Always: A Prequel Novella (The Lost Princesses) Page 4

  “Throw the torch in after me,” he commanded. Then he spun and launched himself into the air.

  I gasped as the water swallowed and carried him away, its steady crashing reminding me I would have to do the very same thing next. The realization paralyzed me. I had no idea what was at the bottom. What if I fell and hit rocks? What if I drowned? What if I let go of one of the babes?

  Panic threatened to propel me back. But at shouts that were much too close, I realized I had no choice but to jump. I crawled out onto the ledge and stood. My legs shook, as did my hands. I situated the bags one on each arm, made sure they were securely sealed, and then tossed the torch into the rushing water.

  Immediately darkness surrounded me. I hadn’t counted to ten as Lance had asked, and I didn’t know if ten seconds had passed or ten minutes. But at an urgent call from the cave behind me, I knew I’d run out of time.

  I closed my eyes, whispered a silent prayer, and then jumped.

  Chapter

  4

  LANCE

  THE ROPE PULLED taut against my waist. Hand over hand I wound the hemp, struggling to pull it as fast as I could. I prayed the young noblewoman had been able to keep hold of the princesses during the drop. Although it wasn’t more than two dozen feet, the impact would strain her.

  As I wrestled to drag the weight of the woman to myself, I had to admit even if she had been more of a burden than help during the escape from the castle, I didn’t know how I would have carried the princesses through the tunnel and simultaneously slashed away the dangerous snakes. And though I could have jumped the waterfall with the princesses, the current was swift just as I’d expected, and I would have had a difficult time locating and swimming to a safe alcove while holding on to the bags. As it was, I’d found a place near the middle of the river underneath a thick pile of branches that had formed a small dam against several large boulders.

  At the brush of a hand, I drew her close. “I’ve got you,” I assured as she groped for me. The force of the water slammed her into my body, and I wound my arm around her waist at the same time that she clung to my chest. Both princess bags floated on either side of her and had apparently acted as buoys to keep her above water. Even so, she coughed and spluttered, likely having swallowed water during the jump.

  “The princesses?” she asked through her coughing.

  I unfastened the bags enough to stick my hand inside. Though the interiors were slightly damp, the well-cushioned infants were still asleep from what I could tell.

  “They’re fine,” I said, closing the bags tightly.

  Alert to danger, I glanced around, attempting to assess our location. A thick mantle of clouds covered the dark night sky, giving us additional shelter. Even so, the Saracens had an uncanny tracking ability and might be able to see us if we weren’t extremely careful.

  I kicked my feet to stay afloat, relieved I’d looped my belt around one of the larger branches to prevent us from being swept away in the rapidly moving river. The young noblewoman leaned her head against my shoulder and coughed again. Her entire body trembled, and I tightened my hold, although I didn’t know why. Perhaps to reassure her?

  Grudgingly I had to give her praise. I didn’t know of any woman—noble or not—who would have dared to jump into the unknown with such unquestioning obedience the way she had.

  Heretofore, I hadn’t known much about women except what I’d witnessed from afar. As a member of the king’s guard, I’d vowed to give the king the best years of my youth. I’d had no time or opportunity for meeting women. Even if I had, the elite guards pledged celibacy until we were discharged by old age or death.

  Most, like me, expected to serve until death, and I’d been more than willing to make such a sacrifice. After all, very few tradesmen’s sons had the opportunity to train to be a knight. That was reserved for nobility. But because of my exceptional physical abilities, my father had made sure I was noticed by the lord who owned the Stefford smelter he worked at. Father hadn’t wanted me to end up toiling long hours in so dangerous a place. He’d wanted more for me, for all of his family.

  I’d been devastated when he’d died several years ago when I’d still been a squire. If only he’d lived to see how far I’d risen in the ranks of the king’s elite guards. I consoled myself that even though he was no longer there to support my mother, two sisters, and two brothers, I earned enough for them to live comfortably.

