“Mel would never tell!” Urien cried. “We were in love! She told me of the cave!”
Luke used all his strength to hold him off. “Just because she told you that didn’t mean she loved you.”
His eyes narrowed on Luke. “You think she loved you? She was angry with you. After what you did...with her!” He jerked a chin at Nessa. “Her own sister.” He shoved Luke back.
Luke held up his sword and bent slightly, preparing for his attack. Let him ramble on.
Urien rushed forward, engaging Luke again. He swung back and forth, using all his strength to drive him back.
Luke defended, allowing Urien to attack, allowing him to use up his strength. Anger gave one strength, but it also made one careless. Luke waited for his moment. Fury lent recklessness to Urien’s movements. Again and again he hit Luke with a downward strike. The force of the blows jarred Luke’s arm, repeatedly, until Luke saw his opportunity. Because Urien’s blows were from above, he left his body open. Luke punched him across the jaw.
The black and white cat suddenly darted behind Urien. When Urien stumbled back, he tripped over the cat and fell backward to the ground. The cat scrambled away.
Luke put his blade to Urien’s throat. “Yield.” He saw the thought race through Urien’s mind and quickly stepped on his sword arm. He pressed his weapon against Urien’s throat. “Yield or die.”
Urien’s upper lip quivered in hatred. “I yield,” he spat.
“Have they returned?”
Melwyn sat beside her recovering father in his solar. The fire in the hearth warmed the room, but it didn’t soothe her mood. She hated being stuck here in the room with him. She hated his constant questions when she didn’t have the answers. “Not yet, father.” She was beginning to think they would never return. Oh, Luke! Why did you have to go after her? None of his men had returned, except Sir Peter, and that did not bode well. She hoped they were with him. She hoped Luke was safe.
“Tell me again what happened in the village. How Urien captured Nessa.”
Mel rolled her eyes. Nessa, Nessa, Nessa. It was all about Nessa. What about Luke? What about her broken heart? She sighed softly. “We went into the village because Nessa wanted to get some herbs for a sick child.” Mel accompanied Nessa because there was a very cute farmer’s son she liked speaking with. “I, of course, went with her. I couldn’t very well let her go alone.” She could and had on numerous occasions.
“You brought guards?”
“Of course! Ten guards came with us.” More like five. They were under no threat. Or so she thought. “On the way home, Urien came out of the woods. It was horrible, Father. He killed all of our guards!”
“How many men did he have?”
“At least fifty, maybe more! Must we talk about it?”
“Why didn’t he take both of you?”
Mel shrugged. She didn’t know and didn’t care. “He asked which one of us were Mel.” She looked down at her hands entangled in her lap. “I was so afraid he was going to kill me. I... I couldn’t speak. And then, Nessa said she was me. And he took her.”
“That was very brave of Nessa.”
She nodded. It had been. And she was grateful Nessa had done that. “I was so afraid. I hope she’s not hurt.”
“We received no ransom note?”
Mel shook her head. She hadn’t considered a ransom note. “No.”
The room fell into silence as her father stared at the blanket draped across his lap, his brow furrowed in thought. “His father would never take him in. Not after such a disgraceful act as trying to kidnap the heir to Castle Greymount.” His scowl deepened, creasing the lines on his forehead. “Where could he be going?”
“I haven’t an idea. The man is a rogue.”
“A rogue with a fascination for you.”
“Father. I haven’t seen him since you banished him. I can’t imagine why he asked for me.”
“Hmmm...” Her father looked at her; his eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion, as though he didn’t believe her. “Luke went after Nessa?”
“Yes!” Mel pouted. “He left me alone!”
“He was doing his duty to see my daughter safe,” her father said in a stern voice.
