Sword of Darkness (14 page)

“Then we will have no choice except to go back to her.”

Kerrigan released a long, tired breath. “It’s not quite that simple. Morgen now has a serious reason to want me dead. Sooner or later, she will find the means to do so, and then you’ll be on your own.”

He saw the spark of fire in her eyes before she spoke. “She won’t win this.”

“And how do you know?”

“Good always triumphs over evil. ’Tis how every story ends, and this one is no different.”

Kerrigan forced himself not to laugh at her naivete. “Need I remind you that evil has already triumphed. Arthur is dead and Camelot is in our hands. This isn’t a story, Seren. It’s reality, and in reality, there are no guarantees.”

Seren refused to believe that. She looked up into those dark eyes that smoldered with power and remembered the feral look of the wolf that had eventually licked her mother’s face in gratitude.

Kindness is key, my Seren. That and your courage will save you.

She opened her mouth to argue when all of a sudden, a tremendous jolt went through the castle. One so fierce that even the stone walls groaned.

Kerrigan stumbled into her.

“What is that?”

Kerrigan couldn’t answer as another such invisible wave went through the castle. He hissed as he fell to his knees.

Seren took a step toward him. He growled like a snarling beast, then slapped his hand against the
floor. His eyes turned back to their red flames as he came to his feet.

She followed after him to see what appeared to be a giant tree in the hands of the gargoyles. They flew with it toward the shield, slamming the tree into the invisible wall like a battering ram against the door.

As they made contact, another ripple went through, forcing Kerrigan to stagger back.

“What is that?” she asked him.

His face pale, he gave a dark, sinister laugh before he answered. “In short, our doom.”

Seren narrowed her gaze on him. “I don’t like the sound
of the word ‘doom.’ It’s rather ominous.”

“Not half as ominous as that army will be when it breaches the shield, kills me, and takes you.”

She gave a fake shudder. “I can feel the warmth of your sunshine, my lord. It overwhelms me so.”

Kerrigan actually smiled at her sarcastic words. “Are you always so pert in the face of danger?”

“Well, until I met you, the greatest danger I faced was making Master Rufus angry. His anger certainly pales in comparison to yours and Morgen’s.”

She said the words lightly, and yet they set an indignant fire deep inside him. One that didn’t like the thought of someone harming her. “Did he ever hurt you in his anger?”

Seren looked away.

His anger doubled. “Seren, answer me.”

She shrugged as she moved away from the window. “I’m his apprentice, my lord. He was in full
right to punish me whenever I overstepped my bounds.”

He took her arm, pulling her up short. “Punish you how?”

Her green eyes cut through him as she looked up at him. “How does anyone punish an insignificant servant?”

Kerrigan didn’t know why, but the thought of another man laying a hand on her went through him like acid. “He struck you?”

“Does it matter?”

“To me it does.”

She glanced down at his hand. Kerrigan let go as he realized his grip must be biting.

“Why?” she asked simply. “You have told me repeatedly that you hold no regard for my life. What then does it matter how I’m treated by my master?”

It shouldn’t matter. He shouldn’t care at all. And yet…

“Why do you wish to return to such a life?”

“Because it was
my
life, Kerrigan. Mine. And it was a good one. I had friends who loved me.” Her gaze turned dreamy. “Wendlyn is a beautiful girl who works beside me in the shop. She has a crush on the butcher’s son who comes by to deliver meat to Mistress Maude. Then there is Mildred, who weaves off to the side. She doesn’t say much, but she hums often to herself. And there’s Robert, Master Rufus’s son who will turn eight this year. He’s a bit mischievous, but a good lad nonetheless who oft fetches us supplies when we need them.”

He could hear the love in her voice as she spoke of the people who’d made up her world. “But if they treat you badly—”

“I never said they treated me badly. All of us have an off day or two. We are human and should be forgiven our faults.”

He shook his head at her. “You astound me, Seren. I’ve never met anyone with your capacity for caring.”

She lifted herself up on her toes until their gazes were almost level. “Then you’ve been spending time with the wrong sorts of people, my lord. Perhaps you should get out more.”

He laughed out loud, amazed at the sound of something he hadn’t heard in a lifetime. “Perhaps I should.”

As Kerrigan turned back toward the window and the army that was still pounding his shield, he sobered. With every pounding beat of the battering ram, he could feel that strike against his powers.

They were weakening him. Each blow shattered through his body, pounding painfully.

“Aw, screw this,” he snarled an instant before he threw his hands out and sent a shatter bolt of lightning through the gargoyles and dragons.

