Slave of My Heart

Part 5: Found

Notes:  This is the final installation of "Slave of My Heart",
although I plan to go back through it to edit some of the
inconsistencies. Please note that this section contains non-
graphic descriptions of torture, multiple minor character deaths,
and a whole buncha angst.  
Chapter One

Fox

I lay in the bed for hours, staring up in the dark, unable to
find any rest.  Somewhere out there was Lord Walter – possibly
hurt or a prisoner or… I refused to let my mind go down that
path. Lord Walter was not dead.  I would know if he was, would
feel it deep in my heart. I don't know how I knew that, but I was
certain it was true.

Finally, I gave up the struggle to sleep and got up.  It still
lacked several hours till dawn but I thought that Captain Scully
would still be awake, questioning the prisoner to find out more
about the plots surrounding us, and I thought I might as well go
over to her office to see what she had learned. I dressed
quickly, slipping on my old soft shoes since my boots were being
cleaned, and wrapped the heavy cloak around my body.

The courtyard was a-buzz with activity, unusual for this time of
night.  It seemed like most of the garrison was getting ready to
go somewhere, preparing their mounts and light provisions.  The
Captain was not with them so I continued into the armory and
found her putting on her armor, issuing orders to her second-in-
command, Sgt. Pendrell. She turned to me, frowning.

"You should be resting."

"Couldn't sleep. What's going on?"

She gave me a sharp look and picked up her sword belt.  "I put
Colton to the question.  He admitted that Earl Spender had bribed
one of the castellans to kill Lord Walter and take you captive.
He planned to make it look like you did it and fled the country
so no one would look for you and Spender could do what he liked
with you.   Meanwhile, Modell was supposed to find a way to
search your belongings – Colton didn't know for what – and steer
us away from looking for you. After his Lordship decided not to
take you with him, Modell came up with the idea of abducting you
for Spender instead. When you showed up in the barracks, it just
made his job easier."

"And Lord Walter? Was he still supposed to be killed?"

"Colton had no idea, but he thought it likely that Cardinale
would go ahead.  It would have been last night."  She must have
seen the stricken look on my face because she grasped my shoulder
and said quietly, "Lord Walter is not a man to be taken unaware."

I nodded, my throat suddenly tight. "You are going to his
rescue?"

She nodded. "If we move quickly, we can be there by dawn. I
promise you, M'lord Fox, if there is any way to bring him home
safely, I will."

"I'm going with you."

Scully frowned.  "Oh no, you're not. We will be riding hard and
fast, possibly going into combat. You will stay here where it is
safe."

I shook my head stubbornly. "If you leave me here, I'll just find
a way to follow. I swear it."

The Amazon's eyes flared with fire and I was suddenly reminded of
the previous night.  She grabbed my throat and hissed, "You will
give me your word that you'll stay right here, or by the gods, I
will toss you in the cells until Lord Walter returns.  Do you
understand me?"

"But-" I gasped.

"Swear it!"

I gave up. "I swear."

She released me, turning her head towards Pendrell.  "And you are
not to let him near the horses, the gates, or the wall. If he
tries anything, lock him up."

"Scully!" I protested. "I just gave you my word!"

"And I know just how much that would be worth if you thought Lord
Walter needed your help." Once again she squeezed my shoulder.
"We'll bring him back.  I swear."

I nodded and she strode away, calling the troop to mount.  I
looked over at Sgt. Pendrell.  "Is there anything else Colton can
tell us?  Something to help Lord Walter?"

"Not anymore," he said cryptically, following in the Captain's
wake.  I decided that I didn't want to know what that meant and
slowly made my way to the library to wait for Lord Walter's
return.

Walter

By the light of the full moon, we determined that our situation
was grave but not impossible.  The unknown archer had command
over most of the courtyard and had put an arrow through one of
Lamana's men when he had attempted to cross to us.  The rest of
Lamana's men were safe but couldn't get any closer to the stairs
that would access the wall above us where the archer was.  To add
to our troubles, it sounded like Cardinale's troops locked inside
the barracks had sobered enough to start seeking a way out and
were attempting to batter down the door.

I had extracted the arrow from Lamana's thigh and bandaged the
wound as tightly as I dared.  His face was paler than usual with
pain and anxiety, but at least he was in no danger of collapsing
or bleeding to death. Still, I doubted that he would be able to
move quickly should the occasion warrant it.

"I've got to get up there, get to that archer," I said quietly.

"Don't see how," Lamana said, peering around the corner of the
stable doorway where we had taken refuge.

I jerked my head towards the stable doors behind me.  "If I let
out some of the horses, it should create enough confusion for me
to get over to the turret stairs."

"You can't go up there alone," Lamana objected.  "I'll go with
you."

"Don't be daft," I said, gesturing to his leg.  "You try running
up those stairs and you'll bleed to death. I'll be fine."

"You better be, or Fox'll kill me," Lamana grumbled.

