Slave of My Heart

 

Author: NA10

Fandom: X-Files

Pairing(s): Mulder/Skinner (AU)

Warnings: spanking, violence

Spoilers: none

Summary: Finding his family disgraced and himself sold into slavery, Fox

learns that only one man stands between him and a horrifying fate - Lord

Walter.

 

Nominated Category:

Best Slave!Fic: Acted TV & Movies - Slash

---

 

Part 4: Lost Part 5: Found

Part 4: Lost

Chapter 1

 

Fox

 

We traveled home in easy stages for which I was grateful since my backside was tender from both the warming it had received and our reconciliation afterward. Lord Walter was silent for the first part of our journey, a fact that I attributed to his leave-taking from his brother. The king had not been pleased to lose his company three days early and his dark glance at me had left no doubt as to whom he blamed for his brother's change of plans. I had seen the conflict of desires on my master's face, his sorrow at giving his brother pain mixed with eagerness to be away from Court, and thought that King Jeffrey deliberately made it harder for Lord Walter. It wasn't as if the King was alone – he had a wife and a son and scores of nobles ready to fawn on him at a lift of his finger – so I thought he should behave more graciously towards his brother. Perhaps I was being uncharitable, perhaps the King had secret sorrows that I was unaware of and only his brother could ease, but I was not inclined to be particularly charitable towards the man who had taken away my freedom and would have no compunction about handing me over to a monster like the Earl of Spender.

 

So it was with a light heart that I rode through the open gate of the Town and on the road towards home. My friends knew I was well and would continue to search for my sister. Prince Gibson had found a moment before I left to assure me that all was well with him and that the dreaded tutor had been discharged. My master and I were reconciled and closer than ever. And we were heading home.

 

By the end of the first day, the brooding look had gradually left Lord Walter's face and he abandoned his solitary riding to take up a place beside me. I knew that my face reflected my pleasure at his presence beside me, and he indulged me with some tales about his youth. I know he saw the wistful look on my face as he talked about traveling about the Continent and he reached out to touch my knee affectionately.

 

"When the situation here becomes more stable, you and I shall do some traveling. Would you like that, cub?"

 

"Oh, yes!" I said eagerly. "I've read about so many wonderful places but, until recently, never traveled further than my home. Where would we go?"

 

"Italy – there are many interesting cities to see there. Greece, if we can manage that." He smiled over at me, a wicked twinkle in his eyes. "I would love to spend some time with you on one of the smaller Greek islands. It's so warm that the natives run around with little clothing – perhaps we could get a little color on that pale skin of yours."

 

I flushed at the idea of running around nearly naked in public, equally aroused and embarrassed at the idea. Lord Walter laughed and leaned closer, murmuring, "You blush so beautifully, my cub. Such a contrast between my shy slave in public and my wanton bedmate."

 

I know that the flush on my face intensified. "I - want to please you, Master."

 

"You do please me, Fox. You please me very much. And it's not very noble of me to tease you like this."

 

"I don't mind," I said honestly. "I'd rather have your company than anyone else's - even when you tease or scold or - or punish me."

 

He looked at me with a curious expression and said, slowly, "I don't believe that I have even been so flattered."

 

I looked down at my horse's neck. "I doubt that, Master. I was not raised in the Court. I don't have the honeyed words or fine manners of the lords and ladies."

 

"Thank the gods for that." Lord Walter's voice was gruff and I was worried that he was angry with me. "I like you as you are, my Fox - honest, natural, open. A bit impulsive and headstrong, which gets you into trouble, but I'd rather have that than some insincere Court slut looking to engender favors or enhance their standing by submitting to my caresses."

 

There was sadness as well as a hint of bitterness to his words and my heart ached for him. "Master, it is no trial to me to submit in that way."

 

His face softened at that and he squeezed my knee. "I know, my heart, and if this weren't an open road, I would reward that declaration appropriately. As it is, my thanks will have to wait till we can be more private."

 

I flushed again, this time from heat instead of embarrassment. "Yes, Master," I murmured. "How - how soon till we stop for the night?"

 

He chuckled and released my knee. "Too long by far, and I think I had best ride apart for awhile before I forget myself." He urged his horse forward to join Captain Scully at the head of the column. My eyes followed him the entire way and I found myself looking forward to the night.

 

We rode into the courtyard of Beauforte late the next afternoon. I breathed a sigh of relief as I came out of the saddle. Two days riding had not been kind to my abused backside although Lord Walter had refused to add to my discomfort by taking me during the previous night's halt, and had instead pleasured me with hand and mouth. I flushed, remembering that, and could hardly wait to be back in our own bed again.

 

Lord Walter must have seen my blush because he smiled and put an arm around me. "Head on to our rooms and get your bath. William will get my bags."

 

"I'm fine," I protested.

 

"Which is why you've been wincing every time we hit a rough spot in the road," he said with a mock growl. "Go to, brat. I'll be along shortly."

 

With a nod, I headed to the bathing chamber and stripped off travel-stained garments before sinking into the gently bubbling water with a blissful sigh. It was good to be home. No matter how nice it had been to see my old friends, I couldn't help but feel sad and uneasy in Town, and it was a relief to be safe within these walls. I closed my eyes and relaxed in the warm water.

 

A moment later, I felt someone shake me and muttered, "G'way."

 

"Fox, love, don't fall asleep here. Lord Walter will be sore vexed if you drown."

 

"Maggie?" I managed to open an eye and smiled to see her familiar face.

 

"Aye, my lad, and I'm glad to see you home safe and sound." She set a plate of meat pies on the floor by the bathing pool. "It's been too quiet around here without you."

 

"Unjust, Maggie," I said. "I haven't caused that much trouble."

 

"Are you going to tell me that you didn't get into trouble while you were gone?" she said tartly and I flushed. "I thought as much. Out with you, lad, and into bed."

 

"But Lord Walter - "

 

"Will see to himself for one night. You're no good to him half-dead-asleep or drowned."

 

I let Maggie shepherd me out of the tub and into bed, secretly relishing the attention. I had missed this, had taken her mothering for granted, and I never intended to do so again. Before long, I was settling in bed in a nightrobe, sipping a mug of mulled wine while Maggie fluffed pillows and clucked over me indulgently. Lord Walter entered the chamber and raised an eyebrow.

 

"Enjoying yourself, brat?" he asked dryly.

 

Maggie turned her attention on him with all the ferocity of a mother cat recovering a lost kit, chivvying him out of his clothes, into the bath and his bedgown, then into bed. Seeing her treat him like a little boy made me grin but I said nothing. Finally, after making up the fire, Maggie left us sitting in bed with our mugs of wine and the plate of meat pies.

 

Lord Walter gave me a mock glare. "Don't even start."

 

I couldn't help the snicker that escaped me. "If you could have seen your face when she went after you with that washcloth - "

 

It was a good thing that I had set down my mug for Lord Walter pounced, tickling me till I howled for mercy. Then he bent his head and kissed me thoroughly before settling back among the pillows with me cradled against his side. We were both too tired to do more this evening but were blissfully aware that there was time and plenty to spare.

 

"It's good to be home, my cub," he said with a contented sigh. Silently agreeing, I snuggled up close and went to sleep.

 

Walter

 

It was good to be home. I settled back into the daily routines with a sigh of relief, spending the morning hours on estate business in my office. Fox became even more of an asset to me in this area. His quick understanding let me turn much of the record keeping over to him, freeing up my time for more complex matters concerning my vassals. We had a difference of opinion regarding what constituted a detailed report but, once I had reiterated my need for what Fox referred to as "useless bureaucratic bullshit", I found that I could rely on Fox to sort out general matters and draw up the necessary papers. That freed me to spend my mornings riding about the estate as we prepared for winter, and it was a pleasant relief to return from a morning in the saddle to find a neat set of scrolls and accounts awaiting my signature.

 

Invariably, my feet would then lead me to the library where I would find Fox sprawled on the rug before the fire, his nose buried in a book and his thoughts a million miles away. I would settle into my chair and watch him indulgently, waiting for that moment when he would return to this world. Finishing a chapter of whatever book he was reading, he would sigh deeply and look up, his eyes distant and dreamy until they fell on me. Then his eyes would glow and his face light up, and he would readily accept my silent invitation to settle in my lap with a welcoming kiss. Inevitably, we would take our luncheon in the library and spend the rest of the afternoon reading and talking companionably.

 

I marveled at this - I had never spent so much time with a lover without becoming bored by him or her. Fox never bored me - entranced, enchanted, and infuriated me, perhaps, but never bored me. His love of esoteric subjects amused me, although at times when he went on and on about his latest finding I was tempted to gag him. And his complete abandonment in bed, that amazing combination of fresh innocence and wanton lust, never failed to arouse me.

 

But it was the brief glimpses I had of his inner sorrow that bound me to him, heart and soul. It was there in the back of his mind, betrayed only by a brief flicker in his expressive eyes when a painful subject was touched upon. His sister, certainly, was a source of grief to him despite Sister Melissa's reassurances that Samantha was safe and well. The loss of his parents and his home also grieved him, although I had the uneasy feeling that this was less painful to him than his sister's disappearance. And then there was that odd look I caught in his eyes from time to time before his guard snapped back up into place - I couldn't put my finger on the source of that pain although I had a suspicion that it had to do with me. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what I had done to cause him such grief. I had thought that our mutual suspicions had been laid to rest, but the sight of that sorrow made me more determined to ease his pain in any way that I could.

 

One afternoon, a few days before midwinter, we sat in the library as usual. Fox was sitting on the floor at my feet, his head resting on my knee while I absently stroked his hair. Last night's lovemaking had lasted well into the early morning hours and both of us were pleasantly fatigued today so we were content to drowse idly before the fire.

 

Fox blinked open his eyes and yawned. "I forgot to tell you," he murmured sleepily. "The Chief Forrester sent a message for you. He's located a tree and it will be delivered tomorrow."

 

"Good," I said with satisfaction. "Maggie's been anxiously waiting for that and at this time of year, the last thing we want is for her to get upset."

 

Fox tilted his face up, puzzled. "Maggie's been waiting for a tree? Is she planning on starting an arborium?"

 

I chuckled. "For Yule, silly." He frowned, still puzzled, and now I was confused. "Or did your family celebrate Saturnalia instead?"

 

He flushed and looked down. "My family didn't celebrate at midwinter."

 

I stared at him in disbelief. "Not celebrate - then what did you do?"

 

He shrugged. "Father spent most of the day at the Saturnalia celebration at Court and Mother took Samantha to visit her family for the week of Yule."

 

"And you? What did you do?"

 

"With the house quiet, I usually got some extra studying done."

 

The thought of Fox rattling around his family home all alone while all around him celebrated the Midwinter made me so angry that my hand tightened involuntarily in his hair. I murmured an apology and released him. He must have seen how I felt because he said, softly, "It doesn't matter. I'm not a child and haven't been for years."

 

It mattered to me, though I knew better than to say anything about it to Fox, knowing he would retreat into himself. So instead I made a private resolution to give Fox the best Midwinter of his life while I smiled and murmured, "No, you certainly are not a child."

 

He grinned and crawled up into my lap, nuzzling my neck. "Glad you noticed, Master. Care to do anything about that?"

 

I chuckled and wrapped my arms around him. "You are insatiable, my brat." And then there was no more talking for a long, long time.

 

 

Chapter Two

 

Fox

 

Over the next few days, I knew that something strange was happening around the castle. For one thing, Lord Walter was suddenly very busy in the afternoons, occupied with something else instead of spending time with me in the library as usual. For another, everyone seemed to have trouble meeting my eyes, turning away from me with smothered smiles. In the past, this would have terrified me as I would have been certain that Lord Walter was tired of me, but even an idiot like myself could see that he was fond of me, and his attention in bed at night left me in no doubt of his continued interest.

 

So I knew that something pleasantly mysterious was happening and I had the suspicion that it had to do with Midwinter. I had no personal expectations for the holiday but if there was to be a feast, I knew that I would at least get to watch the celebrations. Maggie didn't prepare any of the guest rooms so I knew that Lord Walter wasn't expecting any other company for the holiday - which was a relief as I wasn't looking forward to renewing any Court acquaintances, with the exception of Prince Gibson. It appeared that it would just be ourselves celebrating this holiday, and that was more than enough for me.

 

On the afternoon before Midwinter, Lord Walter suddenly emerged from his all-absorbing activities, telling me to run and put on my cloak and boots. Puzzled but eager for his company, I obeyed and when I ran down the steps, I found horses saddled and waiting.

 

"Where are we going?" I asked.

 

"Into the village," Lord Walter replied, swinging up into his saddle. "I thought you might enjoy the Midwinter Fair and I'm expected to light the Midwinter's Eve bonfire at sunset."

 

I nearly fell out of my saddle in excitement. "A fair? Really?"

 

Lord Walter chuckled in amusement. "Really, Fox. Although if you fall off your horse and break your neck, you will hardly be able to enjoy it."

 

He signaled to Captain Scully and we rode out with a small company of men. I chattered all the way to the village and Lord Walter listened indulgently as usual. Just before we got to the village, we turned off the main road onto a side one but I was surprised to see that Captain Scully continued on towards the village. I looked at Lord Walter, puzzled.

 

"Scully plans to spend the evening with Sister Melissa following the Amazon traditions, so Lt. Lamana will look after us this evening." Lord Walter gave me a mock-stern look. "And you will behave yourself, brat, and not go running off looking for trouble."

 

I looked at him indignantly. "When have I ever – oh, all right," I conceded as he began counting off on his fingers. "I swear that I'll stay close to you or Jerry."

 

"Good."

 

A village lad ran up to hold our horses' heads as we dismounted and Lord Walter tossed him a coin, nearly making the lad incoherent with thanks. Then Lord Walter turned to me and handed me a small pouch.

 

"Here, Fox." Thinking that he wished me to hold it for him while he adjusted his cloak, I obediently stood with my hand out, the pouch on my palm. He looked at me in amusement. "Well, go ahead and take it. It's yours, to spend as you wish on sweets and the like."

 

My breath caught at that; it was highly unusual for a slave's owner to give him money, but then, Lord Walter was proving to be an unusual master. I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Master!"

 

He laughed and hugged me back. "You are more than welcome, Fox. Just don't make yourself sick." He released me, ruffling my hair. "Now, go on and enjoy the fair. I've got to take care of a few things but I'll find you as soon as I'm done. Lamana, stay with Fox."

 

As Lord Walter walked away purposefully, I turned towards Lamana eagerly. Over the past weeks since I had intervened in Lamana's punishment, we had become friends and I relied on his knowledge in this area. "So what should we do first, Jerry?"

 

Lamana looked at me in amusement. "What, haven't you ever been to a fair?"

 

"No," I said honestly.

 

"Right. Pull the other one – it has bells on it."

 

I could feel myself flushing and turned away, heading towards the brightly colored booths. Lamana's hand grasped my shoulder, pulling me back around. "I'm sorry, Fox," he said sincerely. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I just don't understand – you lived in Town and you've never been to a fair?"

 

I looked at the toe of my boot, scuffling it in the dirt. "I've been to the Great Market, of course, and the shops, but the fairs were held outside the city and we weren't allowed to go."

 

A companionable arm went around my shoulder and Lamana grinned at me. "Lad, you don't know what you've been missing. Come on – let me show you around."

 

I can't remember ever having as much fun as I did that afternoon. Lamana had grown up in the village and had been to these fairs since a child. He delighted in showing me all the best parts of the fair. He knew where to find the best fruit pies and the best cider, the best places to watch the jongleurs and acrobats. And he seemed to know everyone at the fair and they all knew him. He treated me with all the casualness of a younger brother, dragging me into the middle of a game the village youths were playing. And he indulged me as I squandered Lord Walter's coppers on treats vaguely remembered from my childhood before dragging me off to see the amusements afforded by the traveling entertainers.

 

I was still laughing from the antics of a puppet show when Lord Walter caught up with us. I could see that he was pleased that I was enjoying myself even when he teased me about wearing more of the foodstuffs I had purchased than eating them. I just grinned and offered him my cone of sugared almonds, laughing as his own eyes lit up at the sight of that childhood treat.

 

It only lacked an hour till sunset so we slowly made our way through the merchant stalls on our way to the clearing where the bonfire had been laid out. Just before sunset, we reached the area for the bonfire and found me a good seat away from the crowd. As the sunlight began to fade, the air became chillier, and Lord Walter made certain that I had my cloak wrapped tightly around me, sending Lamana for a cup of mulled wine to keep me warm during the festivities to come.

 

"I've never been at this kind of celebration before. What's going to happen after the bonfire's lit?"

 

Lord Walter smiled at me. "Lots of hugging and kissing, giving each other good luck for the coming year. Later, at moonrise, the parents will take the younger ones home as the celebrations become a little - shall we say - earthier. And nine months from now, there'll be a fresh crop of young ones in the village."

 

"It's interesting how many cultures encourage fornication for the purpose of impregnation at winter festivals like this. Yule and Saturnalia are most familiar to us, but did you know that the Greeks had the Rural Dionysian celebration with this dance where they dressed like satyrs and carried around this really big phallus - "

 

Lord Walter stopped my speaking with his mouth - a very effective way to silence me, I must admit. "Fox, I would love to hear all about the various winter celebrations, but the sun is about to set." He kissed me again, briefly. "Now you be good and stay right here with Lamana till I come to fetch you."

 

"You won't come back right after lighting the bonfire?" I asked anxiously.

 

He shook his head. "I have to speak with the head of each household first, give a blessing for the upcoming year, but I'll be back as soon as I'm finished. And I mean it, Fox - stay put." He grinned at me. "I don't think you're ready for the education you'd get if you went wandering in the shadows tonight." He leaned closer, murmuring in my ear, "And I promise that we'll re-enact some of those pagan fornication rituals of our own later tonight."

 

I could feel myself blushing at that but I managed to retort, "I certainly hope so, although our ritual won't be as fruitful."

 

Lord Walter laughed at that, hugging and releasing me before turning to Lamana. "Keep a sharp eye on him, Lieutenant. The last thing I need is the villagers complaining about Fox interrupting them to research fertility customs."

 

Lamana chuckled as he handed me the mulled wine, settling down on a log laid on its side for our seats. "I can't remember the last time I saw Lord Walter enjoying himself like this," Lamana said, sipping on his wine and grinning.

 

"Really?" I said, surprised. "I thought he came to this festival every year. Doesn't he usually like it?"

 

Lamana looked at me strangely then said, slowly, "You really don't know, do you?"

 

"Know what?" I asked puzzled.

 

"What everyone in the damn castle - hell, what everyone in the village - knows. Lord Walter's a good man and I couldn't ask for a better soldier to serve under, but he's got the fiend's own temper when he's vexed. And it takes precious little to rile his temper. That is, before you came along."

 

I flushed and ducked my head. "I'm - I'm glad that my presence calms Lord Walter - and makes life easier for everyone - "

 

Lamana snorted at that. "Well, calms isn't the word I'd use but he certainly is content. Fox," he said, his voice suddenly hesitant. "Are you happy?" I looked up at him, aware that my whole heart was in my eyes, and heard a sharp intake of breath. "Gods, Fox. I'd hoped - but not even the Captain was certain - " He broke off suddenly. "I'm going to get you another cup of wine - stay put."

 

I nodded, but I had caught sight of activity near the bonfire and I wouldn't have moved from my seat for anything. Lord Walter strode into the clearing, a fiery torch in his hand, looking for all the world like Prometheus bringing fire to man. I caught my breath at the sight of him, so tall and proud in bearing, like a god or a mythic warrior. Pride swelled in me, pride at belonging to this man.

 

The crowd hushed and he spoke out, clear and strong, in the tongue of the local people. The words were unfamiliar to me but the meaning was clear. They washed over me and the assembled crowd with all the power and magic of the ancient race who had ruled this land long before Caesar had brought his legions to these shores. And I realized the simple truth of it: kings and kingdoms were here only a fleeting moment of time but the Land endured, eternally bestowing blessings on its chosen children.

 

Lord Walter set the torch into the bonfire and it caught immediately, roaring into life. There was a general cheer from among the spectators - evidently this was a good sign - and then everyone was turning to their family and friends, hugging them and bestowing kisses for luck in the upcoming year. As Lamana's own family descended on him, I was suddenly aware that I was the only one here who had no family or friends to bestow good wishes upon me. My throat tightened - this was all too familiar a reminder of past years when I had been left on my own amid the celebrations in the streets. Here, even here, I was alone. Suddenly, all I wanted was to get on my horse, ride back to the castle, and hide in the library. I stumbled to my feet, ready to run, and found myself caught in a sudden warm embrace.

 

"Happy Yule, Fox," murmured a familiar voice in my ear.

 

A rush of joy flowed through me, and I flung my arms around the solid bulk holding me. No, I was not alone, not any longer, nor had I been forgotten amidst the celebration. I turned my head blindly, finding the familiar mouth, and murmured against it, "Happy Yule, Walter."

 

A heady kiss robbed me of breath for a moment and then he released me with a sigh. "Well, I must do my duty, but I'll return to take you home shortly."

 

I nodded and smiled at him, content to wait now that I knew I wasn't alone. Hell, I would have waited all night if he had asked me. "I'll be right here."

 

I watched fondly as he went off to bless each household and picked up my mug. Finding that it was empty, I looked around for Lamana, but he was still being hugged and kissed by his family which seemed to include half the village – although I had a feeling that a few of the young women were more than kissing cousins. The almonds had made me thirsty and I glanced around to see where Lamana had gotten the wine. To one side of the bonfire, a kettle had been set up and a small group of villagers was gathered around it, so I made my way over to them. There was a look of surprise when I held out my mug but the old woman at the kettle readily filled it, murmuring what sounded like a blessing as she handed it back to me. One of the young women said something to the others - obviously a ribald jest because the others burst into laughter and one of the young men slapped me companionably on the back. I had no idea what they said but I smiled politely and made my way back to Lamana before he could miss me.

 

Settling back down on my log seat, I took a sip from my mug and was surprised to find that it wasn't wine. It was something sweeter and heavier with a bit of a honey taste, and it was better than anything I had ever tasted. Thirstily, I drained my mug.

 

Lamana turned back to me as the last of his family headed home for the evening. "Are you doing all right, Fox? Not cold, are you? Need any more wine?"

 

A pleasant warmth was running through my body despite the growing night chill and I couldn't imagine ever being cold again. I grinned at him, feeling pleased with myself and the world in general. "No, thanks. I gotta cup for myself."

 

"Got - " He frowned at me. "You left here, after both Lord Walter and I told you to stay put?"

 

"I did stay put," I said indignantly. "But I don't think any harm could come to me at that short a distance." I gestured towards the kettle.

 

Lamana swung around, frowning, looking in the direction I pointed and then his eyes suddenly got wide. "Shit! Fox - you didn't - " He grabbed my mug and tasted the remnants. "You did. Hell, we've got to find Lord Walter and get you out of here."

 

Keeping a firm grip on my arm, he tugged me through the crowd, ignoring my protests. Although actually, when I thought about it, finding Lord Walter sounded like a wonderful idea…

 

Walter

 

Lt. Lamana pushed his way through the crowd towards me, one hand wrapped firmly around Fox's arm. "Sir, I think we'd best get Milord Fox home - and quickly."

 

I glanced over at Fox and saw that he was standing with his eyes closed, humming slightly to himself. Obviously, the young man had drunk one too many cups of wine tonight and I supposed that Lamana was worried that he'd either be sick or do something silly. I wasn't too worried - he was safe with us and I could see that Fox was one of those happy drunks.

 

I smiled as I shook my head at Fox. "How many cups of mulled wine did you drink, cub?"

 

He shrugged and lost his balance, collapsing against me with a laugh. "Don' rem'ber. Three or four." He held up five fingers. "I think."

 

"Two cups of wine," Lamana said and then added, with a significant jerk of his head towards the bonfire, "And one cup from the kettle."

 

My eyes widened at that. Although I had never drunk from that kettle, I knew that traditionally it was a very potent batch of mead made by the local women. It was also rumored to be a powerful aphrodisiac. I glanced over at Lamana. "You're certain?"

 

He nodded. "I'm sorry, my lord. I was speaking with my family and he was never more than a few feet away from me. He was so pleased with himself that he hadn't disobeyed your orders."

 

"Trust the brat to get into trouble while trying to stay out of trouble. Are the rumors about that mead true?"

 

Lamana nodded, a rueful look on his face. "All too true - from personal experience. It'd be best if we got him away from all this before the full effect sets in."

 

I agreed and sent Lamana off to gather his troop and ready the horses, then slid one arm around Fox's waist to help steady him. He gave me a smoldering look and nestled closer.

 

"We goin' home now, Master?"

 

"Yes, my cub." As quickly as possible, I thought silently.

 

"Good." He nuzzled my neck. " 'Bout time we started on those forn'cation rituals."

 

I laughed and disentangled us. "When we get home, if you don't mind, brat. I have no intention of entertaining the villagers."

 

He pouted as I firmly propelled him towards the waiting horses. I mounted quickly, watching Lamana settle the troops, and turned back to see that Fox was still attempting to mount his horse. As he tried and failed to hold his stirrup steady, I chuckled.

 

"You'll fall off and break your neck, idiot. Come here." I held a hand down to pull him up in front of me, holding him securely with one arm wrapped around his waist as we set off towards home. I heard him laugh and smiled as I leaned forward slightly. "What, Fox?"

 

"Just 'membering," he said in a dreamy voice. "Last time we rode like this."

 

I was puzzled. "When I brought you back from the village that time you disobeyed me?"

 

"Um - not that time." I could almost feel the heat from the flush on his face. "Before. When you first brought me home."

 

I liked the way that he said 'home' and tightened my hold. "I remember. You were so stiff, so frightened of me at first. And then you fell asleep in my arms."

 

"Not frightened," he said hazily. "Well, little bit 'bout what it would be like. Worried wouldn't please you."

 

I chuckled and squeezed him. "I trust that you have no doubts about that now."

 

I felt a soft laugh vibrate his chest and rubbed my hand over his flat stomach. Fox sighed and leaned back against my chest, opening his body for my exploration. I took full advantage of the invitation and ran my hand over the swelling mound of his erection, hearing his gasp of pleasure.

 

"Like that, my cub?"

 

"Yes," he moaned. "Oh Gods, yes."

 

I felt his hand brush against mine as he quickly unlaced the front of his breeches, then he grabbed my hand again and pressed it back against the hardness of his aroused member. My hand closed over it automatically, and he dropped his head back on my shoulder, softly moaning his approval. He wiggled against me, stirring my own flesh, and I nuzzled his neck. Thinking that it would be best to take the edge off his hunger now, I continued stroking him as we rode towards home. His pleasured moans and gasps intoxicated me, going straight to my head like the mead that he had drunk earlier. I wanted to drink him down, fill every part of me with his essence until there was no hunger or thirst left within me. Since that was not possible at the moment, I contented myself with teasing and tormenting my young lover, and by the time we came in sight of the castle, he was so tightly strung that he was almost vibrating in my arms. One more stroke and a little pressure in the right place and he came hard within my hand, his cries of completion muffled by my mouth.

 

We entered the castle and my troops quickly led their horses towards the barrack stables, no doubt eager to start their own celebrations. With a last teasing squeeze, I released Fox and dismounted, then led my horse into the main stable, giving Fox a few minutes to recover. I listened with a smug grin to him swearing under his breath and I was thankful that the stable lads had been given the night off.

 

I should have remembered that the Gods do not like smug attitudes. Neither, apparently, did Fox.

 

As I turned to remove the saddle from my horse, Fox slid down into my arms and it was evident from the hardness that brushed against my leg that my pleasuring had merely fanned the flames of his need. Desire clearly burned in his eyes and he locked his mouth on mine. To my surprise, I found myself maneuvered out of the stall and into the hay room where a push reminded me of his strength. I went sprawling backward onto the bales and Fox followed me down, his hands feverishly pulling clothing open.

 

"Fox - wait - " I gasped but he was kissing me again, rubbing his body against mine. He had not refastened his breeches after my earlier teasing and our flesh rubbed together, making me cry out at the sheer heat of his body against mine. He was hungry with lust, and his mouth and hands were everywhere. I felt awash with sensations – the rough cloth of my cloak behind me, the slick firmness of his skin against mine – and suddenly realized that his own clothes had been discarded.

 

"Wait – someone might come – "

 

I heard a muffled laugh from somewhere in the region of my belly. "Someone damned well better come." He moved back up my body, kissing every inch of bared skin until he was lying flat over my body.

 

"We'll be heard," I protested around a mouth that seemed determined to devour mine. "Or seen."

 

He pushed back up to straddle my body, his eyes glowing feverishly. "I wouldn't care right now if you took me in the Hall with the whole castle watching."

