“He has been ambushed, Dani,” she tried to be gentle. “We must leave this place before they get you, too.”
“Ambushed?” Sheridan gasped, taking halting steps into the room and trying to shake off Gilby’s sleeping potion. “Who has told you this?”
“I did, my lady,” Father Simon was trying to be gentle, but in truth, he was heartbroken. He knew what Sean and Sheridan meant to each other. He had seen their expressions of love at the marriage earlier that evening. “He was ambushed by the WhiteTower several minutes ago. I came to find you so that we could leave immediately for your safety.”
Sheridan’s eyes were wide but, to her credit, she did not dissolve into tears. She simply looked shocked.
“Is he dead?” she asked, her tone dull.
Father Simon shook his head. “I did not see him fall. I came to find you. It is what Sean would want.”
Sheridan’s breathing grew faster. She simply stared at the priest in disbelief. Then, quite calmly, she turned to Guy and pulled the broadsword out of his hand, an old thing that had been left in the room by some previous visitor who had probably grown tired of it. It was a pathetic weapon, old and dented, but a weapon nonetheless. She wielded it with both hands.
“I am going to find him,” she said steadily. “He needs help.”
Guy grabbed her before she could move away. “You cannot go,” he told her. “The priest said dozens of men set upon him. If you walk into their midst, they will take you straight to the king.”
She yanked herself from his grip, taking a swing at him when he grabbed her more firmly the second time. She was beginning to lose her composure.
“He needs help,” Sheridan repeated loudly. “I must help my husband. I must go to him.”
Guy had a good grip on her but he could see she was growing hysterical. “Sheridan, think about what you are doing,” he wrestled with her to the point of pinning her against the wall. Her eyes were wild with fright as he gazed steadily at her. “Listen to me; this is a battle you cannot win. You will end up dead or worse. Do you think that will save Sean? Do you think it is what he would want?”
She lost the battle against her fear and began to crumble. She tried to chop at him with the broadsword but he took it away from her easily. “I cannot lose him,” she wept. “I must go to himand I will kill you if you try to stop me, do you hear? I will kill you.”
Guy had the sword, gazing into her lovely face and feeling her pain. Part of him was jealous that she was so passionate about another man when he himself still wanted her so badly. But most of him felt a good deal of pity. He let go of her and shifted the sword to his left hand, opposite his broken collar bone.
“Then I will go to him and see if I can be of assistance,” he told her quietly. “You go with the priest. Let him take you from this place.”
“You cannot go,” she sobbed. “You are injured.”
He lifted his eyebrows in agreement; still badly injured, he was at least able to move about better than he had been earlier. “Maybe so, but I am still stronger than you are.”
Tears coursed down her face as she gazed back at him, realizing that he was serious. With all the man had been through over the past few days, he was deadly serious about aiding Sean. It was difficult to believe.
“You would do this for him?” she asked with incredulity.
“I would do it for you.” He stared at her intently for a moment before lowering his gaze, patting her on the arm as he did so. “Go with the priest, I say. I will do what I can for de Lara.”
Sheridan sniffled, wiping at her cheeks as Guy moved towards the door. She could hardly believe he would aid Sean, but she was nonetheless deeply thankful. Guy de Braose had proven himself more of a man than most and her respect for him grew a little bit more. She wasn’t sure how she could ever repay him for such loyalty. But she was no fool; she knew he did it because of his feelings for her. It wasn’t out of some misplaced desire for heroism. But she was selfish in that she didn’t care what his reasons were, so long as he went.
“Thank you, Guy,” she went to him before he quit the room and very gently kissed him on the cheek. “For your loyalty and your chivalry, I will always be in your debt.”
Guy glanced at her but it was too much for him to take; he was in love with the woman. He knew it. He realized he would have done anything for her to keep her happy, even defend the man who stole her away.
“Go with the priest,” he insisted weakly.
Gilby suddenly provided a distraction from their awkward parting as he picked up his medicament bag.
“I will go with you, young de Braose,” he said firmly. “Sean may need my help as well.”
Guy looked dubious. “A battle is no place for you.”
Gilby gave him a shove towards the door. “Nor you. Get going.”
There was no point in arguing. The door shut behind them and Sheridan stood there, staring at the door and wondering if Guy would survive. She wondered if he would be in time to help Sean. The tears came again and she rested her forehead against the door, fears and prayers filling her heart.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
