Dream of Me/Believe in Me (95 page)

Did she have reason for even more?

He stared at her, trying to think, but his mind moved sluggishly before the onslaught of raw emotion. His marriage to Krysta had stripped her of what power she had enjoyed at Hawkforte. What was left for her, then?

His marriage … But there had been another marriage before his, that of his sister Cymbra and the Norse Wolf. A marriage begun in violence and intended revenge that, grace of God, turned swiftly to true love.

Wolf had proposed the alliance of Norse and Saxon against Dane. Wolf had suggested his own marriage to Cymbra to solidify that alliance.

An answer had come back to Wolf, insulting him deeply, rejecting both marriage and alliance. An answer sealed with the Hawk's own sign yet never written or known by him.

The mystery of who had sent the message that could so easily have provoked war remained unsolved.

He shrugged impatiently. Why think of such things now when Krysta's fate hung in the balance?

“Go to your bed,” he said again and turned away.

H
OW COULD THIS BE? IT WAS WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT
yet Hawkforte blazed with light. Not a man, woman, or child had sought rest. In every nook and cranny, every outbuilding and dependency, every passage and every chamber, people were searching. The night air resounded with the constant calls: “Lady Krystaaaaa … Lady Krystaaaaaaa …” On and on, enough to drive her mad

Why did they care? What did it matter to them whether the Norse whore was found? Why was Hawk not raging with anger for all the trouble she was causing and had caused

from the very beginning? Why was he not glad to be rid of her?

Not that it mattered. She had waited far too long to consider any change in her plans. She would just have to be more careful but she was clever enough to manage that. Far, far more clever than any of them.

Best not to wait any longer though, have it done and enjoy the anticipation of the discovery, the fury that would erupt. Oh, yes, that would be very good indeed.

K
RYSTA BLINKED ONCE, THEN AGAIN BEFORE SHE WAS
certain of what she saw. Still very dim but growing stronger, a light was approaching. Her stomach clenched and she took tighter hold of the iron bar. The impulse to cry out on the chance that the light belonged to rescuers was very strong but she forced herself to remain quiet. Rescuers would likely be calling out to her. In the utter silence of the cell and the passage beyond, she heard nothing.

Nothing save for her own prayers offered up for the safety of her child in the moments before the light grew brighter.

Daria's face loomed at the tiny opening in the door. Her mouth twisted and her voice was very high.

“There now, you've waited long enough. Did you fear I would not return? But I have and look what I've brought you.”

She held an object up to the opening. It glinted with the sharp sheen of metal.

“Do you recognize it? You should. It is Hawk's own knife. You will die by it and he will be blamed.”

Despite herself, Krysta could not prevent the sharp inhalation of her breath. Daria heard it and laughed. “So surprised? But how else would I do this? It's perfect,
really. Hawk never wanted peace with the Norse, not really. He rejected Wolf Hakonson's offer of alliance, he sent the message saying he would never allow his sister to be wed to a filthy Viking, then he raged when the Wolf took her anyway and made her his wife. Did Hawk not go to Sciringesheal himself and steal her from there, only to finally have to return her to the Wolf when he came upon Hawkforte with a mighty army? The peace they pledged then was false in the Hawk's heart, he wanted only revenge. As for marrying you, he loathed the idea but was forced into it by Alfred. Now our
great
king will have every reason to be enraged at Hawk, as will the Norse themselves. He will be disgraced, cast down, just as he deserves to be. Alfred will kill him even as he killed my own foolish husband.”

“No!” Krysta exclaimed. “All this is lies! Hawk never rejected the alliance and he would never betray it. He did not send that message to Wolf and no one would believe him capable of killing me!”

“Why? Because he has pretended affection for you? That's all it is, you stupid girl! When you are found with his knife in you, and people remember what went before, he will be blamed.”

Dread filled Krysta. Beyond question, Daria was mad. Her mind was so twisted that she truly believed what she said. And that meant she would have no hesitation to act upon it.

“Step back!” Daria ordered shrilly. “If you give me no trouble, I will make it quick. Otherwise, I promise you will linger.”

Krysta said nothing, only looked inward and summoned all her courage. She gripped the iron bar in both hands.

The door opened. Daria thrust the torch into the darkness, trying to locate Krysta. Huddled in the shadows off to the side, she managed to remain out of sight.

“Come forward and show yourself! By God, if you do not, you will beg for death!”

Only a little more, just let her take a few more steps into the chamber …

Light inched across the dirt floor. Krysta drew a breath, held it …

“Where are you! You cannot hide!”

The knife was raised, cold steel shining.

Gripping iron, Krysta sent up a quick prayer and lifted both hands over her head. She took a quick step forward, into the light, and swung her arms down hard.

“Aaaaaggghhh!”

Daria's legs gave way. She went down hard but the blow had only struck the side of her head. She was still conscious, screaming, and struggling to her feet.

“Kill you! I'll kill you! How dare you—!”

Cold steel shining. The knife had been flung loose from Daria's hand and fallen across the far end of the chamber. Without hesitation, Krysta dropped the iron bar and lunged for the knife. She had to get it before Daria did … had to—

Her fingers were closing on the hilt when mad laughter filled the chamber. She looked over her shoulder and was struck numb by terror. Daria loomed above her, clutching the iron bar.

“Think to thwart me, do you? I will kill you any way I must and still Hawk will take the blame. You stupid, stupid f—”

Her eyes were bulging. She dropped bar and torch together, both hands clawing at the steely arm that had come suddenly around her neck and was choking the life from her.

Hawk. Yet a Hawk such as Krysta had never seen, his features tight with rage, his gaze empty of mercy, the warrior who haunted the nightmares of the Danes.

