Immortal Love (2 page)

“This I understand. But why marriage? You
could just have me break the siege and push him back to his own
borders.”

“Your marriage would ensure a strong hold on
the land and keep McPhearson from coming back to take it.”

“But you have other noblemen who are suitable
for marriage.” His life was changing course, and for the first time
in many years he wasn’t in control. He felt as helpless as he had
when he was a child.

“None have served me as you have, my friend,
and it’s time for peace. Your peace. It’s time you have a place of
your own, where you can grow roots and raise a family. No more
wandering and no more war. Your soul needs rest.”

“Sire, I have been a soldier too long. I
don’t know how to rest.”

“I owe you my life many times over,” William
continued. “You have been a true and loyal friend. Now it’s time
for me to show you my gratitude.” The king sat back in his chair
and looked down into his goblet of wine. “Your fighting skills are
legendary. Now I want you to learn a new skill, that of land
owner.”

Dominick’s life-long dream had been a home of
his own, but the promise of a woman unknown to him and not of his
choosing made him wary. “Tell me why this gift comes with a
wife.”

King William leaned forward, commanding his
friend’s attention. “It’s a guarantee that you will settle down to
the land I give you. It will bind you tightly to it and make you
reluctant to leave your sons and daughters to fight in someone
else’s war.” The King leaned back in his chair and stared down in
his goblet. “I am giving you the opportunity to build and watch
something grow instead of watching it burn to ashes.”

The March wind brought Dominick out of his
reverie. He looked out beyond the rocky cliff upon which Godwin
Castle sat to the gray ocean and its horizon. He could hear the
waves crashing against the shore below it, and feel the salty
breeze against his face.

He’d always loved the ocean. The great roar
of the surf slamming against the rocks reminded him of a home he’d
once had as a child, but that had been long ago. He brushed aside
the memories and swallowed the dull ache in his throat as he heard
the familiar sound of Randolf’s approach and turned to watch his
brother rein in beside him.

Randolf surveyed the landscape and let out a
great sigh. “There’s a lot of work to be done here.”

“I’m aware of that.” Dominick couldn’t keep
the chill out of his voice.

“Well, with a little work—” Randolf caught
Dominick’s sidelong glance. “—All right, with a lot of work, this
place could be quite beautiful.”

“Yes, it could. I didn’t know we would be
this close to the sea. I must send a message back to King William
to thank him.”

Randolf shifted in his saddle. “It’s almost
perfect, with one exception, the gift comes with the encumbrance of
a wife.”

“A large price indeed. I always thought I
would have the liberty to choose my own bride, but it was not to
be. The King has decided to take the matter into his own
hands.”

“Does she know?”

“I sent a messenger this morning. He has yet
to return.”

Our fate is now cast in stone,
he
thought.

“The poor girl must be quaking in her
slippers, if your reputation has preceded you.”

Dominick felt himself smile. “I will give her
no reason to fear me.”

“Your size alone creates terror.” Randolf
chuckled. “I have seen women fall faint with one glance at
you.”

He scowled at his brother’s ribbing. “Surely
you exaggerate.”

“Exaggerate? Remember that woman in Daanon? I
swear her hair turned white right before our eyes.” Randolf gave
his brother a mischievous smile. “Of course, there were the women
who wondered if everything about you was large.”

Dominick grinned reluctantly. His brother’s
wit was sharpening, and he needed to dull it. “I don’t know what
you’re talking about. And what about you? I have seen young girls
throw themselves at your feet. Been nearly deafened by their
audible sighs as you walk into a room.”

“It isn’t my fault I was born this handsome.”
Randolf stroked his closely clipped beard.

Both men laughed. Randolf didn’t have a vain
bone in his body. Dominick knew that at times Randolf’s good looks
became a nuisance to him, and he grew weary of the attention. But
when a young lass struck his fancy, he didn’t hesitate to use his
charms.

Randolf changed the subject. “Do you think
McPhearson will stay away now that you’ve broken the siege and are
now the lord of the castle?”

