Chapter 14
Gawyn spurred his horse hard toward the gypsy camp he had spotted on the road. Justina! She might have sought protection with them. Or perchance they had seen her. He needed to find her. Desperation was rising in him and he had to push it down time and again. Too many images rose in his mind’s eye. Justina lying wounded in a patch of grass. Had he missed her? Doubt festered. Justina’s clothing torn, and her legs spread.
He tightened his grip on the reins of the horse, and it came to a halt, rearing slightly as a large man approached him. Gawyn recalled seeing him in the castle during the judgements.
“Greetings!” he called. “You ride late at night, my friend. What brings you out in the dark?”
“I’m looking for a woman,” Gawyn told him.
“Aren’t we all?” Nicodemus roared in a hearty laughing voice.
“Her name is Justina. I have to find her. She has dark hair and is wearing --”
“Gawyn,” a voice whispered.
Gawyn turned. For a moment, he thought it was a dream. She stood there, beside the wagon looking breathless. His heart missed a beat at the sight of her. “Justina,” he whispered. His voice was ragged as if her name had been ripped from the depths of his soul. He realized he had been preparing himself for her death. He slid from his horse and rushed forward. She met him halfway, throwing her arms around him. He caught her, and she slumped in his arms. He physically held her up, supporting her. He couldn’t resist pressing his lips to hers with such relief and elation that his knees almost buckled.
Her face was moist and hitching sobs came from her open mouth.
Gawyn pulled back to look into her red eyes. Her long, dark lashes were clumped together. He looked down at her face, framing it with his hands. He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, trying to wipe her agony away, yet knowing he could never do it. Just looking at her sent waves of desperation and relief and an explosive need through him. He pulled her tight against him, holding her.
She pressed her wet face into his chest. “Adam...”
“I know,” he whispered, stroking her hair.
Around them, the gypsy camp was strangely quiet. Gawyn scanned the area over her shoulder. They had to get out of there before Hungars tracked them. They weren’t safe here. He tucked her protectively beneath his arm and turned.
Aurora stepped from the bushes beside the wagon. She stood absolutely still for a long moment.
Gawyn blinked. It was as if she had materialized from the darkness. “Aurora,” he called in relief and held out the arm that wasn’t holding Justina for her.
Aurora came forward into his embrace.
He squeezed her tightly, desperately glad to see her. “Damien thinks... we all thought you were dead.”
Aurora shook her head as she pulled back to look at him. “It was Megan. They --”
“Never mind,” Gawyn interrupted quickly. She didn’t need to relive the horror he had seen in the clearing. It must have been Megan’s body he had seen and mistaken for Aurora. They had bashed in her face beyond recognition. “Damien thinks you’re dead. We have to get back to the castle.”
The lead gypsy took a deep breath. “Two sobbing women. I don’t envy you, my friend.”
“Thank you for taking care of them,” Gawyn said. He released Aurora but kept Justina close to him. They all began to move toward his horse.
Aurora stopped and turned to the group of gypsies. “You were kind to us. You are welcomed back to Acquitaine as honored guests anytime.”
Nicodemus took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “We were only returning the favor, my lady.”
They barely said anything as they made their way back toward the sally port. Aurora rode the horse, but Justina refused and Gawyn kept her in his hold. Both women looked ragged and tired. He continued to look down at Justina as they walked. There was a sadness in her eyes he knew he could never erase. Her father, her brother, gone. It seemed like every time she came near Damien, someone died. Although it had not been his fault. If only Damien had not wanted him to find out what she knew. If only she had not caught his brother’s eye, she would have lived on the farm, peacefully. But then, he never would have met her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and it drew her attention. She met his gaze and tightened her hold around his waist as if she thought he would vanish.
Gawyn looked at Aurora. Her chin was falling to her chest.
