Nay, she must be strong for him. No matter how much her fear spoke otherwise, she must give him her own strength.
He swallowed and jerked her hand as if a wave of pain shot through him. How he could stand the number of injuries he had and not cry out, she couldn’t fathom. Indeed, she wanted to cry for him, but she knew he wouldn’t welcome her tears, and that alone kept her eyes dry.
With her free hand, she stroked his pale, cool cheek and traced the stubble lining his jaw.
Valteri closed his eyes and panic gripped her heart, stilling it instantly. “Valteri?”
He opened his eyes and looked at her.
Ariel drew a deep breath. “I thought you—”
“I shall live through this, Ariel.” He gave her hand a tight, reassuring squeeze. “The injuries are not as bad as the blood makes it appear.”
She returned his tight squeeze, praying he was right. “I shall hold you to that, and if you speak falsely, I shall never forgive you.”
The intensity of his stare made her tremble.
You must watch him die!
Ariel flinched at the raw, angry voice that shot through her head. Chills spread across her body and she tried to grasp the fleeting memory. Yet it vanished into the depths of her mind like an errant child fleeing at its parent’s approach.
She must remember!
Even her very soul screamed at her to recall the words.
Who had said them to her…
Why?
“Ariel?”
Her thoughts scattered at the sound of his voice. “Aye?”
He cleared his throat and gripped her hand. “I know not why you’re here, but I’m glad you came.”
Holding him close, she smiled, her throat tight with joy and fear.
As she started to respond, she heard the sound of horses approaching.
It was too soon for Wace to be returning.
Valteri ground his teeth and started to rise.
“Nay, milord!” She pushed him back to the ground, then rose.
The riders came closer.
Closer still.
Her heart pounded as she tried to see into the darkness.
It wasn’t until the first rider was almost on top of her that she realized why it’d been so hard to see him. He was dressed all in black. Even his armor, helm, and chain mail were black.
As was his horse.
The knight beside him was in a dark burgundy surcoat over equally black armor.
They seemed even larger than Valteri on his. Deadlier.
