He stopped, shushing her for a moment as they hid behind a tree. He looked back at her. “I’ve learned a few things.”
She knew he was a battle-hardened knight now. She knew he had fought beside her father and the prince. It had been five years since she had last seen him, five years since he and her father had ridden off with an army of men to do battle with the French. How could he be here now? How could he...? It didn’t matter. Joy and gratitude bubbled inside of her. All that mattered was that he had come for her.
When he took a step to continue their escape, she threw her arms around him, knocking him back against the tree. “Thank you for coming after me.”
Luke chuckled a warm, soft sound that rumbled from deep inside his chest. He returned her hug, holding her in a comfortable embrace. “How could I not?” He pulled back to look down at her.
For just a moment, the clouds parted and the moonlight escaped to touch his face. His eyes were deep blue and gazed at her in fondness. His nose was strong and straight. His jaw was square and peppered with a day’s growth of beard. Nessa couldn’t move, could barely breathe. She wanted the moment to go on. His hands were warm around her, holding her against his hard body. He was devastatingly handsome.
He stepped away from her and the one moment in time was lost. He took her hand. “We have to leave.”
Nessa nodded, trying to regain her composure. How could he look like that? Why hadn’t she remembered how comely he was? “There are two sentries wandering these woods.”
Luke continued their escape through the forest, leading a path of safety for Nessa to follow.
Nessa was thankful he had his back to her. The half-moon had disappeared behind wispy clouds and darkness fell over the forest, but his image was not as easy to banish from her mind. As she followed, she could see he had filled out. Did his grin still lift to one side? Did that lock of dark hair still fall forward into his eyes? Her joy at having Luke rescue her slowly evaporated. They were not safe yet. She clutched his hand as they moved. Urien would send men after her and Luke couldn’t overpower all of them.
They moved around trees. Brush crunched beneath their feet. An owl hooted somewhere. Luke stopped suddenly and Nessa almost ran into him. He turned to her, holding his finger to his lips. Nessa froze.
Luke peered out between two trees. Nessa looked over his shoulder. She saw a horse tethered to a tree near a clearing. She glanced around, but didn’t see anything. Was that Luke’s horse? Or was it one of the sentry’s horses? No, their steeds were secured at the camp. This must be Luke’s horse! Why weren’t they moving to the horse? They could be away! She shifted anxiously. She could be free, home again.
Luke squeezed her hand in warning to be still.
And then, a man came into view. The clouds parted for a moment and moonlight washed over the man. Dread filled Nessa as she recognized his grizzly beard and leather armor. It was one of the men from Urien’s camp. He had found Luke’s horse!
Luke released Nessa’s hand. He held up his hand, a signal for her to wait. He pulled a dagger from his belt and took a step forward.
Suddenly, a cry rent the air, cutting through the silence like a sword. Luke stepped back, protectively closer to Nessa.
The guard glanced toward the sound, pulling his sword from its sheath. He grabbed the horse’s reins from the tree it was tethered to and raced off through the forest with the horse.
In the distance, the sound of swords clanged and battle cries echoed like faraway thunder.
Luke glanced in the direction of the battle, and then back at Nessa. “I have to go.”
Nessa’s mouth dropped open. She looked toward the direction of the battle. It was back the way they had come, back toward Urien’s camp.
“Wait here,” Luke commanded.
“I will not,” Nessa objected. It was better to be in the midst of the fight with Luke, than to be alone in the forest. She was afraid, she realized. He was the most familiar, safest thing she knew and she didn’t want to lose him.
“Nessa,” he pleaded, taking her hand into his. “You would be in danger.”
Nessa shook her head. “I’m coming with you.” She wasn’t a fool. She would stay well out of the fight, but she would be within eyesight of Luke.
Luke grimaced. “Fine.” He led the way back. “But you will stay where I say.”
