Medieval 01 - Untamed

time.”
    â€œWe can hold out,” Simon said. “The keep is secure for a siege.”
    â€œThen they will simply attack the traveling household first and come at us later,” Dominic said.
    â€œAye,” Sven said. “That is Duncan’s plan. He is a shrewd one, lord.”
    â€œWhat of the Reevers themselves? Are they content to follow Duncan?” Dominic asked.
    â€œThe best are. The worst would follow anyone who promised bloodletting, including Rufus.”
    â€œDuncan’s cousin,” Dominic said musingly. “Is he half the leader Duncan is?”
    â€œNay. Duncan is like you, lord. Men would follow him into Hell itself. Only dogs would follow Rufus across a room, and then only if he carried bloody meat in both hands.”
    Dominic looked thoughtfully out over the fields, letting the tranquility of the evening wash over him.
    He needed it.
    Since Meg had become his wife in truth as well as in law, she had awakened each night with her dreams a chill sweat on her skin. When he questioned her, the answers were always the same, because the dream was always the same.
    Danger comes .
    What kind of danger? Plague? Siege? Poison? Ambush?
    I don’t know. I don’t know! I know only that danger stalks Blackthorne Keep. Each night it comes closer, closer, closer! Hold me, Dominic. Hold me. I fear for you, my lord. I fear …
    He held her, stroked her hair, warmed her with his own warmth. And in time, dawn came.
    But night always followed day.
    â€œWell,” Dominic said finally, “at least I know what the danger is now. You may go, Sven. Thank you. As always, your information is invaluable.”
    Simon waited until Sven’s retreating footsteps faded into silence.
    â€œWhat do you mean that now you know what the danger is?” Simon asked.
    â€œMy Glendruid wife dreams, but not clearly.”
    â€œYet she is your true wife ,” Simon said, emphasizing the final word. “Whatever her feelings might be for Duncan, she has given herself to you.”
    â€œAye,” said Dominic in a low voice. “She is my true wife.”
    But she speaks not of love to me. She speaks of pleasure, of danger, of laughter, of the keep, of the garden, of spring’s green embrace…but not of love .
    Heal me, Meg .
    Love me .
    Give me sons .
    Simon clapped Dominic on the back with silent affection.
    â€œThe people of the keep knew it,” Simon said with satisfaction. “The moment you returned from the hunt with Meg shining like the sun in your arms, they knew.”
    There was no answer.
    Motionless, silent, Dominic looked out over the serene land until nothing was left of light in the sky but the moon’s scimitar smile.
    Simon waited for his brother’s attention without impatience. He had waited in just this way many times after Sven had given a report and Dominic stood on a vantage point to study the place he must take by force or guile.
    â€œI think,” Dominic said finally, “it is time to give the Devil his due.”
    â€œPardon?”
    â€œJohn of Cumbriland, Lord of Blackthorne, shall have a funeral feast.”
    Simon was too shocked to speak.
    â€œThere will be music and mummers and games,” Dominic continued.
    â€œGames,” Simon said neutrally.
    â€œAye. It is time that Duncan and his Reevers test the mettle of Blackthorne Keep’s knights.”
    There was a startled silence followed by a short bark of laughter.
    â€œBattle without bloodshed,” Simon said in admiration. “Very clever. But very dangerous. What if the Reevers decide to hell with games and fight in earnest?”
    â€œThen the dogs of war will feast on flesh again.”
    What Dominic didn’t say was that the flesh would likely be his own. The Scots Hammer was as formidable a foe as Dominic had ever faced over drawn swords.
    And Dominic would face him in single combat before he would allow the dogs of war to be unleashed.
    With a final sweeping glance over the battlement, Dominic turned away from the land he had fought to own all his life, and from the dream of peace that had always eluded him. Such things lay in the unchangeable past or the untouchable future. All that he could reach lay in the present.
    And the golden bells she wore called to him.
    Dominic left the battlements without a word, walking in long strides to Meg’s room. He didn’t pause to knock on the door, for he knew it wouldn’t be bolted