Battle Cry and The Berserker Page 18

  Rory looked to the knight who had responded with vehemence. He was young and had yet to experience real battle. Though it was rumored a fair maiden in the village had captured his eye and she and her family were now without a domicile. They were very grateful to have slept in the straw by the hearth in the castle. The young maiden’s weeping had been soft, yet Rory could see the young knight had been troubled by it.

  “’Tis a disservice we do the buzzards if he is left for them to feed on one so foul,” Rory informed him.

  The young knight shot a glance at his lord then reddened. It became apparent to him at once his lord understood where his anger originated from. The young man bowed his head and nodded.

  “I have an idea,” Devon said. “We put an arrow through his miserable hide attached to a rope and then pull him down.”

  Nodding, Rory claimed it was a good idea. The man was dead after all, too bad. It was a shame Adamas had dispatched him so mercifully. Although they would still be able to partake in some sport with Louis once captured. The arrow soon flew and Frederick’s body lay in a heap on the cold ground. Rory ordered him buried in an unmarked grave as he was unfit to receive any recognition. They then set out at an even pace following Louis’s trail.

  With concern it soon became apparent to Rory that the devious knight had backtracked, avoiding them, or perhaps intent on an easier more helpless conquest. His trail was leading them to the castle.

  “Louis must be going after Lady Constantine,” Rory shouted.

  With grave fear Rory urged Adamas into a dead run. Constantine and her sister could be in peril. With his castle in an upheaval who would suspect another about, especially if he disguised himself as one of the peasants?

  Adamas thundered powerfully beneath him sensing his master was aggrieved. His muscles rippled as his giant hooves struck the ground. His master’s mission became his own. If home was where the battle was then home was where they must be.

  * * * *

  “I smell of smoke,” Juliette complained. She tugged at the threadbare clothing she and Constantine had acquired.

  “Oh, cease your complaints. At least you do not smell of manure,” Constantine replied.

  Although feeling a tad miserable Juliette had to admit her sister was right. Smoke was definitely better. Though the clothing was a bit tight it was serviceable. None had detected their hasty departure as Constantine had predicted. All were busily involved with the villagers. No one had even spared them a glance. They were riding two palfreys at a quiet pace amidst the diminishing foliage hoping to escape detection. Juliette still tugged at her tight clothing.

  “Desist Juliette, or you will tear the garment,” Constantine admonished.

  “I am unable to help myself. Constantine, we cannot appear before father dressed as lads, he would expire,” Juliette mused.

  “We will dress accordingly upon our return. We will just sneak to your room and don women’s apparel,” Constantine replied. She felt certain Juliette was flustered as she should have thought of this herself.

  “Yes of course,” Juliette murmured.

  “What ails you sister? You seem concerned,” Constantine asked.

  “I cannot shake the feeling we are being watched,” Juliette said and gazed around nervously scanning the trees.

  Constantine also hazarded a quick sweep of their surroundings. She noticed nothing amiss yet was conscious of Juliette’s frown. Her sister was seldom wrong when it came to these matters. On more than one occasion she had saved them from detection after discovering another first. She seemed to possess an inner alertness. Though Constantine found her ability a bit disconcerting her father swore their mother possessed the same ability. He referred to it as intuition, and seemed quite impressed by it.

  “Do you suppose your husband has returned early?” Juliette enquired almost hopefully. She was experiencing a tightening in her chest that usually meant danger.

  “Nay. Rory would be none too quiet if he found us out here all alone,” Constantine whispered. Indeed, he would be yelling loud enough to wake the dead, she was certain her ears would then ring for days. Though the hairs on her neck were now standing tall. It would seem she was experiencing her own intuition.

  “’Tis not a wild animal,” Juliette informed her with conviction.

  “How can you be certain?” Constantine enquired a tad relieved.

  “The horses do not appear distressed,” Juliette noticed.

  “Perhaps we should leave the shrubbery,” Constantine said.

  “Perhaps we should move faster,” Juliette commented, then kicked her mount into a quick trot. The palfrey, sensing her distress, complied.

