Dream of Me/Believe in Me

was the reminder of the blow she had delivered to him in the courtyard four days before or the still-throbbing wound to his face that would likely leave him scarred for life, Udell would not relent.
    “No,” he snarled. “My honor demands that she suffer the whip.”
    “I grow tired of haggling,” Hawk said. He reached over, pulled together the back of Krysta's gown, and said, “A master is responsible for the actions of his servants, therefore this fault is ultimately mine. Twenty lashes are nothing to me. I will take the whipping for her.”

Chapter SIXTEEN

    H AWK SPOKE SO CASUALLY THAT HE might have been discussing nothing more than the most minor inconvenience. But those who heard him thought differently. As one, they gasped and immediately began to mutter among themselves. Twenty lashes were no small matter even for the strongest among them. What manner of man would offer to take such punishment to spare a woman?
    Krysta could not bear the thought of Hawk hurt and far preferred to bear the pain herself.
    “No!” she cried out, struggling against the ropes.
    Trying his damnedest to control anger so great that it threatened to overwhelm him, Hawk came very close to slamming his hand over her mouth. And why not when every time she opened it, she made things worse? First to the queen, now to the insufferable Udell. Was there no end to her impulsiveness? Or to the proud courage of her nature that forbade her to take the easy way out of any situation?
    He couldn't let himself think like that. Indeed, it would be far better if he thought of nothing at all excepthow to get her away from Udell and the Mercian crowd in the fastest, safest way possible. After that … He allowed himself a scant moment to consider what he would do once Krysta was beyond harm, then returned his attention to Udell.
    “Surely you don't expect me to wait all day? Agree and let's be done.”
    Udell sucked in his breath. Hawk watched impassively the struggle playing out on the Mercian's scowling features. He had already rejected the payment of wergild, even twice the normal amount. To go back now and try to take it would make him appear ridiculous, and that, above all, so vainglorious a braggart could not bear. In his rage, no doubt he had savored the thought of making Krysta suffer but without seeing the trap into which the Hawk had led him. Hawk was, by law, her master. He had, by law, the right to inflict punishment on her. But he also, by law, had the right to take such punishment on himself when she had transgressed against another. Such was never done yet the law supported it. Alfred's law. The very law Udell claimed to uphold.
    “Well?” Hawk said. He looked faintly bored, as though he had better things to do and would get on with them as soon as this small annoyance was sorted out.
    “Piss on you, Hawk of Essex!” Udell snarled. “You think I won't flog you because of who you are? You think you can make such an offer to me and I will be afraid to take it?”
    Hawk let the insult go by with a mere shrug of his broad shoulders. He flicked a bit of dust from the sleeve of his tunic. “Whatever you're going to do, I wish you'd make up your mind.” He glanced over to the side as though just noticing the man who had arrived minutes before.
    “My lord,” Hawk called to him, “will you confirm that I am within my rights? As I am unwilling to have myproperty damaged but am willing to take the punishment upon myself, he must release her.”
    There was a quick inhalation of breath as Alfred stepped into the circle of lords and ladies. The bolder among them dared to show frowns of disapproval yet they all gave way before him, falling back as rats do before the master catcher.
    The king surveyed the scene with a thoughtful air. His gaze lingered a moment on Udell's mutilated cheek, then passed on. Calmly, he said, “The Lord of Essex has the right of it. The girl must be released.”
    Even as he spoke, he gestured to the men-at-arms who just then came running around the corner of the stable. Their sergeant moved forward and with a quick nod of approval from Hawk, cut the ropes that held Krysta. Holding the back of her gown closed with one hand, she laid the other on Hawk's strong arm. Just then she needed contact with him more than anything else. He did not look at her but he did put his hand over hers, completely covering and protecting it.
    “Well?” he asked again, raising an eyebrow at Udell.
    The Mercian stared from Hawk