 

"That's the mead talking – "

 

I gasped, suddenly incoherent with lust, as I watched Fox rise up on his knees and thrust a slick finger into his ass, preparing himself to be taken. It was the most erotic thing I had ever seen. His head was thrown back, his body taut with mead-induced lust and the effort to relax for my penetration. I was struck speechless, watching this half-wild creature writhing above me, and I felt my own body harden even more. And then he was pressing backwards and down, pushing himself onto my cock. I gasped at the intensity of sensation - the feel of his tight channel around my flesh, the sight of his body moving up and down on me, the sounds of his pleasure that now fell continuously from his lips. The sight of the tip of his tongue coming out to moisten those lips nearly drove me out of my mind and, with a growl, I grabbed his head and pulled it down to mine. Ravishing his mouth with my own, I thrust my hips up, driving him down deeper onto my cock. Convulsions racked him and I felt the hot pulsing between our bodies at the same time as I heard his cry and it triggered my own release.

 

Clutching him tightly to me, I felt the last shudders run through our bodies. "God, Fox," I gasped. "I can't believe that I just did this."

 

There was a wicked chuckle from my young lover. "What? You never tumbled someone in the stables?"

 

"Oddly enough, no." I let my hand run over his back, enjoying the feel of the sweat-slick skin. "I've led a sheltered life."

 

"Obviously." Fox rocked back and I groaned at the sensation of his body clenching my cock, still buried deep inside him. I wrapped an arm around him, stilling his movements.

 

"I'm not doing this again," I said firmly. "Not here in a cold, drafty stable when a warm, comfortable bed lies just across the courtyard."

 

"Good point," Fox said, pushing himself up and off me in a single graceful movement. He caught up his scattered clothes and began pulling them on. I lay there for a moment, amazed that he had the energy to do anything after our fiery coupling. He glanced over at me and grinned, then tossed me my pants.

 

"You might want to put these on, Master. It's getting chilly out there, and it would be a shame to damage anything - vital."

 

At the hot look in his eyes, I nearly groaned out loud and wondered how long it would take for the aphrodisiac to wear off. And I wondered if I would survive.

 

 

Chapter 3

 

Walter

 

It was early morning when I eased out of bed and dressed silently - not that anything short of a raid on the castle would have awakened my bedmate. His libido had held strong until well past midnight, and it was only through a combination of skill and stamina that I managed to wear him out before he could drive me into the ground. Fox now lay sprawled across the bed, looking like he'd been through a Bacchanalia, sporting several marks of passion across his back and buttocks. I stood there watching him for a moment, and the smile on my face was no doubt fondly idiotic, but no on was there to see it. Gently covering his body with the sheet, I left the room.

 

Maggie was just pulling sweet bread out of the oven when I entered the kitchens. I wound my way through the bustling cooks and helpers, settling at the trestle table near the baking ovens, and she looked up at me with a smile. "You look a little worn around the edges, Lord Walter."

 

I accepted the mug she handed me and sipped. "Fox got into the wrong brew at the festival. After he finally fell asleep, I ran for my life."

 

She patted my hand sympathetically. "Can't be that bad - I haven't seen you look that happy in years."

 

"Is it that obvious?"

 

"To anyone who knows you." She put in another set of loaves and then sat down at the table across from me, her eyes seriously studying my face. "What are you going to do about him?"

 

I sighed. "The only thing I can, Maggie. I petitioned the king to pardon Fox and his sister, to restore their freedom. I thought - I hoped it would make a good Yule present for Fox. Jeff turned my petition down." I shook my head, troubled that my beloved baby brother would deny me this when I asked so very little of him. "He seems to have an irrational jealousy of Fox."

 

"Not irrational," Maggie pointed out. "He knows that you love the boy more than life, and even as a child, Master Jeffrey was not inclined to share his favorite possessions. Especially you."

 

I nodded. "I remember. And in truth, I suppose that it's better that Fox stay a slave and in my care for now. Earl Spender is up to no good as far as that boy is concerned, and if Fox were free, no doubt he would spring some other trap on him. Besides - " I stopped and flushed.

 

"Besides - you don't want to lose him, and you think that if he were free, he would leave here like a shot," Maggie finished.

 

"I know that he likes me, Maggie. And the gods know that he enjoys what we have together physically. But he has a sister that he feels obliged to look after, and he has his University studies. What can I offer him but a broken down old soldier?"

 

"Love." Her eyes caught mine, held them captive. "Seems the boy has had little enough of that till now. And it seems like you have plenty of love to give him."

 

"I imagine that there are plenty others ready to love him, Maggie. He's a very lovable person."

 

Again I got that look of hers. "He seems very taken with you."

 

I smiled at her mockingly. "I'm a very lovable person, too."

 

She snorted. "Right. Well, if you don't take your lovable person out of my kitchen, nothing will be ready for the feast today."

 

I laughed and left Maggie to her cooking. Unfortunately, that left me with little to occupy my time. All my paperwork was done, the estate visits completed for now, and the other focus of my usual attention was tucked into my bed, sound asleep. For the first time in a long time, I had nothing to do.

 

I wandered into the Great Hall, taking a look at the decorations with satisfaction. I was not a religious man, particularly after the way the Priests had treated my mother, but Mother had delighted in this particular holiday and had gone to great lengths to combine both the Saturnalia customs of Father's court and the Yule traditions that she had grown up with. I had continued the tradition out of equal parts nostalgia and honor to her memory and, thinking about the look that would be on Fox's face today, I was glad that I had done so.

 

Restlessly, I wandered into the library and picked up a book, settling down in my chair for a peaceful morning of reading. But I was unable to concentrate on the words and so I tossed the book aside. Truth was, I had grown accustomed to having my cub's full attention and I found that I no longer knew how to amuse myself. For a few minutes, resentment filled me - how dare the boy become so incapacitated that he left me to my own devices? Then a rueful grin crossed my face; it was hardly the boy's fault that he had drunk from the wrong brew. And the memories of the past night - I would not trade those memories for anything in the world. Fox was always a sweet and responsive lover but he was usually content to let me take the lead in our passion-play. But last night he had been my demon-lover - insistent, aggressive, and completely wanton. I fell asleep sitting in my chair, dreaming and hoping that this demon lover made another appearance

 

Fox

 

 

I woke to a sudden chill as someone stripped off my covers and smacked me playfully on the backside. "Up, brat!"

 

"Ouch!" I sat up abruptly, protecting my bare ass. "What's that for?" I protested angrily.

 

Lord Walter raised an eyebrow. "That tone, perhaps. Do you plan to spend the day in bed?"

 

I grinned and reclined back on the bed, giving him my best seductive smile. "And you would object to that?"

 

"Later, my insatiable one. Right now, I'm hungry."

 

"So am I." I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively.

 

He sighed. "Next time, I'm keeping you on a short lead to keep you out of trouble. An aphrodisiac is the last thing you needed."

 

That caught my attention, and I let him drag me out of bed and, grumbling, I made my way to the bathing chamber. I was surprised that he didn't follow me there - surprised and relieved. I had a lot to think about.

 

I sank down into the warm water, wincing a little as all my muscles and intimate parts protested, and I dropped my head back against the side of the tub with a groan. Damn! I felt as if I had been ridden hard and put away wet - and, judging from the tenderness of my lower anatomy, I had. Vague images from the previous night came back to me, and I burned with embarrassment as I remembered being stroked to climax on horseback - in the midst of the damn troops, no less. And then there were flashes from the barn, of pushing Lord Walter down onto a bale of hay and fucking myself on him. I groaned, submerged myself under the water, and briefly considered staying there. No wonder Lord Walter had been so cross this morning - he was probably furious with me.

 

I sat up abruptly, dread making my stomach turn over. I had disobeyed him and my behavior had no doubt angered him. It didn't matter that I had accidentally gotten into whatever the hell it was that I had gotten into. I knew that I was in trouble.

 

I washed quickly, and the process purged away any lingering effects of the drug I had ingested. Reluctant but resolute, I walked back down the hallway to Lord Walter's bedchamber. He was sitting in the chair by the fire, pulling on his boots, and I immediately went to the wardrobe and fetched the strap, kneeling before him and holding it up.

 

"Fox, what's this?" There was surprise in his voice, and I looked up at him, equally surprised.

 

"I - for punishment. I disobeyed you. I drank that - whatever it was. And I - gods, I can't believe that I did that to you in the barn."

 

"Fox." Lord Walter pulled the strap out of my hands and set it aside, then pulled me up into his lap. I looked at him, bewildered. "In the first place, Lamana says that you stayed within his sight the whole time. In the second place, you had no idea that the mead was drugged. And in the third place," He leaned forward and his lips brushed my ear as he murmured, "I enjoyed every moment of last night."

 

I flushed. "Really?"

 

"Really." He kissed me tenderly. "Although the way you are moving, I would hazard that you are feeling sore this morning. Lie down on the bed on your stomach and let me take a look."

 

I obeyed, burying my face in the covers in embarrassment as I felt him examine me carefully. "You're a little swollen but there wasn't any tearing, thank the Gods. This should help." A cooling balm was spread over the sore tissue and I sighed in relief, and then buried my face even more. I heard Lord Walter's chuckle and felt him press a kiss on my nether cheeks. "Embarrassed, my cub? After all that we have done together?" He rolled me over onto my back and pressed a kiss against my lips. "I don't know which is more enticing - my sweetly shy lover or my wild and wanton one."

 

Doubt and relief warred within me. "Really?"

 

"Really. I wouldn't mind seeing that side of you more often, my Fox. Although preferably without the mead's influence."

 

Relieved, I grinned at him and pulled him back down for a brief but intense kiss. When I let him go, he looked slightly dazed. "Like that, Master?"

 

"Yes," he said, drawing a ragged breath. "Exactly like that." He sighed and released me, getting up. "Before you finish dressing, you might want to take a look at that chair over there."

 

I looked at him, puzzled, then turned to look at the chair. An unfamiliar cloak lay over a jumble of other items, and I flushed in embarrassment at not having the room in order as Lord Walter liked.

 

"I'm sorry, Master. I don't know how these things got here - I'll put them away right now - "

 

"You might want to look at them first, Fox. They're gifts - for you."

 

My legs felt suddenly weak and abruptly I sat on the floor. "For - gifts - who - "

 

"Just about everyone in the castle. The cloak is from Maggie - fur lined so you'll stay warm when we go riding."

 

I pulled the cloak down over my lap, marveling as I ran my hand over the soft fur. I had owned a good wool cape before, but never had one with fur. "It's - this is incredible."

 

"The book is from Captain Scully and Sister Melissa."

 

I picked it up and read the title. "The Historie of the Sisters of Artemis."

 

"You should be honored - few outside the Sisterhood have had access to that knowledge."

 

I nodded. "I know. I'll treasure it."

 

"The mittens are from the female servants, and I understand each of them took a turn at carding, spinning, and knitting them." Lord Walter gave me a humorous look. "Should I be jealous, my Fox?" I laughed at that. "Lamana gave you the leather pouch, and all the men contributed to the contents."

 

I picked up the pouch, surprised by the weight of it. Looking inside, I saw that it was filled with coppers and the occasional glint of silver. Knowing a soldier's wage wasn't much, I was touched that they would bestow so much on a slave. "I can't believe this," I murmured.

 

"There's more. The eating knife is from William."

 

My jaw nearly dropped at that. It was unheard of for a slave to carry a knife. "I can't - I'm not allowed - "

 

"You have my permission to carry it, Fox." He smiled. "It's only an eating knife and I doubt that you will slit my throat with it in the night. You're far more likely to drive me to a heart attack in bed."

 

I grinned and blushed at that, remembering the past night. I picked up the last items - a finely bound journal and a box of quill pens.

 

"From me," Lord Walter said. "I thought that you would like to have something to record your thoughts in. Something personal. And I swear by my mother's soul that I will never so much as look inside without your leave."

 

My throat tightened. "I - thank you. I shall treasure this always." I ran my fingers reverently over the creamy pages, blank now but just waiting for me to fill them.

 

Brushing away the sudden moisture in my eyes, I looked at the assembled gifts. "I never expected this - I don't have anything to give in return."

 

"Yes, you do, Fox. You give of yourself every day. Besides," he said with a grin. "The staff is grateful not to have to endure my bad temper anymore."

 

I chuckled at that. "Well, it is a sacrifice but one I am glad to make."

 

"Brat."

 

Lord Walter pulled me into his arms, ruthlessly tickling me till I screamed for mercy. Then we finally finished dressing and went down to join the rest of the household for the merriest feast that I had ever seen. With song and dance, with food and drink, and with much laughter and affection, we celebrated the start of a new year. And later, as I lay secure and drowsy within Lord Walter's arms following our own private celebration, I reflected with amusement how odd it was that the happiest Yule of my life should come after losing everything.

 

 

Chapter 4

 

Walter

 

The winter months passed for me in quiet contentment, more than I had ever known in the past. While I generally enjoyed the opportunity to relax in front of my fire after the hectic harvest-time, I also tended to fret at the enforced inactivity. Now, with Fox here to amuse me and share my life, I found that my boredom was a thing of the past.

 

Share my life. Amazing how easy those words came to me, how natural they seemed. I wondered if it felt the same way to Fox, but somehow I doubted it. Although he seemed happy enough, there was an underlying restlessness that I knew was due to our inability to locate his sister. I had no doubt that the moment he was free he would be off to find her - unless we found her sooner.

 

Still, he enjoyed being here, with me. We settled back into our routine - mornings in the office, afternoons in the library, with the occasional diversion in between. The first snowfall drew us out to play in it like children, engaging in mock combat with snowballs. I escorted Fox to the village to see Sister Melissa on several occasions so he could pester her with questions concerning the book he had received for Yule. The only drawback to that was that he was so wired afterward that he could hardly stop talking all evening. Fortunately, I knew a wonderful way to stop him from talking.

 

But my favorite times continued to be our afternoons in the library. We spent many long hours in front of the fire, taking turns reading to each other or discussing philosophy or whatever else came into our heads. I delighted in his quick mind and sharp intelligence; only Reggie had been able to provide me with this level of mental stimulation on the rare occasions when I could visit him. Sharon had preferred gossip and fashion as topics of discussion, and was plainly uninterested in the subjects that interested me. Fox was more than interested. He was eager to discuss anything he had learned and would readily debate any issue. I enjoyed watching the way that his face lit up when he was really intensely interested in what he was talking about and sometimes I would deliberately prod him to get his passions stirred up.

 

And then there was his passion for me, his total delight in what we did together. For the first time in my life, I had a bed companion who seemed genuinely joyful to be in my bed, not just accepting it because it was an obligation or because I was a means to an end. He devoted as much of his intelligence to determining what brought me the most pleasure and, as I allowed him to take the lead more often, he displayed this knowledge in a way that often left me senseless. I found myself contemplating the oddest thought at times, that of allowing him to take me, something that only a few lovers had done and then not often. I had never taken pleasure in receiving, had done it only to please the lover I had at the time, but I had a feeling that it would be different with Fox. The image of him lying over me, my heels on his shoulders while he drove into me with determined pleasure and vibrant passion fueled more than one fantasy. But at present they remained only a fantasy although I wasn't sure exactly what it was that I was waiting for.

 

Of course, life wasn't completely centered on books and bed. There was still a little business to be attended to, even at this time of year. Plans for the new plantings, decisions on which fields to let run fallow, merchant charters to approve, and minor legal matters to arbitrate - all the hundred little details involved in running a holding this size. And one afternoon, I found myself frowning over a message from the Council at the village outside my northern outpost.

 

"Trouble, Master?"

 

I glanced over at Fox, sitting at his little desk, and shrugged. "It seems that the sergeant in charge of the northern garrison has gotten lax in his control over his men and the village is complaining. Nothing serious - yet, just a lot of mischief. Sergeant Colton may need to be relieved of his duties and brought back here for a little retraining under the Captain's hand."

 

"Ouch," Fox said with a grin. "Poor man."

 

"I think I'll ride up there with Lamana. Take a replacement patrol up there and let him settle them in while I bring Colton and his men back."

 

"Can I go with you?" Fox asked eagerly.

 

I hesitated a moment. There was no real need to take Fox with me, other than my pleasure in his company. Besides, Fox had been sneezing for the past two days, and I didn’t want to risk his cold getting worse. "I don't think so, cub. It'll be a quick trip - there and back - with nothing to amuse you."

 

Fox made a face. "And nothing to amuse me here, either, with you gone."

 

He flushed as he realized what he had said but I laughed, delighted that he enjoyed my company as much as I enjoyed his. "Well, then, I shall have to devote myself to amusing you once I return, shan't I?"

 

Fox grinned and gave me a sultry look from under his eyelashes. "Yes, Master. Although it might help if I had something to remind me while you are gone."

 

Once more, my body caught fire from that molten look and I tossed the message down onto the desk. The hell with Tom Colton - he would wait until tomorrow, but the need raging through me wouldn't wait another moment. I took my Fox back to bed and took him in a way that would leave several pleasant reminders over the next few days.

 

Fox

 

Lord Walter rode out of the castle the next morning, watched by a disapproving Captain Scully. I don't think it was a matter of not agreeing with his decision to remove Colton from his post - it was the fact that she would have to wait two days before getting her hands on the miscreant who had shown up a flaw in her management of Lord Walter's army. Since she was in a bad mood, I avoided her most of the morning, hiding in the library.

 

After lunch, bored with my own company, I wandered down into the courtyard for some exercise. The castle's soldiers were working out as usual and I steered clear of the practice area since it appeared that Captain Scully was putting them through a grueling workout. Sometimes, when I was bored and Lord Walter was occupied with other matters, I would watch their combat practices, handing out dippers of water during the breaks. Sometimes one of the younger ones would drop down on the bench beside me and talk - about their homes, their families, and their plans after their term of soldiering was done. Once I realized that they were mostly lonely young men like me, I stopped being afraid of them. The older men, the career soldiers, were no less inclined to talk but their conversation centered mostly on battles they had seen and, to a man, they were devoted to Lord Walter. There was no attempt at familiarity or inappropriate attentions - the young ones were still too hot for woman-flesh and the older ones too wary of the Captain. Still, I steered clear of the barracks on general principle - a horny man in his cups was less likely to care about whom he took his pleasure with and I still had no ambition to become the barrack's whore.

 

Today, a cart that had been set up across from the practice area caught my attention. It was a tinker's cart, loaded with barrels and bundles and pots that gleamed in the wintry sun. A trestle table had been set up alongside the cart and Maggie was busily engaged in bartering with an old man who was obviously the tinker while his apprentice fetched goods for her inspection. I wandered across and looked over the cart with more curiosity than need, although the knowledge that I had coins of my own to spend should I wish was nice. Still, there was nothing that I could think of that I wanted, although the vague thought of a present for Lord Walter drifted through my mind.

 

As I wandered and looked, my eye suddenly caught something gleaming from the tinker's shelves. It was a copper bookmark, cunningly wrought to look like a fox's head, and the moment I saw it, I knew that it would be a perfect gift for Lord Walter.

 

"What is it?" Maggie asked, having concluded her business with the tinker. She glanced over at the tinker's cart and saw the copper trinket, then looked back at me. "You like that?"

 

I shrugged. "I was thinking that Lord Walter might like it."

 

"Then ask how much it is."

 

I shook my head. "No – it's bound to be too much."

 

"You'll never know unless you ask." She pushed me toward the cart. "Go on."

 

Uncertain, I walked over to the cart and pretended to look over all the merchandise, trying not to betray my particular interest in that piece. I asked the price of one or two other items and my heart sank further with each answer - the prices were way beyond my limited means. Finally I pointed at the bookmark, surprised at the steadiness of my voice.

 

"How much?"

 

The old man looked at me, an unreadable expression on his face. "This item is not for sale. It is to be given to the one with the same name."

 

Puzzled, I said, "My name is Fox. Is that what you mean?"

 

"Truly, you are called Fox?" the man asked. I nodded and he took down the copper fox, turning it over. "Do the initials on the back mean anything to you?"

 

I looked and thought that my heart would stop. There, engraved into the metal, were the initials 'SAM'. I swallowed hard. "My sister – Samantha. I called her Sam." I looked up at the man, trying to control my impulse to grab him and demand more information. "Where did you get this?"

 

"From a friend to be given to a friend." He reached into a cabinet and brought out a little cloth bag, tucked the copper bookmark inside, and then held it out to me. "May the Gods smile on you, young Fox."

 

"Thank you," I managed to say, clutching the little bag to my chest. I knew that there was some hidden message here, possibly from one of the Single Arrow brotherhood, and I could hardly wait to get to the privacy of my room to check it out.

 

Once seated before the fire in Lord Walter's bedchamber, I pulled the bookmark out of the bag and carefully examined it, but I couldn't see anything unusual in either the front or the back engravings, other than those three initials. I picked up the bag and turned it inside out, but there was nothing there. Frustrated, I was about to throw it aside when I realized that the material was stiffer than it should be.

 

Using my eating knife, I carefully slit the seams of the bag and laid it out flat. There, between the two layers of cloth, was a note written in an unfamiliar hand.

 

"Fox- You do not know me by name, although no doubt you have heard Mutual Friends refer to me as The Thinker. I have secured information that is urgent that I pass to you. Once you have received this message from a Friend who has offered to convey it for me, meet me at Midnight on the shore North of the village. Come alone, as you are the only one I trust with this information."

 

I sat and looked at the note for a long time, torn between excitement and apprehension. I had heard the Brothers refer to the Thinker, an anarchistic friend of theirs, but I had never met him and had no idea what he looked like. The possibility that this was a trap occurred to me, but the little mark in the corner of the note was one I had seen on the Brothers' correspondence so I was certain that it was – or had been – authentic at one point. Whether or not the author of this message was now in Earl Spender's clutches was unknown. Not to mention the fact that Lord Walter would have my head if he found out that I had disobeyed him by leaving the castle alone. But if I didn't go to meet this man, I could miss my chance to find out what had happened to my sister.

 

Resolved, I folded up the note and carefully tucked it into my pouch, then went down to the kitchen to eat supper.

 

Later that night, when the castle staff had settled down, I slipped out of the kitchen door. The castle was dark and I carefully made my way across the gardens toward the postern door, having determined that this was the easiest way for me to escape from the castle unnoticed. Carefully, I eased the door open and slid through the narrow opening, then pushed the door shut and heard it latch behind me. Only one way back into the castle now – through the front gate – but I would tackle that problem when I returned with my information.

 

Once clear of the castle, I made my way on foot towards the village. It was a long walk and would take me over an hour, but there was no way that I could have slipped out on horseback. I felt the chill winds and pulled my new cloak tighter around me, quickening my pace to a slow jog. The sooner I got this over with and got back to the castle, the better. I was already feeling very uneasy about this meeting, not to mention the consequences I would face upon my return.

 

A little over an hour later, I stood at the appointed meeting place and looked around anxiously for my contact. The bitter cold seemed worse as brisk winds blowing off the bay seemed to penetrate even the thick cloak I was wearing, chilling my sweat-dampened body. I felt a cough tickling at the back of my throat and knew that Maggie would give me hell for making my cold worse. I stamped my feet, trying to make my numb toes wake up, and cursed under my breath. Where the hell was this Thinker?

 

A figure moved out of the mist and I hesitated, then moved forward as I saw he was alone. "Fox?" The man peering out of the fog was wiry and appeared unkempt, but more from a scholar's inattention than from slovenliness.

 

"Yes," I said, moving closer. "You said you had information for me. Do you know what has happened to my sister."

 

His eyes darted around everywhere, obviously nervous and frightened. "More - more than that." He pulled out a roll of parchment and held it up. "Information - on all of it. Dangerous information. If this gets into the wrong hands…"

 

I itched to get my hands on that parchment. "Do they know that you have this?"

 

The man nodded and a sheepish look came over his face. "I found it in the Temple library. I never expected to find anything like this so I didn't take any precautions – I barely got out of the Temple alive. I couldn't lead them to the Brothers and I don’t think they'll expect me to come here, but they may be following me."

 

I took the roll of parchment. "I'll be careful." I longed to look at it but knew that there was no time for that now. Carefully, I tucked it into the waistband of my pants where it would be secure and hidden.

 

The Thinker suddenly raised his head, looking around in alarm. "They're here! They're coming!"

 

"Who - " But now I could hear something as well - the sound of oars on the bay behind us. It appeared that he had been followed and that the jaws of the trap were about to close on us both. Determined to prevent that from happening, I shoved at the Thinker, startling him out of his frozen panic. "Run! Get out of here!"

 

The man didn't wait to hear more. He took off towards the village and I took off running towards the castle. But I could tell that I wasn't going to be fast enough. Even now, I heard the sound of gangplanks hitting the shore and the sound of hooves on the wood. There was no way for me to outrun men mounted on horseback.

 

Still, I ran as fast as I could but it seemed that part of the enemy forces had somehow swung around in front of me and I knew that I was going to be caught between the enemy's pinchers. A horse appeared out of the mist ahead of me and I swerved to avoid it, passing close enough to hear the rider swear.

 

"Dammit, Milord, I'm trying to rescue you!"

 

I froze in place, startled by the familiar voice. "Scully?" A moment later, I felt myself being caught around the waist and heaved up behind the rider.

 

"Hold on. We're outnumbered and will have to run for it."

 

Stunned, I clasped my arms tightly around Captain Scully's waist and held on. She swung her horse around and shouted the retreat, then spurred her mount towards the castle. I clung to my rescuer for dear life, knowing that a fall at the speed we were going would probably kill me. And, given who my pursuers were, death would probably be preferable to capture.

 

A few minutes later, we were safely inside the castle and Scully sprang down from her saddle, issuing orders in rapid succession. It appeared that she expected pursuit and attack as she set about securing the castle and fortifying the battlements, and the garrison sprang into action with ease. As I heard the orders being given, the full enormity of the situation hit me and I slid out of the saddle to stand on shaking legs.

 

Scully was back in a moment, her face stern and her eyes blazing. She grasped me by the shoulder and marched me into the Hall, not letting go till we stood in Lord Walter's bedchamber. "You are an idiot and would be justly served if Lord Walter exacted the full penalty for your actions."

 

I paled her words and tried to speak, but my lips and throat were dry as dust.

 

Scully didn’t appear to be having any problems talking. "How could you run away like that, the moment his back was turned?"

 

"I didn't run away," I managed to say. "He said – the man I met said - he had information about my sister – " I pulled the parchment out of my trousers and held it out as proof.

 

"Save your fairy tales for his Lordship," she snapped, throwing the paper to the side. "No doubt he is fond enough to believe that you slipped off in the dead of night for information."

 

"Dana!" Maggie said sharply, coming into the room in time to hear this. "I'm sure that the poor boy didn't mean to cause trouble. Look at him – he looks like he'll faint any minute."

 

"He has good reason to feel faint. If he's lucky, Lord Walter will just lift the skin off his back."

 

I felt cold all over and said, desperately, "I wasn't running away. I would have come back – "

 

"If I hadn't seen you leave, you wouldn't have been able to come back! Only you would have the bad luck to run right into a raiding party in your break for freedom."

 

The fraying threads of my temper snapped and I yelled, "They weren't raiders! They were trying to capture the man who gave me that scroll – and me as well!"

 

Scully snorted. "Not everything is about you."

 

"This was!"

 

"Dana! Fox!" Maggie pushed between us, glaring at first me and then at Scully. "Fighting like children – and ill-behaved ones at that! You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

 

"But – " I shut up when she glared at me again.

 

Scully drew in a deep breath. "Whoever they were," she said in a quieter tone, "they nearly had you that time."

 

I looked and saw the pain in her face at that thought. "I know. Thank you – for rescuing me."

 

She gave me a slight, crooked smile. "You're a lot of trouble, Milord Fox. And until Lord Walter comes back tomorrow, I think I should lock you in this room – for my own peace of mind."

 

I nodded again and looked at her anxiously. "Are you – are you going to tell him that I ran away?"

 

Scully considered me for a long moment. "I should," she said, ignoring Maggie's protest. "But I won't. I have to tell him that you left the castle, but I'll make sure he knows that you were tricked into it. You'll still be in trouble, though."

 

I swallowed hard at that thought. "I know."

 

"I hope that scroll of yours was worth it."

 

"The scroll!" I had completely forgotten about it and now looked around frantically for it. I found it lying on the floor against the wall where Scully's blow had knocked it. I eagerly unrolled it. One look at the contents, however, and I was ready to throw it against the wall myself. I swore and tossed it on the bed.

 

"What's wrong, Fox?" Maggie asked in concern.

 

"It's all nonsense – gibberish!" I said, angry that I had allowed myself to fall for a stupid trick. "It was a trap, the whole thing, and I fell for it."

 

"Maybe it's in another language – "

 

I shook my head. "I studied languages at the University, and that's not any language that I've ever seen. It's not even a code of some kind."

 

Scully's voice broke into my anger. "I've seen something like this." I turned and looked at her, and saw that she was sitting on the bed with the scroll spread over her lap, a look of intense concentration on her face. "At the Shrine, when I was training there."

 

My anger evaporated and I sat down beside her on the bed, saying, "It's not Greek like most of the Amazon writings you've shown me. The letters are Roman but not in any familiar pattern. It's all a jumble of consonants with no pattern and very few vowels."

 

"It reminds me of some of the Welsh writings I've seen," she said slowly. "It's possible that a Welsh translator would be able to decipher this. I could send it by courier to the Shrine and see if one of the Sisters - "

 

I shook my head. "It's too dangerous," I said. "They were after the man who took this from the Temple and if they think he gave it to me, they'll be watching any messengers we send out. He said that the information in this was very dangerous and that it couldn't fall into the wrong hands."

