“Norah?” said the man’s voice. It was soft and gentle as though he were talking to a baby. It was also familiar. This was definitely the man who had tried to take her from her cottage. “Norah, can you hear me?”
Norah tried to remember the way people would wake up after being exposed to the plant. Some were children who had gotten into the wrong part of the forest or into an herbalist’s garden. Others were victims of nefarious attacks. In the end, she simply fluttered her eyelids and hoped the pirates hadn’t seen many Kempter victims before.
“What… What happened?” she whispered, looking around as though confused.
Her act must have been decent because the pirate beamed. And now that she could see him in the light of day, she knew that he mostdefinitelywas the pirate who had tried to woo her in her house in the middle of the night. His long, dark hair had been braided into small, neat braids all over his head, and his eyesappeared even darker in the day than they had seemed at night. They would have been deep and alluring, had he been an honest suitor to an unattached girl. His clothes were neat, if a bit ostentatious, and he wore the expression of a concerned lover. But just as his mother had said, he bore dark circles beneath them, betraying evidence of the illness’s effects.
“It’s all right, Norah!” he crooned. “You had a nasty fall, but you’re safe now!” He touched her head. His acting was so good that, had she not known better, Norah would have easily believed she’d actually fallen. Then he took her hands. “Come. Let’s get you some fresh air.”
Norah nearly smiled at the opportunity, but instead forced herself to frown down at her hands. “But why am I tied–”
“Oh, that.” The pirate hurried to cut her free, nearly fumbling his knife in his haste. “I’m so sorry, love. After you fell, the doctor was afraid you might hurt yourself, so he had us bind your hands so you couldn’t reach up as easily to touch your head.” He gave Norah a guilty smile as he held out his hand. “How are you feeling?”
“I…” Norah tilted her head slightly, the way she had seen puppies do when they were confused. Hopefully, she wasn’t adding too much drama to the act. “I can’t remember…” She sucked in a deep breath. “I can’t remember!” Then she took his hand and let him pull her to her feet, pretending meanwhile to hyperventilate. “Air. Yes, that’s it! I need fresh air! Fresh air will help me think! And–”
“You can have fresh air soon,” the pirate hurried to take her hands again. “But not until after we’ve set out. The men won’t like it if we’re in their way.”
So theyhadn’tset out yet.
“Please.” She took his rough hands in hers and had to keep herself from shivering as she did. After taking Phillip’s hands so many times, holding another man’s hands felt wrong.
But the pirate couldn’t knowthat.
“Who are you?” she asked. It was a legitimate question. After all, Willamina had referred to him only as her son, and Norah couldn’t remember if she had been told his name at any of the palace meetings.
The man’s face fell as though he had expected her to remember. But Norah didn’t know if this expression was truly from hopes being crushed, or if he was acting as well. “My name is Jameston Gast, love. And I’m your betrothed.” He drew closer so his hands slid from Norah’s hands up to her elbows.
Norah instinctively stepped back. “Please,” she said. “I don’t know if you’re my betrothed or not, but I don’t wish to be so close. Not yet.”
But he stepped yet closer, notquitethe gentleman, it seemed, that his mother had painted him.
“If you just give your mind time, you’ll begin to–”
He was interrupted by the door swinging open and hitting the wall with aBANG.
Phillip stood in the doorway, his hands and face smeared with dirt and his sword in his hand. His brown eyes were darker than Norah had ever seen.
He was out for blood.
Jameston shoved Norah back toward the bed so hard that she fell onto it. Then he turned to face Phillip, drawing his own sword.
The two men engaged in combat, which must have been difficult, as the room was so small. Norah huddled on the bed and prayed, trying to stay out of reach of their swords.
Jameston was quick and nimble, moving in ways that Phillip was too big to even try. But while his large frame kept him from moving quite as quickly as Jameston, he made up for the loss with power. Every full blow Phillip delivered to Jameston’s swordsent the pirate stumbling back. And he would have easily bested the pirate except for the whistle that Jameston sent out as he began to tire.
Pirates flooded the hall.
“No!” Norah cried, giving up all pretense of having forgotten. “No, that’s not fair!”
But no one paid her heed. Half a dozen men poured into the little room. To his credit, by the time they had managed to subdue Phillip, he’d laid out at least four.
Phillip was only one man, though, and the room was far too full for him to fight to his best ability. In what felt like seconds, his sword had been taken, and six men pressed him against the wall so he was forced to face Jameston.
“Please!” Norah screamed. “Don’t kill him! Not here! Not without honor!”
Jameston turned slowly to stare at her, seeming for the first time to hear her pleas. “You…knowthis man?” he asked slowly.
Norah nodded miserably. “He’s my husband.” As she spoke, she met Phillip’s gaze. If only she could express to him how truly sorry she was for failing. She only hoped the look she gave him now said so. Because the failure of her love really did break her heart. And no escape was worth letting him think she’d forgotten him just before his death.
