Medieval 01 - Untamed

nobility nor land.
    By God, lady, you will rue the —
    A baby’s first, tremulous cry cut off Dominic’s silent vow. He stood as though transfixed. Relief drove the raging anger from his body, leaving him feeling almost weak. For the first time he noticed the bitter taste that coated his mouth.
    He swallowed, then swallowed again, but his mouth was too dry to wash away the taste of the foul ale. He sheathed his sword with a fumbling motion that would have surprised Simon had he been there to see it.
    â€œYou have given Harry a fine new son,” Meg said to Adela as she finished clearing the baby’s mouth and nostrils. “Take him to your breast, though he likely won’t nurse. He is as weary as you.”
    â€œThank you,” Adela said raggedly. “Now go—before your lord—discovers.”
    â€œHer lord has already discovered,” Dominic said.
    Meg’s startled cry was lost beneath Simon’s shout from the yard.
    â€œDominic?” Simon cried again. “Is all well?”
    â€œI have found her!” Dominic called over his shoulder.
    Before he could add anything, Simon burst into the cabin with his sword drawn.
    â€œStand down,” Dominic said calmly. “All is well. The falcon flew not to Duncan’s wrist.”
    â€œThen why did she break her vow to you? Why did she—”
    Whatever questions Simon had were answered by the baby’s trembling cry.
    â€œBy God,” Simon said, sheathing his sword in a single smooth stroke. “’Tis a new babe.”
    The midwife pushed past Simon into the roomwith total disregard for his superior strength, status, and weaponry.
    â€œNay,” she said angrily. “’Tis a miracle. The poor woman labored in vain for two days. Only when I told her the babe would die before supper—and she with it!—did she allow me to send for your lady.”
    Dominic’s eyes narrowed as he turned to Meg. “Is that true? Has she had a long labor?”
    Adela moaned softly.
    â€œYes,” Meg said as she turned again to Adela. “Now leave, husband, and take your brother with you. This poor woman’s work is not yet finished. And it is woman’s work.”
    Under the hostile eyes of the midwife, Dominic and Simon retreated from the cottage. The light outside hit Dominic like a blow.
    â€œGod’s teeth,” he muttered, shielding his face. “Not since Jerusalem have I seen such blinding sunlight.”
    Simon gave his brother an odd look. “You must have drunk too much ale. The light is no different from any other cloudy day in Cumbriland.”
    When Dominic squeezed his eyes shut to close out the painful light, dizziness and a strange languor crept through him, stealing his power. Distantly he realized that his strength was draining away one heartbeat at a time. Taking a step was difficult.
    He stumbled and barely righted himself.
    â€œDominic?” Simon said in disbelief.
    Again Dominic staggered. This time he almost didn’t catch his balance before he fell.
    â€œGod’s blood, man,” Simon said, appalled. “Are you in your cups?”
    â€œNay,” Dominic said thickly.
    Trying to dispel the maddening slowness of his thoughts and tongue, he shook his head fiercely.Instead of helping him, the movement increased his dizziness.
    â€œSimon, I…”
    This time it was only his brother’s strong arms that prevented Dominic from going to his knees.
    â€œIs it your skull?” Simon asked urgently. “Did I truly hit you that hard?”
    Dominic shook his head. It was a mistake. He made a thick sound and sagged against his brother.
    â€œCan you walk?” Simon asked.
    â€œYes…” Dominic said in a hoarse voice.
    â€œThen do so,” Simon commanded. “ Now .”
    With a great effort, Dominic forced himself to walk toward the war stallions that waited a hundred feet beyond the cottage yard. Mounting Crusader was almost impossible, but finally it was accomplished with the help of Simon’s strength.
    Once in the saddle, Dominic reeled as though he were on the deck of a storm-lashed ship instead of sitting on the back of a motionless horse. While Simon watched in growing fear, his brother’s left foot slipped from the stirrup.
    Dominic was fast losing his senses. There was no way he would be able to ride even the short distance to the keep.
    â€œHold, Crusader,” Simon commanded as he