Page 17 of One Knight in the Forest

Silently cursing his wayward mind, he turned from the bed and blew out the candles. “I will try not to disturb you again. Mayhap ’tis best if I sleep elsewhere.”

“Nay,” she said quickly. “Please. I do not…want to be alone.”

“Very well.” He started for his chair, fatigue making his limbs ache. He stifled a yawn with his hand. No doubt he’d feel a hell of a lot better with solid, uninterrupted sleep, but such rest was unlikely.

“Wait, Cyn,” she called, a curious anticipation in her voice. “I have… I might know a way to stop your nightmares.”

***

Cyn halted halfway to his chair. She’d caught his attention, as she’d wished.

He glanced back at her, not the faintest trace of hope in his expression. He looked exhausted, and Magdalen yearned even more to be able to help him. Surely, whatever had occurred in Cyn’s past wasn’t so terrible or worthy of such self-imposed torment. Cyn was a good man; a proud man, but an honorable one. She knew that without question.

The morning before she’d died, Magdalen’s mother had told her that the exquisite ruby held healing properties, including the power to ease bad dreams. Cyn didn’t seem the kind of man to put his faith in gemstones; however, if there was a chance the ruby could help him, Magdalen must convince him to use it. Aye, ’twas a risk, revealing she had the gem, but he’d done so much for her. She owed him the chance to sleep.

Gesturing to the hearth, she said, “Will you please fetch my bag?”

He faced her, his hands on his hips. “Whatever for?

“Inside is…a ruby—”

“—with white lines that look like a stag’s antlers.”

Shock rippled through her. “You looked inside my bag?”

“I did, while you were asleep.”

She shouldn’t be surprised. Still, he could have asked her first. “With respect, you had no right to go through my belongings.”

“I disagree. You are a guest in my home. You are possibly risking my safety, along with that of Borden and my animals. Moreover, as sheriff, I believe ’tis my duty to know more about why you were in the forest and why William was pursuing you. What I found in your bag, though, did not enlighten me.”

All right. So he did have valid reasons for searching through her things. He hadn’t mentioned the missive, though; mayhap he still hadn’t found it?

“I planned to talk to you about the contents of your bag on the morrow,” Cyn added, “once you had had a chance to rest. In case you are wondering, I put everything—apart from the soggy bread—back in the bag.”

“Thank you,” she said. Disquiet wove through her, for she hoped she wasn’t being a fool. “For tonight, though, I would like you to have the ruby.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“’Twas my mother’s. She gave it to me…not long before she perished. She said ’tis a special stone that, among other things, can help ward off night terrors.”

Cyn laughed and shook his head. “I appreciate the offer, but—”

“Try it.”

“Magdalen.”

“What harm can come of it?”

“Most likely no harm at all. Yet, I cannot imagine a mere stone can ward off my nightmares.”

How stubborn he was! Yet, she could be stubborn, too. Refusing to break his gaze, she said softly, “If you will not do it for yourself, then do it for me, so I might be able to sleep.”

His mouth flattened into a line.

“Please,” she coaxed.

Irritation hardened his features. Then, as if he’d decided ’twas easier to relent than continue to disagree, he crossed to the bag, reached in, and withdrew the ruby that gleamed blood red in the firelight.

“I have the stone,” he said. “What do I do now? Dance around the room while waving it in the air? Or do I curl the bare toes of my right foot around it so it can work its magic? Mayhap I should tuck it inside my mouth while I sleep?”

She giggled. “Now you are being silly.”

Cyn rolled his eyes.

“Hold it in your hand while you slumber,” Magdalen said. “My mother said it should touch skin to have the greatest influence.”

“Fine.” His fingers curled around the stone while he strode back to his chair.

She smiled. “Sleep well.”

He grunted and dropped back down into his chair. “Like hell,” he grumbled.