“Good. The more hands to help tend, the better chance the wounded will survive. Carriers will need to be made for some of the injured.”
“It will be seen to,” Rhys said and held his hand out to her.
Heather noticed that several ghost warriors had gathered behind him, and it suddenly struck her. “You cannot mean to send me on to McComb keep.”
Not only light on her feet, but a quick wit as well. There was much more to his wife than he had realized. “You will be safe there.”
“I am safe here and I am needed here.”
Rhys dropped his hand to his side and took a step toward her. “It is not a request. You will do as I command.”
A ghost warrior came running toward them and Rhys stepped forward to meet him. They spoke in whispers and when Rhys turned, he said, “You will stay here until I return for you. My men will protect you.”
He turned and was gone before Heather could say a word. She wondered what was going on, who the attacking warriors were and why had they been able to attack the Dark Dragon when his ghost warriors seemed to see and hear everything? But she had no time to dwell on the haunting questions. She had to tend to the wounded. Once therewas time she would pursue answers, for she feared that this battle was not over—it had just begun.
* * *
Heather rolledher shoulders back to ease the ache in her back. She did not know how long she had been working on the injured and with no sun it was difficult to tell how much time had passed. She did not even know when the clouds had moved in overhead, she had been so busy. She was relieved that most of the injured had not suffered severe wounds. With care, they would survive. A few others she was not so sure about.
She saw those who could not walk settled on carriers that were built so they could rest comfortably and would not be made to move when it was time to leave. She wished they were already on their way, the clouds gathering more heavily overhead in the last hour or so.
“You should rest, my lady,” the young warrior she sat beside said.
She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and smiled. “There will be time for that soon enough, Douglas.”
“You have done more than your share and your garment proves it. There is barely anything left of it.”
Heather startled when she saw how much of her garment she had torn apart. Both arms lay exposed and her legs up to her knees as well. Shehad also torn a piece off by her chest, leaving the top of her one breast to appear as if it would spill out at any moment.
“I had not realized,” she said softly, trying to pull the torn garment together.
“You thought of others’ needs, not yourself, and for that we are all grateful.” He coughed and winced as he did. “I fear I will not survive. Will you tell my wife, Bea that I love her and I am sorry I will not be here to see our child born?”
“That is nonsense, Douglas. You will live and see your babe and many more babes born.”
“I pray that be so.”
“Then fight and make it so,” the deep voice snapped.
Heather jumped and Douglas struggled to raise himself in the presence of the Dark Dragon. His helmet was gone, his dark hair free to fall to his shoulders and his handsome face set in tight lines.
Rhys lowered himself to rest on his haunches and placed his hand firmly on Douglas’s shoulder, stopping him from moving. “Stay as you are. As a fine warrior, you instinctively know what weapons prove the most useful in battle. The weapons you need for this battle are rest and determination to heal and I expect you to use both.”
Douglas nodded. “As you say, my lord, though I surely would have died if Lady Heather had not pulled me off the battlefield and tended my wound shortly after I had fallen. She is a kind and brave woman.”
Rhys looked at his wife, his eyes going directly to her partially exposed breasts, then her bare arms, and finally taking in her bare legs. He stood and walked around to her, slipping off his cloak and draping it over her shoulders before gripping them and pulling her to her feet.
“Rest, Douglas, we will leave soon and you will ride in one of the carts and be home to Bea before you know it.”
Before anymore could be said, Rhys hurried Heather off to a more secluded spot, and she rushed to speak before he could. “Forgive my improper appearance, my concern was for the injured and I did not realize how indecent I appeared.”
“You will never again strip yourself as you did today,” he ordered sternly.
“I cannot promise that,” she said quickly, “for if needed, I would so the same again.”
“So, you blatantly tell me you will disobey me?”
“I tell you the truth, something I hope will always pass between us.”
