Medieval 01 - Untamed

strong.”
    â€œSo is the Scots Hammer.”
    Simon didn’t disagree.
    â€œGo find the priest before he is too drunk to shrive us,” Dominic said.
    â€œHe is found,” Simon said.
    Dominic followed his brother’s black glance.
    The priest was indeed found. He was standing next to Duncan, talking earnestly while stripping meat from a large joint. Obviously bored, Duncan listened to the priest without taking his eyes from the crowd.
    When Simon and Dominic walked up, Duncan sensed instantly that he was at last going to be given the chance to test the mettle of the king’s Sword.
    â€œSo, you are finally going to join the games,” Duncan said with deep satisfaction.
    â€œAfter a fashion,” Dominic said. He turned to the priest. “Are you sober enough to shrive us?”
    Duncan became very still. His clear hazel eyes went from Dominic to Simon and back.
    â€œSince when do knights need to be shriven before a simple game?” Duncan asked softly.
    â€œWife stealing is not a game,” Dominic said. His voice was as flat and cold as his eyes.
    â€œWife stealing?” Duncan repeated, shocked.
    Duncan’s knights turned and looked at Dominic and Simon as though they had drawn their swords.
    â€œAye,” Dominic said grimly. “Wife stealing.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œA few days past, while we rode out to hunt.”
    Puzzled, Duncan looked at Simon. Where once the possibility of friendship had gleamed in the other man’s eyes, there now was only a bleak promise of Hell.
    â€œI don’t understand,” Duncan said quietly.
    For several long moments Dominic studied the Scots Hammer. Reluctantly Dominic concluded that Duncan was probably telling the truth. Whatever had happened the day of the hunt hadn’t been Duncan’s doing.
    Unfortunately, that changed nothing. The Scots Hammer was too strong a leader to go unchecked. His very life threatened the stability of Blackthorne Keep.
    â€œWhen Meg’s palfrey tired of the chase,” Dominic said, pitching his voice to carry above the background noise, “I dropped back to ride with her. Soon we heard another hunting horn.”
    Duncan began talking, only to be cut off by Dominic.
    â€œMeg recognized the horn,” Dominic said. “It was yours, Duncan of Maxwell. Further, the dog we heard pursuing us was one of yours, full-throated and savage. It had been put on the trail of human game.”
    â€œI did not do this thing,” Duncan said distinctly. “I would not run Meggie to ground like a felon to be hanged.”
    Dominic smiled narrowly. “Indeed? I think you would, Duncan. I think you did . You know that Meg is the key to the loyalty of the people of Blackthorne Keep. Whoever holds her, holds the land.”
    â€œAye.” Duncan’s voice was grim. “On that we agree.”
    â€œAnd because there is ‘affection’ between you two, you tried to steal the wife God and King Henry had given to me, thinking thereby to steal Blackthorne Keep as well.”
    â€œNay!”
    â€œYou may shout nay until the sheep are safely in their folds, but I won’t believe you. Nor will any man,” Dominic said flatly. “You have a choice, Duncan of Maxwell. You may leave this land, never to return—”
    â€œNay,” Duncan interrupted.
    â€œâ€”or you may face me in single combat here and now.”
    A hush spread outward from the group of men across the meadow like ripples in a pond.
    Meg, who had been talking with the midwife and Old Gwyn about Adela’s recovery, looked up. In the wake of the odd silence came excited words as news of the coming battle spread.
    The Sword .
    The Scots Hammer .
    Ordeal by Combat .
    Blood left Meg’s face. She swayed in the instants before she gathered her self-control.
    â€œThey cannot,” she whispered.
    Yet Meg knew even as she spoke that Duncan and Dominic would fight.
    And one would die.
    She picked up her long emerald skirt and ran to the knot of knights. The people in the meadow made way for her, warned by the sweet golden cries of the bells she wore.
    The knights were also warned. As one, men turned and looked at the Glendruid girl who was running toward them, her long hair lifting like flames on the wind.
    Meg had eyes for only one of the men. She neededhis closeness as she had never needed anything, even breath itself. Heedless of hauberk and sword and the cold scrape of steel