I smiled at the thought of the young lieutenant being more afraid
of a slave than death, then went to work. Between the two of us,
we released half the horses from their stalls, then opened the
main stable door and let them out into the courtyard. The ruse
worked better than I had expected and, using the horses as both
shield and cover, I made my way to the turret stairs. Once there,
I pulled off my heavy boots and, in stocking feet, made my way up
the steps, sword in hand. Although there appeared to be only one
bowman, he might have a companion with him and I wasn't taking
any chances.

Luck was with me for a change. The bowman was alone and his
attention was completely focused on the courtyard where the
horses still milled around. I slipped up behind him and put the
point of my sword against his neck.

"Drop your weapon," I growled. Startled, the man complied, and it
clattered on the stones below us. I heard Lamana shout to his men
and knew that he would take care of the situation below.
Meanwhile, I would see about getting some answers from this man.

"Turn around – slowly. And keep your hands where I can see them."

The man slowly raised his hands and started to turn, then,
suddenly, leapt up onto the turret wall out of reach of my sword.
For a moment, the world seemed to hang suspended as be balanced
precariously on the narrow wall, but then he began to topple
backwards. I reached for him but too late – with a scream he fell
to the courtyard below and lay still.

Cursing under my breath, I ran back down the stairs.  I pulled my
boots back on my frozen feet, then went to inspect the body. The
dead man was unknown to me and carried no identifying papers. I
swore again.

"Any luck, my lord?" Lamana asked, joining me.

"Nothing," I said with a sigh, standing up.  "You?"

"Cardinale's men are unarmed and under guard, at no additional
harm to our men.  His captain is waiting for you to question –
although he's so sotted that I doubt you'll get anything useful
out of him."

I followed him across the courtyard where some of Lamana's men
were rounding up the freed horses while others mounted guard over
the captured soldiers.  I glanced up at sky and sighed.  It was
at least an hour till dawn.  Although I was exhausted from a
night without sleep, I wanted nothing more than to ride home and
bury myself in Fox's arms.  But the men were no doubt exhausted
as well, and there was the protection of this holding to arrange
before I could return home.

I sighed again.  It would be a long time before I could get this
miserable mess sorted out and return home.  I would write to
William this morning, have his eldest son sent here to hold for
me.  William the younger was a good man – a little tedious but
honorable – and had done well managing the demesne farms for me. 
No doubt he would do well here, and the appointment of the man to
hold this keep for me would increase the loyalty of both father
and son. Even so, it would take the better part of a month to
arrange matters here.  There were the records to go through, the
stores to inventory, the spring planting to see to.  Disposition
of Cardinale's widow and young children would need to be made,
and young William established before I could even think of
leaving.

I turned my attention to Cardinale's captain. Lamana was right, I
noted with disgust. The captain was staggeringly drunk and,
although his soaked condition indicated a rough-and-ready attempt
to sober him up, it was clear that I would get nothing useful out
of him.  By the unkempt look of his clothing, his drunkenness was
a common thing, and that didn't bode well for the garrison under
his command. This man would have to go, and the entire garrison
would have to be turned over, perhaps every man replaced.  I
needed Scully here.

A smile slowly grew on my face. I would send Lamana back to
Beauforte today – he would heal much better under Maggie's care –
with a letter for Captain Scully, ordering her to join me here to
see to the garrison.  She would expect that duty at any rate, and
she could handle it more efficiently than I could, freeing my
time to see to the other matters of the keep. Of course, I would
need a clerk to go through the records with me, write out the
summons to the merchants and farmers under Cardinale's rule, and
record the inventory.  By now, Fox would be well recovered from
his illness and, in any event, it was only a few hours' ride and
the weather was passing fair…

I suppressed a chuckle at the reasons I was finding to justify
sending for Fox.  Besotted fool, I chided myself.  Admit the
truth – you love the boy and miss him.

I turned my thoughts away from the big bed upstairs and the young
man I longed to share it with, and turned to find Lamana watching
me, a puzzled look on his face.  I allowed my smile to broaden,
reaching out to grasp his shoulder.

"You have done well, Lieutenant. Very well, indeed, and I shall
tell Captain Scully as much." His face lit up, and the solution
to the problem of a new captain here at this keep occurred to me,
but I would need to discuss the matter with Scully first.  "I
shall be sending you back to Beauforte this afternoon, with a
message for both William and the Captain, so you need to get some
rest.  Pick six men to accompany you, and have the others secure
the prisoners in the dungeons."  I rubbed my eyes wearily,
wishing that I had fresh troops to assign to the watch. "We are
all tired, so rest is the next order of business."

On the thought, I heard the sound of an approaching troop, a
shout giving the pass-code as they hailed the keep. Captain
Scully, I thought, my weary mind unable to come up with any
alternative.  She must have worried when I didn't return on
schedule and had come to investigate.

"Open the gates!" I called, and two of the men ran to obey.

The mounted troop swept into the courtyard and I moved forward
with words of welcome on my lips.  But they died unvoiced as I
recognized the man at the head of the troop.

