Lady of Conquest by Teresa Medeiros

Author:Teresa Medeiros [Medeiros, Teresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780553581140
Google: xr7heT06534C
Amazon: 0553581147
Barnesnoble: 0553581147
Goodreads: 891763
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1989-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It was the first of many battle cries they would hear in that long summer. With her hair covered by a cap and her long cloak flying, Gelina led them into the villages at midnight to catch the sleeping watch unaware. On some nights as many as a hundred men would accompany them, traveling from door to door to demand the treasure of that cottage to support the reign of Eoghan Mogh. The victims were offered their lives in exchange. Gelina would stand guard outside the cottages on her huge black mount. Few of the men were even aware that she was a woman.

As they rode north, their gold coffers spilled over with ill-gotten plunder. On more than one night, Gelina, Rodney, and Eoghan would share a toast of ale while the gold coins spilled through Gelina’s fingers to land in a shining heap on the floor. There was no stopping them now.

Gelina was trapped in a hazy dream with no beginning and no end. The cool coins that flowed over her fingertips matched the spreading ice that captured her spirit. Greed took root in her soul, its tendrils smothering the flashes of guilt and nostalgia that threatened to engulf her.

One hot night she sat perched on Silent Thunder awaiting the marauder who lingered inside the white-washed cottage. Sweat trickled down her sides under the heavy cloak and she shifted in the saddle in a vain attempt to stop the tickling sensation. She jerked the reins at the sudden noise behind her.

The horse pranced around to face the soldier who stood with sword in hand. One look at his stature and braids and she knew who had sent him. She groaned, wishing him far away to a country she had never seen. He did not disappear. Seeing no choice, she pulled forth her sword in one fluid motion and brandished it in the air with a fierce growl. He still did not disappear.

“Stand and fight, hooligan!” he cried, his cracking voice revealing him to be little more than a lad.

She leapt off the horse and crouched in a fighter’s stance. The young warrior jabbed his sword at her. He found his attempt a vain one as she parried his attack neatly, stepping aside and nearly knocking the sword from his hand with a deft blow from her weapon. She became dimly aware that the man she awaited had returned and was watching the fight with a smile, a sack of gold in each hand.

The swords crossed again and again, the clang of cold metal echoing in the heat of the night. She met each thrust with an equally clever parry. Taking her sword in both hands, she caught the soldier off guard by leaping sideways and whirling in a circle, catching his wrist with the blunt side of her sword. His weapon sailed through the air as he knelt and grasped his wrist with a cry of pain. She turned to mount her horse.

“Watch it!” It was only the hissed words of the man with the gold that sent her spinning around with sword outstretched.

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