Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) by Elizabeth Cole Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Cole
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mind.
“I came back from the hunt a bit earlier than the others,” Luc said. “Good thing, too.”
She agreed, though saying so was beyond her ability at the moment.
“What happened?” he asked.
“You know what happened,” she whispered, her voice rough. “You know what he was going to do to me.”
Luc scanned her for injuries, his blue eyes dark with anger. “He was choking you to death.”
“Poor way to secure a bride,” she said, the grim humor surfacing unexpectedly. Then the full import of what Haldan intended to do settled in her mind. She felt sick. “No one has
ever
dared to touch me like that.”
“No one will again,” Luc said. “I’ll go after him. He won’t get far.”
She shook her head, saying, “You’re wrong. He knows the countryside here better than you do. He’ll flee to Wales. Our laws mean nothing across the border.”
“You can’t let him go. He assaulted you! You’re a lady. What he did…”
“Was despicable,” she hissed. “I don’t want to think of it again, let alone speak of it. If you care at all, you’ll respect that!”
“I also respect the need to stop Haldan. I think you do too.”
Mina knew he was right. “Very well, we’ll organize a search.”
“Let’s get you back to the keep first.” He slid one arm around her back, helping her to stand. “You can walk?”
She nodded, though her legs felt wobbly. Luc didn’t release her until she’d taken a few deep breaths. Mina tried not to think about how near he was to her, but even in her state, she realized that Luc’s nearness was entirely different from Haldan’s. Still, he was a man, and she wanted nothing to do with men. She swallowed hard and took a step away. “I am well enough now.”
He walked her across the courtyard, after looking about very carefully for any sign of Haldan, who seemed to have vanished.
She ought to call for Ancel, to relate the whole incident and set up a search for Haldan. But at the moment, it felt far too overwhelming to relive the details.
“Would you let me speak to the steward?” Luc asked, as if sensing her thoughts. “No need to bother you further tonight.”
She nodded. Her arm ached, her neck was starting to burn with pain, and she’d be covered in bruises tomorrow.
They reached the door of the keep.
“Domina,” Luc said.
She turned, her pain making her temper short. “What else?”
He handed her the knife she had dropped, offering it to her hilt first.
“Oh,” she said, reaching out to take it. “Thank you.”
“A fighter always takes care of his weapons,” he said.
“It’s obvious then that I’m no fighter, for I left this in the dirt.”
“You drew blood,” he pointed out. “I think you’d make a worthy ally…or a formidable enemy.”
“Which is it?”
“That, my lady, remains to be decided. How is your throat?” he asked suddenly.
“It hurts,” she said, “but I’ll recover soon enough.”
“That’s a relief. If your voice is permanently harmed, Haldan should hang for it. I wonder if it will affect your ability to sing.”
A chill ran down her spine. “I don’t sing.”
“Ah, too bad,” he said, carelessly. “I’ve always had a soft spot for a woman with a beautiful voice.”
Domina shot him a dark glance. “Then be glad you’re not staying here long, Sir Luc. When you return to London, you will doubtless find a woman to your liking.”
“Speaking of which, I do think I’ll be leaving…”
“When?” She could hardly keep the intensity from her voice, she was so eager for him to be gone.
“Just as soon as your father returns. I can’t consider my errand complete until I speak to him.”
Domina swallowed painfully. “You are quite certain? I hate to keep you here with no end to your waiting. You could come back another time. In the spring, perhaps.”
“But I’m here now,” Luc said, “and it seems fate might want me here.”
Domina said nothing to that, and she didn’t dare meet his
“I came back from the hunt a bit earlier than the others,” Luc said. “Good thing, too.”
She agreed, though saying so was beyond her ability at the moment.
“What happened?” he asked.
“You know what happened,” she whispered, her voice rough. “You know what he was going to do to me.”
Luc scanned her for injuries, his blue eyes dark with anger. “He was choking you to death.”
“Poor way to secure a bride,” she said, the grim humor surfacing unexpectedly. Then the full import of what Haldan intended to do settled in her mind. She felt sick. “No one has
ever
dared to touch me like that.”
“No one will again,” Luc said. “I’ll go after him. He won’t get far.”
She shook her head, saying, “You’re wrong. He knows the countryside here better than you do. He’ll flee to Wales. Our laws mean nothing across the border.”
“You can’t let him go. He assaulted you! You’re a lady. What he did…”
“Was despicable,” she hissed. “I don’t want to think of it again, let alone speak of it. If you care at all, you’ll respect that!”
“I also respect the need to stop Haldan. I think you do too.”
Mina knew he was right. “Very well, we’ll organize a search.”
“Let’s get you back to the keep first.” He slid one arm around her back, helping her to stand. “You can walk?”
She nodded, though her legs felt wobbly. Luc didn’t release her until she’d taken a few deep breaths. Mina tried not to think about how near he was to her, but even in her state, she realized that Luc’s nearness was entirely different from Haldan’s. Still, he was a man, and she wanted nothing to do with men. She swallowed hard and took a step away. “I am well enough now.”
He walked her across the courtyard, after looking about very carefully for any sign of Haldan, who seemed to have vanished.
She ought to call for Ancel, to relate the whole incident and set up a search for Haldan. But at the moment, it felt far too overwhelming to relive the details.
“Would you let me speak to the steward?” Luc asked, as if sensing her thoughts. “No need to bother you further tonight.”
She nodded. Her arm ached, her neck was starting to burn with pain, and she’d be covered in bruises tomorrow.
They reached the door of the keep.
“Domina,” Luc said.
She turned, her pain making her temper short. “What else?”
He handed her the knife she had dropped, offering it to her hilt first.
“Oh,” she said, reaching out to take it. “Thank you.”
“A fighter always takes care of his weapons,” he said.
“It’s obvious then that I’m no fighter, for I left this in the dirt.”
“You drew blood,” he pointed out. “I think you’d make a worthy ally…or a formidable enemy.”
“Which is it?”
“That, my lady, remains to be decided. How is your throat?” he asked suddenly.
“It hurts,” she said, “but I’ll recover soon enough.”
“That’s a relief. If your voice is permanently harmed, Haldan should hang for it. I wonder if it will affect your ability to sing.”
A chill ran down her spine. “I don’t sing.”
“Ah, too bad,” he said, carelessly. “I’ve always had a soft spot for a woman with a beautiful voice.”
Domina shot him a dark glance. “Then be glad you’re not staying here long, Sir Luc. When you return to London, you will doubtless find a woman to your liking.”
“Speaking of which, I do think I’ll be leaving…”
“When?” She could hardly keep the intensity from her voice, she was so eager for him to be gone.
“Just as soon as your father returns. I can’t consider my errand complete until I speak to him.”
Domina swallowed painfully. “You are quite certain? I hate to keep you here with no end to your waiting. You could come back another time. In the spring, perhaps.”
“But I’m here now,” Luc said, “and it seems fate might want me here.”
Domina said nothing to that, and she didn’t dare meet his
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