  The young noblewoman didn’t lift her head from my shoulder. Her breath came in gasps, her exhaustion and fear evident in each exhale. I’d never been so near to a woman, never even touched one except as a means of protection.

  Now I was suddenly keenly aware of the way her legs intertwined with mine, the pressure of her body, and the warmth of her breathing against my neck. I couldn’t keep from remembering how exquisitely beautiful she was—the long, smooth line of her neck, the curved elegance of her chin and jaw. And her eyes. They were such a mesmerizing shade of green, a man might lose himself there.

  Not me. I’d never succumbed to a woman’s charm. I’d vowed not to let my manly desires awaken. Had vowed to keep that part of myself shut away. And I wouldn’t start now.

  As though sensing the direction of my thoughts and our awkward entanglement, the young noblewoman started to push away from me.

  I didn’t release her, not because I wanted her near, but because our very lives depended upon our stillness. “We must hide until they are gone.”

  “Do you think they will find us?” she asked close to my ear so I would hear her above the rushing river and waterfall.

  “They are excellent trackers, but they don’t like water and won’t come into the river to look for us. More likely, they’ll camp out on the banks and wait for us to emerge.”

  She was quiet for a moment, absorbing my words. “So, you are hoping they will search for us down-river?”

  “Aye.”

  “And when they are gone, we shall make our escape?”

  “Aye.”

  “At least the water is not overly cold.”

  The chill of the river hadn’t crossed my mind. I’d been in much colder water during my days in training. I suppose if I had to watch over this woman in addition to the princesses, the mild midsummer temperatures would make my job easier.

  Her long, wet hair swirled around her on the water, brushing against my arm. As she clung tightly to the bags, she had no free hands for tucking her wet strands away, and I was surprised by my desire to gather her locks and comb them together.

  “You have not asked my name,” she said, her mouth still close to my ear.

  “Nor you mine.” Although I wanted to ask when such introductions should have been possible—perhaps in between slaying Saracens or while frantically chopping snakes in half or maybe before I’d jumped into the waterfall?

  As it was, we had only minutes until the Saracens swarmed the riverbanks. Our introductions had to be quick.

  “You are Lance. I heard your companion say it. And I am Lady Felicia of Avington.”

  I searched my mind for any recognition of the name but could find nothing.

  “My father, Lord Avington, is one of the king’s advisors,” she offered.

  “Did he evacuate with the others?”

  She shook her head. “No.” Her voice dropped so that I could barely hear it above the river. “He stayed because he did not want to leave me behind.”

  My thoughts returned to the noblemen who had remained with the king, those who had been in his chamber with him when he’d died.

  “What will happen to him?” she asked, the nearness of her breath making my neck tingle. “To all those in the castle?”

  “I don’t know.” I closed my eyes for a second, wanting to believe Ethelwulf would allow them to live. The rules of warfare stated the terms of surrender: those of the nobility who bowed their knee to the new lord and pledged their allegiance should be spared their lives. I prayed Ethelwulf would honor that rule, although I suspected he was operating by his
own standards. And I had no doubt many would be too loyal to King Francis to submit.

  My eyes flew open as my instincts told me the Saracens had found a way out of the cave that didn’t involve jumping from the waterfall. They’d likely climbed down the rocky cliff instead. And now they were close by on both riverbanks.

  Pushing out of hiding, I scanned the river’s edges and saw what I’d dreaded. The flicker of torches. Quickly, I floated back into the covering of branches, drawing us into the tangle of debris as far as I could.

  Felicia started to speak again, but I bent in and pressed my mouth into her ear. “They’re near.”

  She froze.

  For long moments, I didn’t move either, relishing the gentle curves, smooth skin, and the warmth against my lips. An inner warning reminded me to distance myself, to keep a wall between us, to remain the detached warrior. Doing anything less could compromise the mission, distract me, dull my keen senses.