 

She sighed. "Then we'll just have to wait until we go back to Town and can take it to the Shrine ourselves."

 

I frowned, not liking the delay, but I could see no other safe course. "I suppose so."

 

"In the meantime," Maggie said briskly, "It is getting late and you young people need your rest."

 

I opened my mouth to protest and yawned instead. Maggie was right – now that the excitement was over, I found that I was exhausted. Scully rolled up the parchment and handed it back to me, admonishing me to put it somewhere safe and then went off to see to her men before turning in.

 

I stripped off my damp clothes and pulled on a clean bedgown, feeling shaky still. I would have loved nothing better than to sink into the hot water in the bathing chamber but Maggie was waiting to lock me in and I was already in so much trouble that I didn’t want to push it. I crawled under the covers and let Maggie fuss over me, tucking in the blankets until I was as comfortable as I could get without Lord Walter beside me. Closing my eyes, I drifted into a deep sleep.

 

And woke several hours later, screaming, in the clutches of the worst nightmare I had ever had since coming to Beauforte. I wrapped my shivering body around the pillow that still held Lord Walter's scent and, unable to sleep anymore, lay silently watching the sun come up.

 

 

Chapter 5

 

Walter

 

I rode into Beauforte late in the afternoon on the second day with a subdued and sullen ex-Sergeant Colton in my wake. With a grateful sigh, I came out of my saddle and looked around the courtyard, noting that Captain Scully had increased the guard for some reason. She stood at the bottom of the steps, William and Maggie next to her, and I crossed to them as I stripped off my gloves.

 

"Expecting trouble, Captain?" I asked, gesturing toward the walls.

 

"There were reports of marauders in the village last night and I didn't want to take any chances."

 

I frowned. "Marauders? Did they do any damage? Any idea what they wanted?"

 

"As a matter of fact - "

 

Maggie interrupted suddenly, tugging me towards the stairs. "Dana, I'm sure that you can discuss this later, after Lord Walter has had a chance to recover from his trip." I let her lead me off - I was tired and dirty and wanted nothing so much as a bath, a hot meal, and Fox in that order.

 

Speaking of which…I looked around for him. "Where's Fox? I thought he'd be waiting impatiently at the gate for me."

 

Maggie chuckled. "Aye, and so he would be and under everyone's feet if we hadn't locked him into your bedchamber."

 

“The boy has sadly missed you,” William added.

 

I opened my mouth to ask why they had thought it necessary to lock Fox into my room but at that moment Maggie unlocked the door. Fox launched himself at me and nearly knocked me down. He began covering my face with kisses, rubbing himself against me. I wrapped an arm around his waist and captured his mouth with mine, closing the door behind me with the other hand.

 

"Miss me, brat?" Fox was trying to part me from my clothes and I chuckled. "Slow down, boy. There's no need to rush. We have all night. And the Gods know that I need a bath."

 

Fox sighed but stopped his desperate attempt to disrobe me. After I had undressed and put on a robe, Fox swiftly stripped and followed me into the bathing chamber. I noticed that he was unusually quiet and that, coupled with his earlier behavior, made me suspicious. I settled into the water and studied the young man.

 

"So, Fox, what have you been up to while I was gone?"

 

Fox started and flushed. "Um - nothing much, sir. It's been pretty quiet here…" His voice trailed off.

 

"Fox."

 

He hung his head and refused to look at me. "Sir?"

 

"It will go far easier on you if you just confess your sins than if I find out for myself." I frowned, thinking of the way that William and Maggie had turned my attention away from Captain Scully. "Perhaps I should talk to the Captain - "

 

"No!" Fox said quickly. "I - I'll tell you."

 

He settled at the far end of the bathing pool, as if wanting to distance himself from me. I was suddenly getting a bad feeling about this.

 

"No. Let me guess. Despite my instructions, despite my warnings, you left the castle. You received a private message that someone had something you wanted - information on your sister, perhaps? - and would only tell you personally and only if you came alone. Am I right so far?"

 

Fox's eyes were shut, his face pale. "Yes, sir," he whispered.

 

"Only it was a trap, of course. How did you get out of it?"

 

"Captain Scully." The words seemed to be dragged out of Fox. "She - she got suspicious when she saw me leave and followed me. It wasn't a trap - not really. The information was real. At least we think it is. But the man was followed and - and they almost got me." He looked at me with eyes wide with fear. "I - I'm in serious trouble, aren't I?"

 

"I'm not going to lie to you, Fox. This is big - this is really big." I drew a deep breath, trying to control the fury I felt. "Go to my room and get into place across the bench with my belt in your mouth. I may be awhile but you had better be there."

 

"Yes, sir." Fox got out of the pool and dried himself, and I caught the pitiful glance he threw my way. I kept my face stern, however, and watched him head down the hallway with dragging steps. Once he was gone, I got out of the pool and dried off, put on my robe, and went in search of the rest of my merry band.

 

"William!"

 

William swung around and stared in surprise as he saw me crossing the Great Hall wearing only a robe. "My lord?"

 

"Find your wife and Captain Scully and come to my study. Immediately!"

 

I saw William swallow hard. "Yes, my lord."

 

I paced the floor in my study until the door opened, then turned and fixed the three entering my office with a baleful stare. William and Maggie exchanged nervous looks but Captain Scully stood up straight.

 

"Fox told you what happened," she said.

 

"Captain Scully, when I arrived home you said that you had something to tell me - and then these two distracted me and Fox attempted to further distract me. Am I placing too much faith in your intelligence to hope that you were planning on telling me about this?"

 

"Yes, sir. I mean, no, sir, you're not. It was my intention to tell you immediately. The marauders seemed to be trying to abduct Milord Fox, and I doubt that they will give up. They must want him badly."

 

"Yes, and his own actions are not helping matters." I gripped the Captain's shoulder. "Thank you, Captain. I won't forget your actions in saving my Fox."

 

Captain Scully flushed. "He's a very special person, sir. I would hate to see him hurt."

 

I looked at the Captain sharply and she met my eyes with no hesitation, and I felt my sudden worry disappear. It was clear that Captain Scully loved Fox but it was also clear that it was a selfless love, one she had no intention of acting on. It also made her probably the best person to protect Fox. "I'm glad I can rely on at least one person here to do what they are supposed to do." I glared at William and Maggie, then smiled back at Scully. "Thank you, Captain - and now I'm sure that you want to attend to your own discipline problem."

 

She nodded and left the room, and I turned back to William and Maggie, sighing. "As for the two of you - why did you try to prevent me from learning about Fox's latest escapade?"

 

"Because the lad was scared out of his mind," Maggie said roundly. "He was afraid that you would beat him senseless over this."

 

"I would never beat him senseless - no matter how provoked I am - and you know that, Maggie. Although I can promise you that the brat will be eating his meals standing up for a week." I sighed and sat down in my chair, suddenly exhausted. And I still had Fox's punishment to deal with when all I wanted was to take him in my arms and lose myself in his warmth. "I know you meant well, but you can't encourage him to avoid the consequences of his actions. He's been getting away with that all his life and he has no concept of the danger he subjects himself to because of that." I fixed each of them with a stern look. "Am I understood? I will not have my will crossed on this."

 

"Yes, my lord," Maggie said although there was a stubborn set about her mouth that told me the issue wasn't over.

 

"Understood, my lord," William said.

 

"Right. Well," I pushed myself to my feet and sighed. "There's still my brat to deal with."

 

"Couldn't it wait till the morning?" Maggie asked, a coaxing tone in her voice. "You've had a long day, and Fox has missed you so much. It seems a shame to spoil your homecoming like this."

 

For a moment I was tempted but I knew that the sooner the matter was over the better for everyone. And I worried that it might set a dangerous precedent if I delayed his punishment now, that he might be tempted to disobey me again if I showed any weakness.

 

"No, I'll take care of it tonight. Good night."

 

I opened the door to my bedchamber and was greeted by the sight of my slave on display. He was dutifully in place over the bench, ass raised high with his head nearly touching the floor on the other side. I saw the trembling in his body as he heard me enter.

 

"All right, Fox. Let's get this over with." I went down on one knee beside him and removed the belt from his mouth, lifting his head so his eyes could meet mine. "What are you being punished for?"

 

His voice was flat as he cataloged his misdeeds. "For leaving the castle alone and without permission to meet an unknown person. For risking my life needlessly. For - for trying to - to seduce you so that you wouldn't find out about it. I - I'm sorry about that, Master."

 

Ah, that was very interesting, I thought. He recognized that he had done wrong on the first three items but wasn't in the least bit repentant. But the last one - that one touched his heart. I wondered why. It hadn't surprised me in the least that he had tried to avoid punishment by distracting me, although I certainly couldn't condone it. I had a feeling that Fox and I would have to have a long talk about that tomorrow.

 

"Good," I said, ruffling his hair briefly. "I think you covered everything." I stood up. "All right, Fox. Hold on tight, this is going to be a long and painful session. Feel free to cry, scream, beg, whatever you need to do but understand that I won't stop until I'm satisfied that you've been sufficiently punished. Understand?"

 

"Yes, Master," Fox's voice was faint and I could see him wrap his hands around the legs of the bench.

 

I lifted the belt and brought it down on the upturned bottom and I heard Fox gasp at the pain. I was not holding back anything; I couldn't if I wanted this lesson to sink in. I thoroughly strapped every inch of his bottom and the back of his thighs, going back over it a second time until his ass was flaming red. He had long since passed from gasps to apologies then begging and was now just sobbing steadily. I lowered my aching arm and placed my other hand on his back, gently stroking him to quiet and reassure him.

 

"All right, Fox. It's all over. You can get up now."

 

"Yes, sir," he whispered, pushing himself upright with gasps of pain.

 

I reached out to take his chin in my hand. "Don't ever make me have to do that again, do you hear me?"

 

Fox's lip trembled and he threw himself against my chest, sobbing again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

 

"I imagine that you are," I said dryly, but I hugged him tight, carefully avoiding his flaming skin. "And you'll have reason to be even sorrier."

 

Fox lifted his head, tears arrested on his cheeks, and stared at me in horror. "What - what else are you going to do to me?"

 

"You're going to be on a short leash this week - a very short leash. Literally. For the following week, you will be on collar and chain, at my heel wherever I go. Disobedience will merit immediate punishment. I advise you to be on your best behavior if you ever want to sit down again."

 

Fox’s face paled and he seemed to shiver. "Gods - what if I promise that I won't forget? If I swear that I'll never set a foot outside the gate without a bodyguard?"

 

"Don't try to bargain with me, Fox. I can always make it for two weeks." I looked at him sternly. “I can be much more severe with you about this, boy. You should be thankful that you are getting off so easily.”

 

“Yes, Master,” he said miserably.

 

I let go of him and pulled back the covers on the bed. "Bed, cub."

 

He sighed and carefully crawled up on the bed, collapsing on his stomach. “Master?”

 

I frowned over at him from where I was banking the fire. “What is it now, brat?”

 

“I – I wasn’t trying to run away.”

 

I crossed to the bed and sat down on it, running my hand over his tangled hair. “I know, cub. I also know how close I came to losing you, and I won’t let that happen again. If I have to whip you daily or chain you to me, I will do it to keep you safe. Do you understand me?”

 

“Yes, Master.” His voice was barely a whisper and I heard fresh tears in it. I almost relented at that but the thought of how close this had been steeled my resolve.

 

“Go to sleep, brat,” I said and heard a little sigh from him. And before I could strip off my robe and slide under the sheets, he was sound asleep.

 

Fox

 

I woke in the early morning, long before dawn, shivering with cold while my backside and head throbbed with pain. Wistfully, I thought about the wonderful salve that Lord Walter had applied the last time he had whipped me like this. But even if I had known where he kept it, I wouldn’t have dared to apply it to myself. Lord Walter had done it immediately afterward last time, and if he hadn’t done it this time, then this was no doubt part of the punishment.

 

Unable to lie still any longer, I slipped quietly out of bed and went to stand in front of the fire. My head and backside felt like they were blazing with heat but the rest of me was shivering with cold. I went to the wardrobe and fetched my new cloak, wrapping it around myself which seemed to help a little. As I was closing the wardrobe door, light glinted off something hanging on a peg in there. I knew what it was and, reluctantly, I took it out of the closet. Sitting gingerly in front of the fire, I looked down at the horrible thing in my hand.

 

It was my slave collar, made of the same base material as my first slave earring with a sturdy lock to secure it around my neck, and I hated it. If I closed my eyes, I could still remember the feeling of being held down in the prison, kicking and screaming in terror while that thing was fitted around my neck and locked in place. The helplessness, the horror of my situation, the certainty that this indignity would be followed by my rape at the hands of the brutal guards holding me in place – all these things were burned into my memory. When the slaver had immediately appeared, ordering me to be taken to the cart for transport to the slave pens, I had nearly fainted with relief. I had never been so glad to see anyone in my life – not until Lord Walter came into it, at any rate. And when Sir Reginald’s servants removed that damned thing so that I could be cleaned, I had silently thanked every deity I knew. I had been overjoyed that Lord Walter didn’t think it necessary for me to wear that thing and had done my best to forget that it existed. Until now.

 

A tear splashed onto the dull metal. Over the past months, I had become so accustomed to Lord Walter’s gentle treatment of me that I had forgotten my true place in this household. I was not his lover, his concubine, or even his pet. I was his slave, pure and simple, until the day that my servitude ended or he sold me to another. Despite everything, I had persisted in believing that I was becoming something more to my master, that the connections forming between us were more than just master and slave. That someday he might truly love me as an equal. But now the truth stared me in the face, and it was as ugly as the metal band that symbolized it. And in a few short hours, he would be the one to hold me down and put this horrible thing back on me.

 

My heart failed me at that and I could hardly draw a breath. I couldn’t bear that thought, that the man who I loved with my whole heart would become just like all the others in my memory. If I had to wear this damned thing, it would be my own hand and not his. It was my fault that I had been brought to this low point in my life, mine alone, and I would pay the penalty for it. My hands shook as I placed the band around my neck and snapped the lock in place.

 

I stared at the key for a long moment and then threw it into the fireplace. I would never take the collar off again. It would remain around my neck, a silent symbol of what I truly was, until the day that my master released me or sold me to another. Which would also be the day of my death, because I knew that my heart would truly break.

 

Curling up in a ball, I lay staring into the fire, alternating between burning with shame and shivering with dread as I waited for the morning.

 

 

Chapter 6

 

Walter

 

When I woke in the morning, I was alone in my bed. Still caught in a vivid dream where I had lost Fox in a sudden gray mist, I sat up quickly and looked around for my slave, relieved to see him standing in front of the fireplace. He was already dressed and, at my movement, came forward to help me from the bed and wrapped my robe around me. I was grateful for the warmth and made my way into the privy chamber to relieve myself, splashing cold water on my face before returning to my chair in front of the fire. Fox had my breakfast waiting for me and I smiled at him, noting that he looked a little pale this morning. I wasn’t surprised that he was taking this punishment hard but I couldn’t afford to be lenient, not when his life was at stake.

 

“Good morning, my Fox. You are up early this morning.” I indicated that he should sit at my feet.

 

He smiled wryly and knelt, wincing as he did so. “I had a little trouble sleeping.”

 

I chuckled and shook my head, although I silently castigated myself for forgetting to apply the salve to his backside. I had been so exhausted that it had completely slipped my mind, and I regretted that my poor Fox had been forced to be more miserable. I would remedy that, though – after lunch I would bring him back to my bedchamber for a nap. I would hold him in my arms and kiss him tenderly while I told him how afraid I was of losing him. I would administer the salve with my own hands, and I would gently make love to him. And then, while he rested in my arms in drowsy blissfulness, I would risk telling him of my love, of my desire that he remain with me always.

 

But for now, I must remain the stern master to reinforce his punishment. “And you have only yourself to blame for that. When you see Maggie next, ask for the salve. There’s no point in being completely miserable, as long as you have learned your lesson. Have you, Fox?”

 

He bowed his head and I thought I saw him shiver as he murmured, “Yes, Master.”

 

I caught sight of the band of metal around his neck and let one finger trail over it for a moment. While I disliked the baseness of the metal, the sight of it around Fox’s neck stirred my possessive instincts. I thought idly that I would have a necklace made for my Fox when I returned to town. Something beautiful to fit his own beauty. The Gods knew that there was enough gold and jewelry in that cask of jewels that had belonged to my late wife, enough to create a dozen or more such ornaments. Something slim and elegant, a gold circlet set with emeralds perhaps. The image of Fox writhing under me, naked except for an elegant circlet about his neck, made my cock recall that it had been several days since I had last made love to him. I was about to drag him back to bed to remedy this situation when a sharp knock on the door made me recall that there were duties to be performed first.

 

“Come in, Captain,” I called out and turned my head to watch the Amazon enter the chamber.

 

“Your pardon, Lord Walter, but you wanted to know when the troops were ready for inspection.”

 

I sighed. “Very well. I will be out in a few minutes.” Scully nodded and left while Fox silently got to his feet, fetching my clothes. I wondered about his continued silence as I quickly dressed, figuring that the boy was sulking as he sometimes did after being punished. I knew that he would get over it soon enough – either on his own or with a warning swat to help him.

 

After he laced up my boots, Fox held up a thin piece of leather, attaching one end to the ring on his collar. I smiled in approval and ruffled his hair, then wrapped my cloak around me and led the way out to the courtyard. Fox followed at my heels, maintaining the proper distance and keeping his eyes focused on the ground as he should. I couldn’t help feeling proud of the way that he was conducting himself, even if he was still sulking.

 

The troops were lined up orderly, even those that had returned with us from the outpost, and I was pleased to see that three months away from here under bad management had not demoralized them completely. Not that I didn’t have complete faith in Scully’s ability to whip them back into shape quickly enough, but it was a good sign that they fell back into the routine so well. I did notice slouching and murmuring at the back of the troop and recognized Colton and one of his cronies in the center of it, then heard Scully sharply correct them. Satisfied, I nodded to Scully that she could dismiss the men and she sent them off to their assigned posts and then joined me on the steps.

 

“They’re looking good, Captain,” I said, smiling at her. She nodded but I noticed a slight frown. “What?”

 

“A few comments from Colton and his friend, Modell,” she said reluctantly, flicking her eyes towards my shadow in a way that told me the subject of the comments if not their tone.

 

“Trouble, Scully?” I frowned, not liking the idea of a serpent here among my men. I had become aware over the past few months that the men had come to regard Fox with respect and I didn’t want anything to jeopardize that.

 

“Nothing I can’t handle, my Lord. Some extra work will take cure their libidos.” Her eyes twinkled wickedly and I would have felt heartily sorry for Colton and his friends if I hadn’t felt that they deserved everything they got.

 

“If not, dismiss them. I won’t have Fox bothered by them.”

 

Scully nodded and went about her duties and, having no business for the day, I headed for the library. As I expected, Maggie had an early luncheon ready for us. Fox brought a plate to my chair and then settled quietly at my feet but not against my legs as he usually did. I sighed at that; I did not want to deal with a sulky brat this afternoon when I had much more enjoyable plans in mind.

 

“I think that cloak is a little heavy for in here,” I said, noting that he hadn’t removed it yet. Without a murmur, he removed it, folding it carefully and sitting on it. “And don’t forget to speak to Maggie about that salve.”

 

“Yes, Master,” Fox said quietly.

 

Tugging at his hair, I said, “Don’t sulk, brat. And get something to eat – I won’t have you starving yourself.” With a sigh, Fox got to his feet and fetched himself a plate and a goblet of ale, quickly draining it and pouring another. He was less eager to eat, breaking off pieces of bread and playing with them until I sharply admonished him to eat. I regretted that a moment later as, hastily stuffing the piece of bread in his mouth, he choked on it and began coughing violently. With an irritated growl at this nonsense, I reached over to thump his back to help him – and halted abruptly as I felt the waves of heat rolling off his skin through the thick shirt. I pulled him up on my lap and felt his forehead.

 

“Fox! You’re burning up with fever!”

 

“I’m fine, Master,” he protested weakly. “Just a little warm – “

 

“You’re sick, brat, and you’re going back to bed right now.”

 

I swung him up into my arms and stood, heading for my chambers, shouting for Maggie as I hurried along. I could feel the fever burning his body but his teeth chattered as if he was cold. I began stripping off his clothes, looking up only briefly as Maggie hurried in.

 

“Fox is sick,” I said sharply. Fox was protesting my attempt to strip him and I growled, “Lie still, boy.” Once he was naked, I ran my hands over his body, seeking any wounds that might have gotten infected or any unusual lumps that might indicate a parasite. Finding nothing, I paused to spread the salve that Maggie had brought over his blistered bottom and then rolled him onto his back, covering his shivering body with a blanket.

 

“When did you start feeling sick?”

 

“I didn’t start feeling really bad until early this morning – “

 

I gave an exasperated sigh. “When did you start feeling even a little bit bad?”

 

“Um – when I got back after – after going to the village. I felt a little shaky and I couldn’t seem to get warm.”

 

I wanted to shake him with exasperation. “Why didn’t you say anything to anyone?”

 

Fox gave Maggie a sideways look from under his lashes. “How? They locked me in the room, and I didn’t start feeling sick until after Maggie had left.”

 

I ground my teeth. “You could have said something when Maggie brought your meals. Or when I got home last night. Or this morning.”

 

Fox pouted, looking absurdly like a little boy with his face all flushed and his hair sticking up in all directions. “Yes, Master.”

 

“Brat,” I said softly, caressing his flushed cheek. “You have only yourself to blame if you feel miserable, but we’ll do everything we can to make you more comfortable.”

 

He turned his head to kiss my palm, murmuring, “Thank you, Master.”

 

Between Maggie and me, we bathed him with cool water and put him into a fresh bedgown, then she brought a mug of herb tea. Fox drank it thirstily and then lay back down on the bed. I sat beside him, holding his hand and talking quietly to him until he dropped into an easy sleep. I brushed his tousled hair out of his face and kissed his forehead, then moved over to the chair so that I could watch him while he slept.

 

Before long, though, Fox became restless, tossing on the bed and muttering in his sleep. I went back to sit beside him, thinking that my presence would bring him out of his nightmare, but he appeared to be gripped in a fever-induced delirium and it was a long time before he looked at me with something approaching rationality in his eyes.

 

“Master,” he murmured. “Thirsty.”

 

I poured a glass of barley water from the pitcher that Maggie had left and propped him up so that he could drink it. He emptied the glass and then leaned back against me with a little sigh. I noted with concern that his fever seemed just as high as before and that he had not yet broken into a sweat. I coaxed him into sitting up and stripped off his bedgown, then bathed him down with cool water again before putting him back in the gown and pulling the blankets back over him. By the time I had him settled again, he was half-asleep and readily swallowed another cup of Maggie’s herbal tea before falling into another deep sleep.

 

My hopes that he would rest easier now were short in duration. Within an hour, he was tossing again, gripped in delirium. His hands tore at his throat, gouging at the skin until I held them both in my own hands to keep him from harming himself.

 

“Collar – can’t breathe – “ he gasped, the tone of his voice rising with his desperation.

 

I ran a finger under the collar, noting that it was loose and not choking him in any way. “Fox, it’s not – “

 

He screamed in terror, fighting against me in earnest, and I could tell from his delirium-filled eyes that he didn’t recognize me. “Take it away! Gods – please, please – take it off! Let me go, let me go – “

 

It suddenly occurred to me that Fox was reliving some kind of trauma related to his being collared, and I hurriedly looked around for the key. Not finding it, I finally dragged out of the nearly hysterical man that he had thrown it into the fireplace. My lips tightened at that, wondering how I could have possibly missed the fact that Fox hated that collar and that what was supposed to be punishment was torture instead. With the aid of the poker, I extracted the key, dropping it into a basin of water to cool it, then unfastened the collar and threw the hideous thing across the room.

 

Rubbing the salve along the scratches on his throat, I murmured soothingly, “It’s gone, Fox. The collar is gone, and I promise you’ll never have to wear it again.”

 

He blinked his eyes and smiled weakly as he recognized me, and I felt a warmth spread through my stomach. Fox sighed wearily and held out his arms like a child asking for a hug. “Master?”

 

I pulled him up against my shoulder, rubbing his back in small circles, and he sighed again in contentment. I held him in my arms until his breathing relaxed into a more normal pattern and he dropped back into sleep, and then once more tucked him under the covers.

 

I didn’t indulge a hope that this would last long and I wasn’t wrong. Within an hour, he was thrashing and delirious. His fever refused to break and he moaned almost constantly from the pain in his head and body. To my deepening anxiety, he seemed to have trouble breathing. I propped him up on the pillows to help but his breathing sounded wet and raspy to my ears. When Maggie came back to check on him, we exchanged troubled looks across the bed.

 

“It’s the lung-sickness, isn’t it?” I asked her in a low voice, my heart sinking as she nodded silently. I had seen it before in my soldiers, among those who had been wounded and bedridden, and had seen previously healthy men reduced to thin and shaky wreaks, coughs racking their fevered bodies. I had seen more than one man die from this sickness.

 

“How bad – “ I began, and then terror gripped my heart when Maggie refused to meet my eyes. “No! I won’t let him die,” I said fiercely. “I don’t care what we have to do, but Fox is not going to die!”

 

Leaving Maggie to sit with Fox, I strode across the courtyard to the armory where I found Scully supervising her miscreants while they inventoried, cleaned and repaired the weapons and armor.

 

She moved to meet me, saying in a hushed voice, “You will pardon my saying this, but you look terrible. I heard that Milord Fox was ill. Is it very bad, then?”

 

“Lung sickness,” I said briefly. “Nothing we’ve done is working. Would you send one of the men for Sister Melissa?”

 

“I’ll go myself,” Scully said, picking up her cloak and walking towards the stables. I followed her, describing his symptoms while she asked a few questions for clarity, then watched as she raced out of the castle towards the village before I returned to Fox’s side.

 

Maggie looked up in relief as I entered the room, and I could see that she was struggling to keep Fox in the bed. “Thank goodness! He’s delirious – thinks you’re in danger – “

 

I took Maggie’s place on the bed, firmly grasping Fox’s shoulders as he thrashed and tried to get away. "Fox! Fox, it's all right."

 

He blinked his eyes, clutching at me when they finally came into focus. "Master! I thought - I thought I lost you."

 

I sat down, pulling him up against me and rubbing his back soothingly. "You haven't lost me, brat. I'm right here."

 

He rubbed his head fretfully against my shoulder. "You were gone…and it was dark…and I couldn't find you. I looked and I looked but you were gone." Fingers like talons clutched at me. "You won't leave me, will you?"

 

I kissed his fevered forehead and said gruffly, "I won't leave you. I swear it. You're stuck with me for life, brat."

 

"Good," he muttered and fell back into a restless doze again. Once more, Maggie and I wiped him down with cool water and tried to make him more comfortable. He seemed to be worse than before, though, muttering and screaming in his delirium. I tried to calculate in my mind how long Scully had been gone, how long it would take her to get to the village and back, and wondered how much longer Fox could hold out.

 

Just as I was beginning to despair, the door opened and Scully entered with the scarlet-cloaked figure of her sword sister beside her. Melissa didn't pause for greetings, moving immediately to Fox's side. She looked at his eyes, inside his mouth, and then laid her head on his chest before straightening up with a sigh.

 

"It's the pneumonia," she said quietly. She must have seen the desperation in my face for she laid her hand on my sleeve and said, “Do not despair yet, Lord Walter. I have some medicines that have been of help in cases like this.” Then she smiled slightly. “I’d tell you to go rest, but I have the feeling that you won’t leave this lad’s side without force.”

 

For what seemed like hours, the three of us worked under Sister Melissa’s direction, grinding herbs to bathe Fox’s fevered body, making tinctures for him to drink to ease the tightness in his chest and the pain in his head. I watched as the Amazon healer mixed some vile looking potion, raising my eyebrow as she told me it was made from mold.

 

She smiled at that. “I promise that I’m not trying to poison him. This is a medicine known among my people for centuries.” She handed me the cup. “Now, if you can just convince Fox to drink this – “

 

We had already learned through experience that Fox’s delirium made him fight against anyone who touched him and only I could break through the haze enough to catch his attention. I sat down on the bed and stroked his cheek tenderly.

 

“Open up, Fox,” I ordered and, the minute his mouth opened, ruthlessly tilted the vile stuff down his throat.

 

He choked and sputtered. “Ugh! Awful!” he protested tearfully.

 

I wiped down his face with another cool cloth. “I know, my heart, but it’s for your own good.”

 

“That’s what you usually say when you’re about to do something I won’t like,” he said faintly.

 

I couldn’t help laughing at that – it sounded so much like his normal self. “I live to torment you, my Fox. So you must live to keep me amused.”

 

“I’ll try, Master,” he murmured, his eyes drifting shut again. “Tired…”

 

“I know, cub,” I said tenderly, leaning forward to kiss his hot forehead. “Rest now.”

 

I sat holding his hand for a long time until I felt a hand on my shoulder. “You should rest as well,” Sister Melissa said, holding up her other hand at my protest. “He’ll sleep for a long while now. Go – eat, bathe, rest.”

