Sworn Loyalty - A Medieval Romance by Shea Lisa

Author:Shea, Lisa [Shea, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-12-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Mary strode around the courtyard in the shimmering dawn light, pressing down on her injured leg with growing force. She smiled as the wound throbbed but did not impede her progress.

Michael chuckled, shaking his head. “Not yet, you don’t,” he warned her. “I know the bandage is off now, but you’re not yet ready for sparring.”

Mary’s shoulders slumped. To see the men out in motion drew her strongly. She wanted to be in their midst, dodging a block, whipping the light wooden blade around against an unsuspecting hip. A longing throbbed in her so strongly that she could barely think, could barely –

There was a motion at the stairs, she turned, and her gaze met Erik’s. Time staggered to a stop. It suddenly became crystal clear to her that the torment in her heart had little to do with the men-at-arms advancing and retreating across the smooth cobblestones. It took all of her will to stay in place, to hold back from running pell-mell into his arms and melting into him.

A flash of silver and green, and Lynessa stepped out beside him, tucking her hand around his arm. Mary turned, emotions twisting in turmoil within her. This was all her own doing. She had been the one to call for Lynessa to join them. Now every second was sheer torture.

The pair strolled across the yard to stand with Michael. Erik’s voice was tight with an emotion Mary could not put a name to. “Good morning, Michael. Are you up for some sparring?”

Michael nodded. “At your leisure, My Lord.”

Mary shivered. It was all sliding so effortlessly in place. Erik’s station in the keep. Lynessa at his side, as if she had been born to be there. And in fact had she? Had this been her dream since she was a young girl?

The two men moved into the courtyard, saluted, and were in motion. Michael drove an attack at Erik’s right shoulder, and Mary waited for Erik to bring his own sword up in a block, to follow up with a sliding blow to the arm.

Instead Erik whipped his sword down hard on top of Michael’s blade, the ringing noise echoing throughout the courtyard, the blades driving hard into the stone.

Michael’s brow creased; he stepped back and reset. This time he dove at Erik’s leg, the tip seeking to draw up and in.

SLAM. Again Erik drove his blade down on top of Michael’s, and Mary could see the reverberation of the strike travel up the older man’s arm.

Lynessa’s smile widened into a grin. “That’s my warrior,” she stated with pride. “Even when he was younger he could best any man for miles. Good skill to have when there are bandits about.” She gave a shrug, then looked around. “The boys will be at it for hours. Come, let us go in and explore this marvelous keep.”

Mary desperately wanted to stay. Something was wrong. Erik’s attacks were brutal and sharp. Surely even Lynessa should be able to see that. But the woman

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