Gawyn glanced toward the castle. The wall surrounding the city was in the distance, a target within striking distance. They would make it there by sun up. It was slow going having to walk, but three would not fit on the horse. “Let’s rest here.” Gawyn began to lead the horse off the path.
“No!” Aurora cried. “We can’t.”
“Aurora, you’re exhausted. Just a short rest and we’ll be on the way. I promise we won’t be long.”
Aurora glanced down at Justina. She gently bit her lower lip and consented with a nod.
Gawyn knew she was concerned about Damien. As was he. But he had to be realistic. Both Justina and Aurora had been up all night. They had experienced horrendous death. It was a man’s world to deal with that type of violence. A woman had no place in it. And he wanted to shelter Justina. He had wanted to, but he had failed.
When they reached a small stream, Gawyn lifted his arm from Justina and helped Aurora dismount. Then he led the horse to the stream, allowing him to drink. He wished he had a flask of ale for the women, but he had ridden out of the castle without any provisions, intent on finding Justina. His gaze swept her. She stared at the ground, her long dark hair hanging in waves past her slumping shoulders. Her brown dress was stained with smears of blood. She knew about Adam. Had she been there when it happened? It didn’t matter where she had been. The only thing that mattered was that she was safe. His gaze moved to Aurora who was staring at the castle. And Aurora...
He was glad she was alive. Very glad.
“We’ll make our way to the sally port. Steward Thomas is waiting there.” He touched Aurora’s arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll be home soon.” She glanced at him and nodded, but there was no relief in her eyes.
“Are the gates closed?” she asked.
Gawyn nodded. “When I left, the castle was sealed. The Hungars had not attacked, but we knew they were out there.”
She looked back at the wall. “Because we didn’t return.”
“Lewis made it back from Auch and told us the Hungars attacked. Aurora, we went to the falls looking for you.”
She nodded again. “I decided to go to McGregan Clearing. It was closer to the castle. Safer, I thought.”
He grabbed her arms and turned her to face him. “You didn’t know. How could you? This is not your fault.”
“I am lady of the castle.” Tears entered her blue eyes. “I made the choice to picnic there.”
“And on any other day, it would have been fine. A perfect day to frolic in the grass. You had guards with you.”
“My ladies... All of them... My cousin.” Her voice broke.
“Aurora,” Gawyn said firmly, his fingers gripping her arms tightly. “Your people need you now. Damien needs you.”
She looked back at the wall, as if she could see him and blinked away her tears. When she finally spoke, her voice held conviction and authority. “Then why did we stop?”
Gawyn grinned in satisfaction. “We’ll leave in a moment.” He turned to Justina. She was watching them with weary eyes. Her lips turned down at the corners. He knew she was tired, but also knew her lower lip trembled from sadness. He moved over to her and lifted her chin with his finger. “Are you okay?”
She sighed. “No. But I’ll make it to the castle.”
He couldn’t resist brushing a strand of her hair from her cheek and letting his fingers linger against her skin. When he knew she had gone after Adam, risking her own life, some part of him went mad with worry. But she was safe now. “I wish I could have saved him.”
Justina shook her head. “I know. You would have if you were there. But you weren’t.”
He took her hands and kissed each one. “I’m sorry.”
She wrapped her arms around him and he squeezed her tightly, holding her, comforting her as best he could. She buried her face against his shoulder.
“Gawyn,” Aurora called. “What’s that?” She pointed off to the distance toward the castle.
Gawyn followed her gaze. Just before the city walls, in the clearing to the right, there was a glimmering light that grew brighter as he watched. It could be nothing other than a fire. As they watched, another joined. Dread and apprehension filled Gawyn. “It’s the Hungars. Time to go.” He lifted Aurora onto the saddle. He turned to Justina. “Sorry, but we have to hurry. You must ride.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he lifted her and settled her behind Aurora. His gaze shifted to the flames. Campfires. They were laying siege to the castle. He took the reins of the horse and began to jog toward the castle.
The problem was those fires were close to the sally port. Very close.