Carpathian 00 - The Scarletti Curse

talk to me about Francesco or Dominic right now. They were supposed to stay with you at all times, not allow you to flit away from them at any opportunity." Giovanni politely held the door open for her. "They cannot protect you if they do not know where you are."
    It was a small thing, Giovanni's opening the door for her, but that courtly gesture made Nicoletta feel cared for. No one had performed the little niceties for her before, and Giovanni did it as if she had every right to such respect. She smiled at him, refraining from arguing further. It was enough that he was letting her go against his better judgment.
    Once outside she inhaled deeply to allow the wind and sea spray to carry their tales to her. Overhead the raven circled once, twice, while Nicoletta settled in front of the don on his horse. Then the bird turned inland, away from the sea, flying as straight as an arrow.
    "Hurry, Giovanni. The injuries are severe, but it is not too late." she said. It was the first time she had uttered such words to him without fear. The don might carry madness in his blood, but he watched over his wife with a fierce desire to protect her.
    His arms were tight around her as he held the reins, the wall of his chest a support for her back so that her head could rest on his shoulder. "I have complete faith in you, cara mia." His words were soft in her ear, in her mind, settling in her heart.
    Nicoletta smiled as the horse swallowed up the miles with its long strides. Giovanni had gotten the directions from the waiting runner, and as night began to fall, he pressed the animal to greater speeds.
    The encampment was small, up amidst the boulders jutting above the tree line, an area Nicoletta had never seen. She was certain they were on the border of Giovanni's lands, and as he reined in the horse and called out to someone unseen, she was more certain than ever.
    "Are we at war?" she asked in a low tone, looking around her at the hastily erected camp. There was a secrecy about the encampment she couldn't otherwise explain away.
    When Giovanni announced their presence, several men slowly emerged from the shadows into plain Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    view. Many had various wounds, and all looked exhausted. Nicoletta slid from the horse onto the ground, swaying slightly as she tried to find her legs after the long ride. She forgot her question as she looked around her at the men's bloodstained clothing. Giovanni tossed the reins to one of the soldiers, yanked her satchel free, and took her arm to help her over the uneven ground. His fingers tightened like a band around her upper arm, and he leaned into her. "Dio! Nicoletta, you have forgotten your shoes again."
    Nicoletta barely noticed. She had run barefoot for so many years, it seemed natural to her, but her husband sounded so exasperated, she flashed him a quick grin. For one timeless moment his eyes met hers. There was pride there, respect, and something far deeper and richer that turned her heart over.
    They had time for one shared smile, one moment of complete understanding, and then she was led to the most injured patient.
    Giovanni watched her perform her tasks, never taking his eyes from her small, slender figure as she worked quickly and efficiently with far more experience than one of her age should have. She was totally focused on her patient, a young soldier with several stab wounds in his shoulder, chest, and leg. The don was amazed at her power. Her presence alone commanded respect. Others leapt to obey her quietly spoken orders, not looking to him to verify them at all. He, too, found himself leaping to get the things she needed, amazed at the amount of hot water she insisted upon. But he soon became a complete believer.
    Giovanni would have sworn no one could save the young man, but she inspired such confidence, commanded such obedience, no one in the camp thought she would fail. He was beginning to think Nicoletta willed the wounds to heal.
    She worked until the darkness descended and the wind howled through the camp, causing the men to shiver. Tucking blankets around the wounded man, Nicoletta straightened up, looking around her at the faces of the others. "Who else is injured here? This man will live with good care. You must see to it he is taken to shelter as soon as possible and given plenty of liquids. Perhaps he can be brought to the palazzo, where I will be able to attend to him daily." She glanced at