 

My stomach rumbled and I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten. I realized that I didn’t even have any idea how long it had been since Fox had fallen ill, although it felt like a year at least.

 

“All right,” I said reluctantly. “You’ll let me know – “

 

Scully nodded, pushing me toward the door. “We’ll get you if there should be any change. Now go. Melissa and I will watch him while you and Maggie rest.”

 

Wearily, I headed down the hallway to the bathing chamber and sank into the warm water with a grateful side. As tired as I was, I didn’t dare to linger for fear that I would fall asleep here. Maggie brought me a bedgown and a plate of meatrolls, telling me that the guest room upstairs had been readied for me to sleep in. I nodded and wearily made my way upstairs, and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

 

When I awoke, it was dark outside again and I felt stiff from sleeping so long. There was a covered plate on the bed table but I wasn't hungry. What I needed was to be back at Fox's side, watching over him. Since I had been left to sleep so long, it was apparent that Fox's condition hadn't changed, and I didn't know whether that was good or bad. I belted on my heavy robe and headed downstairs.

 

Opening the door to the bedchamber, I saw that Fox was resting quietly, either asleep or unconscious. The Amazon healer was standing beside the bed, her eyes closed. She was holding Fox's amulet above him, concentrating on something, so I closed the door quietly. My bare feet were cold and I went to the wardrobe to look for my favorite house shoes. Not finding them there, I began searching the room, trying not to disturb the healer.

 

I nearly jumped out of my skin when she said, quietly, "They're under the bed."

 

"What?"

 

"Your slippers. Fox told me that you always leave them there when you go to bed."

 

I looked there and found them, thinking that Fox must have come back to consciousness while I slept although why they would have discussed my shoes was beyond me. "When did he tell you that?"

 

"Just now." She opened her eyes and smiled at me across the bed, then reached out for my hand. Holding it over Fox's chest, palm down, she said, "He's here. He knows what's happening, what we are doing and saying."

 

I frowned, pulling my hand away. "I'm sorry, Sister Scully. You are a wise woman and I admire your healing abilities, but I can't believe that."

 

"Can't - or won't?" Her eyes were cool but sympathetic.

 

"Aren't they really the same?" I turned away from her and walked over to the fireplace. "I lost my faith a long time ago, when I learned what people - even religious people - were capable of doing in the name of politics and religion."

 

"There are others who have suffered as greatly as you, and they have kept their faith. Like Fox, here."

 

My lips twisted. "Yes, well, Fox is special. He wants to believe. And maybe he is stronger than I am."

 

"He needs your strength now." I turned my head sharply at the tone in her voice, a sad and almost resigned tone. "Fox is deciding whether or not to move on. He needs your help."

 

"My help to die?" I was horrified at the idea.

 

"Or to live." She tucked the amulet back into Fox's hand and walked over to the door, turning to look at me. "Talk to him, Lord Walter. I think that there is much that you have to say to him. And much that he has to say to you as well."

 

I stared at the closed door for a long moment, then walked over to the bed and looked down into the face of the man I loved. He was so quiet and still, so peaceful, that for a moment I feared that he was dead. Only the slow rise and fall of his chest reassured me that he was still on this side.

 

With a groan, I fell to my knees beside the bed and buried my face in the blanket, my head over his heart. "Fox. Don't leave me. Please, please don't leave me. I need you. I love you. If you die - " My voice choked on a sob and then all the longing and love and fear came rushing out of me. I wept as I hadn't since I had held vigil over my father's slain body and held onto Fox's hand as tightly as I could.

 

 

Fox

 

There was a heavy weight on my chest. Actually, there were two weights - one inside and one outside - but it was the outside weight that seemed the most important at the moment. I blinked open my eyes and tried to lift my head so that I could see what the weight was, but the world around me seemed fuzzy, covered in darkness. Panicked, I tried to move but my arms and legs felt like lead.

 

"Where - " My voice sounded like a croaked whisper and I tried again. "Where am I?"

 

There was movement around the area of my chest, and Lord Walter looked up, a smile starting to lighten those deep brown eyes. "With me."

 

"Oh. Good." It sounded like a reasonable answer and there was something very nearly like joy in his voice, so I thought that being with him must be a good thing. Echoes of memory whispered in my head. "Not leaving you," I murmured. "Never leaving you."

 

Lord Walter cleared his throat and if I hadn't known him better, I would have sworn that it sounded like he had been crying. "Good. Now go back to sleep, cub."

 

Something else hovered on the edge of my memory, something I should remember, something important. But my head ached and I was so tired. It would wait till morning, I thought. "Hold me?" I asked sleepily, unable to keep my eyes open another second.

 

A moment later, I felt a warm body slide into bed next to me and I rolled into his arms with a contented sigh. I slept.

 

Chapter 7

 

Walter

 

It would be too much to say that Fox was back to his old self in no time - he wasn't. The worst of his illness had dragged on for three days and had left him shattered in body. He remained bed-ridden for another week, racked by coughs so painful that it tore out my heart to hear them. His appetite was non-existent and he had to be coaxed to eat anything, and I could see all the weight we had managed to put back on him slipping away daily. It was a frighteningly fragile man that I held in my arms at night as my fingers tracing the all too apparent bones, and it took all of our concerted efforts to keep his thin body warm. Not that he gave us any trouble - and that was another frightening thing. This Fox was docile and obedient, meekly swallowing his medicine and eating what little his stomach could manage. Gone was the headstrong young man who had captured my heart and left in his place was a boy who I feared had been shattered in spirit as well as body.

 

After the first heart-wrenching week, Fox began to strengthen and slowly put on weight, and Maggie allowed him to get out of bed for a few hours every day. Our days fell into a routine over the next few weeks. After waking up, I would coax him to eat warm spiced cereal and then carry him to the bathing chamber where I washed him and let him relax in the warm water while Maggie tidied up the bedchamber. Then I carried him back to my chamber where I gave him a massage to ease bed-ridden muscles, put him into a fresh bedgown and tucked him back in bed. At this point, Fox was usually worn out and would nap until lunchtime when he would manage some soup. The late afternoons were the best for Fox would be rested and we'd spend a few hours before supper sitting in front of the fire, although gone were the spirited discussions of the past. This Fox was content to sit quietly and let me read to him. Then, after supper, I would tuck him back into bed and he was usually asleep within minutes. I generally fell into bed shortly afterwards, more worn out by nursing Fox than by the fiercest combat.

 

After two weeks of this, Fox suddenly asked one afternoon if we could sit in the library and I nearly crowed with joy at this first sign of interest in anything. Wrapping him as warmly as if we were going on an artic expedition, I carried him into the library and settled him into my big chair. He patiently bore with my fussing over him although he protested when I sat down on the floor next to his legs instead of in the other chair. I ignored him, leaning my body against his legs, and that ended his protests. Instead, I felt his hand on my head, gently stroking my scalp as if fascinated with it. I closed my eyes and relaxed under his touch.

 

“Master?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“You don’t have to stay here with me. I know that you must be busy – “ His voice was soft, tentative, and I hated the uncertainty in it.

 

“I want to be here,” I said firmly, then looked up at him with a smile. “No one else in the castle will massage my head.” He laughed softly at that and leaned over to press a kiss against my scalp. “Besides, I don’t want to be that far away from you. I can’t believe how close I came to losing you, my Fox.”

 

We sat silent again for a long time and I nearly fell asleep under the skillful attention of those long fingers.

 

"Master?"

 

Sleepily, I murmured, "Yes, Fox?"

 

"I can't find my collar."

 

That got my attention. I turned my head to look up at him, frowning. "What do you mean - you can't find it?"

 

He flushed slightly but there was a stubborn look that I knew well on his face. "I - looked for it yesterday. While you thought I was napping."

 

If it wasn't for the need to maintain discipline, I would have pulled him into my lap and kissed him insensible. My Fox was back, troublesome and lovable brat that he was. "You did what? Do you want to have a relapse? Getting out of bed, hunting all over the room, in bare feet no doubt - you haven't got a bit of sense, have you?"

 

Fox ignored this inconsequential scolding. "You said I was supposed to wear the collar but I couldn't find it."

 

It was my turn to flush. "I destroyed it," I muttered.

 

"You did what?"

 

I took a deep breath. "I destroyed it – had it melted down. It's gone," I said looking back up at him. "You won't ever have to wear that thing again, I swear it. And if I had known how you felt about it, I wouldn't have said that in the first place."

 

He blinked. "I'm a slave. Why should it matter how I feel about anything?"

 

Now was the time, my heart urged. Now was the time to tell him how I felt about him. "It matters," I said shortly. "You are more than just a slave to me, Fox. Much more.” I hesitated, torn between my need to tell him how much I loved him and afraid of what his reaction would be if I asked him to stay with me. “And that still doesn't change the fact that you were wandering about - practically naked in the middle of winter - when you nearly died - "

 

His lip stuck out in the pout that I adored and I had the fleeting thought of "Discipline be damned!" before I reached out and pulled him into my lap. I kissed him thoroughly, giving in to the need to reconnect, and when I finally released him his eyes were dazed.

 

"M-Master?" he managed to gasp.

 

I grinned down at him and stroked his cheek. "Yes, my heart?"

 

"I thought - you haven't kissed me like that since I got sick. I thought you didn't want me…that I looked ugly to you now."

 

I kissed him again, even more thoroughly, to disabuse any such notion. "Idiot," I said softly when I let him back up, wheezing a bit as he tried to catch his breath. "You've been so sick. I didn't want to do anything that might hurt you."

 

He pressed his lips against mine, gently. "I'm fine now, Master. And I want you."

 

"Fox - "

 

"Please, Master?" His lips moved down my face, along my jaw, and down my neck. "I need you so badly."

 

My blood caught fire and I stood up, lifting his body up in my arms. It was only when I got us into the bedchamber that I began to have doubts again. Stripped naked, he was still so thin that I could feel his hipbones when I ran my hands over his body.

 

"I don't know, Fox, " I began, afraid that my heavier body would bruise him.

 

He pressed his body against mine, kissing me again. "I could be on top and ride your cock."

 

My favorite fantasy suddenly flared to life behind my closed eyes and I knew that, finally, this was the right time. "I've got a better idea."

 

I pulled him down on top of me on the bed and saw him grin before I kissed him insensible again. When we broke apart, I pulled my knees up against my chest and watched his eyes widen in disbelief.

 

"M-master?"

 

I reached up a hand to caress his cheek. "Yes, my heart. I want you inside me." I saw the flush of arousal on his face and it was even better than my fantasy.

 

"I've never - I don't want to hurt you."

 

I pulled his head down for a brief kiss. "You won't. And I'm not a virgin. Just prepare me the way I do you and I'll be fine."

 

His eyes caught fire at that and he kissed me hard before sitting back up and reaching for the pot on the nightstand. Tentatively, he pressed an oiled finger into me and then two. I hissed at the unfamiliar stretching as a third finger joined the others and his eyes darkened with worry but I caught his head and kissed him until he forgot everything else but the need to be buried deep inside me. He slid home in one smooth stroke, panting as he lay across my chest, and I kissed whatever I could reach on his face before bucking my hips to show that I was ready for more.

 

That was all it took. His body came to life above mine, hips thrusting as he pushed himself up on his knees and pulled my legs over his shoulders. I hissed again but this time from pleasure and rocked my body to meet his thrusts, moaning as I felt that long, slender cock brush over my pleasure spot. He heard that and changed the angle of his thrusts until he was constantly hitting it and that was all it took. I shouted out loud and came harder than I had in a long, long time. I heard his yelp of surprise as my internal muscles tightened around him and I forced my sex-sated eyes open. I wanted to see this, wanted to watch him as he came inside me for the first time. His face was flushed and strained with pleasure, sweat dripping off him, and I thought that he had never looked more beautiful. And then, when he opened his eyes and stared down at me, I knew that I would never forget the look in his eyes, not even if I lived to be a hundred.

 

“Walter,” he murmured, and I don’t think he even knew what he said after that as he pressed soft kisses over my face. “So good…never knew…”

 

I folded my arms around him and pulled him down to rest his tired head on my shoulder, smiling contentedly at the ceiling as I felt him slip immediately into an exhausted sleep. It had been better than good, better than I had ever known it could be, better than every fantasy. And the look in his eyes when he came inside me was the greatest gift that I had ever known.

 

Fox loved me. Of that I now had no doubt. With his heart and his body and soul.

 

But I still didn't have a clue whether or not he would stay with me.

 

 

Chapter Eight

 

Fox

 

The horses were stamping their feet impatiently in the cold morning air. I looked over at them, then back at Lord Walter, resolutely pasting a smile on my face. It didn't fool him in the least, though. Tenderly, he cupped my cheek.

 

"Don't look so sad, my cub. I must make the rounds of all my vassals, ensuring that they are ready for the spring planting. I'll be back in a month – less if the roads are in decent shape."

 

"I'll miss you, Master," I murmured, nuzzling my face into his hand and kissing the palm. "Are you certain that I cannot go with you?"

 

"Fox, it's only been a month and you're still recovering. This morning, you coughed for a full 10 minutes upon waking, and I thought you were going to pass out from lack of air. Trudging from keep to keep in this damp weather could cause a relapse and I won't risk that." He grinned at me. "Besides, Maggie would kill me if I tried to take you along."

 

"But I'll miss you," I said, knowing my voice sounded forlorn. It had only been two days since I had intimately known the pleasures of this man's body for the first time and he had yet to reclaim my body as his. I could hardly bear to be out of his sight, much less so many hundreds of miles apart.

 

He enfolded me in his arms. "And I will miss you, my heart. But it is only for a month."

 

"But who will look after you? Bathe you and keep your clothing?"

 

He chuckled. "I am capable of looking after myself, Fox. And if not, I'm sure that I'll be able to find someone to help."

 

I frowned, not liking that thought. Even more upsetting was the thought that Lord Walter might take others into his bed while he was away from me. Not that I had any right to protest. If Lord Walter wanted to take a different lover into his bed every night, it was his right. I should be grateful that he hadn't done that here before my eyes, and that he hadn't tired of me or given me to others.

 

He kissed my forehead, smoothing away my frown. "Don't worry, my cub. There is none other who could hope to take your place." He squeezed me and let me go. "However, if I don't leave now, I'll never make the first keep before dark."

 

I followed him to his horse, standing by his stirrup as he pulled on his gloves and looked around. "Lt. Lamana, are we ready?"

 

"Aye, my lord."

 

He looked over my head at Captain Scully as she came to stand behind me. "I leave Beauforte and my Fox in your capable hands, Captain."

 

"Thank you, my lord," Scully said gravely. "I will guard both of them with my life."

 

He nodded and looked down at me again. "No moping, brat. I expect you to eat all your meals, and sleep properly – in my bed, not on the floor. You have your studies to keep you busy, and I'll write to you every week to let you know of our progress."

 

I could feel the smile blossom on my face. "You will? Oh, thank you, Master!"

 

There was a peculiar expression on Lord Walter's face and he abruptly leaned over and kissed me hard. "I shall miss you greatly, my heart," he murmured against my lips. "Make yourself strong for me, and I promise you a reunion that you will never forget."

 

Lord Walter straightened and signaled to Lamana, then rode out of the castle at the head of his troop. I raced across the courtyard and ran up the steps to the castle's battlements. Standing on the highest part of the castle, I watched him ride away from me until my straining eyes could see nothing but a faint dot on the horizon.

 

"Milord Fox," said a gentle voice behind me. "Come down from here. You are still unwell, and standing in this chill wind will be your death."

 

Reluctantly, I let Scully lead me down to the manor house, let Maggie fuss over me and tuck me into bed with a warm brick at my feet and a cup of hot soup in my hands. But my heart was far away, riding over the mud and snow-streaked land, and moving farther away with every breath.

 

The first week dragged by, each day an eternity to be endured. I went through the motions because I knew Lord Walter would want me to, but I had little interest in anything. I spent most of my days in either the library or Lord Walter's chamber. I slept fitfully at best, more often than not falling asleep in the chair by the fire while reading because I was unable to bear sleeping in that big bed alone. My appetite vanished although Maggie coaxed me to eat, tempting me with my favorite dishes. Even my favorite books held no interest for me.

 

The end of the first week was marked by the arrival of a messenger, bearing scrolls for William with the planting estimates and repair needs – and a small missive for me. I snatched it up without even a semblance of good manners and fled to the library to read it. Breaking the seal, I hastily scanned the lines but saw no word of trouble, so I started again at the top, reading slowly.

 

My dear Fox – I hope that this missive finds you well and in good spirits, although I am doubtful about either. I don’t believe that I need to remind you of the penalty for abusing your body, do I? I am well, though cold and wet more often than not. I will be glad to be back snug at home, and have thought wistfully of you and our afternoons in the library on more than one occasion. And sleeping in my solitary – and generally hard – bed at night reminds me of other comforts that I am missing. I suppose that I am getting soft in my dotage. Be well and behave. Your Walter

 

I hugged the paper to my chest, chiding myself for being foolish over a simple note. The teasing tenderness had undone me, however, and I buried my face in the rug and cried myself to sleep.

 

Waking in the early evening, I was surprised to find that my heart felt lighter, calmer than it had all week. I suppose that I had needed to do that, to release my fear and sadness. One week was behind us, Lord Walter was well, and his words had been reassuring. No doubt it was my overactive imagination, but there seemed to be a deeper emotion behind his words, something that I might have even called love.

 

"I love you, too," I whispered into the night, and suddenly I realized that I was very hungry.

 

And so the weeks dragged by, each punctuated by the arrival of the messenger from Lord Walter. I read each note over a hundred times, each word etched into my memory, before carefully folding them and tucking them into my pouch. I had recovered some of my usual spirits and I know that both Maggie and Scully were relieved to see my appetite return to something closer to normal. I still had troubles sleeping, though, and my dreams were filled with images of Lord Walter being hurt. And I still slept in the chair more often than not. But in the daylight, I was able to shrug off the nightmares.

 

And then the fourth week had passed but this time with no messenger. Scully frowned but said that perhaps the man was delayed, or Lord Walter was on his way home and so sent no messenger when he would be back with us soon. When no messenger arrived on the second day, I panicked but Scully and Maggie reassured me that it was not uncommon for something to delay his lordship – unexpected business, bad roads, and so forth.

 

On the third day, Scully announced that she was taking a small troop of men out to check for news, to contact the woodsmen and see if there was any news. Assuring me that she would be back with good news before dark, she left the Castle and me in the hands of Sergeant Pendrell.

 

I was good for nothing that day. I attempted to concentrate on a list of the work that needed to be done on the estate but, after spoiling three quills and a parchment, gave it up. Once again, my appetite had deserted me and not even Maggie's threats could keep anything down. I avoided the library, unable to bear its friendly warmth, and spent my time walking the battlements, looking with anxious eyes for a sign of either Lord Walter or Captain Scully on the horizon.

 

It was there that one of the pages found me just before sunset. I had drifted into a half-sleep, unaware of anything around me, and he had to call my name several times before I realized that someone was there. Then he handed me a note, saying that one of the woodsmen had brought it. Feverishly, I ripped it open.

 

F. - I know that you have no reason to like me and even less to trust me, but you must listen for once. You are in grave danger and your protector in imminent peril of his life. One of his vassals has been suborned and will seek to kill him. There is also a soldier amongst the troops who has been instructed to kill the Amazon and Lord Walter. In either case, you will be delivered to Spender, and you know what that will mean. Be careful, Fox, and trust no one. A.

 

I stared at the note for a long moment, stunned, then my heart began to pound. Walter. Unexpectedly late. And now Scully, out searching for news. I looked up at the page, trying to control the terror in my heart.

 

"Is the captain back yet?"

 

The boy shrugged. "I don't know – I've been in the kitchens all day. I heard horses in the courtyard a little bit ago, though."

 

I hadn't heard anything, but then again, it was possible that I had fallen asleep. Thanking the page, I practically ran down the steps and entered the manor house, running up to the second floor and pounding on Scully's door.

 

There was no answer, so I hurried over to the armory, looking in her office and all around the training rooms and the stables, but there was no sight of her and the horse she had ridden wasn't there. I stood there for a long minute, chewing my lip. Sergeant Pendrell would have to be told, shown the note so that he could find the Captain and send her and the troops to rescue Walter. Momentarily, I wondered if I could trust the sergeant, but he was distantly related to Maggie. The problem was that he was up in the barracks and I was forbidden to go there.

 

I hesitated for a moment. But the words from the note were racing through my head and an overwhelming sense of urgency filled me. I tucked the note into my pouch and hurried up the stairs to the barracks.

 

At the top of the stairs, I hesitated again and looked around. I stood on a small, dark landing. Ahead of me was a narrow hallway and, from the sounds of laughter coming from the end of it, I assumed that the common room was at the end of it. On either side of the hallway was a doorway, probably the private rooms of Lamana and the sergeants. I knocked on the doors and then opened them, but both rooms were empty. I swallowed hard and decided that I would have to go into the common room. It wasn’t that I was really worried that any of the soldiers would attempt anything, despite William's warning, since I doubted that they wanted to risk Lord Walter's anger. But I had been hoping to limit the number of people who knew about this little excursion of mine and now there was no doubt that Lord Walter would find out.

 

Thinking of him reminded me of the urgency of my mission, and I started down the hall. Suddenly, a hand grabbed me from behind and pulled me backwards. Startled, I opened my mouth to shout only to be silenced by a rough hand across my mouth. I found myself being half-carried toward the landing, kicking and struggling, and I bit the hand over my mouth.

 

"Shit!"

 

I found myself abruptly dropped onto the floor, the breath knocked out of me. Then I was hauled back up off the floor and the backhanded blow I received made my eyes water and my ears ring.

 

"Damn catamite!" The man slammed me back into the wall, pinning my body there, and I managed to focus my eyes long enough to recognize my attacker. Modell, one of the soldiers who was a friend of Colton’s. I had heard that low, ugly voice many a time in the courtyard, had heard the mocking comments he and Colton had made, and had so far managed to ignore them.

 

I was in serious trouble now.

 

Modell wasn't alone and Colton looked like he would pass out from fear at any moment. "Are you crazy? He's Lord Walter's plaything - he'll kill you for even looking at him much less touching him."

 

"Oh, I plan to look, and touch, and do more than that." Modell leaned against me and his alcohol-saturated breath was foul. "What do you say, pretty little Fox? The old man not got enough to satisfy you so you came looking for a little fun?"

 

"No - looking for Sgt. Pendrell - let me go - " Modell's hands pinched and poked at me, and I swore and kicked and tried to get free.

 

"Pendrell's gone into town looking for a bit of slap and tickle, and the Captain's away so there's no one to rescue you, pretty boy. We promise not to hurt you - much."

 

"I'm not having anything to do with this," Colton said quickly, nervously. "Let him go before you get in serious trouble - "

 

"Too late."

 

I recognized that steel-laced voice and there was a whooshing noise through the air as the tight arms suddenly released me. There was a funny sound and something warm and liquid spattered me but I was too busy falling to the floor and trying to crawl away to care. Soldiers piled into the hallway from the common room, no doubt drawn by that unearthly screaming. Over the noise, I heard an icy voice giving orders.

 

"You two - take the body outside the gates and into the woods. Strip it and leave it for the scavengers. You two - shut Colton up, take him down to the whipping post and chain him up. At first light, he'll receive forty lashes. You - ride into town and find Sergeant Pendrell. Tell him to button it up and get back here within the hour or I'll relieve him of his balls. Consider this a warning, men. The next one who lays a finger on Milord Fox will be flayed alive. And as for you - "

 

A strong hand lifted me up off the floor by the back of my shirt and dragged me downstairs to the armory. Then I was pushed me up against the wall and I found myself staring into icy blue eyes.

 

"What were you doing up there? It was expressly forbidden and you know it." She pushed upward and my feet left the ground. "If I find that you're slipping around behind his lordship's back, I'll kill you myself. I know a hundred places to hide a body where it will never be found and I'll tell him you ran away."

 

"I wasn't," I gasped, and she eased her grip a little so that I could breathe. "A message came for me - Lord Walter in danger. Tried to find Pendrell - I swear -"

 

She shook me. "Where's the note?"

 

"My pouch." Captain Scully released me and ripped my pouch off my belt, opening it and pulling out the folded paper inside. "Not that one - " I began as she unfolded the note Lord Walter had sent me at the end of the first week. She read it quickly, glancing at me briefly, then folded it back up and put in back in the pouch. She unfolded the other note, the one I had received today, and read it.

 

"You're telling me the truth." I breathed a sigh of relief and she handed me back my pouch. "You know that he's going to beat you senseless over this."

 

"I know. I plan to tell him as soon as he gets back." Fear suddenly raced through me. "If he gets back."

 

She squeezed my shoulder. "We'll find him. Now, take off your shirt. Wait - close your eyes first, pull it off and hand it to me with your eyes closed." I did as she instructed and heard her move away. She returned and I was startled to have an ice-cold bucket of water dump over my head.

 

"What the hell - " I sputtered, and she thrust a towel into my hands.

 

"You had Modell's blood and brains all over your hair and shirt."

 

My stomach lurched and I stumbled out the door to a darkened corner of the courtyard, losing the contents of my stomach as it heaved in rebellion. I felt a warm hand on the back of my neck offering comfort and I accepted the towel again.

 

"Thanks," I said weakly, and leaned against the cool plaster gratefully. "And thanks for rescuing me in there."

 

"You're welcome. Now let's get you cleaned up." She braced me with one arm around my waist, guiding me across the courtyard.

 

From outside came a reply to the challenge of the night-guard, then the postern door opened and Sergeant Pendrell raced in, sliding off his horse before it had even stopped.

 

"What happened - " He halted, seeing me pale and shirtless and no doubt still streaked with blood and the Captain grim-faced.

 

"My office. Five minutes."

 

I think that he went even paler than I was and he swallowed hard. "Yes, Captain."

 

The Captain walked me all the way to the bathing chamber and sat me down, removing my boots. "These will need to be cleaned - I'll take them with me. Pendrell can do that as part of his penance. Strip and give me the rest of your clothes - they'll have to be burned." I obeyed, handing her the breeches, carefully not thinking about the dark patches on them. "Into the water and scrub well. I'll send Maggie in to check on you while I go talk to Colton and find out what he knows."

 

"But Lord Walter - "

 

She turned back and gave me a curious look. "You love him, don't you? You're carrying that note of his around in your pouch and it looks like you've read it a hundred times."

 

I flushed and looked down. "Yes. I love him, and I swear I would never do anything to hurt him. I'd die first."

 

"I know. We'll find him," she said gently, "But we can't do anything in the middle of the night. At first light, we'll ride out in search of him. And Fox – I promise that we’ll find him." And then she was gone.

 

 

Walter

 

Stretching my feet towards the fire, I contemplated the seriousness of my situation. That I was in grave peril I had no doubt, and it was all the more dangerous for the apparent peacefulness of the setting. It was likely that, unless I kept my wits, I would be dead before morning. Not for the first time that day, I thanked the Gods that I had not brought Fox with me.

 

The fact that my host was not pleased that I had not brought Fox with me was the first thing that had aroused my suspicions. Arriving at the last holding on my circuit, we had been warmly welcomed by my vassal, Louis de Cardinale, and I had been settled in the man's own chambers even as he profusely apologized for the irregularities in the keep's housekeeping.

 

"My wife is away, attending the laying-in of our daughter - our first grandchild," he had said in explanation. I had congratulated him on the event but the absence of the gentlewomen of the keep was another suspicious item. Together with my vassal's inexplicable knowledge of my slave and the nervousness he showed when learning that Fox wasn't with me, an ugly picture of treachery began to form in my head.

 

I pulled Lamana aside before going in to dinner. "Stay sharp," I warned him. "I sense treachery here."

 

He nodded and went off to quietly instruct his men while I endured a protracted meal during which Cardinale attempted to drink me under the table while the talk skirted along treasonous issues, tempting me to speak a word against the King or the Priests that could get me arrested. He was unsuccessful in both attempts. I had long ago learned how to dodge political issues, and I had developed a hard head for drinking. Still, I was taking no chances and I made it look like I was drinking more than I actually was. As the evening went on, I feigned an increasing drunkenness, noting with grim amusement the predatory gleam in Cardinale's eyes. I excused myself finally, weaving a little as I headed towards my chamber, and felt eyes on my back as I walked.

 

Once safely in my chamber, I splashed cold water on my face to shake off any lingering effects from the wine. There was a soft knock at the door and I quickly let Lamana in.

 

"You were right, my lord," he said without preamble. "The Captain broke out the ale and they brought in whores. By midnight, they'll expect our men to be out cold."

 

"And your men?"

 

He grinned. "Lord, they should all take to the stage once their soldiering days are done. You've never seen such a bunch of drunken louts in your life. And Cardinale’s captain is acting so smug - he'll never notice that the men are staggering out of the barracks by ones and twos to take a piss. Once we're all out, I've instructed my sergeant to bar the doors and windows from the outside. Cardinale will get no help from that quarter."

