Heart's Ransom (Heart and Soul) by Loch Kathryn

Author:Loch, Kathryn [Loch, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-08-17T21:00:00+00:00

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Talon sent his letters within the required amount of time. But the months of August, September, and October passed with nary a word from anyone. Rumor from those who traveled through Montgomery’s gates said that the invasion threat from France came to nothing. But the herald Talon sent to Montfort had not returned.

He was at wits end and Gwen struggled to keep him on the edge of sanity. The good news, as she told him, was that they had heard nothing from Rose’s abductors. Surely, if they were displeased, he would be the first to know.

The only bright point in his bleak world was his growing relationship with Gwen. He shared his bed with her, and Gwen opened the door to new delights. She never rejected him; instead she welcomed him whenever he needed to find solace from the pain. It was as if she actually understood how deeply he hurt. In the past, all he had known was Eleanor’s hatred of him, but now Gwen’s compassion seemed to encompass all.

In the month of November, he received word from Montfort. His advice was well heeded. Edward was no longer a hostage, but Montfort thought it prudent to keep him in custody.

“What?” Talon gasped as he re-read the letter. “He grants Edward his freedom, but keeps him in custody? This makes no sense.”

“It makes perfect sense,” Gwen said, as she read over his shoulder. “Montfort follows your demand but keeps the true power of the kingdom within arm’s reach.”

Talon crumpled the note in his hand, roaring his rage. “Rose is dead because of this foolishness!”

“Nay!” Gwen barked, clutching his arm. “You did exactly what the abductors demanded. Montfort heeded your advice, there is no way anyone could predict this. Rose will not pay the price, trust me on this.”

He bellowed for wine, wanting only to drink himself into oblivion but that too failed. That eve his ironclad will broke, Talon could take no more.

He fell into a rage, the pain in his heart too agonizing to ignore. He only wanted to bring an end to this, to know if Rose was alive or dead, to stop hurting. The limbo of it all threatened to rip him apart. He grabbed his sword, ready to slay anyone who came near him, ready to tear his entire earldom apart brick by brick in order to find Rose, but Gwen’s gentle hand on his stopped him.

Her luminous green eyes gazed up at him, filled with tears. “I know, Talon,” she whispered. “I know the pain within you. I know you are weary, but please, be strong just for a time more. Please. Can you do this for me?”

His body shook with the power of the heartache within him. “I cannot, Gwen. God help me, I can no longer suffer this.”

“Rose is not dead!” she snapped. “Would you abandon her to face this alone?”

Her words drove a dagger through his heart. Nay, he could not abandon Rose if there was the smallest chance she was alive. His hand opened and he dropped the sword.

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