Iris Johansen - Midnight Warrior

Midnight Warrior

Iris Johansen

Chapter One

April 20, 1066 Redfern, "England

The light blazed across the dark heavens like a bannerunfurled for battle.

Brynn stared up at the midnight sky in fascination anddelight. It was like watching a mysterious flower blossom in the shadowy depthsof the forest. She had prayed it would still be there tonight.

"Did you do it?"

She stiffened but did not turn around. She had come to thistiny room in the back of the stable hoping to steal this time for herself, butshe should have known she would not be permitted to enjoy this wonder alone. Atleast, it was only Delmas. Perhaps she could rid herself of him quickly."Did I do what? I don't know what you mean."

She heard his steps behind her and then felt his heavy hand onher shoulder. She felt a surge of revulsion but didn't move.

"Look at me."

She reluctantly turned her back on the glory in the heavensand gazed boldly at him.

He immediately looked away as he usually did when she directlyconfronted him. "Be quick, I'm weary and would seek my bed," shesaid.

"Not too weary to do that," he snarled as hegestured at the sky. "I want it stopped. Do you hear? I want itgone."

She stared at him in astonishment. "I beg yourpardon?"

"Don't pretend innocence." His eyes glittered wildlyin the moonlight. "It's your doing. I know it. You brought it to destroyme so that you could return to your precious Gwynthal."

She wanted to laugh. She had not dreamed even Delmas couldbelieve something so outrageous. "I waved my hand and a comet streakedthrough the sky? Don't be foolish."

Pain streaked through her jaw as his palm made contact.

"Send it away!"

She shook her head to clear it of pain and darkness. It hadbeen a long time since Delmas had struck her, and she cursed herself for miscalculatingthe depth of his fear and panic. She could not afford to make such mistakes. Hemight offer her little protection, but it was all she had in this foreign land."I didn't bring the comet."

"I watched your face when you saw it last night. Everyoneelse in the manor was filled with fear but you you were triumphant."

He had mistaken her wonder for triumph. She supposed sheshould have pretended to share their fear, but it had not occurred to her. Intruth, she had been amazed at their terror. Miracles occurred every day andthis was only another. Wasn't a rainbow a miracle? Why did they not marvel atthe changing seasons? And surely the birth of a child was the most glorious ofmysteries. "You were mistaken. I only "

He struck her again, harder. "I want it gone fromhere."

She reached out and grasped the wall to keep herself uprightas the room swam around her. She had given up trying to convince Delmas she hadno magical powers and now used his fear and superstition to protect herself.The ploy had worked very well for the past three years, but now his belief wasa danger in itself. She must find a way to soothe his fear. "All right. Idid it."

Satisfaction lit his face. "I knew it. Now send itaway."

"I cannot send it away." She took a hurried step backto avoid the blow she knew would come. "Not at once. The magic is toogreat and must run its course, but I will make sure it harms no one."

He frowned uncertainly.

"It is all I can do," she said firmly.

"It will go away?"

"Yes." She breathed a prayer she was not lying.

"When?"

"Soon." She added quickly, "It takes time tobreak a spell as strong as this one." She closed the shutters of thewindow to block out the sky from him. "Now may I go to my bed?"

"No." He gazed at the shutters and then evidentlydecided to accept the partial victory. "Lady Adwen needs you. She woke ingreat distress and sent her servant to rouse me. It was then I discovered youhad left your bed."

"Why did you not tell me at once?" She moved quicklytoward the door. "Have you summoned Lord Richard?"

"He knows. He was occupied." Delmas followed herinto the hall. "He said to call you and he would be there shortly."

Occupied with his latest leman, Joan of Danworth, no doubt,Brynn thought bitterly. Adwen could die and he would not care. Indeed, she wassure he would prefer it. He had not been pleased when Lord Kells, Adwen'sfather, had sent Brynn to Redfern to care for his daughter. A wife unable tobear children was an intolerable inconvenience to a man as hungry for power asLord Richard. To be free of that wife and retain her fat dowry would be verytempting. God knows, it would not take much to rid himself of such a frailburden: a little neglect, a window left open to induce a chill

Well, she would not let him do it, she thought fiercely. Adwenwould live. Brynn would not let her die.

"You wouldn't have to create such havoc if you'd besensible," Delmas said as he hurried after her. "Give me your promiseto lead me to the treasure, and I'll return you to Gwynthal."

She did not look at him. "There is no treasure."

"You lie. I want it, Brynn. Give it to me."

Demand and avarice. Dear heaven, how sickened she was of itall. At times she had been tempted to tell him what he wanted to know just togain peace. But he would have wanted more and then more until he had it all,and she would never let anyone have Gwynthal. "There is no treasure."

"I could buy my freedom. I could buy all of England. Youhate it here. Why won't you "

"There is no treasure."

His hand reached out and closed on her upper arm, biting intothe flesh. "Bitch." His voice was laden with frustration and anger."Someday I'll choke it out of you."

The threat didn't frighten her. He had tried torture in thosefirst few weeks after they were wed, before she had learned how to protectherself. "I cannot tell you what I don't know. Be satisfied with what I dobring you." She paused outside Adwen's chamber door. "It's more thanwhat you had when you married me."

"But not enough. Not nearly enough." He released herand gazed at the door with uneasiness. "Do you need me?"

He was hoping she would say no, she realized contemptuously.He had witnessed his parents perish from a fever within a few days of eachother and was deathly afraid of sickness. At these times he was almost as muchafraid of Brynn's healing skills as he was of losing his chance to become afree man. He was sure she used not her herbs or the knowledge her mother hadtaught her, but some magical way of banishing the demons who stole life. Sheshould be grateful, she thought wearily; because of his belief she had beenable to retain possession of her soul, if not her body. "I don't know.Stay close. I'll summon you if I need anything."

Adwen's servant, Alice, was standing by the large, curtainedbed and looked up with a sigh of relief as she saw Brynn. "She's verybad."

"Her stomach?" The day before, Adwen had beenviolently ill and unable to keep anything down. Brynn strode over to the bed.Adwen's eyes were closed and she appeared asleep.

Alice shook her head. "I don't think so. She justsuddenly woke and started to shake and weep."

Adwen opened her eyes. "Brynn?" she whispered. Shegroped wildly for Brynn's hand. "Midnight he's coming."

"Shh " She quickly took Adwen's hand in both ofhers and pressed it reassuringly. "What's wrong? Do you have pain?"

Adwen shook her head. "I saw him. He's coming."

Brynn felt a chill. Who was coming? Death? She had cared forothers trembling on the verge of the other side who had claimed to see visionsthat foretold their time. It was almost impossible to bring them back afterthey had gone through that experience. "You've been dreaming."

"No."

"Yes," she said firmly. "And it's no wonderyou're shaking. It's cold in this room. Why is the window open, Alice?"

Alice's blue eyes widened in alarm, but she did not answer.

"Richard was here earlier and said the room wasoverheated and I should have more air," Adwen said wearily. "He'salways so warm."