Lord of Fire,Lady of Ice(93)

It was not to be. Duty beckoned him and the reminder only soured his mood. He shook in fury as he jerked the rest of his clothing on. Rage clouded his judgment as he whispered, “Methinks you are about to find a beating, treacherous wench. I have stayed my hand with you long enough.”





* * * * *


Della patted her mare on the neck to steady the animal. It had been too long since she’d ridden outside the walls of the castle. So much had changed since Brant’s arrival. The men no longer quickly responded to her authority. Although she knew each one would keep their oath of loyalty, they turned naturally to accepting the leadership of a man. She resented them for it. Had she not spent many hours proving she was worthy to follow? So what if she didn’t kill men gallantly on the field of battle like Brant the Flame?

Brant refused to talk to her from the moment he came down. She was already on her horse waiting with the men. Not one of the knights dared to question the claim that she was to come along until they saw Brant’s fiery expression as he looked at her in disapproval. He glared her into silence when she’d started to say his name. Della knew her coming angered him, but she assured herself she didn’t care.

Brant rode silently next to her, training his eyes forward in detachment. By the hard line of his jaw, it was difficult to remember the affection between them the night before. His disinterest somehow hurt her insecure ego. For, after the night they’d spent together, she was desperate for a kind gesture from him. It was not to be. Apparently, her husband was only kind to her when he wanted someone to warm his bed. Had he not spent the last sennight ignoring her, until yestereve when he wanted her?

Studying him through the corners of her eyes, she couldn’t help but notice how incredibly handsome he was. Always confident, he sat bravely astride his giant steed. The tan destrier dwarfed her mare, just as Brant towered over her. He had yet to say anything about her meeting with Stuart. Could it be that he trusted her? Della doubted it. More likely, he was avoiding a conflict in front of the men.

“M’lady, are you well?” Gunther asked quietly from her other side.

Della jolted, clearing her throat as she turned to the knight. She’d forgotten he rode next to her.

“Yea,” Della responded with a polite smile. Trying to shade her look with her lashes, she shot a last glance at her husband.

Well, if m’lord husband will not talk to me, mayhap someone else will.

Gunther followed her gaze briefly to his friend.

“It is lovely out, is it not? For such a dreadful day,” Della said.

“Yea, m’lady,” Gunther replied. “Did you know the cotters well?”

By the look on his face, he knew what she was doing and he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed a bit anxious to help her stir up trouble. Not daring another glance in Brant’s direction, she imagined she could feel his eyes burrowing into the side of her head. “Yea. They have worked the land for many generations. Helga’s family often comes to the castle to help with the brewing in the fall.”

“Helga?” inquired Gunther.

“Yea, she and her husband are the ones who reported the raid.” Della swallowed hard as she studied her hands on the bridle. Her words were weak, as she admitted brokenly, “It’s close to Blackwell Manor—closer than the others.”

Gunther nodded.

“Will we be stopping at the manor, m’lord?” Della turned to ask her husband, curiosity to see his home getting the better of her. In the past, she’d never dared to venture to it. She wondered what kind of a manor he kept without the benefit of a woman’s touch.

He glared at her for a long, hard moment before snapping, “I will.”

Della swallowed past the lump forming in her throat. Stiffly, she clutched her horse’s reins and stared at her trembling hands. She knew that meant he would be staying there alone. Did her defiance upset him so much that he was to abandon her? And why did she care? Is that not what she’d wanted since the beginning?

Gunther slowed his horse so he could edge his stallion between the warring couple. Shielding Della from Brant’s dark scowl, Gunther turned his attention to his leader, asking what Della thought, but couldn’t say. “Brant, do you mean to stay there alone?”

“Nay, there are servants and I will take two of the men with me. It’s time I checked on the manor.” Brant ignored Della, purposely rejecting her involvement in the discussion. “What better time than now, while I am so close?”

Della effectively felt excluded. She turned her attention forward, but kept her ear on their words.

“It will give me time to learn if any there know of the raiders,” Brant continued in low tones. He quickened his stallion’s pace.