  Nevertheless, a slow heat began to burn in my gut, a strange sensation I’d never experienced before. The heat spread until every nerve in my body was entirely too aware of her and the fact she was a woman. I couldn’t seem to stop the warmth from seeping outward to my limbs. Nor did I want to. Rather I wanted to press closer and breathe deeply of her. And only with the greatest of willpower did I hold myself back.

  Was this what had happened to my few comrades who’d been dismissed from the guard? Had they been unable to resist the pull, the sway, of a beautiful woman?

  Don’t let the feelings start, I mentally chided. Keep the door entirely closed. One crack could ruin the self-made control I’d developed into an iron will.

  When she finally shifted slightly, I released a tense breath, but just as quickly sucked it in when she moved in closer, letting her forehead brush my jaw, her warm breath even nearer to my neck. She relaxed as if resting in the arms of a man was a perfectly normal, everyday occurrence for her. Perhaps it was. After all, she was a courtier at the royal residence not only to serve the queen but also to find a husband.

  And had she? She likely had many men vying for her hand in marriage. No doubt she would be a favorite among the court. How could she not be? I hadn’t known her long, but even in the short time I’d been with her, I’d seen her courage and determination and dedication.

  A shout from the bank forced my attention to the danger of the present circumstances. At the reflection of torchlight over the water, I ducked lower in the water, praying the glimmer wouldn’t reach and expose us. If it came near, we would have to completely submerge for a few seconds.

  As the light drifted closer, I held my breath. Thankfully, Felicia seemed to do the same, sensing the growing danger.

  When the light moved away, I let the tension ease from my shoulders. Even then, I remained silent, knowing the enemy still might be on the shore attempting to deceive us into thinking they were gone.

  My mind spun with a dozen strategies for a dozen situations in which we might find ourselves. I had to be prepared for anything. Primarily I needed to decide where to hide the princesses once we were free from the Saracens. I wanted to stay in the river so that the skilled warriors wouldn’t be able to trace our scent or track our trail. But they’d be expecting such a move and would fan out further downriver and wait for our appearance. We’d have to go overland.

  I conjured images of the detailed maps I’d had to memorize. I’d had to learn every valley and hill along with every creek and brook in the land. Now I understood why. For long minutes, I plotted our possible escape routes, discarding one for another. I tried to determine how quickly we could go and how far we could get before the babies would awaken and need attention.

  If I could keep my thoughts focused on strategy, I could keep them off Felicia. The moment I stopped planning, my mind had a will of its own and came back to her, to her warm breath, which had grown soft and even against my neck.

  After a short while, my instincts and the silence on the riverbanks told me the Saracens had moved on. It was time to make our escape.

  “My lady,” I whispered.

  She didn’t respond.

  “We must go now.”

  “Hmmm,” came her answer.

  Had she fallen asleep? I calculated the passing of the hours since I’d first heard rumors the queen had been in labor. When was the last time this young woman had slept? Two days ago?

  I was accustomed to staying awake for days, had been trained to work with sleep deprivation. But how fast and long would this noblewoman be able to run without rest?

  Frustration cascaded into my veins. I should have insisted she remain in the castle with the others. How would we stay ahead of our pursuers if she began to tire?

  “My lady,” I said louder. “Time to leave.”

  She nestled against me, her nose grazing my neck where the mantle of my chain mail left it exposed. I swallowed hard and gathered the inner reserves of my will together. Then I gently pried her loose.

  I sensed her wakefulness even before she yawned.

  “Hold onto the bags,” I instructed. “I’ll lead the way to the opposite bank.”

  As I began to move, once more she obeyed me without question. Tugging her behind me, I fought the current and attempted to stay a straight course, my muscles straining with each rapid stroke. When we reached the riverbank, I placed my hand upon her arm to communicate the need to remain silent. With the satchels on the ground in front of her, she checked on the princesses as I crept forward and surveyed the area.

  When I was positive we were alone, I led her up the bank and into the woodland, then returned to the river to do the best I could to erase our tracks. Once I was sure we’d left no trace of our presence there, I took one of the satchels from Felicia.

