Denise Lynn - Falcon's Desire

He studied the opponents as they confronted each other. No, his lust was not unexplained. Here was a woman who would fight for what she wanted. A woman who would follow her own form of honor—even if it was a bit misguided. A woman who could contain her fear.

This was a woman who could touch his soul. The thought excited him and terrified him at the same time.

Her last words registered in his mind. “You will permit the king to deal with me?”

Without shifting her gaze from Sir John, Lyonesse replied, “’Tis what I said.”

And he’d just thought her honorable. “Are there any other games you wish to play with my life?”

“What is wrong, Faucon? Do you not like a taste of your own treatment?”

With a curse, Sir John shoved Lyonesse toward the door. Then he turned and brandished his sword toward Rhys’s chest. “Sparring with words is not the way to deal with this murdering scum.”

Quickly glancing about the cell, Rhys spied the dagger. Before he could get his hands on the weapon, Howard and five of Taniere’s men rushed the chamber.

“Hold!” Howard’s shout caught Sir John unaware. After disarming the man, Howard handed him over to the guards. “Sir John and his men will leave this keep tonight. From this moment forward they are to be considered enemies of Taniere and Ryonne.”

He paused a moment and when Lyonesse offered no argument, he continued, “If you naysay me on this, milady, I will lock you in your chamber and summon your father from Ryonne.”

Lyonesse bowed her head and sought to pull her mantle more tightly around her, but Howard saw the bloodstains on the front of her gown before she could hide them. Grasping her arm, the captain exclaimed, “You are injured. What has happened here?”

Pulling away, she reassured him, “I am fine.”

Howard glanced at Rhys, back to Lyonesse and finally chose Rhys. “What have you done?”

Rhys shook his head. “Me? Nothing.”

“Milady Lyonesse?”

“I said I am fine, Howard. Leave it be.”

“Then how did you come to be covered with blood? If you are uninjured, then I assume it is Faucon’s.”

“An accident.”

Rhys wanted to laugh at the pair. Where had Taniere’s vicious kitten gone?

“Lady Lyonesse, I told you to stay away from this cell. Why did you come here alone? Who dismissed the guards?”

Straightening her spine, Lyonesse glared at the captain. “I dismissed the guards. They are, after all, my guards.”

Much better. Rhys was pleased to see her return to normal. Since the two of them were obviously distracted, he took the opportunity to snatch the dagger from the floor.

Howard did not seem the least impressed with Lyonesse’s demeanor. “Did Faucon’s blood just suddenly run from his chest unaided?”

She lifted her chin a notch and lifted one tawny eyebrow. “Perhaps.”

Rhys took a step forward. If he could get his hands on Lyonesse, maybe he could use her and the dagger to escape. “No, my blood was quite content in my body before she entered this cell.”

She pointed at Rhys. “But he—”

“Cease!” Howard cut off her reply. “I have heard enough. I still insist that you do not have enough proof to know if Faucon murdered Guillaume or not. Call an end to this, Lyonesse. Send out a ransom note and be done with it.”

Even though a ransom would be an accepted action, Rhys would not stand for that plan. It was unacceptable to him. “It would be better if you would just let her kill me now than wait for ransom.”

Howard scratched his chin in confusion. “And why is that? It makes little sense.”

Rhys pointed at Lyonesse. “Ask her.”

She leaned against the rough-hewn door frame and smiled.

Howard rolled his eyes to the ceiling before focusing his attention on her. “What have you done now, milady?”

“Did you know that if Faucon cannot locate someone to take the blame for killing Guillaume that he will be forced to prove his innocence in a trial by combat?”

The captain looked to Rhys for confirmation. “Yes, she is correct, but she left out one important detail.”

Her smile grew. “Oh, silly me. Yes. He only had a month to accomplish his task.” She paused and shrugged one shoulder. “I will not release him in time.”

Gripping the dagger he still held behind his back, Rhys quelled his temper. “I know you hate me. I seek not to change that. But what has my family done to make you hate them so?”

She frowned. “Nothing.”

“If you follow through with this plan, you will be taking everything away from them.”

“I thought you did not fear death, Faucon? I thought none could beat you in battle? What trick do you now play?”

Rhys laughed bitterly and then looked at Howard. “I play no trick. This trial by combat will be a farce. Guillaume du Pree’s holy man will arrange the combat, ensuring that success will be his.”

“Surely you see the folly in this course of action?” Howard pleaded with Lyonesse. “Milady, please, you cannot permit this to happen.”

Rage contorted her face. She stepped away from the door. “Permit it to happen? What do I care if his family loses everything? What about me? What about all I have lost already and stand to lose in a few short weeks myself? Where has your loyalty gone, Sir Howard?” Her voice rose with each question. “What do you care that we will be forced to leave Taniere? You will simply assume your duty under my father’s command. I will be left with nothing and Taniere will no longer be in my family’s possession.”

Racing by a stunned Howard, she yelled, “I will not permit that to happen.”

Rhys was ready for the woman who literally flew at him. Catching her unaware, he wrapped his arms around her to stop her renewed assault on his already injured chest. When he did so, Howard saw the dagger and paled.

Rhys looked toward the door. Freedom beckoned. Tightening his grip on the dagger he drew his gaze back down to Lyonesse. He saw not the defeat of a vanquished foe, but the bitter agony of a young woman.

Rhys held Ryonne’s daughter in his grasp. Ryonne was a trusted ally. Surely the man’s daughter possessed a small measure of his honor. He’d already seen a glimmer of her loyalty and honor. Had grief caused her to become irrational? Could he take advantage of her and still live with himself?

So much had already been taken from her. Her betrothed. And soon her keep. No wonder she was at her wits’ end. Rhys could not take her pride. ’Twas all she had left. He would find another way out of this predicament.

A sliver of light flashed across his face. The gleaming tip of Howard’s sword pointed at his face with unwavering accuracy. Rhys relinquished the weapon he held to Howard’s outstretched hand.

Ignoring her halfhearted attempts to free herself, Rhys drew Lyonesse closer and held her face against his chest. “Hush.”

Whispering meaningless words of comfort, his thoughts raced to his sister’s inconsolable grief at their parents’ graves. Compassion flooded his heart. He was stunned by the urgent need to comfort the woman in his arms.

“Count Faucon. Nay, you must not. You cannot. ’Tis not seemly.”

Without looking at the man, Rhys shook his head at Howard’s half-completed sentences. He also paid scant attention to the meager struggles of the woman he held against his chest.

“Aye, you are correct, Howard. I should not.” His accusing gaze met the captain’s look of concern and illconcealed fear. “But do you not think someone’s lack of heart brought us all to this point? Why did nobody realize how du Pree’s death distressed your lady?”

For an answer Howard stared at the floor.

“Good lord, man, is there no one here who cares for your lady?”