Seren was stunned as the very air around them shimmered from his powers. Even her hair stood on end as what appeared to be lightning shot from Kerrigan’s fingertips to the gargoyles who were battering his invisible shield.

The tree splintered into tiny pieces that rained through the air. The gargoyles went hurtling toward the ground. Kerrigan started to laugh, until
he stumbled again. The lightning shot back into his body as he braced his hand against the stone sill.

His face was even paler than before. His hands were shaking as he grimaced and turned to press his spine against the stone wall. He leaned his head back and laughed shakily. “That was a most idiotic expenditure of my powers, but it was worth it.” His dark eyes were gleaming as he gave her a crooked smile. “Did you see them fall?”

She shook her head at him. There was something about him that reminded her of a little boy who’d been punished for doing something he knew not to, and yet was proud of what he’d done. “It was quite lovely the way they hurtled through the air. And did it gain you anything?”

“Nothing but satisfaction, and there is much to be said for that.”

She rolled her eyes. “Are you all right?”

He drew a deep breath before he pushed himself away from the wall. “I’m not fallen or defeated yet.”

“Good. I hope you can continue to say that.”

He squeezed her hand and then stiffened as if he’d realized what he’d done and it somehow embarrassed him. He let go immediately.

He glanced back out the window. “Pity I don’t want to expend more energy. I’m sure I could take down a mandrake or two while I’m at it.”

She patted him on the shoulder as she would Robert in the shop whenever he was particularly proud of some accomplishment. “And I’m equally sure that they are grateful you don’t.”

He rubbed his hand over his chest. “Remind me not to do that again, by the way.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Only when I move…or breathe.”

“Then I would say not to breathe, but that could have consequences most dire.”

“No doubt. Now if you’ll excuse me, I should like to go lie down for a bit.”

Seren was rather surprised by his words. “You would admit that to me?”

Again he gave her that almost charming lopsided grin. “’Tis less damaging to my ego than passing out and less dangerous as well.”

“Then come,” she said, reaching her hand out to him. “I shall lead you back to your room. Unless you wish to pop us there.”

He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Nay. We’ll have to use our feet. I can’t afford another blast to my powers right now.”

Seren didn’t say a word as she led him through the castle, back to her chambers. She kept her hand in his arm while they made their way very slowly upstairs.

“Where do you think Blaise has gotten off to?” she asked. “I haven’t seen him at all.”

“Hiding most like. He won’t come unless I summon him.”

“Why didn’t you summon him to fight the gargoyles?”

“There wasn’t much he could do to fight them. Had he engaged them, he would have been harmed.”

Seren released him to open the door to his room
as those words went through her. He’d thought of someone other than himself. She considered pointing it out to him, but then thought better of it. Kerrigan seemed to like thinking of himself as evil. But as she learned more of him, she saw less of the demon and more of the man. He wasn’t the callous devil he presented to the world.

There was a heart that still beat within him, and it gave her hope that he would be the father her child would need to protect it from Morgen and her plans.

Without another word to her, Kerrigan went to lie upon the bed. That alone told her just how weak he must be. He wasn’t the kind of person to show his weakness to anyone.

She stood back as he reclined with one leg drawn up.

“Is there anything I can get you, my lord?”

“A Tylenol would be great.”

She frowned at his peculiar word. “A what?”

“Nothing, little mouse. There is nothing else I need.”

“Then I shall leave you to the quiet.”

He didn’t respond as he closed his eyes and settled back. But she had to admit that even while he rested, he made a fearsome sight with his black armor covering a body that was rife with strength.

And she noted the way he kept both of his hands on his sword as if ready to attack anyone foolish enough to draw near it. Poor man that he couldn’t even rest peacefully. No wonder he’d stabbed her when she’d neared him.

How many times had Morgen or one of her men tried to take the sword from him so that they could replace him as king? She couldn’t imagine having no friend or haven.

Feeling for him, Seren left the room. She wasn’t sure where Blaise had gone to, but she wanted another word with the specter of Lancelot.

It didn’t take her long to return to his crypt. The torches had burned down to a light so low that she could scarce see. It was so cold now that her breath formed a small cloud around her head. She heard the scurrying of mice in the darkness, but nothing else. Only the pounding of her own heart.

“Lancelot?” she called. “Are you here?”

“Behind you.”

She turned to face him.

He shimmered faintly between this world and his own. His rugged face held an ethereal beauty that was almost feminine. Yet he exuded masculine power and intensity. “Are you ready to leave here?”

“Nay,” she said honestly. “I have spoken to Lord Kerrigan and he has told me that you are the one who spoke falsely.”