  Constantine’s own mount leaped after Juliette not wanting to be left behind. Thankfully Constantine had been paying attention or would have been unseated. Soon it became apparent they were not alone. Another horse sounded from behind. Juliette encouraged her mare into a gallop, Constantine’s own mount needed no encouragement. The sound of powerful hooves pounding the ground behind them had both horses moving as quickly as they could, though parts of the forest were dense and Constantine soon lost sight of Juliette.

  Terrified, Constantine heard the approach of the other mount. Just as they reached a small clearing Constantine was pulled from her saddle. She screamed, but dared not struggle as the ground raced beneath them. Sidesaddle on the stallion she was held by a strong arm, her bottom resting on the man’s lap. Turning she gripped the man’s arm and hung on closing her eyes as they ventured into the forest. To her relief the knight slowed his mount. Constantine ventured a look, then again quickly squeezed her eyes closed. She needn’t look further. The unattended gash on the man’s arm could only mean one thing. She had been captured by the man who had attacked her and Rory the day before. She was doomed. Constantine collapsed against him in a dead faint.

  * * * *

  Rory and his men reached the castle. He was off his saddle and running before Adamas had even stopped. The powerful horse darted wildly about, as though to race into the castle after his master. He reared and danced away from the stable hands refusing to be caught or swayed, prancing back and forth awaiting his master’s return.

  “Constantine,” Rory bellowed with all his might.

  “My lord, what has occurred?” a flustered Mary cried and followed quickly on his heels as he ran for his chamber. Mary was unable to keep his frantic pace and he almost ran her over as he hurriedly exited the room after a hasty search.

  “Mary where is your lady?” Rory demanded, a touch of hysteria in his voice.

  “My lord I am uncertain if she is not in your room with her sister,” Mary responded fearfully. “Please my lord, none here would ever allow her to be taken again.”

  “Of this I am certain, yet another would seek to cause her harm because of me,” Rory declared. He set out at a dead run and raced from the castle.

  “They are gone Devon, both my lady wife and Juliette,” Rory shouted.

  Devon’s face paled. It was he who had ordered the knights gone. Louis would kill them both for revenge he was certain.

  “My lord?” Rory heard a young voice call. He turned his head sharply and watched as a young lad in tattered clothing raced up to him.

  “I haven’t time child, your lady is in danger.” Rory tried to reply calmly, not wanting to frighten him, though his heart beat near into his throat.

  Breathing heavily the excited boy nodded and pointed off into the distance. “There my lord, I captured her there.”

  “Captured whom boy? I haven’t time for games,” Rory demanded, a deep scowl set about his eyes.

  Shying back a step at his lord’s now harsh stare the boy stopped then stilled. No, he would not be frightened, his lady was kind as no other had been to him. “Her pony my lord, she returned alone and I captured her over the hill. I have run all this way to tell you, I feared for my lady. She rides well. Her pony would not have unseated her.”

  Rory stepped forward quickly and the boy found it difficult n
ot to flee from him. Rory grabbed the child up into his powerful embrace. “Show me lad, we haven’t time to waste.” Rory then noticed Adamas dancing and pawing the ground nearby. None had dared approach the excited beast. “Adamas,” Rory boomed in a demanding voice.

  The horse had been waiting for that call. He knew by his master’s tone he would have need for his great speed and barreled directly for him.

  The young boy whimpered as the huge destrier came pounding closer, the ground shaking beneath his lord’s feet. He stopped only a nose length from Rory who wasted no time in mounting him while still holding the boy.

  “Where child?” Rory demanded.

  But the frightened boy had never been atop a horse, let alone such a powerful one that seemed hardly controllable. His eyes squeezed shut and he clung to his lord for dear life. Rory gripped the boys chin and looked down into his face. He could feel the child shaking and suddenly understood his terror. He could not have been more than seven. He remembered the first time his own father had thrown him atop a destrier, he hadn’t been much younger than the lad before him.

