Worry eradicated his good humor. "What's happened? Your last letter said all was well."
"It was. Until this morn. Godwin has captured your wife."
Rage tinged his vision red, his heart slamming against his chest.
"What? How in all that is holy did you allow this to happen?" His fingers clenched on the reins, and Viking danced nervously. One hand went to the hilt of his sword. "Where has he taken her?"
Burke shrugged; oddly calm considering the news he'd just shared. Alarm prickled along the back of his neck.
"She ventured beyond the gates and the rebels were laying in wait."
That made no sense. Through the fury a strange calm took over. "Why would she be so foolish? Where is Simon?"
"Back at the keep. He is readying additional men."
"'Twould seem I arrived just in time. How long ago was she taken?"
"Not long."
"They couldn't have gotten far. Come, we'll find them.And if I know my wife, she'll likely have torn the bastard to shreds!"
His stomach rolled as he thought of how frightened Gillian must be. While she was as fierce as any knight, being in the hands of a brutal rebel had to be terrifying. He cursed himself for not arriving home sooner.
He searched every tree, every bush for any sign of the rebels or his wife. Nothing. His breath grew short. The need to hit something, someone, to swing out with his sword, nearly overpowering.
"There!" Burke pointed and Royce looked ahead.
Several men gathered in a clearing up ahead. Rebels. Royce let loose his war cry and unsheathed sword. Spurring Viking he raced toward the band. He pulled up short before the lead man. The outlaw, disheveled and dirty, brandished his own sword.
"By order of the king, I place you under arrest."
The man said something in Welsh, and the others laughed. Royce growled. He wanted nothing more than to charge into the band, but not just yet.
"Where is my wife?"
The man continued to speak in Welsh. Royce didn't understand a single word. The man gave a smug grin.
"Godwin!" Royce spat on the ground. "Finally I face you. And I will kill you."
More laughter. Royce turned to Burke. "Charge!"
Why didn't Burke obey? His captain watched him with a strange expression.
"He is not Godwin," Burke said.
"I don't care who he is. I want them all arrested."
Burke moved closer and unsheathed his own sword. "Nay, my lord. They are under my orders. And protection."
Royce blinked. Surely his fury and exhaustion had left him confused. What Burke said made no sense. Unless...
"Explain yourself."
An evil grin curved Burke's mouth. Royce noted the flick of his captain's hand, a moment before several more rebels dropped from the trees. Two tackled Royce from hissaddle, disarming him. Several blows landed about his head and neck, kicks to his back and gut. When he broke free and attempted to rise, Burke's sword at his throat halted him.
"You never figured it out." His captain's eyes held a demented glow. "I am Godwin, the rebel leader you seek. I've been right before you all along."
Royce shook his head, ears ringing. Each breath burned through his chest.