 

"Well done," I said, clapping his shoulder with a feral grin of my own. "Now, back to your men - "

 

He shook his head. "And leave you here alone with that treacherous weasel? I'm not facing Fox should you get even a scratch - he'd cut off my balls and stuff them down my throat!"

 

I chuckled. "What, afraid of a mere slave? And an unarmed one at that?"

 

"Yes," Lamana said fervently. "That boy's protective where you're concerned and I'd rather be dead than face his wrath."

 

"Very well. But keep still until I give the signal or you'll face my wrath."

 

I lay down on the bed, fully clothed and covered myself with the blanket, feigning sleep. Lamana settled in a darkened corner and we watched.

 

It wasn't too long before I heard a faint noise coming from the area where the concealed door lay. I slitted my eyes and slid my long knife from its sheath, waiting tensely as Cardinale silently entered the room. Quietly, he made his way over to the bed and stood over it for a moment, then I saw the upward movement of his arm and a bright gleam in the firelight. In an instant, my own knife was at his throat and Lamana moved in behind him to take Cardinale’s knife.

 

"All right, Louis. Whose orders are you following?" I asked grimly.

 

"I - I don't know what you're talking about. I was checking that you were all right -"

 

"With a knife? After entering through a secret door?" I shook my head. "You've been caught in an attempt to murder your liege lord, a crime of Treason, punishable by death. Whether that death is swift or painful is up to you."

 

His face paled but there was no groveling or pleading for mercy. Cardinale was no coward, even if he was a villain.

 

"My men will be here any moment - "

 

"Your men are locked into the barracks by my men," Lamana growled. "They won't lift a finger to save a traitorous dog like you."

 

"I won't tell you anything," Cardinale snarled. "Do what you will to me."

 

"Believe me, I will. But first, I think a night in your own dungeon will make you think. And not only of yourself - if you die a traitor's death, your family will be forfeit as well." I could see his face blanch at that threat although, privately, I determined that this man's children would not meet the same fate as my Fox because of the weakness of their father.

 

Lamana and I escorted Cardinale out of the keep and across the courtyard towards the dungeon entrance. About a quarter of the way across the open space, Cardinale decided to take his chances. Breaking free from us, he ran towards the postern gate and freedom.

 

He never made it. From out of the darkness came a bright bolt of wood and feathers, planting itself firmly in Cardinale's chest. He was dead before his body hit the ground.

 

Any hope that the archer was one of ours was short-lived. Another arrow missed me by inches while a third struck Lamana in the thigh. I threw an arm around him and dragged him to cover in a shadowed archway.

 

Lamana winced as I took a moment to probe his wound, and I was relieved to see that the arrow had missed the main blood vessels, striking the fleshy part instead. Painful, but at least he wouldn't bleed to death before my eyes.

 

"One of his men must have escaped," Lamana panted.

 

I shook my head. "I doubt that Cardinale has the resources to hire a Welsh bowman. No doubt in the pay of their employer with instructions to leave no loose ends."

 

"So - what are our chances?"

 

"Pinned here with an unknown and undoubtedly professional assassin perched up somewhere in an unfamiliar castle, and one of us wounded?" I smiled grimly. "Not good. Not good at all."

 

---

Part 5: Found

Chapter One

 

Fox

 

I lay in the bed for hours, staring up in the dark, unable to find any rest. Somewhere out there was Lord Walter – possibly hurt or a prisoner or… I refused to let my mind go down that path. Lord Walter was not dead. I would know if he was, would feel it deep in my heart. I don't know how I knew that, but I was certain it was true.

 

Finally, I gave up the struggle to sleep and got up. It still lacked several hours till dawn but I thought that Captain Scully would still be awake, questioning the prisoner to find out more about the plots surrounding us, and I thought I might as well go over to her office to see what she had learned. I dressed quickly, slipping on my old soft shoes since my boots were being cleaned, and wrapped the heavy cloak around my body.

 

The courtyard was a-buzz with activity, unusual for this time of night. It seemed like most of the garrison was getting ready to go somewhere, preparing their mounts and light provisions. The Captain was not with them so I continued into the armory and found her putting on her armor, issuing orders to her second-in-command, Sgt. Pendrell. She turned to me, frowning.

 

"You should be resting."

 

"Couldn't sleep. What's going on?"

 

She gave me a sharp look and picked up her sword belt. "I put Colton to the question. He admitted that Earl Spender had bribed one of the castellans to kill Lord Walter and take you captive. He planned to make it look like you did it and fled the country so no one would look for you and Spender could do what he liked with you. Meanwhile, Modell was supposed to find a way to search your belongings – Colton didn't know for what – and steer us away from looking for you. After his Lordship decided not to take you with him, Modell came up with the idea of abducting you for Spender instead. When you showed up in the barracks, it just made his job easier."

 

"And Lord Walter? Was he still supposed to be killed?"

 

"Colton had no idea, but he thought it likely that Cardinale would go ahead. It would have been last night." She must have seen the stricken look on my face because she grasped my shoulder and said quietly, "Lord Walter is not a man to be taken unaware."

 

I nodded, my throat suddenly tight. "You are going to his rescue?"

 

She nodded. "If we move quickly, we can be there by dawn. I promise you, M'lord Fox, if there is any way to bring him home safely, I will."

 

"I'm going with you."

 

Scully frowned. "Oh no, you're not. We will be riding hard and fast, possibly going into combat. You will stay here where it is safe."

 

I shook my head stubbornly. "If you leave me here, I'll just find a way to follow. I swear it."

 

The Amazon's eyes flared with fire and I was suddenly reminded of the previous night. She grabbed my throat and hissed, "You will give me your word that you'll stay right here, or by the gods, I will toss you in the cells until Lord Walter returns. Do you understand me?"

 

"But-" I gasped.

 

"Swear it!"

 

I gave up. "I swear."

 

She released me, turning her head towards Pendrell. "And you are not to let him near the horses, the gates, or the wall. If he tries anything, lock him up."

 

"Scully!" I protested. "I just gave you my word!"

 

"And I know just how much that would be worth if you thought Lord Walter needed your help." Once again she squeezed my shoulder. "We'll bring him back. I swear."

 

I nodded and she strode away, calling the troop to mount. I looked over at Sgt. Pendrell. "Is there anything else Colton can tell us? Something to help Lord Walter?"

 

"Not anymore," he said cryptically, following in the Captain's wake. I decided that I didn't want to know what that meant and slowly made my way to the library to wait for Lord Walter's return.

 

Walter

 

By the light of the full moon, we determined that our situation was grave but not impossible. The unknown archer had command over most of the courtyard and had put an arrow through one of Lamana's men when he had attempted to cross to us. The rest of Lamana's men were safe but couldn't get any closer to the stairs that would access the wall above us where the archer was. To add to our troubles, it sounded like Cardinale's troops locked inside the barracks had sobered enough to start seeking a way out and were attempting to batter down the door.

 

I had extracted the arrow from Lamana's thigh and bandaged the wound as tightly as I dared. His face was paler than usual with pain and anxiety, but at least he was in no danger of collapsing or bleeding to death. Still, I doubted that he would be able to move quickly should the occasion warrant it.

 

"I've got to get up there, get to that archer," I said quietly.

 

"Don't see how," Lamana said, peering around the corner of the stable doorway where we had taken refuge.

 

I jerked my head towards the stable doors behind me. "If I let out some of the horses, it should create enough confusion for me to get over to the turret stairs."

 

"You can't go up there alone," Lamana objected. "I'll go with you."

 

"Don't be daft," I said, gesturing to his leg. "You try running up those stairs and you'll bleed to death. I'll be fine."

 

"You better be, or Fox'll kill me," Lamana grumbled.

 

I smiled at the thought of the young lieutenant being more afraid of a slave than death, then went to work. Between the two of us, we released half the horses from their stalls, then opened the main stable door and let them out into the courtyard. The ruse worked better than I had expected and, using the horses as both shield and cover, I made my way to the turret stairs. Once there, I pulled off my heavy boots and, in stocking feet, made my way up the steps, sword in hand. Although there appeared to be only one bowman, he might have a companion with him and I wasn't taking any chances.

 

Luck was with me for a change. The bowman was alone and his attention was completely focused on the courtyard where the horses still milled around. I slipped up behind him and put the point of my sword against his neck.

 

"Drop your weapon," I growled. Startled, the man complied, and it clattered on the stones below us. I heard Lamana shout to his men and knew that he would take care of the situation below. Meanwhile, I would see about getting some answers from this man.

 

"Turn around – slowly. And keep your hands where I can see them."

 

The man slowly raised his hands and started to turn, then, suddenly, leapt up onto the turret wall out of reach of my sword. For a moment, the world seemed to hang suspended as be balanced precariously on the narrow wall, but then he began to topple backwards. I reached for him but too late – with a scream he fell to the courtyard below and lay still.

 

Cursing under my breath, I ran back down the stairs. I pulled my boots back on my frozen feet, then went to inspect the body. The dead man was unknown to me and carried no identifying papers. I swore again.

 

"Any luck, my lord?" Lamana asked, joining me.

 

"Nothing," I said with a sigh, standing up. "You?"

 

"Cardinale's men are unarmed and under guard, at no additional harm to our men. His captain is waiting for you to question – although he's so sotted that I doubt you'll get anything useful out of him."

 

I followed him across the courtyard where some of Lamana's men were rounding up the freed horses while others mounted guard over the captured soldiers. I glanced up at sky and sighed. It was at least an hour till dawn. Although I was exhausted from a night without sleep, I wanted nothing more than to ride home and bury myself in Fox's arms. But the men were no doubt exhausted as well, and there was the protection of this holding to arrange before I could return home.

 

I sighed again. It would be a long time before I could get this miserable mess sorted out and return home. I would write to William this morning, have his eldest son sent here to hold for me. William the younger was a good man – a little tedious but honorable – and had done well managing the demesne farms for me. No doubt he would do well here, and the appointment of the man to hold this keep for me would increase the loyalty of both father and son. Even so, it would take the better part of a month to arrange matters here. There were the records to go through, the stores to inventory, the spring planting to see to. Disposition of Cardinale's widow and young children would need to be made, and young William established before I could even think of leaving.

 

I turned my attention to Cardinale's captain. Lamana was right, I noted with disgust. The captain was staggeringly drunk and, although his soaked condition indicated a rough-and-ready attempt to sober him up, it was clear that I would get nothing useful out of him. By the unkempt look of his clothing, his drunkenness was a common thing, and that didn't bode well for the garrison under his command. This man would have to go, and the entire garrison would have to be turned over, perhaps every man replaced. I needed Scully here.

 

A smile slowly grew on my face. I would send Lamana back to Beauforte today – he would heal much better under Maggie's care – with a letter for Captain Scully, ordering her to join me here to see to the garrison. She would expect that duty at any rate, and she could handle it more efficiently than I could, freeing my time to see to the other matters of the keep. Of course, I would need a clerk to go through the records with me, write out the summons to the merchants and farmers under Cardinale's rule, and record the inventory. By now, Fox would be well recovered from his illness and, in any event, it was only a few hours' ride and the weather was passing fair…

 

I suppressed a chuckle at the reasons I was finding to justify sending for Fox. Besotted fool, I chided myself. Admit the truth – you love the boy and miss him.

 

I turned my thoughts away from the big bed upstairs and the young man I longed to share it with, and turned to find Lamana watching me, a puzzled look on his face. I allowed my smile to broaden, reaching out to grasp his shoulder.

 

"You have done well, Lieutenant. Very well, indeed, and I shall tell Captain Scully as much." His face lit up, and the solution to the problem of a new captain here at this keep occurred to me, but I would need to discuss the matter with Scully first. "I shall be sending you back to Beauforte this afternoon, with a message for both William and the Captain, so you need to get some rest. Pick six men to accompany you, and have the others secure the prisoners in the dungeons." I rubbed my eyes wearily, wishing that I had fresh troops to assign to the watch. "We are all tired, so rest is the next order of business."

 

On the thought, I heard the sound of an approaching troop, a shout giving the pass-code as they hailed the keep. Captain Scully, I thought, my weary mind unable to come up with any alternative. She must have worried when I didn't return on schedule and had come to investigate.

 

"Open the gates!" I called, and two of the men ran to obey.

 

The mounted troop swept into the courtyard and I moved forward with words of welcome on my lips. But they died unvoiced as I recognized the man at the head of the troop.

 

Earl Spender's eyes, cold and empty, met mine. "Lord Walter," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "This is a surprise. I had expected to find you dead."

 

I felt Lamana move forward to guard my back as I said grimly, "Not for lack of trying on your part." I gestured towards the two bodies before me. "You can take your lackies and leave. Now."

 

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Spender said blandly. "You see, I have a warrant for your arrest – in the event that I found you alive and well."

 

"And what are the charges?"

 

"High Treason, for a start." Spender dismounted and walked over to the bodies, turning over that of the archer with his foot. "This man was one of the King's Envoys, and I don't think he'll take kindly to the man's murder."

 

I snorted at that. "Your envoy put an arrow through three men, including Cardinale, and jumped off the turret rather than surrender to me."

 

"That, of course, is your story. There are others who will tell a different tale." He pulled out one of his foul tobacco sticks and lit it. "So – will you surrender, or will I be forced to have my men attack you and your men? Any that survive will be put to the question, to provide evidence for your trial."

 

"So I am to be allowed a trial? How generous of you."

 

"I am a generous man," Spender said. "Even now, you can be spared if you turn over the boy to me."

 

I drew myself up. "No."

 

"Pity." Spender drew in a breath from his tobacco stick and let it out in my face. "To give up your life for one worthless slave boy – what a tragic waste."

 

"If he is so worthless, why do you want him?"

 

Spender smiled at that, a smile that chilled me to the core. "Why, because I want him. And I intend to have him."

 

I ground my teeth together and said fiercely, "Over my dead body."

 

"I think that can be arranged. Of course, it will be over your men's bodies as well."

 

"And if I surrender? My men will be allowed to go free?"

 

Spender shrugged. "Of course. You have my word of honor."

 

"You'll forgive me if I don't value that too highly," I said dryly.

 

"It doesn't appear that you have any choice in the matter," Spender pointed out, then turned to his captain who had been busy talking with Cardinale's men. "Well, Captain?"

 

"Cardinale's men say that the boy wasn't with Lord Walter when he arrived, sir."

 

Spender swore under his breath and swung on Cardinale's captain, and the man blanched under Spender's glare. "You! Gather your miserable excuse for an army and ride to Beauforte. Search the entire place if you have to, but find that boy and bring him to me." He took a menacing step forward. "And you had better not fail me. Understood?"

 

The man stammered an answer and hurriedly disappeared to gather his men and their mounts. Spender turned back to his own captain "Lord Walter is under arrest. We will take him back to town with us, under heavy guard."

 

"Yes, sir." The captain turned to me. "Your sword, Lord Walter."

 

I hesitated for a moment, but the odds were too high. And I needed to stay alive; Fox needed me alive. I unbuckled my sword belt and handed it to him, praying that Captain Scully would be able to get the boy to safety.

 

Chapter Two

 

Fox

 

A hand clapped over my mouth, startling me awake, and I realized that I had fallen asleep curled up in Lord Walter's chair in the library. I struggled, only to have the hand tighten and a voice hiss in my ear, "Quiet! You want to bring the entire place running?"

 

I fought harder, recognizing that voice. Alexi. How on earth had he gotten into this place?

 

"Of course you want to bring all your protectors rushing to your aid - but if you do, you'll never know what happened to Lord Walter."

 

I stilled and, after a moment, Alexi cautiously removed his hand. "Where's Lord Walter? Is he – is he dead?"

 

Alexi moved around the side of the chair, tossing me the cloak that I had set aside. "I'll tell you everything, but we have to get out of here first."

 

I snorted at that. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

 

He shrugged. "Fine. Sit right here and wait for Spender to take you prisoner. See if I care." He started towards the door.

 

I sprang out of the chair. "What the hell are you talking about?"

 

"There's a troop of Spender's men on their way here, and it looks like Cardinale's man-at-arms is leading them. I don't think they're here for a social visit, do you?"

 

I swallowed hard. "How do you know this? And why should I believe you?"

 

He shrugged again. "Believe or don't. But if you want to get out of here, we have to do it now."

 

I grabbed my cloak and fastened it around my shoulders, following him. "What about Maggie and William? Shouldn't we warn them?"

 

"No time, and they won't be in any danger. Spender wants you."

 

I thought quickly. I had no intention of trusting Alexi, but he had somehow gotten into the castle so I knew he had to have a way out. Once I was out, I would go after Scully and find out the truth. "All right, I'll come with you. Just give me a moment."

 

Alexi gave an exasperated sigh but I hurried into my room and grabbed a satchel, putting my knife, the pouch of coins and, on impulse, that odd scroll into it. I hid it under my cloak and joined Alexi who was impatiently waiting in the hallway.

 

“Are you quite finished?” he asked sarcastically. “Perhaps there’re a few books from the library you’d like to take with us? Or maybe you’d like to stop by the kitchen and ask the cook for a picnic basket while we’re at it?”

 

Between my lack of sleep and worry over Walter, I had very little patience left. I slammed Alexi up against a wall, my hands around his throat.

 

“Look,” I snarled at him. “I’ve just about had it with all of you! Pulling me here, pushing me there – You’re getting me out of here, and then I’m going to find Lord Walter, and that’s it! Do you understand?”

 

“But – “

 

I slammed him again. “I said, do you understand?”

 

Alexi glared at me but muttered, “I understand.”

 

“Good.” I let him go and gave him a mock bow. “Lead on.”

 

Alexi led the way out of the manor and into the older part of the castle then, much to my surprise, down a narrow flight of stairs. He unlocked an old door at the bottom of the stairs, relocking it behind him. Then he picked up a torch and lit it.

 

"This way," he said, gesturing towards a dark tunnel before us.

 

I looked apprehensively at the tunnel. It was dark and dank and obviously hadn't been used in decades. "Where does this go?"

 

"The village." Alexi started walking and I hurried to follow him, not wanting to get caught in here in the dark. "It was an escape tunnel that the original builder of the fort put in – also handy for smuggling contraband from the bay to the castle."

 

"How'd you find out about this tunnel?" I asked curiously, wondering if Lord Walter knew about it – and if he knew that Alexi had somehow gotten the keys.

 

"Je – the king told me about playing under the castle when he was a boy, hiding from his brother. Once I knew about it, finding it was easy."

 

I frowned at that; if the king was involved in this little plan, I had a feeling that it wasn't in my best interest to go along. But with the keys in Alexi's possession, it was either go forward or remain trapped here. We continued the rest of the journey in silence and I was relieved to see a gradual lightening of the sky ahead of us.

 

As we reached the entrance, Alexi suddenly dropped the torch and turned, pinning me against the tunnel wall. I gasped, finding it hard to breathe with his arm across my throat. His face was a breath away from mine and he grinned mockingly.

 

"Don't like being on the other end of the punches, pretty boy?"

 

"Shouldn't have – trusted you – "

 

"Oh, I'm not turning you over to that bastard," Alexi snarled. "I'm taking you to the king."

 

I blinked at that. "Why?"

 

"Because, you dimwit, Spender has charged your precious lord with treason, and he'll torture the man until he tells them where you are."

 

My blood ran cold at that but I snarled back, "So you're saving the torturers all that time and trouble?"

 

Something passed over his face for a moment, and I could almost swear it was pain. "No," he said shortly. "I'm saving Je- the king. It'll kill him to see his brother hurt and disgraced." Then his face tightened again. "As for you, I expect that Spender'll get his hands on you eventually, although the queen will probably want her turn with you first."

 

I blanched at that and then heard a cool voice say, "I don't think I like that idea." Alexi stiffened and saw an armored female figure step into the sunlight, a naked sword in her hand. "Let him go."

 

Alexi swore but released me and I rubbed my sore throat with my hand, peering into the bright light. I recognized that voice but the clothing – "Sister Melissa?"

 

The Amazon healer smiled and inclined her head. "At your service, Fox." She looked over at Alexi. "And you – hands behind your back, if you please."

 

"How did you – "

 

" – know you were here?" she asked, giving me a droll look.

 

"Never mind," I said with a sigh. "You just knew."

 

"Exactly." She jerked her head towards Alexi who was watching the Amazon warily. "Check him for weapons and then tie his hands behind his back. And quickly, Fox. It isn't safe to linger here."

 

"Then he was telling the truth when he said that Spender was on his way here."

 

"His men are searching the castle right now, and undoubtedly they'll turn to the village when they don't find you. I have a boat waiting to take us to safety."

 

I removed the four knives Alexi had hidden on his body and tied his hands tightly together. "Where are we going?"

 

"To the Shrine. You'll be safe there."

 

"But Lord Walter – "

 

"Is alive but a prisoner." She gripped my shoulder. "Fox, they'll be taking him to Town as well. We can't do anything to get him free now, but once we are safe at the Shrine, I'm sure the Goddess will show us the way. Now come."

 

I nodded, my heart heavy in my chest, and followed her out of the tunnel.

 

I found that we were on the shore of the bay, about a half-mile above the village. A small boat with two oarsmen waited on the beach, and a few yards out I saw a larger ship. I drew a deep breath and pushed Alexi ahead of me as I walked down to the waiting boat. Now was not the time to think of my own fears. Lord Walter needed me and, by the Gods, I would not let him down.

 

Walter

 

Cardinale's troop left immediately, heading south towards Beauforte, while Spender's troop set out on the southeasterly road towards the Mulder River and Spender's own lands instead of directly towards Town. We rode through the morning at a brisk pace, Spender clearly wanting to be off my lands before Scully or Lamana could catch up with him, but once we forded the river, he called a halt to make camp. I was pulled off my horse and secured under guard while the rest of the troop watered their horses and ate their luncheon. Spender paced restlessly, however, his eyes searching the track behind us. And, as the hours dragged past, his temper grew increasingly darker.

 

The sound of an approaching troop made him stride to the riverbank to scan the approaching men. I had determined at a glance that it was neither Scully nor Lamana, and they didn't appear to have an unarmed prisoner with them either.

 

"Well?" Spender demanded as Cardinale's man rode into camp and dismounted.

 

The man wet his lips nervously. "He wasn't there. We searched the entire castle, then we searched the village. There wasn't a sign of him."

 

Spender growled at that. "And the Amazon?"

 

"Gone, sir. She must have taken the boy to safety, but none of the servants or soldiers seemed to know anything about it. We even gutted the sergeant, but none of his men would change their story."

 

Even as I regretted the loss of Sgt. Pendrell, I felt a wave of relief wash over me at the thought that Fox was safe. Bless you, Scully, I thought warmly.

 

I thought that Spender would explode with anger at this news, and I could see Cardinale's man go white with fear. "Kill him," Spender said curtly to his Captain, jerking his head towards the man-at-arms. "Then send your best assassins ahead of us to Town. The Amazon will take the boy to her Shrine – they are to wait there for her to arrive, then kill her and bring the boy to me."

 

The Captain nodded his understanding, turning to his men to issue the orders. A sharp cry from the man-at-arms was cut off sharply, and his body fell to the ground. Spender ignored him and the flurry of preparations around him, stalking over to where I sat.

 

I couldn't help the triumphant smile on my face. "Well, Spender – it seems that your plans aren't going quite as you wanted."

 

"You are still my prisoner, Lord Walter, and very soon young Fox will be as well," he snapped. "Then we will see who is smiling."

 

Chapter Three Fox

 

Once we were safely out of the bay, Melissa freed Alexi's hands and set me to watch him while she consulted with the ship's master – who appeared to be a foster-brother to Captain Scully - about the safest place to set us on shore. I settled onto a coil of rope out of the way of the sailors and watched everything with great interest. I had been on one of the light ships that ran up and down the river in Town as a child, not one of my fondest memories since the motion of the water made me violently ill. But either I had outgrown that or I was simply too worried about Lord Walter to have time to be seasick. Even so, the offer of food by the cook's helper made me shudder.

 

Alexi had no such qualms, tearing into the roast chicken with a voracious appetite. I silently passed him my portion, telling myself that it was because I didn't want it to go to waste – I was not feeling sorry for the other man.

 

He gave me a cautious and puzzled look before picking up the food I offered, continuing to watch me as he slowly ate it. The steady appraisal made me feel funny and I snapped, "What are you looking at?"

 

He shrugged and tossed the bones over the side, wiping his fingers on his tunic before picking up his mug of watered wine. "Just trying to figure you out."

 

I frowned. "What's there to figure out? I'm a slave, just like you."

 

He scowled. "You are nothing like me. You had a home and a family – "

 

"Which your master took away from me – "

 

"At least you had one," he snapped back.

 

"Poor, pitiful Alexi. You think that gives you the excuse for doing whatever you like, don't you?" I said mockingly. He snarled and started to move towards me, but I pulled out the knife Melissa had left with me. "Uh-uh. Sit."

 

With a furious glare, he sat back down and picked up his mug, ignoring me pointedly as he drank from it. I grinned at that, glad to see the cock-sure slave at a disadvantage for once.

 

"You never told me why you're so set on protecting the King's feelings," I said, stretching out on my rope seat.

 

"That's right," he said shortly. "I didn't."

 

I eyed him speculatively. "Last I saw, Spender had given you to the queen to be her new play-toy. You doing this to make her happy? Or did she get bored with you already?"

 

He curled his lip. "Her attention span is ten minutes, tops."

 

"Ten minutes?" I said mockingly. "That's the best you can do? No wonder she got bored."

 

Green eyes flashed at me. "And what would you know about it, catamite?"

 

"I know I can last longer than ten minutes, whore. So you ended up back in Spender's stable? Or did you find someone else's bed to warm?" Alexi flushed at that, looking away from me, and I sat up straight. "The king? No, that story won't fly. Everyone knows he hasn't taken anyone to his bed except the queen."

 

Alexi's eyes flashed up at me angrily, then back down at his mug. Oddly enough, the very fact that he refused to say anything about it convinced me. "It's true. And not only that, you care about him, don't you?" I asked, stunned.

 

He still didn’t look at me. "He – he was the first one who didn't hurt me," he said lowly. "He cared about – my pleasure, too."

 

For a moment, Alexi looked younger than I, young and uncertain, and I felt another unwilling pang of sympathy for him. "Does he feel the same?" I asked quietly, and he shrugged. "Did he know what you were going to do? Does he know that you’re running around the countryside, kidnapping other people’s slaves?"

 

He scowled at me. “Of course not!”

 

“Then I imagine he’s not going to be too pleased with you when you wander back home,” I said with a grin.

 

“You should talk,” Alexi said snidely. “I don’t think your master would be thrilled to know that you went running off with me. If he gets his hands on you - ”

 

“I was going to rescue him!” I said indignantly, then I sagged in despair. “Besides, he’s missing. But if it will bring him back, I'd gladly let him beat me black and blue every day.”

 

"No master is worth that kind of loyalty."

 

"Mine is."

 

Alexi snorted at that but said no more. I turned my attention away from the other man, looking towards the shore, and silently repeated my pledge to every god that I could think of. Please, let him be alive, let him be safe, no matter what happens to me. Please.

Walter

 

The streets of the town were almost deserted by the time we rode through the gates, too late for the Court to assemble to hear my case. Spender personally escorted me to the common prison cells, the ones used for criminals and traitors, not the more comfortable lodgings where noble prisoners were kept. I ignored the gloating look on his face and calmly walked into the cell, steadfastly refusing to think about the clang of the door closing behind me. Instead, I lay down on the cot and concentrated on Fox, hoping that he was safe, praying that Scully had gotten him to safety.

 

Under the warmth of my cape, I managed to get a few hours sleep. Still, it was barely dawn when the jailors began making their rounds, waking all of us up, thrusting a cup of water and some bread through the bars. I ignored the bread but thankfully drank the water, then set about making myself as presentable as possible under the circumstances.

 

After several more long hours, the guards returned to escort me to the Throne room. I gathered my dignity, ignoring the fact that my clothes were the worse for having spent nearly three days in them, and stood impassively before the throne. To one side, I could see my good friend Reggie looking grave and concerned, while my brother steadfastly refused to meet my eyes.

 

“My lords,” Spender said loudly, walking into the middle of the room. “It is my unfortunate duty to bring forward grave charges against this man. Lord Walter stands accused of conspiring with those who work against the best interests of the kingdom, those who seek to tear down the laws and replace them with their own, those who desire nothing less than the overthrown of our lawful king so that they may put their own man on the throne.”

 

“Really, Spender,” Reggie interrupted. “You are talking about Lord Walter, a man we all know to be honorable to a fault. He has risked his life for this kingdom, time and again. Twelve years ago, he had the opportunity to take the throne – if he didn’t do it then, why would he do it now?”

 

“True, but twelve years ago, he hadn’t taken a demon’s get into his household. An incubus who has since used his seductive influences to turn Lord Walter’s loyalties away from the Truth.”

 

“An incubus that you seem mighty interested in getting into your own hands,” Reggie said dryly.

 

“So that the priests may examine him, learn how he and his brethren spread their lies, and thus purge their evil influence from the land,” Spender said smoothly. “It is possible that even at this late date Lord Walter may be saved.”

 

“Fox is just a normal young man,” I said firmly. “He is no demon.”

