Page 162 of Forbidden

“Go about your tasks,” Duncan told the men curtly.

The men-at-arms left without a backward look. Their speedy departure said more clearly than words that they would be quite pleased not to be within sight or sound of Duncan when he looked so fierce.

Even Amber, braced for Duncan’s rage, knew a chill when he looked up at her with eyes as hard as agates.

“Why did you come here?” he demanded.

“Where else would a wife be but with her husband?”

Duncan became utterly still.

“Or had you forgotten we are wed?” Amber asked with a bittersweet smile.

“I have forgotten nothing,witch.”

The chill she had felt returned doubly, becoming fingernails of ice along her spine.

“Then, husband, release Whitefoot so that a groom may see to her comfort.”

Duncan turned his head just enough to see Dominic without taking his eyes off Amber.

“Dominic,” said Duncan distinctly, “I trust your months as Lord of Blackthorne Keep have not caused to you forget how to close gates and lift a drawbridge?”

The Glendruid Wolf laughed.

“Good,” Duncan said. “If you would be so kind as to see to those small tasks for me…”

Before Duncan had finished speaking, Dominic was working the mechanism that lifted the draw-bridge until it fit like a heavy barrier across the opening to the keep. Bolts thumped home one after another, mating the bridge to the thick stone walls. The inner gate soon followed, closing with thick sounds of timber on timber.

It seemed very dark in the bailey without sunlight slanting through the gate.

“You should have run while you could,” Duncan said silkily to Amber.

“To what purpose?”

“To bring Erik, of course.”

“Then death would surely come as well,” Amber said. “As long as I am within the keep, Erik won’t attack.”

“Let him come!” Duncan snarled.

Amber looked past Duncan to the man who wore the Glendruid Wolf.

“Is that what you want, lord?” she asked. “War?”

“What I want is of little moment,” Dominic said. “The keep and all that comes with it are Duncan’s, not mine. The decisions that pass here will also be his.”

Amber’s breath caught swiftly.

“You gave it to Duncan?” she asked, stunned.

“Aye,” Dominic said, walking forward to stand next to Duncan.

“And to his heirs, without let or hindrance?”

“Aye.”

“You are a man as generous as you are shrewd, Dominic le Sabre,” she said. “’Tis no wonder Duncan’s unremembered oath to you caused him such unease.”