‘All in good time, my lady Ingebord. I dare say the hostage might learn a thing or three about pleasing men. Awfully young, but we can play our little game your way.’
Cold sweat prickled her back. He intended to harm Birdie and punish Rand as well as spiriting Rhiannon away. Rand would never forgive her if she allowed that to happen. She’d never forgive herself. ‘You call this a game?’
Turgeis yawned. ‘Merely the taster before the actual meal.’
Svanna put out a hand to steady herself. She had to wait and give the guard time. ‘You’re insane.’
‘My lady, what you wanted done has been done,’ one of Rand’s warriors whispered in her ear, plucking at her sleeve. ‘I was told to tell you this. The nurse isn’t happy, but she complied finally. Both in the hall. Come away now and leave it to the warriors. Don’t put yourself in danger.’
‘Rand must have time to return,’ she said in an undertone while Turgeis was still ranting. ‘This one loves the sound of his voice, but he has brought too small an army for a prolonged siege.’
The warrior smiled. ‘You are quite right about that.’
‘Shall we give him a small taste?’
‘At your command, my lady.’
She nodded and turned back to Turgeis. ‘You’ll come to regret this, as your father came to regret what he did. Why do you want someone who blatantly does not want you?’
‘You know nothing.’ Turgeis raised his sword. ‘Time’s up, Ingebord. Surrender or death?’
Svanna spotted a small movement on the horizon. Help? Or something worse? She glanced upwards and made a decision. ‘What else can I choose but life?’
Turgeis smiled, the sort of smile which said she was a fool. ‘Then open the gates and we shall conclude our business.’
Svanna raised her right arm and stood poised on her tiptoes. ‘Never. We shall fight and win.’
When she dropped her hand, the archers unleashed their first volley of arrows.
Chapter Fifteen
Rand urged his horse forward towards Donaghmoyne. Its flanks were flecked with sweat and mud. Any other time, Rand would have stopped miles ago and rested, or at least changed horses, but not today. He kept the horse going onwards until he felt that he had never been out of the saddle. Far more than the need to see his daughter, whom the nurse would keep safe, his need to see Svanna and hear her reasoned and calm views drove him. He wanted to apologise for seeming abrupt and discounting her and then confess how he truly felt about her.
His group of men trailed behind, barely keeping up. The landmarks—the twisted oak, the bog on his left and the small pond—had all become more familiar. Normally, his heart lightened with each new sign of his approaching home, but this time the sense of foreboding only increased. There should be cattle in that field and sheep in the next, but the fields were empty, as if someone had given the order to prepare for war.
His horse stumbled. Rand reached and patted its neck.
‘Keep going. My family is in danger. I know they are.’
‘My lord. We need to rest. Our horses are far too tired. Donaghmoyne can hold out for days.’
‘No one in their right mind would attack, but I suspect our opponent isn’t.’ He pulled his horse up. ‘Can you hear that?’
The men listened.
‘Someone is trying to batter down the gates!’ one shouted.
‘My lord, we are but a handful.’
‘Who would bring that large an army this far north?’ Rand said, trying not to panic. Svanna and Birdie would be safe if they stayed within Donaghmoyne’s walls. The defences he’d strengthened would hold and there’d be no need to use the secret passage from the round tower. A sudden paralysis gripped him. Rhiannon knew the passageways. She could have told Turgeis about them, and Turgeis would exact his revenge. He’d inadvertently put Svanna in danger. Despite all the promises his head had made, she’d burrowed deep in his heart. He had to ensure her and Birdie’s survival.
‘My lord, what should we do?’
‘We don’t know who attacks or why.’
‘I had to ask, my lord. My wife and children are there.’
Rand knew he would have to make a choice—either to go in via one of the tunnels or to seek to draw the attackers off. On balance, given that the cattle and livestock were most likely inside, he had to assume Svanna had some warning and had acted. What had he done to deserve a wife like that?
