Jess Lebow - Master of Chains

Giselle shook her head. "No. You could stay up here. Of course, I'd have to make you work for your keep."

"I have one question." He sat up and, in one fluid motion, turned to his side, lifting Giselle off the ground and into the air as he got to his feet. Holding her in his arms, he stepped forward until her back was pressed against the stone wall. "Would this work-" He interrupted himself by kissing Giselle- "require any heavy lifting?"

Giselle's face was flushed. Ryder could feel her heart pounding through her chest as he pressed his skin against hers. "I think it might," she said.

Ryder nodded, kissing her neck. "Just checking."

Inside the closed, private room, Samira helped Liam unbuckle his armor, placing it piece by piece back on the rack in the corner. Underneath, his long woven shirt was stained in places with blotches of blood and sweat.

"Oh, Liam," said Samira, taking off his ruined undershirt to reveal several recently scabbed wounds and a pair of massive bruises on his shoulder and chest. She cringed as she ran the tips of her fingers over the blackened skin. "Do they hurt?"

All Liam could feel was the soft caress of her fingers. He shook his head. "No."

Going to the chest of drawers, Samira retrieved a wet cloth from the washbasin. "Lie down on the bed," she said.

Liam did as he was told. As he lay down on the soft linen, he realized how exhausted he was.

Samira stood with her back to him now, dipping the cloth in the washbasin. The back of her gown came down low, exposing everything from her shoulder blades to the small of her back.

She wrung out the cloth and came back, smiling when she saw that his eyes were open. Sitting down beside him, she ran the cool cloth over his wounds. Liam closed his eyes and followed her motions over his body.

"So what are you going to do about Purdun's offer?" asked Samira after a short silence.

Liam shrugged. "I just can't help thinking that Purdun might be right."

"Right about what?" asked Samira.

Liam sat up a little. "When I talked to him the first time, he told me that the Crimson Awl were being manipulated by an outside source. He said that we were being used to a greater end."

"Used? By whom?"

A bolt of realization struck Liam. "By a vampire."

"A vampire?" Samira laughed, running the cloth down his arm. "The vampires haven't been seen in Erlkazar for years. The Crusaders dealt with them during the revolution."

"We fought vampires today."

Samira dropped the cloth, gripping Liam's hand.

"There's something else too, something that has been bothering me."

She gave his hand a squeeze. "What?"

"Do you remember when Montauk and his thugs came by the field to take me to talk to the Council?"

"Yes," she said. "I was so worried about you."

"They took me to the old druid's circle. But when I got there, there was a group of strangers there. Most of them were wearing cloaks. I couldn't see their faces, but I'm pretty sure I had never seen them before."

Samira frowned. "But I thought you knew everyone in the Awl."

Liam nodded. "Me too. I mean, I do. And that's what bothers me." He shook his head, remembering back to that day. "When Purdun's troops arrived, things got pretty crazy. Still, I could see the strangers leaving the druid's circle." His eyes met Samira's. "As they walked away, I could have sworn several of them transformed into wolves."

"Wolves?"

Liam nodded. "I know it sounds strange, but… I saw it. With my own eyes."

Samira ran her hand along his arm. "But what does it mean?"

Liam took a deep breath. "I think it means Purdun was right. Someone has infiltrated the Awl and is manipulating the Council."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," said Liam. He turned away from her for a moment, then turned back. "What do you think?"

Samira smiled at him. "Well, I don't think you need to solve all of Ahlarkham's problems tonight." She reached up and pulled out the sticks holding her hair in a pile atop her head, letting it fall down over her shoulders. Several of the flowers and tiny gemstones toppled out onto the floor.

Then she stood up and slipped the gown off her shoulders, letting it slide to the floor as well. Samira stood before Liam. The candle on the chest of drawers behind her lit Samira's naked body in a soft orange-yellow outline.

Liam admired the exquisite woman before him, a warm sensation spreading up his spine. It had been a long time. He had always wanted this, but Samira was his brother's wife.

Samira knelt on the edge of the bed and leaned over him.

Liam placed his calloused hand along the side of her face. He felt like such a brute, his rough, broken hide alongside Samira's smooth, soft skin. He pulled the hand away, but she reached out and pulled it back, placing it again where it had been.

Liam looked away, but Samira grabbed his chin and turned him to face her.

"Ryder is gone," said Samira. "Nothing either of us can do will bring him back."

"I know that," replied Liam.

"It's time we started living our lives for ourselves," she said.

"But…"

Samira moved his hand down her shoulder and across her chest.

"But nothing, Liam," she said. She leaned down and kissed him.

The aches and pains in his battered body were instantly replaced with a feeling of euphoria.

"I've seen how you've looked at me, Liam," said Samira, pulling away slightly. "I've secretly looked at you too."

Whatever worries Liam had in the world were swept away by those few words. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down on top of him and squeezing her to him.

"I've always loved you," he said, somehow now not afraid to tell her about the feelings he had been holding back for so many years.

"I know," she said as she moved her hand along the side of his body and down his leg. "I know."

Ryder stood beside the giant basin, slipping his shirt back over his head.

Giselle was also getting dressed. She watched Ryder as he put his clothes back on. "If you didn't have a wife back in Duhlnarim, would you stay here?"

Ryder took a deep breath and shook his head. "There are other things in Duhlnarim that I must attend to."

"What is so important in that backwater village of yours? The farm?"

"No," said Ryder. "I have unfinished business with the Baron Purdun," he said.

"The man who put you in chains?"

Ryder nodded. "The man who holds all of Duhlnarim in chains."

"So you wish to return to get your revenge?" asked Giselle.

"No," said Ryder. "I return to free the people from the tyranny of a cruel and evil man."

A sad smile came across Giselle's face. "Well, Ryder of Duhlnarim, I can't let you leave the Broken Spear."

"But-"

She cut his objection off short. "So I guess the Broken Spear will have to go with you."

She turned and headed out of the tower. "Get a good night's sleep. We'll leave in the morning."

The baron's personal herald burst into the sitting room, obviously upset. Lord Purdun looked up from the map he was studying.

"My lord," blurted the herald, not waiting to be acknowledged by the baron-an obvious breach of courtly etiquette, "there are men here looking for you."

Lord Purdun stood up, calmly adjusting his shirt and pantaloons. "There is no need to be so excited, Master Beverly," said the baron. "As you are aware, there are visitors to Zerith Hold every day."

The herald continued to barge into the room, coming right up to the baron, causing Liam to step in front of the lord. The half-giant guards came out of their corners as well, but Purdun raised his hand, and everyone stopped in their place.

"My lord," continued the frantic herald, "these men are from Klarsamryn. These are the King's Magistrates." Master Beverly swallowed. "They are here to put you in chains."