 

"See how eagerly he leaps to the defense of this demon-child?" Spender demanded. "The boy is nothing – a slave, a toy, a bed warmer, and yet this man, sprung from the loins of the Highest in our land, is ready to give his life for the slut. If that is not the work of a demon, then what is?"

 

Even Reggie looked troubled at this statement and I took a deep breath. It would not do to look like a besotted fool – it would not help me or Fox. "The boy is not important. But these charges – if you believe that I have committed Treason, then where is your proof? Surely you have more than this Old Wives' Tale about demon-spawn."

 

Earl Spender smiled at that and turned to one of his men who handed him several sheets of parchment. "I have here confessions from several of these traitors. All of them spoke of their plan to put Lord Walter on the throne."

 

I made a dismissive motion. "There are always dissatisfied men who speak of such things. Because they wish to make such a change does not mean that I wish to take the Throne, nor does it make me a conspirator."

 

"Several of them have admitted that you have attended their traitorous meetings – "

 

"Which would be difficult for me to do as I have not left Beauforte in months. Or am I accused of harboring these meetings there? In either case, my own servants can vouch for the fact that I have neither left the lands nor had visitors since the last time I was in Town."

 

Spender continued as if I had not spoken. "Then there is Sir Cardinale's claim that you demanded that your vassals support your claims to the Throne, and that he refused you. He states that he feared for his life – and now he lies dead."

 

"Killed by one of your men, Spender, after Cardinale tried to murder me in my bed," I said, starting to lose my temper. "If any is to be accused of Treason – "

 

"You dare accuse me – "

 

"Enough!"

 

The voice stunned us both to silence, and I turned to face the throne where Jeffrey now stood. Spender looked as startled by this as I was, a fact I noted with some smugness.

 

"I will talk with my brother alone." Jeffrey walked towards the antechamber.

 

Spender blinked. "Is that wise, Majesty? He is accused of Treason – "

 

Jeffrey paused and turned, and the arrogant look he threw at Spender abruptly reminded me of our father. "Really, my good Earl. I should be afraid of a few minutes conversation with an unarmed man - with my finest guards within call? I think not." He gestured imperiously for me to follow and, with a mock bow to Spender, I did.

 

Almost before the door closed behind us, Jeffrey spoke. "Is it true, Walter? Do you want my throne?" The pain in his voice stabbed me to the quick and for a moment I felt that I couldn't breathe.

 

"No! Jeffrey, how could you even think such a thing? I have been your staunchest supporter, I helped put you on that throne when others said you were too young, untried -"

 

"People change," he said quietly. "You've changed."

 

"In what way?" I demanded.

 

"Your infatuation for that slave boy – "

 

"He has a name," I said through suddenly clenched teeth. "And I am not infatuated with him. I love him."

 

"More than you love me?" Jeffrey turned and looked at me for the first time, and it tore my heart apart to see the grief in his eyes.

 

"It is not the same thing. We are brothers; we have the same blood, and I love you more than any other."

 

"Except this Wolf person." His voice was cross, reminding me forcibly of the petulant nursery-child who had thrown fits whenever I left him to go play with my soldiers.

 

I sighed and crossed to him, taking his shoulders in my hands. "Jeff, I love you dearly, but Fox is my heart." He pulled away, turning his back on me angrily. "I don't want your Throne or your life. All I want is to be allowed to live peacefully at Beauforte, with Fox, till the end of my days."

 

Jeffrey turned away again, walking over to the window. He idly traced the patterned glass with a finger. "You know that Spender won't drop this," he said lowly. "Not unless you surrender the boy."

 

"Even if I knew where Fox was right now, I wouldn't turn him over to Spender."

 

He turned his head to stare at me in disbelief. "You would give up your life, your honor, for this worthless slave – the son of a traitor?"

 

"He isn't worthless to me," I said firmly. Then softly, persuasively, I said, "You can end this farce, Jeff. Spender is the danger, not me. Send him away before it is too late."

 

Jeffrey gave a bark of harsh laughter, angrily dragging his hand over his eyes. "It is already too late. You are not the only one with other lives to protect."

 

My heart lurched painfully. "Jeff, if you are in trouble, let me help. I – I'll even stay here in Town, for as long as you need me - "

 

"Will you give up the boy?"

 

I drew in a deep breath and let it out. "No."

 

"Then you are a fool! And if you are so determined to run towards your death, far be it from me to stop you!" He strode towards the door, all angry determination, and I couldn't help reaching out a hand to him.

 

"Jeff – "

 

"Guards!" he said, flinging open the door, and a handful of guards entered the room. "This man is Earl Spender's prisoner. Take him away." Then he was gone and I knew that the little brother I had loved so dearly was gone as well. Forever.

 

Chapter Four Fox

 

It was dusk when we left the ship, putting to about a mile outside Town, Sister Melissa not wanting to take a chance by remaining on board when it docked at the main port. As a precaution, she retied Alexi's hands in front of him and gagged him so that he wouldn't betray our presence. We slipped through the streets, keeping to the shadows as we headed towards the religious center of the Town. Across from the Shrine, we stopped and Melissa took a cautious look around. To reach the Shrine itself, we would have to cross the open plaza in front of it. There were very few people in the streets as it was almost the dinner hour, but Sister Melissa was inclined to be cautious.

 

"Stay here," she said quietly to me, pulling the knife from her belt and handing it to me again. "And keep an eye on him. I'm going to make sure all is safe first."

 

I nodded, gripping the knife firmly. "Be careful."

 

She smiled, clasping my shoulder like a comrade-in-arms. "And you as well."

 

With another look around, she stepped out into the streets and walked boldly towards the Shrine, just another Amazon returning home for the evening meal. I watched her start up the stairs, intrigued by this different view of the Healer. I had only seen her in the simple gown she preferred to wear as the village Wise Woman, and had never thought about her warrior side. But now, watching as she hurried up the stairs, I realized how much like her Sword Sister she was. Same warrior's outfit and armor, of course, and the same flaming hair bound back as a sign of her Vows, even the same sort of purposeful stride –

 

She stumbled just before reaching the top step, falling to her knees. I started to go forward to help but Alexi suddenly grabbed my arm, holding me back. I opened my mouth to protest and pull away, then stopped as I saw Sister Melissa fall back on the steps, an arrow protruding from her chest.

 

Shot, my mind numbly filled in. Hidden assassins.

 

A shove knocked me against the wall and I dropped the knife. I looked at my companion, started, and saw Alexi pull the gag from his mouth.

 

"Run, you idiot!" he hissed at me. "Run for your life!" And then he was running himself, away from the Shrine, disappearing into the night.

 

I spun around and ran blindly down the streets we had come through, letting my instincts guide me as I ducked through side streets and down alleys, heading back into the merchant areas of the Town. Twice I had to duck back into doorways to avoid being seen by the patrolling guardsmen, but finally I reached the little bookstore and barreled into it, startling Brother Frohike who was just preparing to lock the doors.

 

"Mouldy?" he asked, in stunned surprise. "What are you doing here? I thought you were enjoying your pastoral paradise – "

 

"Captured," I managed to gasp out. "Walter. They're after me."

 

Frohike hurried to lock the doors and fasten the shutters, then pushed me towards the hidden stairs to the cellars. "Then we'd better get you out of sight. Your Amazon friend?"

 

I shook my head. "I don't know. She went looking for Lord Walter. One of – one of her Sword Sisters brought me to Town, planned on hiding me at the Shrine. Only – only they shot her. Right on the steps of the Shrine, Frohike."

 

Brother Byers had heard that as we came down the stairs and he exchanged a troubled look with Frohike. "That's bad. The Sisterhood takes it personally when one of their own is hurt. If the Sisters decide to avenge her, things could get real messy, real soon."

 

"We'll worry about that later," Frohike said, helping me towards the back of the workroom where the sleeping quarters were. "You look all done in, Fox. Rest and we'll talk about it when you wake up."

 

"But Walter – "

 

"I said rest." Frohike's determined hands pushed me towards a cot. "We'll ask around, see what we can find out about your – friend."

 

I nodded and sat down on the cot, feeling suddenly exhausted from all the worry of the past few days. The tightness in my chest reminded me that I was still recovering from my illness, and that a lie-down might not be a bad idea. I pulled off my shoes and reached for the blanket.

 

I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

 

I awoke several hours later, feeling refreshed in body if not in spirit. After using the privy and then splashing cool water on my face, I started looking for my hosts. I found the three Brothers in the main workroom, intently studying a scroll pinned to the table.

 

Brother Frohike looked up at me as I entered. "You look a little better. How are you feeling?"

 

I shrugged. "Any word?"

 

They exchanged a look, then Brother Langley said, "I have a friend who works with the Court clerks, and he says that Lord Walter has been arrested and charged with High Treason."

 

I sat down abruptly. "How – why?"

 

"I would think the why is obvious," Langley said dryly. "Spender wants you, and he's using your friend to get you."

 

I shook my head, numb. "Walter won't talk, not matter what they do." I stood up. "I've got to go. If I turn myself over to Spender – "

 

"They'll kill Lord Walter," Frohike said bluntly. "And you won't be far behind."

 

"But I've got to do something!" I protested. "I can't just let him die!"

 

"Rushing in there won't save him," Brother Byers pointed out. "If you're going to get him out, you'll need a plan. And you need to know what Spender wants with you – besides the obvious."

 

Frohike gestured towards the table. "Which is what that can tell us."

 

I looked over at the table and recognized the scroll pinned there as the one that the Thinker had given to me, the one I had thrust into my travel pack before leaving Beauforte with Alexi. "You can read it?”

 

“It's written in Welsh, like many of the old Temple documents," Byers said, and I recalled that he had been a priest of the Temple at one time. "I'm a little rusty, but what I can translate indicates that it's a private record that one of the priests involved in Spender's little conspiracy wrote – probably to save his own neck if the group got caught."

 

"Only it goes deeper than Spender," Langley added. "And the High Priest is involved in it, right up to his scrawny little neck."

 

"How far back?"

 

Byers shrugged. "It doesn't say exactly, but it gives the impression that this began during the Old King's days, maybe even had something to do with his death."

 

I frowned. "But what does that have to do with me or Walter?"

 

"Plenty," Langley said, sitting down on a stool and peering at me with his shortsighted eyes. "You know that the Priests oversee the minting of coins, right? Well, it seems that for the last twenty years, the High Priest has diverting part of the gold and silver from the minting process into his own private little fund. With the special molds they've been using – which leaves a small cavity of air inside the coin instead of being completely filled – they've been able to siphon off the extra without anyone being the wiser."

 

I blinked. "What does the High Priest want with money?"

 

Frohike rolled his eyes. "What do you think? Bribes, hired mercenaries, spies – those things don't come cheap."

 

"So what has this got to do with me?"

 

Langley sat back and crossed his arms. "What did your father do in the Clerk's Office?"

 

I shrugged. "Lots of things. His last post was with the Treasurer's – "

 

My voice died away as it all started to make sense. My father must have somehow figured out what had happened, about the diverting of the funds. He had kept quiet for a while – maybe even took payment to ensure his silence – but then something had changed. Pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. I had gone to University, planning to follow in his footsteps as a Clerk – and I had come to Spender's notice. And my father could no longer keep silent, so they had killed him.

 

Anger began to build inside me. These people had destroyed my family, my life, and who knew how many other lives as well. If they were allowed to continue, if they succeeded, the lives of everyone in the kingdom – and beyond – could be ruined as well. "We have to stop them."

 

"And just how do you plan to do that?" Byers asked dryly. "Just march up to the palace and demand to see the king, show him this? You'd be in the cell next to Lord Walter before you could blink."

 

There was a noise from the stairs, a yelp from Max, and then the sound of booted feet coming down the steps. Byers grabbed my arm, pushing me towards the back rooms and the escape tunnel there, even as I heard Max's protesting voice.

 

"Uncle Melvin, she insisted – "

 

"Where's Milord Fox?"

 

I knew that voice. I stopped and swung around, relieved to see Captain Scully's form fill the doorway. "Scully!"

 

She crossed the room in two steps, pulling me into a hard embrace. "I didn't dare hope," she muttered, clutching me tight. "When I found Sgt. Pendrell's body – if it wasn't for Sister Melissa's note - "

 

"Pendrell's dead?" I asked, horrified at the thought that someone else had died to protect me.

 

She held me at arm's length and scowled. "Just how did you get out of the keep?"

 

I flushed. "Alexi. He snuck in and helped me slip out, only he wanted to turn me over to the King. Then Sister Melissa showed up and brought me to Town – we were going to the Shrine for sanctuary, but – " I paused and swallowed hard, reminded of one more death because of me. "She'd dead. Assassins shot her on the steps of the Shrine."

 

Scully's hands tightened on my shoulders. "Any news of Lord Walter?"

 

Frohike stepped forward. "He's in prison, charged with Treason. They are still searching for Fox."

 

Scully drew in a deep breath. "Then we must get you safely out of town. My foster-brother, Charles, has a ship, and he can take us to the Continent – "

 

"No."

 

Scully glared at me. "What do you mean, 'no'?"

 

"I'm not going."

 

"You are, if I have to tie you up and carry you aboard ship."

 

"Walter wouldn't run away if I was the one in prison, and I'm not going to leave him to die."

 

"And you think he would allow you to risk your own life for his?" she demanded.

 

"He isn't exactly here to forbid me, is he? I'm going to get him out of there."

 

"By yourself?"

 

The condescending tone in her voice made me angry. All right, I was no soldier, but I was tougher than she thought. Besides, this was Walter, and I would crawl over broken glass to get to him if necessary. "If I have to."

 

She must have seen the determined look on my face because she exploded. "Are you crazy? Are you completely insane?" she yelled. "How do you think you're going to get him out?"

 

"I don't know." I drew a deep breath. "I love him, Scully. I've got to try to get him out or die in the attempt." I looked at her, meeting her eyes. "I'd do the same for you, and I know he'd do the same for us."

 

Her eyes locked on mine, then she sighed. "All right. I'm coming with you."

 

"So am I." We both swung around as Frohike spoke. "We're all going."

 

Scully studied the brothers' faces. "You understand that if we are not successful, we could all be arrested? Imprisoned? And you're still willing to take that chance?"

 

Langley shrugged. "I don't think we have any other choice. We're going to need Lord Walter."

 

Byers nodded. "He still has a lot of supporters in Court and throughout the land. He's our only hope for stopping Spender's plan."

 

Scully looked puzzled and I gestured towards the scroll on the table. "Brother Byers deciphered that. It details the plan to overthrow the king – the High Priest, Spender, and all the others who are involved. If we don't stop them now…"

 

Scully sighed and sat down on a stool, rubbing her face wearily. "And just how do you plan to get Lord Walter out of prison?"

 

I frowned, trying to remember details of the palace from the two weeks that I'd spent there before Midwinter. Then I had a sudden mental image – that of an irate Lord Walter emerging from the bookcase via a hidden doorway. "Scully, did you know about the secret entrance to Lord Walter's rooms, the one through the bookcase?"

 

She nodded. "I used to play in the hidden passageways as a child."

 

"Passageways?" Langley asked, his face lighting up. "What kind? Where do they go?"

 

"All over. They were part of the original building, used by the lower servants to access the rooms to clean fireplaces and chamber pots instead of using the main corridors – and, no doubt, used by lovers to slip into rooms without being seen. When the late king acquired the place and turned it into his palace, he added on the new wing where most of the Court is housed, and people stopped using those passages."

 

"But they're all over the old section, right?" I asked eagerly. "And the dungeons are in the old section."

 

She shook her head. "The passages don't go all the way to the dungeon."

 

"But they go close enough, don't they?" I persisted. "We'll be able to at least get into the palace and get close without being detected."

 

"I suppose so," Scully said slowly. "One of the passages – the one that runs behind Lord Walter's rooms – leads up from the postern gate, intersecting with another passage that leads down to the old storerooms. There's little activity there at night; we could probably get into the prison section without being seen." She gave me a dark look. "That still doesn't get us into his cell – or get him back out without being seen."

 

"We'll worry about that once we get in," I said determinedly, and she sighed but nodded. "All right. We'll wait till dark and then we'll go get Lord Walter out of there."

 

"If he's still alive," Frohike pointed out, and I glared at him.

 

"Of course he's still alive!" I snapped, praying that I was right. I wouldn't allow myself to think of any other possibility.

 

Chapter Five Walter

 

The door to my cell opened but I ignored it, turning my head away from the sudden light that flooded my cell. Even that slight movement reopened the welts on my back and I caught my breath at the sudden pain that flooded my body.

 

"Good afternoon, Lord Walter."

 

I bit my lip until the pain passed, determined not to give him the satisfaction of hearing me groan. "Spender." I spit out his name like a curse. "What do you want?"

 

"Information."

 

I laughed hoarsely. "I don't know where the boy is and, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

 

"We believe young Fox is in town," Spender said, ignoring me. "Your Amazon captain was killed on the steps of her Shrine last evening. I assume that she brought the boy to town with her, but he wasn't found anywhere in the vicinity. So where would he go here in Town?"

 

I closed my eyes tightly against the wave of grief that hit me. Scully had been with my household since she was a child, had been my most trusted soldier for many years. I would miss her brave heart and her keen mind greatly.

 

"Lord Walter, you are trying my patience. If you will not willingly tell me what I want to know, then I will have to employ other methods to get answers."

 

I sat up, ignoring the fresh wave of pain that filled me, and glared at him with all the hatred I possessed. "Enough of your threats, Spender! I will never tell you a thing, no matter what you do to me!"

 

Spender's eyes flashed angrily and he ground out his smoke under his heel. "The session with the whip doesn't seem to have loosened your tongue, but I have ways to make you sing a different song. Guards!"

 

Rough hands dragged me up from the cot and pain stabbed through me again. I pushed away the pain, pushed away the fear of the upcoming tortures I would face, and filled my mind with thoughts of Fox instead. If I had to die today, it would be with his image in my mind.

 

Fox

 

We hugged the walls, keeping to the shadows, and slipped inside postern gate which was unguarded, being too small to allow anyone to enter on horseback and only leading into the kitchen gardens. Anyone trying to enter the palace itself would have to go through the main gate, now doubly guarded. Scully located the entrance to the passageway and took a quick look inside, then signaled for us to follow. We didn't dare use a torch for fear of a servant or guard noticing the light so we linked hands – Scully, then me, then the Brothers. Slowly and cautiously, we made our way through the twisting corridors, Scully counting off every cross-passage and turning as we moved deeper inside the castle. Several times, we had to slip back into a shadow as a guard or servant moved nearby, and each time I thought that my heart would stop.

 

Finally, at last, we emerged in the storerooms near the prison. Scully motioned for us to be silent and stay back, quickly scouting the route to the prison before returning.

 

"There's one guard sitting at the desk, watching the cells," she murmured. "I don't know how we're going to get past him."

 

"I do." Brother Byers smiled. "A humble priest, here to offer words of consolation to the condemned."

 

I looked doubtfully at him. "Are you sure? Enough people have died already."

 

"Trust me." Byers folded his hands into the sleeves of his robe, lowered his eyes humbly, and moved with measured steps down the corridor leading to the prison. Scully followed him in the shadows, and the rest of us crept along quietly. We heard the murmur of voices, Byers playing his part to the hilt. Grumbling a bit, the guard got up from his post and led the way down the corridor towards the cells. Scully slipped up behind him, thumping him hard with the hilt of her sword, and he hit the floor like a ton of bricks. I hurried forward to take the keys from his belt, then the brothers moved the guard into an empty cell while Scully checked for additional guards.

 

Swiftly, I moved to each cell and glanced in the grill, growing more desperate as I looked without finding Lord Walter anywhere. "He's not here!" I called to Scully.

 

"Fox?"

 

The voice was faint, and I swung about, trying to pinpoint the location. There - the last cell I had checked. I had been certain that there was nothing but now I could see the pile of cloth on the floor was moving. I quickly unlocked the door and entered, kneeling and placing a hand on the figure.

 

"Master?" There was a hiss and I realized that I had touched a wound of some kind. "We've got to get you out of here."

 

"Where's Scully?"

 

"Outside with some friends of mine."

 

"I want you to listen to me and obey me, Fox." He drew a deep, painful breath. "Get Scully, and get out of here. Do you hear me?"

 

The flat tone of voice, the lack of hope, nearly made me cry. "I hear, but I'm not leaving you here."

 

"Fox, I'm ordering you - "

 

I couldn't believe that he was just going to give up and anger blazed through me. Damn the man! After all that we had gone through, he wasn't going to do this to us! "And what are you going to do if I don't obey? Beat me? You can't even get up off the floor." I was taunting him now, deliberately. "You'll have to get out of here first."

 

I heard a faint chuckle, then a sigh, and a glimmer of hope filled me. "Brat. Help me up, then."

 

I tried to grab onto his arm to help him up but he hissed in pain again. "Master, I don't know where to touch you. Where are you hurt?"

 

There was a low chuckle. "Everywhere." I heard him take a deep breath and he pushed himself up enough that I could get my shoulder under his arm. He winced again as I threw an arm around his waist to steady him but made no other sound.

 

Frohike hurried to join us and I gave him the keys so that he could lock the cell and restore the ring. It wouldn't fool anyone for long, but every moment we could delay pursuit might help. There was a slight movement and Scully was with us, breathing a soft question.

 

"Milord Fox?"

 

"He's hurt badly - I can't tell where. He won't be able to go far."

 

I could see Scully's head nod, then she was moving again. Langley moved to Walter's other side and, between the two of us, we half-dragged and half-carried him back down the passageway. Scully paused and then turned in a different direction from the way we had entered, and I wondered what she had in mind. Walter could not go far in this condition, and Langley and I were tiring.

 

The passage suddenly ended at the river and my heart sank. Scully had obviously gotten lost – there was no way out of here except for a drop into the icy cold river, and I knew that none of us would survive long enough to swim to the opposite shore. We would have to retrace our steps.

 

To my surprise, Scully stopped in the opening and, cupping her hands to her mouth, made a peculiar sound. Within a few minutes, I heard the sound of oars and water against the side of a hull, and a small barge slid out of the fog towards us.

 

"Sister? Success?"

 

"Yes. But he's badly hurt. We must get him to the Shrine."

 

A line was flung to Scully's waiting hands and she pulled the boat in closer. Two Amazons on the barge slid a narrow board across the gap between ship and opening, then one of them deftly crossed over to our side. I reluctantly relinquished my burden to her, wincing as I heard Walter's painful moan as he was hoisted onto her shoulders for the trip. I don't think I even breathed as I watched her cross the precarious bridge with her burden, but then Walter was being handed down into waiting hands on the other side. I scrambled after them, not wanting to let Walter out of my sight for a moment, and heard the Brothers follow me. Scully pushed the board back across, then jumped the narrow distance.

 

The moment she was on board, the Sisters at the oars began rowing swiftly, moving away from the palace walls. Even as they did so, I heard the shout from the wall above us and a call to arms. Well, I thought, that explained why Scully didn't suggest taking us in that way – we never would have reached Walter's cell once the alert was given.

 

Scully nodded at the look on my face. "I couldn't risk it," she said simply. "I only had them waiting for us in case we couldn't get him out the other way."

 

"But they know he's escaped," I said anxiously. "They'll be looking for him – and they'll probably guess where he's at."

 

"They would in any case," she pointed out. "We'll have him safely inside the Shrine before they can reach it – and even Spender is not foolish enough to attack the Shrine itself."

 

I wasn't so sure about that but, having nothing better to offer, I left Scully to her plans and made my way over to where Walter lay. The cloak had been pulled open and I gasped as I saw the discolorations and whip marks marring his upper body. One of the Sisters was kneeling beside him, her eyes closed as her hands hovered inches above his body, while another knelt beside her and jotted down what she was saying.

 

"Two broken ribs. Dislocated shoulder. Broken collarbone. Bruised kidney. Multiple lacerations across the back and chest. Fractures in the left hand, burns on the right. No damage to the lower extremities – looks like they were saving that for next time."

 

My eyes filled at the litany of injuries and I bit my lip to hold back the painful howling that filled my soul. A gentle hand touched mine and, startled, I looked up to see the Healer's eyes were opened and focused on me.

 

"The ribs didn't pierce his lungs and there hasn't been enough time for infection to set in. He is a strong man – he will heal," she said gently. "You got him out before they broke him. It could have been much worse, lad."

 

"How can you say that?" I demanded, gesturing at the battered body before us. "They hurt him – because of me!"

 

"And how will your wallowing in guilt help? You wish to make amends? Then put away your useless emotions and assist me."

 

I drew in a deep, shuddering breath and tried to let go of the guilt. She was right – it wouldn't help Walter now. "What do you need me to do?"

 

The Healer gave me a broad smile. "There's a good lad," she said warmly. "Between the two of us, your man will be right as rain in no time."

 

I returned the smile and, for the first time since this nightmare began, I started to believe.

 

Chapter Six

 

Walter

 

My head hurt. Hell, everything hurt. But there was softness under me, and softness over me, and a smell of incense in the air, so I knew that my dream of rescue had not been a dream. I tried to move and had to bite back a groan at the pain.

 

"Lie still," a soft, female voice said. Not Maggie. Not Scully.

 

"Who - ?"

 

"My name is Anne. You're safe now. Sleep."

 

I couldn't - not until I was certain. I forced my eyes open and found that I was in a strange room, dark but cozy. A woman was wringing out a cloth in a bowl and she smiled as she placed it on my forehead. The scent of herbs in the air made me sleepy.

 

"Where am I?"

 

"Shh," she said softly. "You'll wake him, and this is the first time he has slept in days."

 

I didn't really need to know who the 'he' was, but I looked anyway for the pure joy of seeing him again. Fox was curled up in a chair that had been pulled over to the bed, and I drank in a sight that I had never expected to see again in this world. There were shadows under his eyes and he looked thinner than I remembered, but he was there.

 

"Where am I?" I repeated softly, forcing my eyes back toward the strange woman.

 

"The Shrine of Artemis. Our sister brought you here for healing. You need have no fears - you are safe here." I nodded, wincing at the pain this sent through me. The Healer picked up a bowl from the table and sat down on the bed. My stomach growled as I caught the aroma of the soup in her hands and she smiled.

 

"That's a good sign. You need to eat to regain your strength."

 

The Healer fed me since my hands were bandaged, and I managed to eat half of the bowl before fatigue overwhelmed me again. I was embarrassed by my body's failure but she just gave me a soothing smile as she settled me back down on the bed.

 

"It's all right. Sleep is what you need most."

 

My eyes drifted shut without any encouragement, the last image in my eyes the sight of my Fox sleeping peacefully.

 

Fox

 

I hadn't meant to fall asleep, and I cursed myself roundly when I learned that Walter had awakened while I slumbered. But still, my heart was lighter for the knowledge that he had woken – even for a brief time – in full possession of his senses.

 

The three days between his rescue and his waking were the longest in my life. I had thought that the most painful part was watching Anne, the Healer, tend Walter's many injuries. However, although I will never forget the dreadful sound of his shoulder being popped back into place, that was nothing compared to the anxious hours spent at his bedside, watching as fever and delirium claimed him. When he began to thrash in his sleep, Anne had to drug him to prevent him from worsening his injuries. I sat by the bed for many long hours watching him, hardly recognizing the strong warrior I had come to love in the man that lay in a drugged stupor. I hated seeing him like this but, even more, I hated the idea of leaving him for even a moment, as if he might disappear the minute my back was turned. Scully tried to coax me away, tried to get me to eat, but I refused any attempt to pry me from Walter's side. And, in the end, sheer exhaustion claimed me and so I missed the moment when he first woke up.

 

However, the next time his eyes opened, I was there, sitting beside his bed, reading over the translation of that scroll. I heard a low moan first and, putting down the parchment, saw his eyes open. He blinked as if trying to focus, and looked around the room before finding me. A smile curved his lips and the dark eyes warmed. "Fox," he murmured. "Am I dreaming, or are you really here?"

 

"It's not a dream," I said softly, and I knew that I was grinning from ear to ear.

 

He tried to raise his bandaged hand toward me, wincing in pain, and I moved hastily to the side of the bed. "Don't," I scolded gently. "You've been messed up pretty badly; you need to take it easy."

 

He scowled at me. "This is pay-back for the time you were ill and I bullied you, isn't it?" I grinned but wisely said nothing, and he sighed and let me help him into a sitting position. I fussed over him, adjusting the pillows and blankets until he finally growled at me to leave it be. I couldn't help it – the sound of his familiar growl was so welcome, and I was so tired and scared about the future that I felt like crying. Instead, I buried my face in the covers and fought back the tears, swearing at myself fiercely. I would not spoil this reunion by weeping like a lost child.

 

"Fox?"

 

I could hear the alarm in his voice and managed to drag up a smile before I lifted my head. "It's all right, Master. Just feeling a little – overwhelmed."

 

"I know the feeling," he said softly. "And you don't appear to be sleeping or eating."

 

I let myself smile at that. "Yet another reason for you to get well, Master. See what a disobedient slave I am the moment your back is turned?"

 

He chuckled. "I can see that. You look like hell."

 

"You should talk," I shot back at him. "You need more sleep."

 

"Very well," Walter said, raising his unbandaged arm. "Come here and we shall both sleep."