Shock registered on his face. “Me? How so?”

“You said that he fed on the blood of children. He doesn’t.”

He tsked at her. “How do you know he isn’t the liar then?”

“I believe him and what he had to say about it,” she said with conviction. “But I want to know why it is that you lied.”

“And I still say that I am not the liar, my lady. Have you seen Kerrigan feed yet?”

Seren hesitated. “Nay, not exactly, but he placed his hand to my chest to show me how he draws his strength from the living.”

“And did he draw that strength from you?”

“I felt the tingle of it.”

“But he didn’t feed, did he?”

Seren folded her arms over her chest as she moved away from him and considered his words.

Lancelot moved to block her retreat. “I am on your side in this matter, Seren. Kerrigan is a powerful demon who can command the elements as he did to attack the gargoyles. Is it not possible he used such a trick with you?”

Aye, it was possible, and she knew it. Still, she believed Kerrigan. “Why are you making me doubt him?”

“Because he is evil to the marrow of his bones, and evil will never do what is right. Your only hope to survive this is to trust
me.
Steal his sword and scabbard, and I will take you from here to a place where no one will ever be able to harm you or your babe again.”

Seren stared at him as his words chased themselves around in her mind. How good he made it sound. How tempting.

“You know something, Lancelot?”

He arched an expectant brow.

“I don’t trust
you
. You’ve done nothing yet to help me. You tell me to grab his sword and then you’ll help. If you’re really good and he isn’t, then you’ll help me without condition. Until you do, I
think I shall trust myself and myself alone. Because in this, I am the only one who truly has my best interest at heart, and that is the only thing I don’t doubt. God save you.”

And with those words spoken, she turned about and started for the door.

“Seren, wait.”

She hesitated at his call. “Aye?”

His shimmering eyes pierced her with anger. “Go, throw your lot in with your devil, and when he devours you and your child, remember that you were offered a chance to save both your lives.”

His words set off her anger. How dare he say such. “Have no fear. I will bear full responsibility for everything.” She headed out of the chapel.

Seren didn’t know if what she did was right, but she hoped it was. As she’d said, she had no one else to trust. Her instincts had always been keen. She could always tell an honest client from a dishonest one. It was one of the things Master Rufus valued most about her.

Kerrigan wasn’t as evil as he appeared. She truly felt that he was as Blaise had said. When given kindness, Kerrigan did respond to it. He would protect her and he would love this baby. She knew it.

As she started up the stairs, Lancelot appeared before her, blocking her way. She drew up short while he continued to glare as if he couldn’t bear the sight of her.

“You’re a feebleminded woman.”

“I beg your pardon!” But before she could say anything more, a strange haze engulfed her. Seren tried to move, only to find that she couldn’t.

“Had you obeyed me, we might have let you live in blissful ignorance of what befell your lover. Oh, well. Now you will deliver that sword to me and we will kill Kerrigan together. Now go.”

Something inside Seren rebelled at his words, but even so she found herself on the stairs again.

“Kill Kerrigan.” The command repeated itself over and over in her mind until she could hear nothing else.

It spread through her, consuming her. Drowning out all arguments and all feelings. There was nothing inside her except a demanding blackness that held her in the tightest of grips…

Aye, she must kill Kerrigan.

Kerrigan lay on his side with his eyes closed as he tried to stay focused on the shield that was again being battered by Morgen’s troops. A cold sweat covered him. What he really wanted to do was sleep, but he didn’t dare.

He’d pulled off all his armor and wore nothing but the tunic Seren had given him and a pair of breeches. Caliburn lay beside him, barely a hand’s breadth away.

As he heard someone enter the room, he reached for the sword to take it by the hilt. He rolled to his back to see Seren entering.

He let go of Caliburn and relaxed. She was truly a vision as she drew near him. Even dressed as a
lad, she was all woman, and she was the best thing he’d ever seen in his life. “I thought you were leaving me to rest.”

A tender smile softened her face and stole his breath. “I was thinking that I might be able to help you with that.”

He was about to ask her how when she placed her hand to his hip. All rational thought fled his mind.

Her eyes were dark and hungry as she dipped her head toward his and captured his lips with her own. Kerrigan growled at how good she tasted. He’d never known anyone sweeter. He cupped her head in his hand as he pulled her back so that she could lie atop him.

She nipped and tugged at his mouth with a boldness that surprised him. “My little mouse is hungry.”

She smiled at him before she whipped his tunic over his head and tossed it to the floor. And as she climbed onto the bed to straddle him, a tremor of suspicion went through him.