Dream of Me/Believe in Me

of the reins with one hand, wrapped a steely arm around her, and said, “I'm counting on it.”
    Signaling to his men, he turned back toward the road in the direction from which they had come. His intent was to get Krysta to safety before hunting down Udell. But he was well aware that such might be the Mercian's desperation that he would overtake them quickly. Within the hour, that suspicion was confirmed when the dog barked again. Swiftly, Hawk guided his horse from the road and into the surrounding trees. His men and Thorgold did the same. After his initial warning, the dog fell silent, watching alertly as the men dismounted and deployed.
    “Stay with her,” Hawk told Thorgold. The old troll nodded and guided Krysta farther into the woods. She began to protest but he hushed her firmly. Hawk spared a glance to be sure the pair had vanished, then gave his full attention to the road.
    He did not have long to wait. The pounding of hooves galloping toward them signaled Udell's approach. Long ago, Hawk had worked out a system of hand gestures so that he could issue orders to his men in silence when necessary. He had found it useful more than once and now he did so again.
    Udell and his Mercians never saw the rope strung across the road that stopped the horses in the lead. As the animals reared, panicky, their riders were thrown. Udell landed hard but regained his feet quickly, coming up with his sword drawn. Instantly, Hawk was upon him. As his men engaged the others, he cut Udell off from any help and closed in on him remorselessly. The Mercian paled at the sight of the warrior facing him, but he too was blooded in battle and knew his only hope lay in attack. He came in swiftly, slashing with the broadsword he held clasped in both hands. Hawk merely let him come, easily blocking every blow, all but overwhelmed by the urge to draw out Udell's death. The temptation was great but the thoughtof Krysta stopped him. She needed care and rest without delay.
    As Hawk raised his sword yet again, he found himself suddenly swept clean of all sense of hate or lust for revenge. In his heart and mind, in the essence of his spirit, there was only gratitude that Krysta lived. Beside that nothing else mattered. For the first time since learning she had been taken, he drew a breath that felt pure and free. Deep within him a single shining thought unfolded:
By thy will, Lord.

Chapter EIGHTEEN

    U DELL FROZE, HIS EYES WIDE AND STARING fixedly beyond Hawk. Whatever he saw appeared to fill him with horror but he had little time to contemplate it. The blade of finely honed steel wielded in the hand of a master slashed through air and man together. The Mercian died in an instant, his head severed from his body. His blood drained into the rich earth of the land he had thought to usurp from its anointed king.
    Hawk lowered his sword and looked around. He saw that Udell did not go alone to his fate. The other Mercians were falling to the men Hawk had handpicked for the task. Within minutes, there was only stillness.
    Until the ravens cawed.
    Hawk wiped his sword clean on Udell's cloak. He signaled to two of his men.
    “There's a village about an hour east of the clearing. Get together some of the peasants and see this lot buried.”
    He would not leave even traitors to the ravens and the wolves. But neither would he give them any furtherthought. Quickly, he sought out Krysta, finding her a short distance into the forest. She was still wrapped within his cloak, her hair hanging in a sodden mass down her back, and her face so white he swore he could count every freckle. When she saw him, she sprang up, glared at him, and flung herself into his arms.
    “You had better be all right, you had just better!” she yelled, striking her fists against his chest. The blows were so soft he could scarcely feel them but he knew better than to let her see that.
    “Ouch! Stop that, woman! Udell did not cause me such discomfort as you now inflict.”
    “Is he—?”
    “Of course he is. Now put him from your mind. Thorgold, did you never think to teach this wench manners? Look at her, beating me when all I've done is pull her out of a river and get rid of a nuisance.”
    “I'll leave the manners to ye, lord,” Thorgold said with a chuckle. He whistled for the dog and headed back to the road.
    “I do have manners,” Krysta said plaintively. “Truly I do, it's just that you bring out the worst in me. I cannot think when I am around you. Every time I try