  “The babes are damp but still asleep,” she whispered as she stood. She’d been wise to choose bags covered in pig bladder to make them waterproof.

  In the darkness of the thick woodland, I could see only the faintest outline of her. “We need to run if we have any hope of distancing ourselves from anyone who might follow us.”

  “I can run,” she said, although somewhat tremulously.

  “Your skirts will hinder your movement.” My face heated with embarrassment at the mention of her attire. Again, I had no experience with women’s garments and had no wish for any impropriety. But the urgency of the situation overruled all else.

  “I shall tie them up,” she said. “With the rope.”

  I handed her my belt instead. “Use this, my lady.”

  She worked rapidly to roll up the long folds of her dress. When she was finished, I was glad for the cover of darkness that hid her. Even so, I hiked forward rapidly lest I happen to see her. The crackling of sticks and brush told me she was following. And I prayed we would be safe despite her noise.

  “Stay close,” I said over my shoulder as I began to run. The pace was not as fast or vigorous as I was accustomed to. Nevertheless, I could sense her struggling to keep up, stumbling over windfalls and slipping on leaves. Her breath came in gasps, and she inhaled sharply at the slap of a twig or the snag of a bramble. Otherwise, she kept going without complaint.

  After we’d been running for some time, I expected her to ask for a respite, but she didn’t speak—a fact for which I was grateful. My mind was carving a mental path through the woodland, and the fewer distractions, the better I’d be able to focus. Without the moon and with only a few stars to guide me, I was relying mostly upon my memorization of Mercia’s maps to lead me to the Cress River.

  Once we reached the waterway, I’d use a few of the silver pieces inside the pack I’d found in the cave to rent a small boat. Then I’d row as quickly upriver as I could. The Cress would eventually split into three branches—the Upper, Central, and Lower. From there, I’d pray Ethelwulf wouldn’t be able to figure out which direction we took.

  But if our pursuers were able to track us, I didn’t know how we could outrun them forever.

  Chapter

  5


  Felicia

  I awoke with a start, my eyes flying open to find the fog that had shrouded the boat earlier had lifted to reveal low clouds with dark, angry bellies. A tiny wail came from one of the bags next to me, and I realized the babes were hungry again.

  I sat forward and had to bite back a groan. Every muscle and bone ached from the endless run through the woodland of the previous night. I’d wanted to stop on countless occasions, had thought I’d die from exhaustion. But every time I considered resting, I remembered my vow to the queen. She’d trusted me with the task of saving her babes. I had to remain strong for her and for the princesses.

  When Lance had finally halted, I’d collapsed into a heap on the ground, my entire body trembling. I’d known once I was down I wouldn’t be able to rise again. I’d despaired that he might have to leave me behind—until he returned from a short excursion to inform me he’d rented a boat. At the news, I’d nearly wept with relief.

  After he’d assisted me into the small skiff, I’d dropped to the hull, wanting nothing more than to close my eyes in exhaustion. But the herbal sleeping medicine given to the babes had finally worn off, and they’d chosen that moment to awaken. I’d had to search deep within myself for the stamina to feed and change them. Thankfully, they’d fallen asleep again without fussing. I’d tucked them securely into the bags and then succumbed to my fatigue.

  How long had I slept?

  Lance sat at the middle bench only a couple feet away plunging the oars in and out of the water with the same deep and swift rhythm he’d used during the dark hours of the morning. Hadn’t he stopped once in all the time I’d slept? His attention was as keenly alert to our surroundings as it had been from the moment we’d started the journey, his gaze constantly shifting from the distant riverbanks to the other boats sharing the watercourse with us.

  After I’d insisted on the Upper Cress River as our route of escape rather than the other branches, he’d relented, for which I was grateful. The upper branch led to Everly, where the rest of the king’s courtiers, along with Princess Constance, had gone after evacuating Delsworth.