  “Look at me lad,” Rory coaxed.

  The child peeked up at him. “Your lady needs you. Be brave and one day you will be a great knight,” Rory said.

  “I cannot be a knight,” the lad said.

  “On my honor lad, if you help save my wife you will be trained as a knight by my own hand,” Rory swore. It was a grand gesture indeed, yet Rory was desperate.

  The child gasped as he took in his lord’s sincerity. An inner calm seemed to wash over the child. A knight was not afraid of horses. A knight did not fear his lord but respected him. He nodded at Rory and pointed to the hill in the distance. Without hesitation Rory thundered Adamas in the direction indicated, clutching the child protectively to his chest.

  * * * *

  Juliette had backtracked when she understood no one was following her. She had watched terrified as Constantine’s pony had scooted riderless past her. The urge to race back to the castle for help was strong but her need to help her sister overpowered the thought. She knew she was Constantine’s only hope. Her dear sister would not even be out here if it had not been for her want to marry Devon.

  Juliette spied the knight on his destrier with Constantine slumped before him. Juliette was concerned he might have harmed her already but after careful consideration she realized he hadn’t had the time. That meant only one thing, her sister had fainted. Drat. She expired at the most inopportune times, Juliette thought with annoyance. Now she would not even be able to get her attention.

  Louis rode on only a short distance before stopping at a small clearing. He dismounted taking Constantine with him. He lay her on the ground before him and smiled evilly down at her. He could not believe his luck at acquiring her so swiftly. At first he thought there were two lads on the palfrey’s then heard the unmistakable sound of Constantine’s voice. Luck was on his side. No doubt the females were trying to escape detection. That meant no one knew they were gone or where they went. Louis would not tarry overlong with her before he dispatched her. He would have preferred her to be awake but decided he could still have sport with her. Louis began lowering his breeches savoring his victory. He spun suddenly at a sharp tap to his shoulder.

  “Pop this,” Juliette snarled and plowed her small balled fist into Louis’s nose.

  Startled, Louis stumbled back tripping over Constantine’s still form landing sharply on his bare bottom. Furious he tried to stand and pull up his breeches yet stumbled as Juliette set a hardy foot into his behind. He bellowed with rage and jumped to his feet.

  “Perhaps you wish to be first?” Louis snarled.

  “Now that is a stupid question,” Juliette replied and rolled her eyes. She was not wearing any gloves. Besides he was not nearly as big as Devon. “Come now, I would be at a loss to find the shriveled little thing, much less place it in my hand.”

  “’Tis not your hand I seek to place it in,” Louise sneered and lunged for her.

  Though Juliette had expected the attack she stumbled and was caught up into the man’s arms and gasped for air as he squeezed her ribs. She kicked at him, her words of protest no more than gurgles as she struggled to breathe. Juliette was on the verge of collapse when a horrific battle cry sounded. Juliette wondered if Lord Broc had found them, it was the loudest battle cry she had ever heard.

  Louis had never heard such a howl, he dropped Juliette to the ground and spun around certain it was Broc, he was surprised as Constantine smashed a small rock onto his cheek.

  “You will not harm my sister,” Constantine shrieked.

  Enraged she lunged for Louis, another cry bellowing from deep within her belly. Louis’s hair stood on end. She should be cowering in terror. The lass had gone mad! He howled again as Juliette grabbed onto the back of his hair and hung on. Constantine did the same and the three went spinning wildly about the forest floor.

  “Get off. Get off.” Louis bellowed crazily. He yanked Constantine up by the wrists hoping to relieve the pressure from his head. Constantine had seen Juliette practice with the seasoned knight too often not to know what she was to do next. Two small feet kicked into Louis’s groin. He emitted a small, “eeep,” and sank to his knees. Ever quick Juliette smashed a rock into the back of his head and Louis fell face first onto the forest floor.

  “Thank you,” both girls cried simultaneously, they threw themselves into each other’s arms and sobbed.

