Medieval 02 - Forbidden

the forest and wrapped around the Scots Hammer.

17
    I NSTANTLY Duncan fought to free his sword hand, but only succeeded in tangling himself more tightly within the net’s coils. Crying Duncan’s name, Amber pulled out her dagger and leaned toward him.
    Before she could slash at the net, a man appeared beside her and grabbed her wrist. The hatred that poured through the contact was more painful than anything she had ever felt. Amber gave a horrifying cry and fell senseless to the ground. Nor did she move again, even when Duncan called her name.
    Duncan went mad.
    He clawed at the net, ripping its tough fibers as though they were straw.
    “Now!” cried the man who had grabbed Amber.
    Two more men ran from the forest. One of them seized Duncan’s left foot and heaved upward, sending him tumbling to the ground.
    All three men jumped on their captive, trying to subdue him. Though one of the men was as big as Duncan, and the others hardly smaller, Duncan had a berserker’s strength.
    “Simon, grab his other arm!” Dominic said harshly.
    “I’m trying!” Simon retorted through his teeth.
    “God’s blood,” Sven said, “he’s strong as an ox.”
    “Duncan!” Meg called. “ Duncan ! You’re safe! Don’t you remember us?”
    For an instant Duncan hesitated, caught between past and present, held by a half-remembered voice.
    An instant was all that Dominic required. His thumbs dug savagely on either side of Duncan’s neck. The Scots Hammer kicked once, then fought no more.
    When Dominic lifted his hands again, Duncan lay as senseless as Amber. Simon wasted no time in removing the net while Sven bound hands and feet as they became untangled.
    “It is done,” Sven said. “Even a white bear couldn’t break free of these bonds.”
    “Take his feet,” Dominic said to Simon. “And remember—we ask questions of him, but offer no answers of our own beyond our friendship and his bewitchment.”
    Simon bent and grabbed Duncan’s feet.
    “I still think,” Simon muttered, “we should just tell him and be done with the mummery.”
    “Aye, but Meg said otherwise, and she is the healer.”
    “God’s teeth,” hissed Simon.
    “And Hell’s, too,” Dominic agreed.
    Together, Dominic and Simon heaved Duncan facedown over his horse’s back. Walking on either side, they quickly vanished into the forest. Sven bent, scooped up Amber, and followed at a trot.
    Meg caught the remaining horse’s reins and led it to the rough, hidden camp Dominic had made while he waited for the best moment to grab Duncan. With each movement Meg made, the tiny golden bells she wore at her wrists and waist chimed sweetly.
    While Sven tied the horses, Meg went to where Duncan was lying motionless on the ground. As she knelt, Dominic came to stand nearby.
    Only Simon noted that Dominic’s hand was on his sword.
    Meg put her palm on Duncan’s chest. His heart beat steadily. His skin was warm. His breathing was even. She let out a sigh of relief and removed her hand.
    “That was a nasty Saracen trick, husband.”
    “Better than the butt of an axe handle,” Dominic said bluntly. “Duncan is dazed, that’s all.”
    “His neck will be bruised.”
    “He is fortunate to still have his precious neck,” Dominic retorted.
    Meg didn’t argue. It was the simple truth.
    “Dominic is the only lord I know,” Simon said, “who wouldn’t have hanged Duncan out of hand as a traitor.”
    With a muted chiming of bells, Meg stood and touched her husband’s cheek.
    “I know,” she said proudly. “That is why you are the Glendruid Wolf. You are strong enough not to kill.”
    Dominic smiled and covered his wife’s hand with his own.
    “You had better see to the witch,” Sven said as he threw a blanket over Amber. “She’s pale and cold as frost.”
    Bells sang softly as Meg hurried to Amber, knelt, and touched her. Amber’s skin was indeed cold. Her breathing was erratic, too shallow. Her heartbeat was too rapid.
    Frowning, Meg turned to Simon.
    “What did you do to her?” she asked.
    “I grabbed her wrist.”
    “Harshly enough to break bones?” Meg asked.
    “No, though I wouldn’t weep if I had,” Simon said. “The hell-witch deserves worse than a few broken bones for what she did to Duncan.”
    “I saw it, lady,” Sven said to Meg. “He barely touched the girl, yet she screamed like a soul feeling the fires of hell for the first time.”
    Meg tilted her head in the manner of someone listening to a distant sound.
    “It