Exiled Heart by Susan Yawn Tanner

Author:Susan Yawn Tanner [Tanner, Susan Yawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945422829
Publisher: Secret Staircase Books, an imprint of Columbine Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2019-12-26T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

The captain lived, but he clutched a grievously wounded arm. His face blanched gray as he stood before the rightful owner of Waytefeld keep, the man whom he had tried his best to defeat, if not kill. “My lord.” He kept his chin lifted, though it was an effort. Underlying the pain of his wound and the weariness of battle was his shame that he had followed orders he knew to be dishonorable. Yet, what choice had he?

“Your name?” Ian’s eyes and voice revealed nothing.

“Leodlow, my lord.”

“Your men fought well.” He assessed Waytefeld’s captain and did not find him lacking. He was a large man, perhaps in his fifties, with the muscular build of a true warrior. His gaze met Ian’s steadily, and a spark of pride lit his eyes at Ian’s compliment.

“They are well trained, my lord. And brave.” Sadness replaced the pride. And so many were now dead.

“You followed your lord’s commands and led them into battle.”

Leodlow knew a moment’s uneasiness. He could not follow this line of conversation. The new lord of Waytefeld spoke almost casually, as though he had not had to battle for what should have been given to him willingly. Leodlow had expected to be questioned sharply, then dragged from here to his death. “Aye, my lord,” he acknowledged. “It was my place to do so.” He was not excusing himself, just making a statement of fact.

“Where lies your loyalty?”

Leodlow knew true confusion now. “With the holder of this keep, my lord. Always.”

“He is dead.” Ian watched the man’s face clear with his words.

“Sir Edmond is dead,” Leodlow agreed, “but I served two others before him.”

“And now?”

“As you command, my lord.” Leodlow began to feel that he might yet have hope of keeping his head attached to his shoulders. He discerned no anger in the young lord facing him. Nor did he appear vengeful that a man would do that which he was paid to do.

Ian nodded abruptly. “See to your arm. We will talk again later.”

Relief flooded Leodlow as he exited hastily.

A small band of Ian’s men clattered down the stairs, and he looked at them expectantly. Their captain, who was called Galen, stepped forward at his questioning look. “There’s naught but womenfolk above. He left none to defend the keep or his women.”

Ian was not surprised. If Ian had been slain on the battlefield, his troops defeated, there would have been little use for further defense of the keep. Sir Edmond would have known that. “Had he a lady?”

“A leman, only, from all we can see.” Galen shifted uncomfortably, recalling still that one’s curses. She would have made an old campaigner proud.

“Then take my lady above stairs and make her safe and comfortable. Her life is in your hands.” He did not expect treachery, but a man could never know.

Ian had started toward the door to the bailey when he chanced a glance back to where Cecile faced Galen. She was clearly arguing, but even as she did so she swayed in her tracks, and he realized she was weak yet.

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