“No,” Dominick replied fiercely. “McPhearson
is out there with treachery on his mind. If he is a patient man, he
will wait until the time is right and strike when we least expect
it. We must be on our guard for any attack.”

For a time the two men sat in companionable
silence, observing the landscape. Suddenly, a chill ran up
Dominick’s spine like a cold finger of ice. Uneasiness slipped into
his mind. Sensing a presence close to him, he drew his sword as he
turned toward the forest.

Randolf drew his own weapon in readiness.
“What is it?”

Scanning the trees, Dominick approached the
woods. “I’m not sure.”

“Spirit or man?”

“Spirit, but she will not show herself to
me.” He looked deeper into the tree line. “I sense she’s
waiting.”

“Waiting for what?”

“I don’t know.”

As quickly as the presence came, it was gone.
Dominick shifted in his saddle and sheathed his sword.

Though he knew Randolf didn’t understand
them, he didn’t doubt the existence of the spirit world. Over the
years, his brother had learned not to question Dominick’s
visions.

“The spirit may have come to warn us,” he
stated as he turned to Randolf. “Have Erik search the forest for
any of McPhearson’s men.” Randolf nodded. “And make sure the
fortress is closely guarded. There may be spies not yet rooted out.
It wouldn’t surprise me if McPhearson tried to take the castle from
within.”

“I’ll see it done.”

“Good. Now that McPhearson’s siege has been
broken and his men pushed back to his borders, I must get ready to
meet my bride. I’ll return to camp by supper,” he said, riding back
into the woods.

“I bet she’s fat with warts all over her
face, Randolf said.”

Randolf spoke to Dominick’s own reservations.
“You’re not helping, Brother.”

“Or she could be ancient, like that woman in
DuMont who tried to ensnare you with her love potion.”

He let his horse bump into his bother's and
said, “I’m going to run you through.”

“You could try," Randolf said. He chuckled
and nudged his horse to encourage him to move away. What if she has
one leg and one eye and is missing teeth?”

“You can stop talking any time, Brother.”
Dominick sighed as Randolf continued his teasing as they rode all
the way back to camp. Yet privately Dominick wondered himself how
hideous his bride could be.

E
leanor cried herself
to sleep that night, the first time since her mother’s death.

Waking up to a pounding headache and a heavy
heart, she readied herself to meet the new lord of Godwin. Dread
washed over her. The weight of it forced her to the window seat
where she stared out over the cliffs to the sea’s horizon. Seagulls
squealed overhead. How she wished she could fly out over the ocean,
never to return.

Six months had passed since her father’s
death, and she thought she would finally know peace. But unknown to
her, in one of his drunken stupors he had promised her hand in
marriage to Robert McPhearson, a clansman to the north.

An evil man with an ambitious heart.

After her father died, McPhearson had come to
claim his bride and Godwin. When she refused his claim, he burned
her stables, ran off with the animals and threatened to starve her
into submission. It was then she asked for the king’s help. But
never in her wildest imagination had she expected her savior to be
a husband.

If it weren’t for McPhearson’s siege, Eleanor
and Godwin would have been forgotten, and she could have lived the
rest of her days in obscurity. Unfortunately, the king had other
plans.

Eleanor sat up in bed when Martha entered
with a tray of hot tea and biscuits.

“I brought you some food since you haven’t
eaten anything since yesterday.”

“Thank you, Martha,” she said gratefully.

The meal made her headache subside, and she
was able to face her predicament. She tried to think of all the
positive things this marriage would bring. McPhearson would no
longer be a threat to her and her people. Godwin could well be
restored to what it once was, and the people in the village would
have a chance to heal.

But her fear of noblemen, all noblemen,
couldn’t be denied. Zenon was the only man she would let close. He
was like a father to her. He had protected her when her own father
had been too drunk to keep visiting predators away.

“I’m so afraid my husband will be like my
father.”

She hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud
until Martha answered. “There are plenty of good men out
there.”

“It’s impossible for me to believe that.”

The elderly woman sat next to Eleanor on the
bed and pulled her close. “You will see my child, not all noblemen
are evil.”