Krysta dropped the knife and flung herself at him,
pulling desperately at his unyielding arm. “She is your half-sister, you share the same father! Do not kill her!”

He looked at her in disbelief. “She sought to kill you and our child yet you ask me to spare her?”

“To spare yourself! Do not stain your hands with her blood! Do this and it will follow you all your days. Think, Hawk! It is peace you want, not more death!”

Daria's feet were kicking futilely in the air. Her eyes rolled back in her head. She was moments from eternal judgment. Slowly, his gaze never leaving Krysta, Hawk eased his strangling hold.

“I think I have always known there was something wrong with her.”

He spoke so sorrowfully that Krysta's eyes stung with tears. She reached up and touched his face. On the ground the torch still burned, throwing writhing shadows across the chamber.

“She suggested we call off the search until morning,” Hawk said. “I fell to thinking about how much she stood to lose with you here yet how cheerful she had seemed about it. She was never a cheerful woman, not for any reason. It did not stand to reason she would be now.” He sighed deeply. “Praise God I followed her.”

Krysta nodded. Reaction was setting in and she could do little more. All her strength was needed to stumble after Hawk down the long passage and back up into the manor, where they were instantly seen and surrounded by frantic searchers.

A
LIGHT WAS SHINING IN HER EYES. KRYSTA
turned her head, trying to escape the brightness, only to find she could not. The fog of sleep had lifted and in its place came awareness that something was out of place.

She sat up slowly and took a long look around. She was in her chamber, the one she shared with Hawk, lying alone in the vast bed. Her body felt unusually heavy as though she had slept a long time without moving.

A long time, indeed, for she remembered it had been after midnight when Hawk carried her up the stairs, and now the room was filled with angled sunlight streaming through the windows. Off to the west, she could just make out the riotous colors of sunset. She had slept almost a full day. She was throwing back the covers to rise from the bed when memory flooded back.

Daria … the cell … the terrible hours of darkness … the beautiful vision of her son … and then the final struggle with the madwoman whose life she had found herself driven to save.

“Oh, my,” she murmured, for there seemed nothing else to say. She was hurrying to dress, anxious to learn what had happened while she slept, when Raven appeared.

“Thank heavens!” Krysta exclaimed. “I've been wondering where you were and Thorgold as well. Daria didn't try to harm you too, did she?”

Raven gave herself a good shake and glared at the mention of the madwoman. “And how could you think she did not when neither of us was there to see to your safety? That horrible priest, Father Elbert, lured us into the woods and trapped us within a circle of iron. Villainous foe! Try though we did, we could not free ourselves.”

“Does Hawk know about him? I should have told him last night but I was so tired. Father Elbert knew I was with Daria but he said nothing, did he?”

“Nary a word, and yes, indeed, your lord knows all. That fine fellow, Lord Dragon, found and freed us, bless his soul, and let no one be surprised when special favors come his way. He told the Hawk what happened but Dreadful Daria was already proclaiming for all the world to hear that it was Father Elbert who had led her down treason's path. She claims he is working for the Danes, pledged to destroy the alliance in return for wealth and honors from them.”

Krysta went very still. She looked at Raven closely. “Do you think that is true?”

The older woman shrugged. “The priest claims not. He said it was all her idea right back to the beginning. According to him, she stole Hawk's seal and forged the letter rejecting the Lord Wolf's offer of marriage to the Lady Cymbra. Thus she set all in motion, so says Father Elbert. But she disputes him, claiming he was the one behind it all even unto the plan to kill you, and she
but a pawn duped into believing, she obeyed the will of God.”

“So they denounce each other and there is no way to know who is telling the truth.”

“Thus it seems,” Raven agreed. “Not that it matters. They are both sent away, Father Elbert back to his monastery to be judged by the good priests there and Lady Daria to close confinement in a convent.”

Krysta's shoulders sagged with relief. Glad though she was to be free of them, she was gladder still that Hawk had not soiled his hands with blood. There had already been so much of that in his life. Now was the time for him to enjoy the fruits of peace.

Beginning with the greatest fruit of all, their son …

She sought to kill you and our child …

The words rang clear in Krysta's mind. Last night she had been too exhausted and terrified to heed them but now they returned with stark clarity. He knew. Somehow, Hawk knew she was with child and he had said nothing to her. That devil!

“I must dress,” Krysta said firmly, “and find my dear husband. There are one or ten things I need to say to him.”

Raven chuckled but a moment later she was gone, just before Aelfgyth bustled into the room.

“I knew it!” the maid exclaimed. “I go off for just a few minutes and you're out of bed, trying to do everything by yourself.” Without giving Krysta a chance to reply, she hurried over, took the gown from her hands, and dropped it over her head. “You've been through a terrible time,” Aelfgyth informed her. “I can't even bear to imagine what it was like but I'm dead sure that it was hideous.” She turned Krysta around briskly and began doing up her laces. “You can't expect to go through something like that without it taking a great toll on you, which is why”—she
urged her bemused mistress toward a stool, sat her down, and went to work on her hair—“why you cannot expect to be doing for yourself like this. If the Lord Hawk found out you were up and about, trying to manage on your own, I know what he'd say. That dear man has already been through so much, you don't want to worry him any further, do you?”

“Well, no, of course not but—”

“My mother always says butts are for the rear ends of pigs. Which hair ribbons would you like? The rose and mauve would look lovely with this gown, don't you think?”

Krysta nodded, for there seemed nothing else she could do, so intent was Aelfgyth on seeing to her.

“There,” Aelfgyth said when she was satisfied with the results. “You look beautiful. Would you like me to bring you something to eat?”