  Within moments Rory and his men appeared. Rory jumped from the saddle and placed the small boy on his feet, he then ran to Constantine, grabbing both her and her sister into his powerful embrace. Devon also leaped from his mount and the four huddled together.

  Soon enough Rory released his hold on Juliette who was swept up by Devon. He gazed into Constantine’s tearful expression.

  “Are you injured my love? Did he harm you?” Rory asked, his thumbs gently wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “I am unhurt,”

  “Where is he?” one of the young knights asked, near dancing in excitement.

  “Who? Louis lays before us on the ground,” Rory asked.

  “The knight who saved them, the one who offered up the fearsome battle cry that led us here. I have never heard anything so frightening. I should like for him to teach me such a fearsome yell,” the young man said impressed and awed.

  Constantine turned beet red. “You imbecile, that was no knight who offered the cry, but my lady wife,” Rory snapped, as those around chuckled.

  A bit sheepishly and wide-eyed the knight inquired, “Then who felled him? Surely it was not our gentle lady.”

  “It was Lady Juliette no doubt. I see you have been battling again my little berserker,” Devon said with pride.

  Juliette faced Rory. “My sister lay unconscious, my lord, and still he intended for her to make it pop,” she told him with an air of confusion.

  Her meaning immediately understood, an enraged Rory spun on Louis who had begun to regain consciousness. Juliette clung to Devon terrified as Rory’s features changed into a fearsome expression. Rory lunged upon the man pummeling him back into oblivion. His men watched amazed, unsure what had suddenly set their lord off.

  “Take him to the castle and put him in irons. I will deal with the jackal later,” Rory said and growled, gaining some control.

  The tiny lad, overcome with curiosity, approached Constantine. He was smitten with his Lady who offered him food and shelter when before he had none. “My lady, why do you wear lads clothing?”

  Both Juliette and Constantine reddened with embarrassment.

  With a stern expression from Rory Constantine almost cowered. “Fear not my little wife, you will tell all to me once I have you safely tucked back into the castle,” Rory said. Constantine nodded demurely.

  “As you will to me,” Devon also demanded of Juliette. Noting the intense look on Devon’s face Juliette cringed. She supposed the large knight with the chest of a destrier would be tailing her around the castle li
ke a huge puppy. Drat.

  Once Constantine had been placed atop Adamas Rory brought the young lad to Juliette’s palfrey. “’Tis time you learned to ride on your own,” Rory declared and tossed the surprised child onto the pony’s back. “Now tell me your name lad, in the confusion I had neglected to ask.”

  “I am called Lucius,” the boy said ducking his head with pride and some fear from all his lord’s attention.

  “A fine name for a young knight,” Rory said. He ruffled the boy’s unruly mop of hair and strode off to mount Adamas.

  Their procession left at an unhurried pace having accomplished their mission.

  * * * *

  “You have made Lucius very happy,” Constantine said. She had worried about the orphan. Now under Rory’s protection and with his guidance he had real purpose. As part of her punishment Rory had given the boy Constantine’s own mount. Constantine had not been hurt nor angry and the look on the lad’s face had her wishing it had been she who had offered over the pony.

  Rory looked down at her. Constantine sat upon their bed with her head bowed. She liked not the fact Rory was angry with her. She had explained their reasoning yet Rory remained un-swayed. Rory declared he could not decide whether to kiss her from relief, or strangle her for the fear she had caused him.

  “You should have trusted me,” Rory finally said, unable to disguise the hurt in his voice.

  Hearing his pain Constantine was up in a moment, she went to him and clutched his hands. “You are right, my dearest. I am so sorry. I only thought to aid Juliette. I only wished for her to stay. We thought if only we could speak to father together he would allow Juliette to wed with your brother. In the past he was unable to refuse us anything. Yet I realized when I was dragged off my pony I might never see you again. The thought near burst my heart I love you so. I will do anything you ask of me. I cannot bear knowing I have caused you such pain. I beg you forgive me. If Juliette is unable to wed with Devon I will accept it. I cannot live without you.”