Part 19 (2/2)

”Hmmm.”

There was something hidden in that idle comment. ”What?”

Simon folded his arms over his chest. ”I find it odd myself. 'Tis something Stryder used to say when we were youths together.”

Hmmm indeed. That was interesting. ”You think it a threat against Stryder?”

”With Damien, one never knows. Something truly horrible happened to him in the Holy Land. He didn't come back intact and I don't mean just his face was disfigured. Methinks his mind as well.”

”Disfigured?”

He nodded. ”It's why he wears his mask. Apparently the Saracens tortured him and his face was destroyed. To my knowledge no one has seen it since he returned.”

So that explained it. ”I thought he had leprosy.”

”Nay. But from the tales that are told, he would probably prefer that.”

No doubt. Lochlan let out a tired breath as he scanned the crowd again seeking a dark, slight form.

”If you're seeking our lady, they took her above as soon as she entered the room. Most likely to get her away from...oh what term did the crone use? Your most lecherous lips.”

He cringed at Simon's teasing. ”Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

Simon grinned playfully. ”Nay, I was hoping to incense you.”

”For any particular reason?”

”My nature. Now if you'll excuse me, I see my lady wife is attempting to climb out of her chair.

Let me go a.s.sist her.”

Lochlan watched as Simon rushed across the hall to a pet.i.te but plain woman. Her features softened the moment she saw him and the love in her expression made his own chest tighten.

He would give anything to have a woman look at him like that.

Just once.

Simon kissed her hand before he practically picked her up out of her chair and set her on her feet. Offering her his arm, he escorted her to the stairs.

Lochlan glanced up to the ceiling above his head as he wondered where Catarina was and what she was doing. He felt her absence like a physical pain.

But they would be together again soon enough. Holding close to that thought, he made his way back toward his tent.

Cat couldn't stop pacing as time once again dragged on unmercifully. It really was true that time only pa.s.sed swiftly when one enjoyed oneself. If one were suffering, it lagged like the weakest of snails.

But finally midnight came.

Relieved, she used the pretext of needing to go to the garderobe to get past her guards and Reginald's wife. As soon as she was certain they weren't following her, she diverted her course toward the gardens where she'd left Lochlan earlier.

The moon had fallen behind a cloud, making the entire area dark and spooky. Her imagination went wild with seeing demons and wolves in every shadow.

Or worse someone who would call out to the guards to take her.

She moved slowly and with purpose until she was back at the very spot where they'd stood earlier.

Her heart hammering, she tried to peer through the darkness to find her champion. Where are you, Lochlan? The question chased itself around in her mind until she felt a presence behind her.

She turned toward it with a smile...one that faded as soon as she could see the man's face.

It wasn't Lochlan.

Terrified, she started to move away only to run into another man's body. Tall and broad- shouldered, he looked down at her with an evil glint in his eye.

”Evening, Princess.”

Before she could move, he stuffed a cloth in her mouth and wrapped a rope around her body.

She tried to scream and kick, but they seemed to expect it.

The next thing she knew, they'd covered her head with a sack and had her completely tied up.

”She may not have a brother to demand his life, but methinks the king will be sure to kill Lochlan for us. Now leave the cloth and let us go.”

Chapter 11.

Lochlan frowned as he continued to wait for Catarina in the shadows by the stairs. She should have been here long ago. Something was wrong. He knew it.

Worried, he headed outside to where Simon and Stryder were waiting for them so that they could take Catarina to safety. ”She hasn't shown.”

Simon looked to Stryder. ”You did tell her the stairs, correct?”

”Me?” he asked, aghast. ”I thought you were to tell her.”

Simon snorted. ”Nay. I distinctly remember we decided you would be the one to give her the meeting time and place.”

”No one informed me of this. Last word to me was that you would be the one to speak to her.”

A bad feeling went through Lochlan. ”She told me after supper that she'd received my message.”

Stryder scowled. ”Did she say who'd given it to her?”

He shook his head.

A muscle worked in Simon's jaw. ”Do you think Bracken could have told her?”

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