“You would be surprised what I know about you,” the old man snorted; the chest wound had nicked a lung and he moved to seal it. “I know that you have a brother.”
“Everyone knows that. My younger brother serves the Marshall.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“Years ago. Kevin and I do not speak much.”
Gilby opened his mouth to reply when a scream startled him; looking over his shoulder, he could see Sheridan racing towards them across the dark bailey. For some reason, his heart suddenly felt very sad. He knew what Sean and Sheridan had gone through to be together and to see it end in this fashion was overwhelmingly depressing. He looked at Sean.
“Your wife is coming,” he told him.
“I heard.”
Sheridan came upon her husband in a rush; in her torn, stained gown, she moved as if her leg had not been stitched earlier that evening. She fell to her knees beside Sean, her upper torso collapsing on his neck and chest. Gilby wasn’t done with the chest wound yet and had to fend through her hair in order to find his target again. On Sean’s chest, Sheridan wept loudly.
“God, no,” she sobbed. “Sean, you cannot die. Please do not leave me.”
Now that Sheridan was with him, Sean felt a tremendous amount of peace, so much so that his entire body filled with an odd sort of warmth. He put his arms around her, his face in the top of her head, inhaling her scent and feeling it stoke his strength. His arms tightened as if to never let her go.
“I am sorry if I have frightened you, sweetling,” he murmured into her hair. “This was certainly not part of my plan.”
Sheridan was beside herself, terrified beyond reason that she was going to lose him. She raised her head to look at Gilby.
“Please,” she begged, tears streaming down her face. “Please save him. Please do not let him die.”
Gilby wouldn’t look at her; he couldn’t. It was becoming far too emotional for his liking. “I am doing all I can, Lady de Lara.”
“How bad is it?”
He did look at her, then. His voice made her blood run cold. “Bad.”
Sheridan’s hysterics abruptly faded; she didn’t know why, but suddenly, the anguish went beyond tears. It burrowed deep into her chest like a great broadsword, hacking her tender heart to pieces. She knew her tears would not help Sean. She wondered if anything could. Swallowing hard, she gazed into her husband’s white face, stroking his cheek gently and struggling to calm.
“I love you,” she murmured, kissing him tenderly on the lips. “If there is only one thing I can tell you at this moment, it is how much I love you.”
His clear blue eyes glimmered weakly and his hand, cold and clammy, touched her face.
“Never did I think I would live long enough to gaze into the eyes of the woman I love and tell her what is in my heart,” he murmured. “Now that this moment has come, I hardly know what to say. I do not think I can adequately describe what I feel for you. It goes beyond love, Sheridan. It is something timeless and immortal. I may die, but my love for you will live forever.”
So much for her attempts to remain calm; she couldn’t help the tears that sprang from her eyes, pelting his pallid cheek. She kissed his forehead, his cheek, rubbing her nose against his and feeling his hot breath on her face.
“You will live,” she whispered. “You will live to raise our children and watch your sons grow into fine, strong men. The name de Lara will live on and we will grow old together, I swear it.”
He kissed her cheek, her lips. His lips were cold and she struggled against the instinct to burst into tears again. He seemed so very cold.
“I will try,” his voice was faint. “But if I should not be able to keep that vow, then you must promise me something.”
Her lower lip began to tremble and the tears fell faster. “Anything,” she whispered.
Sean suddenly jerked as if he had been struck. Then, he exhaled heavily, paused, and abruptly resumed breathing. Gilby looked concerned and Sheridan nearly came apart.
“Sean?” she asked, trembling. “What is happening?”
He closed his eyes, patting her arms gently. “I am all right,” he took another deep, ragged breath and resumed. “If I do not make it out of here alive, then know that it is my wish for youto marry de Braose. He is an honorable man and will be good to you.”
Sheridan lost her battle against tears and she began to sob softly. “Do not say such things. You are not going to die.”
“But if I do, I want you to promise me. I will be comforted knowing you will be well taken care of.”
