take most of the men on to Sanford. I’ll take a guard and stop at Knockin.”
He laughed at deVerney’s sigh of relief. Coward!
Colvin rode on, his face now gracing a smirk. At least his brother would not go back with the hostage his king had wanted. Mayhap he only had a son. Would the possibility of a son be enough to satisfy the king? He doubted it.
Then, he grinned.
Edward didn’t take well to disappointment, and he would be thwarted with only a son. He struck his horse with the heavy leather reins and dug in his spurs.
Somehow he would make Garrett pay for all the slights he’d had to endure. And someday he would have Knockin.
~ * ~
Garrett moved away from the entrance and gazed at the boy. The lad had not moved since Garrett shoved him to her side. Now, the shoulder of her bliaud grew dark with blood.
Garrett knelt beside her. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. Her pale face touched his memories, but he brushed them aside. That wound needed attention and now.
“We must stop this bleeding,” Garrett said. “We need clean cloths.”
The boy stared ahead, seeing nothing, hearing nothing. He rocked forward and back, like an infant.
Garrett glared at him. He was no help at all.
“Lydon! Joseph!” Garrett’s voice bounced against the stone walls.
That sound dragged a spark of sanity into the boy’s eyes. He stared at Garrett as he tried to ease the bliaud away from the woman’s shoulder.
“Nay,” the youth wailed. Then, he charged.
For a second Garrett faltered, taken unawares. He righted himself and grabbed the boy, wrapping his arms around him.
“I try only to stop the bleeding,” he spoke softly. “Calm yourself.”
The stick-thin youth stared at him.
“If she gains her senses,” Garrett whispered. “Do you want to frighten her more?”
“Nay, you will not touch her. Get your hands off her. She is all I have.”
She is all I have?
Could she be his wife? Nay, he was too young. He could not have earned his spurs. But Garrett had no more time to speculate.
Lydon, then Joseph, stumbled through the cave opening. Garrett shoved the boy at Joseph.
“Hold the lad for he keeps me from tending the wound.” He turned to Lydon.
“I’ll need something to clean and bind the wound.”
Lydon stepped from the cave then returned with a water skin and a roll of cloth. Garrett knelt beside the woman, lifting her from the floor. He cleaned the injury, then wrapped a piece of fabric tightly around her shoulder. When he finished, he hoisted her into his arms and handed her to Lydon.
He turned to the boy.
“You did not kill her. She will live. What happened here was an accident.”
“The boy stabbed her?” Lydon asked, his face furrowed in confusion.
Garrett nodded and walked through the cave entrance pausing to tell Lydon, “I’ll carry her once I’m mounted.”
Then, he turned to Joseph.
“The boy rides with you. Before you put him on your horse, bind his hands.”
The boy yelled in protest but Garrett ignored him. He strode down the hill. When he reached his horse, he mounted, and waited for Lydon to hand the unconscious woman to him. He wanted to leave this place and the memories trying to surface.
In minutes they cantered their horses northeast toward his retreating soldiers. Garrett held the woman against him and gazed into her face.
She stirred in his arms. He eased his grip and wondered what might happen if she awoke at that moment.