 

Longing to be cradled once more in those strong arms filled me, even as I shook my head. "Your ribs – your shoulder – "

 

"This shoulder is fine, and my ribs well-wrapped, although I doubt your slight weight could harm them." I gestured with my hand. "Come, my disobedient one, before I get cross."

 

I grinned at that and slipped off my shoes, then eased myself onto the bed at his side. Cautiously, I laid my head on his shoulder and felt his arm wrap loosely around my body, his splinted and bandaged hand lying on my hip. It wasn't perfect but we were both alive and – for the moment – safe, so I decided not to quibble with the gods. I sighed contentedly.

 

Warm lips brushed my forehead and I turned my head up for a brief kiss. "Sleep, my heart," he said softly. "We will worry about the future when it comes."

 

Contented, I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

 

Chapter Seven

 

Walter

 

Fox was gone when I next awakened, but his scent lingered on the pillow and the place where he had slept was still warm, so I knew that he had been here, that it hadn't been a fever-induced dream like before. The Healer returned to check on my healing injuries, then gave me privacy to attend to my body's needs while she fetched food for me.

 

I found that I was ravenously hungry and eagerly set into the thick stew and bread the Healer had brought. It was a little awkward to eat as my right hand was stiff from the healing burns and my left still splinted and bandaged, but I managed. Dressing would be even more difficult – I would certainly need help.

 

"Where's Fox?" I asked between mouthfuls.

 

"Speaking with the Mother-Abbess," Healer Anne replied. When I gave her a startled look, she smiled and said, "Do not worry, he is not in trouble. They are merely discussing a scroll he was given."

 

I frowned, unaware of any scroll that Fox had owned. It must have been something one of those friends of his had given to him.

 

"I'd like to speak with the Mother-Abbess myself, if it is permitted. To thank her for the hospitality we have received."

 

"I am certain that can be arranged." The Healer took my empty bowl and set it aside just as Fox came hurrying into the room.

 

"You're awake!" he said with a delighted smile on his face, falling to his knees beside the bed. "How are you feeling, Master?"

 

"Much better," I said and, unable to resist that smile, lifted my hand to caress his cheek. "In fact, I'm ready to get out of this bed."

 

Fox gave the healer an anxious and inquiring look and, at her nod, hurried to fetch my clothes. I needed all his help in dressing for I was still weak and my injured hands made me clumsy. Fox moved with quick efficiency, pulling on my tunic and pants, lacing my boots and buckling on my belt, all without making me feel helpless for which I silently blessed him. Then he helped me to my feet and braced my body as I slowly made my way out of the infirmary into the common room.

 

Scully was at my other side in an instant, helping me to a chair by the fire. "It's good to see you, my lord."

 

I smiled at her. "Good to see you, too, Captain. My thanks for the rescue."

 

She shook her head. "I was only a part of the team. It was Milord Fox's plan, his determination to get you out."

 

Fox had settled on the floor beside me and I reached out again to touch him. "Then I was truly blessed on the day that I saw you."

 

He shook his head, staring down at the floor. "No, Master. If you had never seen me, none of this would have happened. You would be whole and healthy, Sister Melissa and Sgt. Pendrell would be alive – "

 

"Fox," I said, quietly but firmly. "You are not to blame for the actions of others, only your own. It was not by your will that you were enslaved, nor that Spender became obsessed with you, nor that Pendrell was killed. Melissa will be missed, but it was her decision to aid you."

 

"I'm tired of people dying for me," he said lowly.

 

"I know, but don't make their sacrifice be in vain."

 

He sighed, then turned back towards me, a determined look on his face. "I know how we can make Spender pay for their deaths. I was given a scroll, and Brother Byers translated it. In it are details of the plans of a group of men to take the rule of the land for themselves – including Spender and the High Priest."

 

I gave him a sharp look. "Are you certain? May I see this scroll?"

 

He jumped to his feet and hurried into the chamber I'd just left, returning with the scroll and another piece of parchment. "This is the original," he said, handing me the scroll. "And this is the translation."

 

I glanced at the original, not recognizing the language it had been written in, then picked up the translation. As I read it, my sense of disbelief grew until, finally, I looked at Fox in exasperation.

 

"And you actually believe this?" I asked impatiently. "I don't care for either Spender or the High Priest either, but to think that they might be involved in something of this magnitude – it's incredible. No, it's unbelievable."

 

"The scroll was written by one of the priests – " Fox began.

 

"And how do you know that? Did you speak with this priest?"

 

Fox hesitated. "Well, no. Another man gave it to me."

 

"And this man – he was someone you know, someone you trust?"

 

"Um – actually, that was the first time I had met him," Fox admitted.

 

Understanding dawned. "This is what you snuck out of the castle for? What you risked dying for?"

 

Fox sat back, a stubborn expression on his face. "What about the coins? They really are hollow – you can check the ones in your own pouch and see."

 

I shrugged. "A flaw in the mold, nothing else. It doesn't mean that the money is being siphoned off – not unless you have clerical records to prove it."

 

Fox's eyes shadowed and he said angrily, "My father worked for the Treasurer's office. He must have found out about this – that's why they killed him!"

 

"You don't know that for certain." I sighed and rubbed my temples, feeling a headache starting up. "Look, Fox, I know that you want justice for your family, and we both know that Spender's up to no good, but this – " I indicated the document on my lap. "This is way beyond the manipulation of the current crown. This speaks of – "

 

"A far reaching conspiracy by shadowy figures within the government," Fox said forcefully. "A deliberate and calculated plan to bring down the monarchy, an action that will affect the lives of every man, woman and child in this kingdom."

 

"Or the delusion of one man - your 'priest'."

 

Fox snorted and stood up, snatching up the scrolls. "He's not the only one who's deluded!"

 

"Fox!" I said sharply. "I suggest that you sit down and think about what you're saying."

 

"Why?" he said, his voice bitter and insolent. "You don't really want me to think – I'm just here to tend you and warm your bed."

 

"Enough!" I said sharply. "If you can't control yourself, then I suggest you go to your room and remain there till you can."

 

White-faced, Fox stood still for a moment, a look of betrayal on his face. "Alexi was right after all," he said quietly, then turned and left.

 

The room was deadly quiet and, too late, I remembered our audience. I looked over at Scully, expecting that she would support my position, but found that she was looking at me reproachfully.

 

"What?" I asked, irritated.

 

She seemed to revise what she had been going to say. "Don't you think you were a little hard on him?"

 

"Scully, you heard him! He was being insolent – "

 

"He was defending what he believes is the truth," she corrected, then sighed. "Lord Walter, Fox is an intelligent and capable young man, despite his knack for getting into trouble. I always thought that you respected that about him, but if you're only willing to accept it when he agrees with you, then perhaps – " She drew a deep breath and continued. "Then perhaps you should send him away before you break his heart further."

 

"Of course I respect his intelligence!" I growled. "But he's so caught up in his hatred for Spender that he's willing to accept any thing he hears, no matter how unreliable the source."

 

"We don't know that the source is unreliable," Scully pointed out. "Just unavailable – more than likely dead. Which seems to point to the validity of some of Fox's conclusions."

 

"You believe this story, Scully?" I asked incredulously.

 

She drew another deep breath, then tilted her chin up. "Yes. I do."

 

"Without proof?"

 

"Sometimes, sir, the only proof we have is faith." She stood up. "And I have faith in Fox."

 

She left the room, going in the same direction that Fox had, and I sat contemplating her words, and then Fox's. I thought back over what I read with a frown. It was improbable, hell, it was nigh on fantastical, but – as a tutor of mine had once said – there was a difference between improbable and impossible.

 

"Lord Walter?"

 

I looked up to see the Healer standing impassively in the doorway. "Yes?"

 

"The Mother-Abbess will see you now, if you have the time."

 

Cordially phrased, but I knew an order when I heard one. I rose slowly to my feet, nodding my head. "Of course."

 

She led me through the corridors of the Pilgrims' wing, the only portion of the Shrine where men were allowed, then gestured for me to enter a doorway. "The Mother-Abbess will be with you shortly."

 

I entered the room and found myself in a small antechamber, sparsely furnished as was the rest of the Shrine, although a cheerful fire blazed in a brazier in the middle of the room. I warmed myself by it until the sound of a door opening at the other end of the room made me turn politely as the Mother-Abbess entered.

 

"Please, Walter, be seated," she said graciously. "You are still recovering from your injuries and must conserve your strength."

 

I inclined my head in thanks and sat down. "I am grateful for the care that you and the members of your House have given me," I said warmly. "You saved my life."

 

"You are most welcome, but you are in error – we did not save your life. Young Fox did that – we merely assisted in your recovery."

 

Guilt pricked me at the mention of Fox's name. It was true – he had risked his life to save mine, and I felt uncomfortably in his debt. Perhaps, I thought, there lay some of the reason why I had been so short with him. I was accustomed to being his protector, not the other way around.

 

"It appears that we have a dilemma to solve, one that will require both your knowledge of the government and the king, and our armed support," she said and I looked at her inquiringly. "The scroll Fox has."

 

"You believe that nonsense?" I asked incredulously.

 

The Mother-Abbess studied my face for a long moment. "Walter, how long has it been since you lived in Town?"

 

"I was here just two months ago – "

 

She shook her head. "No, not to visit, but lived here."

 

"Several years," I admitted. Even before Sharon's death, I had avoided the Court, and I had resisted more than token visits ever since.

 

"Then you have no idea just how much things have changed."

 

That caught my attention and I leaned forward, my eyes fixed on her. "Changed in what way?"

 

"Over the past five years, I've seen more good people displaced and dispossessed than in the previous fifteen since I became Abbess. The number of widows and orphans petitioning at our gates has doubled – unusual when the country is at peace. At the same time, the number of initiates has dropped, as has visitations by women of family."

 

I frowned at that; maidens had always come to the Shrine with their prayers for love, wives for good fortune and fertility. And for spirited young women, the Amazons offered an alternative to traditional marriage and family, and most families were grateful and proud to see a daughter accepted into the Goddess' service. "I don't understand what that has to do with this scroll."

 

"For generations, the worshippers at Temple and Shrine have co-existed in peace, but lately the Priests have begun to covertly preach against us, exhorting the men to watch the rule within their own families, to keep their womenfolk from forgetting their place and reaching above themselves." She grimaced. "And we are not the only ones they are speaking against – they also preach about the 'ungodly idle who neither sweat nor till the lands, yet derive the wealth from it'."

 

I snorted. "I bet that went over big at Court."

 

She gave me a half-grin. "I think that few there know about it – the King has his own priest who, I am certain, only speaks dulcet words in his presence, and few courtiers can bestir themselves to visit the Temple more than once or twice a year. But do you see what this is doing?"

 

I nodded slowly. "If the people are told not to trust the nobility and the monarchy, they have no where else to turn except the Priests."

 

"Exactly. And if the priests tell them to tear down the monarchy – "

 

I shook my head, frowning. "But Spender and his friends want control of the government, not the priests."

 

"I believe that the High Priest does as well. For the moment, they are working together to bring about the downfall of the government, but once they accomplish that, they will turn against each other."

 

I sat back in my chair, rubbing my chin. "Even if this is true, what proof do we have?"

 

"The scroll."

 

"Flimsy evidence," I objected. "I wouldn't believe it if it was brought before me, and I doubt that Jeffrey will either."

 

"Ah, but you are forgetting one thing – how Spender will react when he sees Fox with the scroll in his possession."

 

"You are expecting Spender to panic and betray himself?" I asked and shook my head. "The man is too cool for that – he has ice water, not blood, in his veins."

 

"Spring enough surprises at one time and even he may crack."

 

"I'd feel better if we had more surprises to spring," I said.

 

The Mother-Abbess nodded. "Agreed. I will have my warriors spread through the city, see what they can learn." She stood, effectively calling our audience to an end. "In the meantime, you need to rest and recover your strength. Shall I have one of my staff accompany you to your room?"

 

I smiled at her polite way of asking whether I was capable of making it to my room without falling on my face, then my smile faded as I remembered what waited for me in my room. "Fox," I murmured then, seeing the questioning look on the Mother-Abbess' face, I said ruefully, "I believe I have some apologizing to do. I was rather – forceful in my disbelief of Fox's ideas."

 

She gave me a stern look at that. "Lord Walter, the Goddess has gifted you with a great treasure. Be careful that you do not abuse Her trust in you."

 

"Yes, Mother-Abbess," I murmured, abashed at the rebuke, no matter that I had earned it. "If I may be excused, the sooner I get this sorted out, the better."

 

She waved her assent and I bowed my head to her, then hurried out on my way towards my temporary rooms, not looking forward to the upcoming talk with Fox but determined to make my peace with him.

 

Chapter Eight

 

Fox

 

I sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, knees drawn up to my chest and my arms wrapped around them, staring into the flames without seeing them. I felt as if I had been torn in two. On the one hand, I was appalled that I had had the effrontery to talk to Lord Walter like that – I was a slave, and he would be well within his rights to beat me senseless. On the other hand, I was certain that I was right and I was bitterly disappointed that the man wouldn't even listen to me. Scully had followed me, offering reassurance and support. I was grateful that someone believed me, I suppose, but it wasn't enough.

 

There was a noise in the doorway behind me and I spoke without looking up. "Scully, I'm fine. I don't need you to watch over me."

 

"It's not Scully," said a gruff voice and I swung around, wide-eyed, to see Lord Walter standing there. For a moment, we looked at each other, and then he closed the door and leaned against it. "Fox – "

 

I shifted to my knees and bent forward to rest my forehead on the floor. "I am sorry, Master. It was not my place to speak to you like that." I swallowed hard. "I didn’t bring your strap with me. Shall I fetch a whip?"

 

"No," I heard his voice say with a quiet sigh, then I heard him move slowly across the room to sit on the bed. My heart ached as I heard the gasp he made as he sat down and cursed myself again for forcing his hand when he wasn't fully recovered. "Fox, come here." I lifted my head and started to crawl over to him. "On your feet, please."

 

The softness of his voice and the 'please' at the end caught my attention. I looked up to see him looking at me with a penitent look on his face and quickly got up, making my way over to him. Before I could sink to the floor next to the bed, he grasped my hand and pulled me to sit on the bed facing him.

 

"Fox, I owe you an apology." I opened my mouth to protest and he laid a finger on my lips. "Let me finish, please. No matter how – how improbable the situation appeared, I should have allowed you to finish speaking, and I should have listened to you with an open mind. I went into this whole discussion unwilling to listen because – "

 

"Because I'm a slave," I said softly.

 

"No," he said firmly. "Because I am in your debt, and that doesn't sit well with me. And not because you are a slave but because I am supposed to be protecting you, not the other way around. Secondly, if I was going to argue the matter with you, I should have had the courtesy to do so in private."

 

I know that my eyes went round at that. One didn't treat slaves as if they had any pride to be hurt although, looking back on the matter, I was aware that Walter had always treated me with respect, never punishing me in public. A feeling of warmth filled me; it was the way one would treat a lover, a spouse.

 

"It is I who is indebted to you," I said warmly. "You saved my life the day you bought me, and you have always treated me well, even when I didn't deserve it."

 

"Then you forgive me?" he asked, lifting his right hand to gently stroke my cheek.

 

"Nothing to forgive," I began but he shook his head.

 

"You are too generous, Fox, and you will make me a tyrant if you let me treat you thus without making amends."

 

I smiled and turned my face into his hand, nuzzling it. "Very well, since you insist, I do forgive you." I pressed a kiss against his poor burned palm, an injury he had suffered trying to protect me. I thought of the last time this hand had touched my body, five long weeks earlier, and longing to have him touch me again filled me. I shifted to my knees on the bed, smiling wickedly at him. "And I know just how you can make amends."

 

He chuckled at that and said, ruefully, "You may be expecting too much from an old injured warhorse."

 

I leaned over to kiss him, gently and tenderly. "Let me do all the work," I said softly, and I let my lips trail down to nuzzle his neck.

 

"I don't think the Sisters would approve," he began but the moan that followed belied his protest.

 

"Then they don't have to watch."

 

I carefully eased off his tunic, checking to make sure that his ribs were still wrapped well, and eased him down onto his back. I trailed kisses over his healing flesh above and below the bandages, teasing and distracting him as I unlaced his leggings and pushed them down to the tops of his boots. He tugged at my tunic and I readily disposed of it, carefully leaning down to kiss him while my hand found his stiffening erection and began stroking it slowly. He moaned into the kiss, something that sounded like my name and a plea, and I felt my body tighten even more in response. It had been too long, and neither of us was going to last long, but I didn't want it to happen like this. I wanted him to be inside me, where he belonged.

 

My soft shoes and pants were quickly disposed of, the passage slicked with the cream the Healer had left for his hand, and then I was easing myself down on his proudly jutting cock. I was tight after long weeks of enforced celibacy and I had to pause several times to catch my breath, but at last my ass was resting on his thighs, his full length buried deep inside me. And it was good, so good, this burning pleasure, and I never wanted it to end…

 

I leaned over again, kissing him thoroughly as I began to slowly move on his cock. His hands automatically went to my hips to steady me, and my heart ached at the feel of the splinted hand on one side and the puckered skin on the other. But I had no time for regrets because the need in me was building, a need that was too intense to be ignored. I sat up again, moving faster and faster, letting my head drop back and my back arch as I felt my body race towards release. And Walter was right there with me, his moans telling me that he was close as well.

 

"Fox!" he cried out, his whole body shuddering with release. "Beloved!"

 

I gasped and then I was coming, so hard and so intense that I was afraid I would pass out and crash down on poor Walter's chest. But somehow I managed to retain enough of my sanity to hold myself together long enough to flop to one side of my master. I lay there for a long time, trying to breathe and regain my wits, but all my thoughts seemed to circle around one thing – Walter had called me 'beloved'.

 

He chuckled softly and I lifted my head to see what had amused him. "I've still got my boots on, and my leggings are around my ankles."

 

I grinned and leaned over to kiss him. "Debauched is a very good look for you," I said, then added wickedly, "and you can't run away from me so fast like this."

 

Walter snorted. "As if I'd be fool enough to do that – although perhaps I should consider keeping you hobbled like this."

 

"Any time, Master," I said cheekily, and set about freeing him from boots and pants, then pulled the blanket up over him. I would have slipped out of the bed to let him rest but he caught my wrist and tugged me to him, so I readily settled down along his injured side. He was already asleep so he didn't notice when I kissed his shoulder and murmured, "I love you, too, Master."

 

Walter

 

The next few days passed uneventfully as I continued to recover from my injuries under Fox's watchful care. Word from the outside was grim – in the wake of my escape, the Town had been searched from top to bottom and more had been arrested and charged with Treason as well. Our little group of conspirators grew as the Brothers abandoned their shop and took sanctuary within just hours before the soldiers placed a guard around the Shrine.

 

The Sisters didn't seem perturbed by the siege, assuring me that they were stocked with foodstuffs and had their own well. And it was certain that no king in his right mind would attack a Shrine; only one had done so in known history and, although he had succeeded in his attack and destroyed the Sisterhood in his kingdom, it had started a Blood war. Within six months, his kingdom had been leveled by the combined Sisterhoods from other kingdoms, his pleas for assistance from other rulers falling on deaf ears – no one else wanted to risk the Amazon wrath.

 

Still, it worried me enough that I had Scully send a message to Beauforte, ordering Lamana to assemble as many of my soldiers as he could and bring them here quickly. Even now, they were encamped outside the gates of the city, not in siege but waiting for my orders. So we were rather comfortably settled before the fire one morning, discussing and discarding plans, when the Mother-Abbess entered, a grim look on her face.

 

"What is wrong?" I asked.

 

"Whatever we are going to do, we need to do it now," she replied. "Word from the palace is that there is to be a Full Court called this afternoon."

 

"For what reason?"

 

"To discuss the Succession. A majority of Lords of the Court has declared that the Crown Prince is unfit to rule the kingdom in the event of the king's death."

 

I frowned at that. "He's just a boy – what reason could they possibly give?"

 

The Mother-Abbess drew a deep breath and, looking at Fox, said, "Spender and his cohorts claim that last winter the boy was ensorcelled by a demon. They say that his health and his mind have weakened, that he talks to spirits and knows things that he shouldn't. Spender wants him put aside and a new heir declared – there is a son of his late majesty's sister who stands next nearest."

 

I snorted. "Stands is a dubious term. Felix hasn't been sober in years."

 

"The High Priest, on the other hand, wants the Prince turned over to them. He believes that they can cure him of this affliction and, in the meantime, will stand as Regent in his stead, should something happen to the king."

 

I felt a prickling over my skin and looked over at Fox. "By the gods, you were right. Either way, Jeffrey will soon be dead and Gibson not long after him."

 

"There is already death in that household," the Mother-Abbess said.

 

"My sister-in-law?"

 

She nodded. "She took to her bed two days ago with a sickness that none has seen before, writhing and screaming in agony before succumbing to a coma, as has one of her maids tending her. She died this morning. The Temple Healer called in to treat her has declared that her body, the maid's, and all her possessions must be burned to prevent it from spreading, however my informant thinks that there is no sickness, that she was poisoned and this is but to cover it up."

 

I covered my eyes with my hand; there had been no love lost between me and Diana, but still it sickened me to think of her meeting such a horrible ending. Then I drew a deep breath and stood up.

 

"It is starting, and if we do not move quickly, it will be too late."

 

Scully nodded. "What do you want to do, my lord?"

 

"Send a message to Lamana and have him assemble my men to meet us at the palace gates in two hours."

 

She nodded and hurried off to compose a message and send it by the secured carrier they had established, and I turned to the Mother-Abbess. "We will need to join our forces."

 

"All my warriors are at your command, Lord Walter," she said formally, but I shook my head.

 

"I would rather they were under your command. You know how best to utilize them." I held out my right arm. "We march as allies."

 

She grasped my arm in a warrior's salute. "And may the gods give us justice."

 

She went off to assemble her own troops and I turned to Fox. "I will need my armor."

 

He nodded, leading the way to our bedchamber. "Jerry sent it here two days ago, and I have readied it." He was quiet as he helped me dress and arm myself, and I could see the fear lurking in his eyes.

 

I caressed his cheek and said, quietly, "I want you to stay here."

 

He shook his head, his face set in the stubborn look I knew so well. "No. You need me – need what I know about their plans."

 

"It'll be safer – "

 

"Master, if we fail, no place will be safe," he said calmly. "I'd rather die at your side than live as a slave without you."

 

I sighed. "You are stubborn, Fox, but you are right." I kissed him, knowing that it might be for the last time, and picked up my cloak. "Let's go."

 

The Mother-Abbess was waiting in the assembly room, along with an entire company of her warriors. I saw at a glance that each of them wore the red plume on their helmets and a red armband, and I gave the Mother a sharp, respectful look. The Amazons were indicating that they were pursuing a Blood Debt, avenging the murder of their Sister, something that should frighten anyone facing them today for when fighting for Blood, no quarter was given. It would more than make up for the fact that, even with the addition of Scully and my troops, we would be outmatched in numbers if my brother called in all his men.

 

I was surprised to see one of Fox's friends, Brother Byers, among them and Fox must have noticed my surprise. "They may not believe us about the scroll, but Byers was a priest in the Temple before he joined the Brothers, and he knows who wrote it. The rest of the Brotherhood will be watching the Temple and the Palace in case one of the traitors tries to escape."

 

I nodded. "Very well, then. Let's go."

 

Stepping outside the Shrine, we saw the soldiers stationed out there fall back at the sight of the Amazons in their battle gear. We let them flee, knowing that they would alert the palace guard but also counting on them to start a panic among the guards. Ranks were quickly formed with the two unarmed men in the middle under Scully's protection while I took my place beside the Mother-Abbess at the head. Then the order was given and we began the march on the Palace.

 

Chapter Nine

 

Walter

 

The streets emptied before us, people scurrying into doorways or down side streets to get out of our way, but we met no challenge until we reached the gates. There, sitting on his horse before the gates, was my old friend and comrade Reggie, along with his company of house guards. Lamana was there as well, warily watching Sir Reggie. I gestured for the company to stop, mounted the destrier that Lamana had brought for me, and rode a step forward to meet Reggie.

 

"Hello, Walter," Reggie said genially, looking over the assembled men and Amazons behind me. "Fine day for fighting, isn't it?"

 

"Reggie," I said quietly. "I don't want to fight you."

 

He chuckled. "Oh, I'm not here to fight you, Walter. I'm here to join you."

 

I blinked at him. "Reggie, if we lose today, you will lose everything – your lands, your life."

 

Reggie shrugged. "Walter, anyone with eyes can see that the kingdom is going to hell between Spender and the High Priest. Besides, your friendship has been the only thing of value to me since my wife passed. If I die, then I die." Then he grinned. "But it'll be a hell of a way to go!"

 

I smiled back at him and turned back to the company, signaling for them to move out. Reggie wheeled his horse and took his place on my other side, his company merging with my own.

 

The palace guard was assembled on the other side of the gate and, although the man at their head – one I recognized as Spender's captain, looked resolute, I could see the disquiet among the men facing us. With a little judicious management, at least part of their forces could be routed.

 

I rode a few paces forward, raising my voice to be heard. "Most of you men know me – many of you have served with me, as have your fathers and brothers. You know that I do not seek glory for myself." Silence had fallen across the courtyard. "No matter what you have been told, I am not the enemy. Your true enemy – the enemy of our entire kingdom - is Earl Spender, and even as I speak, the lives of your King and Prince are in jeopardy! I ask you now to throw down your swords and step aside or, if you will, to join me in going to their aid."

 

There was murmuring among the troops facing us and I saw many a sword lowered. Their captain said, sharply, "Don't listen to him, men! The Earl says that he's been ensorcelled, like the Prince."

 

"The Earl lies!" the Mother-Abbess said, stepping forward so that all could see her. "He has caused the blood of our Sister to be spilled on the steps of the Shrine itself, and the Goddess will see that he pays with his own blood, as will the assassin. If you come between the Sisterhood and our Prey, your life will also be forfeit!"

 

Faces paled before us and even the captain seemed to hesitate before hardening his face and giving the order to attack. My combined forces moved to meet them, an honor guard headed by Scully remaining back to guard Fox and Brother Byers, and the sound of swords clashing rang through the courtyard. I was heartened to see that many of the palace guards had heeded my words, tossing aside their swords and surrendering. The rest fought as best they could but were no match for the vengeful Sisters and my better-trained troops, and we steadily made our way to the palace itself.

 

"Lamana, hold the grounds!" I ordered, "Scully, you're with me." A glance exchanged with both Reggie and the Mother-Abbess confirmed that they were coming with me as well. Scully's elite team safeguarded Fox and Byers through the fighting, and I noticed that several Amazons and part of Reggie's troop was with us as well. A final look over the rest of the courtyard assured me that Lamana and Reggie's lieutenant would be able to defend our back.

 

We strode rapidly through the halls towards the Throne Room, watching as servants and courtiers fled before us, encountering little resistance till we reached the doors to the room. Spender had obviously counted on his men being able to hold us off, and I smiled grimly as I thought of the first surprise that he would be getting.

 

The Captain of the King's Guard stood between us and the Throne room, and I saw his eyes widen as he saw us sweeping down on him. He was well known to me, having been one of the men I had trained in the field, one of the best.

 

"Out of the way, man – the King is in peril!" I barked as we approached and, out of habit, he obeyed me, lowering his sword.

 

"My lord?" he asked doubtfully, torn between loyalties. On impulse, I reversed my sword and held the hilt out to him.

 

"My word of honor," I said, meeting his eyes. "Earl Spender is the threat to the king, not I, and I've come to free him and the Prince."

 

A wide smile lit his face and he said, fervently, "Thank the Gods! Take back your sword, Lord Walter – I think you'll have need of it." He gestured to his men on either side of the doors. "Open them and stand guard outside. Let no one leave here without my word."

 

The doors swung open before us and we marched into the Throne room. The tableau before us froze in place, Spender and the High Priest facing each other from separate sides of the dais, with my brother and nephew between them. All heads had turned to see what was causing the disturbance, and I couldn't help grinning at the stunned look that crossed Spender's face

 

Fox

 

Jeffrey stared at Walter across the expanse that separated us, his eyes wide. "Walter? Have you come in truth now to kill me?"

 

"I have come to save you – brother," Lord Walter said, and I could hear a trace of bitterness in his voice. "Even though you failed to save me."

 

His face flushed at that and I could see his hands tighten on the prince's shoulder. I looked at Gibson and was appalled at the change in the boy. Gone was the endearingly shy boy with the sweet smile I remembered from last winter. In his place was a thin and pale child, fear and terror etched on his face. He looked like a penitent instead of a prince, his body clothed in a rough white gown and his hair shorn close to his head.

 

"Gibson," I said hoarsely. "Are you all right?"

 

His thin face lit up at the sight of me, warming my heart. "Fox?" he breathed. "Is it really you?"

 

"There!" shouted the High Priest. "What more proof do you need? The child knows the Demon that enslaved him, calls his name."

 

"Of course he calls Fox's name," Walter said contemptuously. "Fox was probably the last one to show Gibson any kindness."

