Chapter 10
Adam was out there and the Hungarswere coming. It was the only thing Justina could think of. She had waited behind a merchant’s cart until Gawyn disappeared into the keep. He would try to stop her, and she wasn’t going to stop looking for her brother. She wished she could have found a horse, but it didn’t matter. She would find Adam. Shehadto find Adam.
Still, Gawyn’s image came to mind as she hurried through the outer ward of the castle toward the portcullis. He knew what his brother had done, that he was a murderer.Hewas a murderer! Her heart broke. It didn’t matter, she told herself firmly. She had to find Adam. Why didn’t Adam listen to her? He could have been safe inside the castle. God, she hated the Lady Aurora for winning the hearts of men. For catching a young boy’s eye.
She fought the surge of people moving into the castle and pushed forward over the drawbridge and into the clearing just before the castle. She crossed the clearing and reached the edge of the forest when a thunderous noise rose behind her. A huge group of mounted knights crossed the drawbridge. They headed away from the forest, away from her. She thought she caught a glimpse of Lord Damien, of the monster, leading his men somewhere.
She wondered briefly where they were going. Were they going to fight the Hungars the wounded man had spoken about to Gawyn?
Where was she going? How did she know Adam was this way? She almost turned around and followed the soldiers. Shealmostdid. But at the last moment, she continued in the direction she was heading.
All she knew was that Adam had to be safe. He was all she had left. She burst into the forest, running. Adam, her heart called. If he was the other way, the guards would find him. If he wasn’t, she would find him. Shewouldfind him. She had to. A strangled gasp escaped her lips and she paused for a moment. What if she was too late? The image of her father lying in the street in a pool of blood came to her mind. No. No! She glanced over her shoulder. Through the trees, she could see the wall of the castle in the distance. Gawyn was there. Her entire being ached for him, ached for the comfort and security he offered, his love. She firmly pushed his dashing image from her mind to concentrate on Adam. He could help you, a small voice inside of her insisted. He is a killer, she answered. She would find Adam on her own.
A picnic. Where would they go for a picnic? She stopped. They had taken guards with them; surely the Acquitaine soldiers would be able to protect them from the Hungars. It would do her no good to panic. She had to remain calm. She continued moving forward, trusting her instincts, trusting what her father had taught her.
Aurora led the way through the forest. Bright sunlight shone through the leaves, creating a pattern on the forest floor. She was followed by her cousin, Megan, and the rest of the ladies, as well as the guards. She had decided to walk so they would not be far from the castle. She had even changed her mind about going to the Falls, the distant, beautiful water fall, and chosen McGregan Clearing. It wasn’t as beautiful, but it was closer to the castle and an ideal place for a picnic. Damien would be proud of her for her wise choice.
They emerged into a clearing, bordered by trees on all sides. It was large and sunny.
“It’s so beautiful,” Megan said, reverently touching the glittering scarf Aurora wore about her neck.
Aurora turned and saw she was staring at the cloth Damien had given her. She removed the cloth from her neck and handed it to her. “Why don’t you wear it today?”
“Oh no! Aurora, I couldn’t!” Megan exclaimed, holding up her hands in denial.
“Please,” Aurora said. “I insist.”
“I’ll tie it around your head,” Lady Cathleen, one of the nobles accompanying them, said. She wore a beautiful green velvet dress and had her dark hair coiled up around her ears. She took the scarf.
Megan turned and presented her back to Lady Cathleen. Lady Cathleen tied the glimmering transparent scarf about Megan’s golden locks.
Aurora watched as the other ladies cooed over Megan. She was enjoying Megan’s happiness. She knew her cousin was anxious about her coming marriage. Not all women were as lucky as her to be able to pick the man they would marry.
Megan turned to her and threw her arms around her. “Thank you, Aurora!”
Aurora embraced her, holding her tightly. “It looks lovely.”
“Lady Aurora!”
Aurora turned to see the boy, Adam, racing toward her across the clearing. Her ladies giggled and whispered to each other. Aurora stepped toward the child, approaching him. “What are you doing here?”
Adam was out of breath but beaming with excitement. “You invited me to your picnic!”
“Your sister changed her mind?” Aurora asked hopefully.
Adam dipped his head. “Yes!”
There was something in the way he said it that she didn’t believe. “Adam,” she said softly. “Did she really change her mind?”
His shoulders drooped. “No.” He looked up at her and his brown eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Lady Aurora. I should have listened. But I wanted to come with you. I wanted --”
She lay a gentle hand on his shoulder while she glanced at her cousin. “Megan,” she called. “Go and set up the picnic. The ladies will help you.”
Megan turned and led the way into the clearing, her glittering scarf sparkling in the afternoon sun. The ladies followed her; the soldiers followed them at a discreet distance.
Aurora didn’t want the other women to see Adam’s anguish. It wasn’t right. She looked back at Adam. “What you did was wrong, you must know that.”
“Aye,” he said, sniffling, and rubbing his nose.