“Outside of Zenon, I have seen no other.” She
laid her head on Martha’s shoulder. “I’m not sure I can go through
with this.”

“Nonsense! You’re a loyal subject of the
king, and no coward. I know you’ll do what’s best.”

“But Martha, what if this man I marry is
odious beyond belief? What about his reputation? We shall all be
doomed.” Eleanor shuddered at the thought.

“My girl, you’re letting your imagination run
away with you. These are just rumors. Since when have you ever
believed in rumors?” Martha gave Eleanor’s shoulder a squeeze.
“Don’t give in to your fear. Steel your heart. It will keep you
strong."

“I’ll do my best.”

Martha patted Eleanor’s hand. “That’s my
girl. Come, let’s get started with your hair. You’ll want to make a
good impression.”

Eleanor allowed herself to be pulled onto a
nearby stool, where Martha fussed over her. Unfortunately, her
gowns showed their wear, but there was nothing to be done about it.
They worked with what they had. Soon, she was ready to meet her
bridegroom.

Later as she descended the stairs, Eleanor’s
resolve began to falter. Zenon waited at the bottom. On the last
step he took her hand, squeezed it gently and gave her a reassuring
smile.

“You look splendid, my lady.”

“Thank you, Zenon.” She held his hand in both
of hers, drawing on her courage.

She’d chosen an anteroom off the great hall
as the place to meet the soon-to-be lord of Godwin Castle.

Before he arrived she’d time to think. This
was her fate. She wanted to believe what Martha said about all
noblemen not being like her father or his friends, but there was
little hope of that. Even the king himself was using her like a
pawn in a game of chess.

Her anger flared. Men. Life was only a game
to them.

Place your players strategically,
she
thought. It didn’t matter whose life was sacrificed. Power was all,
and the one who took the queen won the game. To her way of thinking
this Dominick the Immortal was just another player. She would be
his pawn to move around as he pleased.

The energy of her anger forced her out of her
chair and onto her feet to pace the floor. She wouldn’t let it
happen. A marriage may be forced on her, but she would never be
anyone’s chess piece. Her will was her own, and it wouldn’t bend to
any man.

She had worked herself into a frenzy by the
time Dominick’s arrival was announced. But her anger was quickly
doused the moment Dominick entered.

Shock ran through her when she looked up into
his face. His eyes were black as coal, his hair darker than the
night sky. The jogeuler’s words came to mind . . .
He was cast
out of the dark fires of hell.

Looking at him, she could believe it.

The legends of Dominick the Immortal had not
exaggerated his size. He dwarfed most men. His shoulders were
impossibly wide, his legs thick and strong. The fabric of his tunic
strained against the muscles in his arms, and one blow of his fist
would send her to her grave. Her knees felt like water.

The giant stared at her for a moment before
shaking his head slightly then bowing. “My lady, I’m Dominick
Wolfingham,” he said in a deep and resonant voice.

She pulled hard on her courage. “I . . . I’m
Lady Eleanor of Godwin.”

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Despite her fear, Eleanor felt compelled to
be honest. “I fear I cannot say the same, sir, for I don’t want
this marriage.”

She expected an angry response, but the
warrior was calm, which made her wary.

“Tell me why,” he said patiently.

“I don’t like being a pawn in King William’s
game, or in any man’s.” She pressed on. “By handing Godwin over to
one of his soldiers, William seeks to stifle McPhearson’s
aggression.”

She knew she had gone too far by the subtle
way Dominick stood straighter, crossing his arms in front of him.
“So it’s a nobler husband you seek.”

Undaunted by his intimidating pose, Eleanor
stood closer. “I seek no man for my husband. There is none worthy
of this castle.”

“How do you know?”

“It has been my experience to know this.” She
looked into his dark eyes. For the instant of a heartbeat she
hesitated, then plunged ahead. “Please, go back to the king and
tell him the marriage won’t take place. I will not have it.”

Tense silence stood between them, then
Dominick moved toward her. She let out a yelp when his large hands
spanned her waist as he lifted her to a nearby chair. Now they
stood eye to eye.