 

"Walter, what are you doing here?" the King asked, and his voice seemed weary. His face looked drawn and tired, and I remembered how Alexi had said that it would destroy the king to see his brother accused of treason. It appeared that the other slave had been right. That, compiled and compounded with the threat to his son and lineage, and the death of his Queen must be nearly breaking the man. My eyes drifted past him briefly to take in the sight of the other throne draped in black, and I felt a twinge of sorrow for him.

 

"If you will not defend your son and kingdom, then I will," Walter said, his voice still angry. "I have brought proof of a conspiracy against the Throne, reaching all the way back to our father's time. Proof that he was murdered at the hands of Spender's associates. Proof that the High Priest has been funding a secret army to depose you."

 

Spender gave a short, ugly laugh. "You don't frighten us, Lord Walter. Where is this proof you speak of? I don't think it exists."

 

"It exists," I said, stepping forward with the scroll in my hand. "One of the priests involved in your conspiracy made a record of everything, in case something happened to him. Does the name Iugulus Internus mean anything to you?"

 

I watched with satisfaction as both Spender and the High Priest paled. "I thought that it would. You were afraid that he had talked to my father but you couldn't be sure, so you had to kill both of them. You killed Iugulus, but you didn't know that he had left a record, did you? And he left instructions that it was to be delivered to me in case of his death or disappearance."

 

"Let me see that," the King said imperiously and, after a look at Walter, I walked forward to hand him the scroll. Once the King released Gibson, the boy hurtled forward and wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my tunic.

 

"Fox," he whispered. "I'm so scared." He was shaking so badly that I thought he might collapse any moment.

 

"It's all right," I said softly, sitting down right there on the steps of the dais and pulling Gibson into my lap. "You don't need to be scared anymore. We're here, and your uncle won't let anything happen to you."

 

His arms tightened around me. "You won't leave me, will you?" he begged, and I reassured him, crooning some sort of nonsense to him that seemed to sink in past the fear. He sighed deeply, as if he had been shallow breathing for days, and snuggled in closer to me. Over my head, the four men were arguing but I had lost the thread of the argument and besides, I had my hands full at the moment. Walter would take care of the rest.

 

Chapter Ten

 

Walter

 

I could have wished that Fox had picked a more out of the way place to settle with Gibson, but he seemed fully occupied with reassuring the boy, and I had other matters to attend to. Jeffrey was reading the scroll with a frown, picking out a phrase here and there from his early schooling in the Temple before he looked up impatiently.

 

"I can't make heads or tails of this," he said.

 

"Allow me to translate, Majesty," the High Priest said, stepping forward.

 

"No," Jeffrey said. "I don't trust you." He glanced downward at his son, resting in Fox's lap, then looked around the room, his eyes falling on Brother Byers. "You – you don’t look like a priest."

 

Byers bowed. "No, Majesty. I am a Brother of the Order of the Single Arrow."

 

Jeffrey blinked at that. "Oh. Well, you read Welsh, don't you? Come here and read this to me."

 

Byers bowed again and stepped forward, taking the scroll and starting to translate aloud. As the words began confirming what I had said, Jeffrey's head snapped up and he glared at the High Priest. "So – you've been siphoning off money from the Treasury to fund your personal army? And you dared to say that my son was unfit to be king, to treat him like this! Captain!"

 

The Captain of the Guards stepped forward from his place beside Scully. "Yes, Majesty?"

 

"Arrest this man!" The High Priest began protesting, but Jeffrey cut him off sharply. "Don't worry – I'm sure you'll have plenty of company in your cell before your execution. The entire Temple will no doubt have to be purged." His eyes turned to the Mother-Abbess. "I have no knowledge of religious matters – would you and the Sisters take on this task? Examine the Temple documents, question the priests, see what can be salvaged. The people need to have faith in their priests restored."

 

"Of course, Majesty," the Mother-Abbess said, bowing her head to him.

 

"And as for you," Jeffrey said, turning his head towards Spender. "I have no doubt that the rest of that document will prove very enlightening." His mouth turned down bitterly. "I trusted you, put you at my right hand, and this is how you repaid me?"

 

Spender had managed to recover his equilibrium and even had the effrontery to light one of those damned tobacco sticks of his. "I think that you will find no mention of me in that document."

 

"But you'll find plenty of others in his rooms and on his estate," said a new voice from the window and we swung around to see the slave, Alexi, standing in the opening. He jumped down lightly on the floor, sending an insolent look towards his former master as he said softly, "You should have killed me instead of giving me away."

 

Spender's mouth tightened. "A mistake I shall remedy at the first opportunity."

 

Alexi laughed shortly, then turned back to the King. "In his rooms here in the palace, there is a hidden drawer in the bottom of the cupboard in the bedroom. There you will find records of those in his employ – either purchased or blackmailed – as well as those he's had killed. As well as the disposition of his enemies and their families."

 

I saw Fox's head jerk up at that and he glared at Spender. "Where's my sister, you bastard?" he demanded.

 

"Later, Fox," I said sharply.

 

Alexi continued. "I expect that you'll even find the details of the poison he gave the Queen."

 

There was an audible gasp from the Court at that and Jeffrey's eyes hardened as he glared at Spender. "A mistake that you will pay for with your life."

 

Spender smiled coldly and dropped his tobacco stick on the floor. "You first."

 

He moved quickly, before anyone could stop him, and I watched in horror as he plunged a knife into my brother's chest. Jeffrey gasped and fell backward, Alexi diving to catch him before he hit the floor. I knocked Spender to the ground, pinning him in place with the point of the sword at his throat as I kicked the knife away.

 

"Guards!" I shouted, and two men hurried forward to haul Spender to his feet and bind his hands together behind his back. "Take him below."

 

I turned back to the two pairs on the dais. Alexi was holding my brother across his lap as he pressed a cloth against the wound, while Fox was shielding the still-dazed prince from the sight. I met my slave's eyes and said quietly, "I think it would be better if he was taken out of here."

 

"I'll take him to his room and get him settled. If I can have Scully's help – "

 

I nodded. "I'll meet you back in my rooms here in the palace when I'm free – don't go back to the Shrine." Fox nodded and Scully helped Fox rise with his precious burden, then I turned my attention back to my brother, dropping to my knee beside him.

 

"How is he?" I asked Alexi.

 

"He can hear you and answer for himself," Jeffrey said crossly.

 

I nearly chuckled at that and raised the cloth briefly to take a look. The wound was deep but not wide, fortunately on his right side or it would have punctured his heart. Barring infection, he would heal.

 

I looked up and met Alexi's eyes, seeing the deep grief in them, and was startled. I hadn't known that Alexi and Jeffrey had gotten involved, but the depth of this grief seemed to be extreme. "What?" I asked. Silently, he mouthed the word "poison" and my heart fell into my boots. "No."

 

"Walter?" Jeffrey said weakly.

 

I looked down at him and managed a smile. "Rest, Jeffrey. The Healers will take care of you." And where were the blasted healers, anyways?

 

"I'll kill him," Alexi muttered, tears running unheeded down his cheeks and dropping onto Jeffrey's chest. "I swear it." He started to get up, murder in his eyes.

 

"No," Jeffrey said, catching hold of Alexi's tunic. "Live – and be free, Alexi. And remember me kindly."

 

Alexi's eyes widened as the word of his King set him free and he nodded silently. The Healers arrived with a litter and Jeffrey was quickly borne towards his chambers. I followed, pausing briefly to confer with Reggie and get him to fetch the papers Alexi had spoken of before one of the conspirators disappeared with them. But before I left the room, I looked back towards the dais where Alexi still knelt, his hands stained with Jeffrey's blood. He looked up and met my eyes, his own carefully blank, but I wasn't fooled. I saw the hardness at the back of those eyes and didn't give much for Spender's chances of surviving to face trial. And, at this moment, I couldn't think a more just punishment for that evil man.

 

Fox

 

Gibson's rooms were cold and empty as we entered them, and Scully set off to find the servants and order a bath while I sat the boy down on the bed and built a fire in the fireplace. Once a cheery blaze burned there, I coaxed Gibson to join me sitting before it, and he settled down so close to me that I thought he was going to be in my lap again.

 

I wrapped my arm around him, stroking his poor shorn head, and said, "Are you all right?"

 

"I suppose so," he said in a faint voice. "They're – they're not coming back for me, are they?"

 

"No," I said reassuringly. "They'd have to get through me, and your uncle, and Captain Scully first. And Scully scares me half to death, so they haven't got a chance."

 

He made a sound that might have been a laugh. "Good."

 

"Can you tell me what happened?" I asked softly.

 

He shrugged. "They said that a Demon had put a spell on me, and that they had to do this to cure me." He looked up at me sideways. "Are you really a demon, Fox?"

 

I laughed at that and ruffled his head. "No. I promise you that I'm just a normal person, just like you."

 

"Oh." He sounded disappointed and I laughed again.

 

"Sorry to disappoint," I said teasingly.

 

He shrugged. "'S-okay. I like you anyways."

 

I laughed even louder at that. "I like you, too."

 

Gibson sat up, looking solemn. "We understand each other better than anyone, like kindred spirits." His eyes looked wistful, as if he was afraid of pressing too much, and my heart ached. How could a seven-year-old boy come to be so filled with doubts of his own self-worth. Then I snorted – I knew exactly how that could happen. Kindred spirits, indeed.

 

"Of course we are," I said firmly.

 

He settled back against me with a dreamy sigh. "I'm glad you're with Uncle Walter. I wish I could be with you, too."

 

"Your father would miss you."

 

He shrugged, another wistful look on his face. "I love my father, but he's so busy – he never has time for me. And he's always so sad…"

 

I hugged him tightly. "I promise you that I'll talk to your uncle about spending more time with you. Remember how you said you used to visit him in the spring? Well, it's almost spring now, and I'm sure that your father will need time to recover from his injury, so I'll see if you can come with us when we leave."

 

"Really?" Gibson said, in the voice of a child who is accustomed to hearing promises that were never kept.

 

"Really." That seemed to reassure him and he settled quietly against me.

 

The bath arrived and between me and Scully and the servants, we got Gibson washed and dressed in a bed gown, then tucked into a warmed bed. I conferred with Scully briefly, then leaned over to brush a kiss over Gibson's forehead.

 

"I've got to go check on your uncle now, see how your father is doing, but Captain Scully's going to sit right here by the fireplace and make sure you're safe, all right?" He nodded sleepily and I smiled. "Good boy."

 

The hallways were oddly silent as I moved through them back towards the older part of the castle. I saw small clumps of people talking in hushed voices as I passed but the avidly curious looks they gave me didn't make me want to linger. Finally, just before I reached the staircase to our rooms, I ran into Sir Reginald.

 

"Fox," he said, pausing for a moment. "The prince is settled?"

 

I nodded. "Scully is guarding him. The king?"

 

His face grew solemn. "Not expected to live, I'm afraid. Walter's with him now."

 

I felt numb. "He'll need me – "

 

"Later, lad," Reggie said in a kind but gruff tone. "Best wait in his rooms."

 

I nodded again and turned towards the stairs. "Lamana and our men? Are they okay?"

 

"We had some casualties, and your Lamana was slightly wounded, but he'll be fine." He hurried off and I slowly climbed the stairs, feeling weary in mind and body.

 

"Lord Fox?" a voice asked hesitantly behind me and I turned.

 

"Just Fox," I said tiredly, looking at the clerk who was staring at me with rabid curiosity. In another time and place, this would have been me. I was amazed to find that the thought of what I had lost no longer hurt so badly.

 

"Not anymore," he said cheekily, then thrust some scrolls at me before scurrying away. I looked down at the parchments, bewildered, and thought that they must have something to do with Lord Walter. I would deal with this later.

 

I entered Lord Walter's chambers and found them dark and empty, although a fire had been laid out in the grate. I lit it and coaxed it into a warm blaze and debated about lighting some candles but I was too tired to do any more. I collapsed into Walter's chair gratefully and glanced over at the scrolls I had set on the table. Sighing, I decided I should see what they said so that my master would be prepared for whatever disaster had now befallen us. I picked up the first one, noticing as I did that it was written in a flowing handwriting, but not a clerk's normal style. Dropping my eyes down to the signature, I felt stunned. It was from the King.

 

Fox, I know that it is too late to make full restitution to you and your family for the pain that you have suffered, but I hope that I can make some amends. First, the pardon of your father and the restoration of your freedom. Second, a financial recompense for all that you have suffered. And third – that which I think you will value most – the location of your younger sister. Spender's papers state that she was taken to the Isle of Maidens, where she has lived in their care for the past nine months. I only hope that you can forgive me for having been a blind pawn in their games – believe that I am paying dearly now for my folly. Jeffrey, Rex.

 

 

I stared at the letter, then at the documents that came with it, stunned. Free. I was free. And Samantha was safe and well. I stood and headed towards the door, calculating in my mind how long it would take me to ride to the Isle to get her. A day at most, and then another day to bring her home –

 

Home.

 

I stopped on the threshold of the door, realizing that home no longer meant the townhouse that I had grown up in. Home meant Beauforte, and Walter.

 

I returned to the chair, feeling my legs tremble. Not any longer, I thought numbly. I knew that Walter loved me, that he enjoyed my company and my body, but that was when I had been a slave. Now that I was a freeman again, I had no place in his bed – men in his position took slaves or consorts from their same station in life to their beds, not a common Clerk from a middle-class family. I should leave, I thought numbly, and save myself the further humiliation of being kindly but firmly sent away. He would tell me that it was for the best, arrange for me to go back to University, ensure that there was some sort of position for me when I graduated, something that kept me far away from him.

 

And my heart began to break.

 

Chapter Eleven

 

Walter

 

I paced in the hallway outside my brother's chamber for what seemed like hours, briefly conferring with Reggie when he brought Spender's documents, but alone for the most part. Clerks and pages ran in and out of the chamber till I wondered how Jeffrey could possibly be healing in that bedlam. And he would heal – Alexi must have been wrong – I'd had far worse injuries in the field –

 

And through it all I paced and worried and wished that Fox was here with me to keep me company while I did so.

 

I looked up when the Healer called my name, hurrying to the door. At my inquiring look, he shook his head gravely. "I'm sorry, my lord. His lung was punctured and the weapon was indeed poisoned. He has a few hours at most."

 

I swallowed hard. "Does he know?"

 

"Yes. He wants to see you." He opened the door and gestured for me to enter.

 

Jeffrey was in bed, propped up slightly with pillows, his breath sounding harsh. He held out his hand and I moved to take it, sitting on the side of the bed.

 

"Are you in pain, Jeffie?"

 

He smiled at the nursery-name and shook his head, speaking slowly between breaths. "I seem to be…numb all over. The Healer says…there will be little pain…for which I am…grateful."

 

"Lord Spender is dead. One of the guards says he was pushed down a flight of stairs on his way to the prison, and his former slave appears to be missing."

 

A faint smile curved Jeffrey's face. "Alexi.." he murmured, then sighed. He fixed his eyes on me, his face dark and sad. "I shouldn't have…trusted Spender."

 

He gestured weakly towards the clerks busily working at a table nearby, penning the dying king's last orders. "I've named you…Lord Protector…of the kingdom. You'll …keep the throne safe…for my son…like you did for me…won't you…Walter?" His tone was pleading, uncertain.

 

I bent my head and kissed his hand. "I swear on my sacred honor. I will protect Gibson and the kingdom with my life if necessary, Jeff."

 

He drew in a breath, and I sensed that he had matters to get off his conscience before he could die in peace. "Fox…I have…exonerated his father…restored his name. He is a…free man again."

 

I felt numb. Free. Fox was free, and he would leave me. I dropped my head to the bed. "Jeff -"

 

"And I found…his sister."

 

I looked up at that. "Samantha? You know where she is?"

 

"Spender had her sent…to the Sacred Isle…safe there…but if she decides…not to take…the Veil…I want you…to make sure…there is a …dowry." His breathing was getting worse and I ached for every painful breath he drew.

 

I nodded. "I swear."

 

"Good." His eyes drifted shut, and I was suddenly terrified at the thought of losing him.

 

"Jeff!"

 

His eyes fluttered open and I could see the weariness in his eyes and the shadow of death on his face. "Walter…let me…go."

 

"I can't, Jeffie. I love you."

 

"Better…this way. I'm not…loyal like you. I would…betray you again…out of jealousy…" He reached up to stroke my cheek, tears bright in his eyes, but there was a half-smile on his face, a trace of the mischievous boy that I had loved. "Gave away…Beauforte…"

 

"What?"

 

"Dowry…for the best…you'll see," he whispered. His hand tightened in the front of my tunic as he pulled himself close to me, and I saw a spasm of pain cross his face. Hoarsely, he said, "Take care of…my son. Teach him…to be…good man…Swear."

 

"I swear."

 

He eased back onto the bed although he didn't release my tunic, and his breathing seemed to be harsher. "Fox…good man…" he said, his mind seeming to drift with random thoughts. "Take care…" he murmured, his eyes drifting shut. "Love…"

 

"I will, Jeff. I swear." His hand relaxed, sliding back toward the bed. "Jeff? Jeffie?" There was no answer and I knew that he was gone. And I put my head down on the bed beside his hand and cried for the little brother that I had loved.

 

My chamber was in total darkness except for a fire burning on the grate when I entered, and there was a feeling of emptiness about it that told me that I was alone. As I would be from now on. Fox was free and he was gone, probably on his way to the Isle of Maidens to bring his sister home. And then he would go back to the University to take up the threads of a life that had been interrupted by Spender's scheming. The next time I would see him would be in a year or two from now, once he became a Clerk. We would run into each other somewhere in the Court; he would flush and avoid my eyes and I would say something cold and stupid, and we would be careful to avoid each other after that…

 

My heart ached and my throat seemed to have closed. No. I couldn't bear that. I would find some appointment away from Court for him, make sure it was waiting for him when he graduated so that we would never have to meet again. And I was suddenly glad that Jeffrey had bestowed Beauforte on someone else. I didn't think I could bear to walk through those rooms again, hear the echo of his laughter, feel his ghostly presence in my bed. It was going to be hard enough to do that here, where we had very few memories.

 

I just wished that I had told him - just once - that I loved him.

 

There was a sudden movement by the fire and I swung around, startled, my hand on my scabbard.

 

"Who's there?"

 

"It's just me." A slender, ghostly figure unfolded itself from the chair in front of the fire. "I was waiting for you to get back before I - " There was a choked sound. "Is he - ?"

 

"Yes. He died in my arms an hour ago."

 

"I'm sorry. I know you loved him." The voice was sincere, and I marveled at the generosity of the man who could forgive someone who had been Spender's willing pawn in his destruction. "And, in the end, he tried to do the right thing."

 

"Yes." Silence stretched between us. "He set you free."

 

"Yes. His Clerk brought me the document for that." I heard the rustle of parchment in his hands. "As well as the gift to compensate me for what I have suffered." There was a soft snort at that, the sound of the papers landing on the table, a glimpse of a tight face in the firelight. "I don't want it."

 

"Fox - you deserve it - "

 

"I don't want it!" His voice was low with barely contained passion, and then he was moving. He's leaving me, I thought numbly, and my hand involuntarily reached out to try to stop him before he could get to the door.

 

"Fox - "

 

But he wasn't heading for the door. He flung himself at my feet, arms going around my knees and his face pressed against my thighs. "Please - let me stay with you. If you don't want me in your bed anymore, just let me stay near you. I'll do anything you want - scrub floors, tend the horses, I don't care. Just let me stay."

 

My throat was burning, my hands ached to touch him, and I could barely croak the words, "Fox, you're free - you have your life back - "

 

"I don't want to be free! I want you!" He was up again, moving away. Before I could move, he had snatched the parchments, looked at them, and threw one on the fire. "There - I've destroyed it."

 

Wearily, I said, "It doesn't matter. The decree has been registered in the books. Besides, now that I'm the Lord Protector, I can issue the same order."

 

There was a sobbing breath. "So that's why - " He crossed the room to fling the other parchment at me. "Take it back! I don't want your property - I don't need to be compensated for 'damages'," he said sarcastically. "I may have been a slave, but what I gave to you was of my own free will and given gladly. I won't be paid like a high-priced whore!" He turned away to clutch at the high-backed chair as if seeking support.

 

My mind seemed to have gone blank, and I stared down at the paper he had tossed at my head. It was a decree awarding Beauforte, plus the lands between Beauforte and the Mulder River – some of the lands that had belonged to Spender - to Fox and his heirs in perpetuity. Suddenly, the words my brother had whispered about a dowry made sense. With this bestowal, the newly made Earl of Mulder would be a much-sought-after companion and mate.

 

I felt a sudden surge of jealousy; Fox belonged to me, and I would fight anyone who tried to take him away. But now I had to convince Fox of that.

 

"I had nothing to do with this, but I think you should take it, as well as your freedom. After all, the Lord Protector can hardly marry a penniless slave-boy."

 

I waited for my words to sink in. After a moment, I saw his head come up slowly, saw him turn back toward me. His eyes met mine and I knew that I was looking at him as if I was a drowning man and he my only salvation. His eyes widened.

 

"M-master?"

 

"Call me Walter, my heart."

 

And then he was in my arms, clinging tightly as if afraid that we would be torn apart again, and he was sobbing my name over and over. I held him tight against me, kissing his hair and every inch of his face, murmuring endearments. He shifted, his mouth seeking mine, and the passion between us burst into flame.

 

Somehow our clothes came off and we were on the bed, and his body was searing mine everywhere that we touched. There was nothing gentle in our coming together, only need and desire, and he was as fierce as I in the coupling. I didn't care; he could have bruised my entire body if he wished, for I was deep inside him where I had thought never to be again. And he was moving under me, meeting each thrust with equal force, his eyes dark with his desire and my name a constant litany on his lips. I felt the spark starting within me, heard him cry out his own impending climax, and then we were coming together and falling into the light together, one heart and one soul.

 

Fox

 

I regained my senses first, finding it hard to breathe under the weight of his body on mine, but I didn't mind in the least for I had never thought to feel that weight again in this life. I held his body tight against mine and smiled up into the darkness. At last he stirred, shifting slightly as he came back to awareness, rolling onto his side and pulling me with him. I looked into his face and felt tears come to my eyes, but they were happy tears. I had never seen so soft an expression on his face before, such tenderness.

 

I cleared my throat. "So you're going to marry me and make an honest man of me," I said, trying to lighten the moment.

 

A large hand that I knew could be surprisingly tender stroked my cheek. "You keep me honest," he said softly, "and you make me whole. You brought joy into my life, and I can't live without you. I don't even want to try."

 

"Walter - "

 

"I love you, Fox. I've loved you since the moment I saw you in the market. You looked at me, and our eyes met, and it was - "

 

"Magic," I finished softly. "I knew that I belonged to you from that instant." He drew me closer, kissing me sweetly. "What happens now?"

 

"I'll talk to the Mother-Abbess tomorrow about marrying us since I expect that the Priesthood will be in a shambles for quite awhile. Then we'll go home."

 

"What about Gibson?"

 

His face darkened. "I had forgotten." He looked at me soberly. "I can't turn aside from this responsibility, beloved. I swore on my sacred honor."

 

"Then we'll just have to bring Gibson home with us," I said practically. I saw the startled look on Walter's face. "Well, is there any reason why we shouldn't? I mean, this is the seat of government but I doubt that a seven-year-old boy will have much to say in matters of State. It would be much better for him to grow up away from the Court and its intrigues. And I could tutor him in his studies."

 

I could see that he was comparing his childhood with that of his half-brother, and I saw him nod. "True, he is not needed at Court on a daily basis. Lord Reginald and the Council are trustees for the government until he attains his majority; I am entrusted with protecting the prince's person and the kingdom." He smiled at me. "It is an excellent idea, my love."

 

I grinned at him. "Don't look so surprised. I occasionally have ideas that harm no one."

 

"Occasionally," Walter agreed, a teasing gleam in his eyes. "Or so I've heard."

 

"Asshole," I said lovingly.

 

"That sounds suspiciously like disrespect."

 

I looked at him impudently. "Now that I'm a free man, and will be your consort and your land-lord, I think we need to negotiate those rules."

 

"Of course. But one rule will always remain the same - you do something stupid and your ass will answer for it."

 

I sighed. "Maybe I need to rethink this whole marriage thing. I mean, I could find myself some cute young thing and be the dominant one - "

 

He pulled me into another kiss, long and passionate, until I was in danger of fainting from lack of air. "You were saying?"

 

" - on the other hand, there are significant compensations in this arrangement."

 

"I thought you'd feel that way."

 

Epilog – Walter

 

"All right, John Richmond Walter Gibson Prys, I'm waiting for an explanation."

 

The voice caught my attention as I crossed the Great Hall, and I walked over to an open window. It was a little over a year since my half-brother's death, a beautiful spring day, and the air was fresh with the scent of flowers and rain-washed grass. The kingdom was once more at peace, Reggie and the Council having uncovered all the conspirators in the plot to take the throne. The Brothers of the Single Arrow had joined in with the Sisterhood in rooting out the evil within the Temple, and a new High Priest with less worldly ambitions had been elected. From the meticulous records Spender kept, all those that had been wronged had been restored to their rightful places and compensated from the former High Priest's treasury, although those who had suffered losses like Fox could never be fully compensated.

 

It had been a joyous day when Fox had been reunited with his sister, and she had spent a month with us before deciding to follow in Sister Melissa's footsteps as a Healer with the Sisterhood. Fox had been reluctant to part with her even for such a short while as her training at the Shrine would entail, but the Mother-Abbess assured him that she would be well-taken care of. Samantha had teased him at that, saying that he was really afraid that she would now be able to beat him up, a fact he acknowledged with a laugh.

 

William the Younger had been established in Cardinale's place and had done well his first year, considering the state that the lands had been in under Cardinale's lax rule. He predicted a bounteous crop this year - often and loudly - a fact that made me grateful that we did not have to visit his holdings very often. Lamana was now Captain of young William's garrison and was handling the new responsibility well, making Scully beam with pride.

 

As for the former slave, Alexi, nothing more was heard or seen although I thought I caught a glimpse of him in the background at Jeffrey's State funeral. I also thought that Fox had received a message from him late last fall, but he declined to share it with me and I didn't press. He had worn an expression of wistful sadness for a day or two, and his attentions to me had been unusually tender, as if cherishing the fact that I was alive. I hoped that Alexi would find his own peace some day.

 

As for the new Earl of Mulder, he had settled into his position with his usual aplomb, although he generally left the management of the lands in my hands. I had been right - his sudden elevation in status had brought many suitors to his door, but within a month after the late king's death, we had been married and returned to Beauforte to settle down, bringing my nephew with us.

 

I smiled as I looked out the window. In the courtyard stood King John II, Duke of Gibson, Earl of Richmond, plus dozens of other holdings, only at this moment he looked just like a guilty – and dirty – schoolboy.

 

Gibson had changed dramatically over the past year, blossoming under the care he had been showered with since we had brought him home to Beauforte. Gone was the crushed and quiet boy from a year ago, and in his place a healthy and happy youngster – and one that had turned out to be more than a handful for his new tutor. Of course, the last time I had pointed out the ironic justice of that to Fox, he had pummeled me mercilessly with a pillow.

 

Now I watched as Fox stood looking sternly down at the boy, hands on his hips while Captain Scully stood nearby, arms crossed and face impassive as always.

 

"I didn't go very far, Uncle Fox. And nothing happened - "

 

"How many times have your Uncle Walter and I told you that you are not to go outside the castle walls without an escort? And it doesn't matter that nothing happened - there is no excuse for risking your life like that!"

 

Gibson hung his head. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, Uncle Fox."

 

"You're going to be even sorrier when I get through with you, young man. Up to your room, now, and wait for me."

 

Gibson went off with dragging footsteps and Fox paused to talk with Captain Scully before heading up the steps. I moved to intercept him as he entered and he gave me a dark look.

 

"You'll never guess what Gibson has done now," he began.

 

"I know - I heard you through the window."

 

"You'd think, as many times as we've been through this, that he would learn to think before he acts. That he would stop ditching Scully to go off on these hare-brained escapades. That he would consider how important his life is, not just to us but to the Kingdom - "

 

I couldn't help it. I pulled my consort into my arms and kissed him soundly. When I finally let him go, he looked at me suspiciously.

 

"Are you trying to distract me?"

 

"No; I'm trying to tell you that I love you."

 

He grinned, his ire melting away, and slipped back into my arms. "Oh. Well, tell me again. I wasn't paying attention the first time."

 

So I kissed him again, and this time I knew that he was paying attention from the glazed look in his eyes and the hardened condition of other parts of his anatomy. He leaned against my shoulder, trying to catch his breath while my hands caressed his back, then he pulled back reluctantly.

 

"Hold that thought. I've got to finish talking with Gibson first."

 

I traced his lower lip with my finger. "I'll be waiting for you in our chamber. In our bed. Naked." He purred and nipped at my finger, then released me and turned away. "Oh, and Fox?"

 

He turned back, eyebrow raised. "Hmm?"

 

"Don't give up on Gibson. After all, it worked on you. Eventually." I turned away, popping him lightly on the ass as I did so. And behind me I heard delighted laughter.