Earl Spender's eyes, cold and empty, met mine.  "Lord Walter," he
said, a hint of amusement in his voice.  "This is a surprise.  I
had expected to find you dead."

I felt Lamana move forward to guard my back as I said grimly,
"Not for lack of trying on your part." I gestured towards the two
bodies before me. "You can take your lackies and leave. Now."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Spender said blandly. "You
see, I have a warrant for your arrest – in the event that I found
you alive and well."

"And what are the charges?"

"High Treason, for a start." Spender dismounted and walked over
to the bodies, turning over that of the archer with his foot.
"This man was one of the King's Envoys, and I don't think he'll
take kindly to the man's murder."

I snorted at that.  "Your envoy put an arrow through three men,
including Cardinale, and jumped off the turret rather than
surrender to me."

"That, of course, is your story. There are others who will tell a
different tale." He pulled out one of his foul tobacco sticks and
lit it.  "So – will you surrender, or will I be forced to have my
men attack you and your men?  Any that survive will be put to the
question, to provide evidence for your trial."

"So I am to be allowed a trial? How generous of you."

"I am a generous man," Spender said.  "Even now, you can be
spared if you turn over the boy to me."

I drew myself up.  "No."

"Pity."  Spender drew in a breath from his tobacco stick and let
it out in my face.  "To give up your life for one worthless slave
boy – what a tragic waste."

"If he is so worthless, why do you want him?"

Spender smiled at that, a smile that chilled me to the core.
"Why, because I want him.  And I intend to have him."

I ground my teeth together and said fiercely, "Over my dead
body."

"I think that can be arranged. Of course, it will be over your
men's bodies as well."

"And if I surrender? My men will be allowed to go free?"

Spender shrugged.  "Of course.  You have my word of honor."

"You'll forgive me if I don't value that too highly," I said
dryly.

"It doesn't appear that you have any choice in the matter,"
Spender pointed out, then turned to his captain who had been busy
talking with Cardinale's men. "Well, Captain?"

"Cardinale's men say that the boy wasn't with Lord Walter when he
arrived, sir."

Spender swore under his breath and swung on Cardinale's captain,
and the man blanched under Spender's glare. "You! Gather your
miserable excuse for an army and ride to Beauforte. Search the
entire place if you have to, but find that boy and bring him to
me."  He took a menacing step forward.  "And you had better not
fail me.  Understood?"

The man stammered an answer and hurriedly disappeared to gather
his men and their mounts.  Spender turned back to his own captain
"Lord Walter is under arrest.  We will take him back to town with
us, under heavy guard."

"Yes, sir." The captain turned to me.  "Your sword, Lord Walter."

I hesitated for a moment, but the odds were too high. And I
needed to stay alive; Fox needed me alive. I unbuckled my sword
belt and handed it to him, praying that Captain Scully would be
able to get the boy to safety.

Chapter Two

Fox

A hand clapped over my mouth, startling me awake, and I realized
that I had fallen asleep curled up in Lord Walter's chair in the
library.  I struggled, only to have the hand tighten and a voice
hiss in my ear, "Quiet! You want to bring the entire place
running?"

I fought harder, recognizing that voice. Alexei.  How on earth
had he gotten into this place?

"Of course you want to bring all your protectors rushing to your
aid - but if you do, you'll never know what happened to Lord
Walter."

I stilled and, after a moment, Alexei cautiously removed his
hand.  "Where's Lord Walter?  Is he – is he dead?"

Alexei moved around the side of the chair, tossing me the cloak
that I had set aside. "I'll tell you everything, but we have to
get out of here first."

I snorted at that.  "I'm not going anywhere with you."

He shrugged.  "Fine.  Sit right here and wait for Spender to take
you prisoner.  See if I care."  He started towards the door.

I sprang out of the chair. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"There's a troop of Spender's men on their way here, and it looks
like Cardinale's man-at-arms is leading them. I don't think
they're here for a social visit, do you?"

I swallowed hard.  "How do you know this? And why should I
believe you?"

He shrugged again.  "Believe or don't. But if you want to get out
of here, we have to do it now."

I grabbed my cloak and fastened it around my shoulders, following
him.  "What about Maggie and William?  Shouldn't we warn them?"

"No time, and they won't be in any danger.  Spender wants you."

I thought quickly.  I had no intention of trusting Alexei, but he
had somehow gotten into the castle so I knew he had to have a way
out.  Once I was out, I would go after Scully and find out the
truth.  "All right, I'll come with you.  Just give me a moment."

Alexei gave an exasperated sigh but I hurried into my room and
grabbed a satchel, putting my knife, the pouch of coins and, on
impulse, that odd scroll into it.  I hid it under my cloak and
joined Alexei who was impatiently waiting in the hallway.

“Are you quite finished?” he asked sarcastically. “Perhaps
there’re a few books from the library you’d like to take with us?
Or maybe you’d like to stop by the kitchen and ask the cook for a
picnic basket while we’re at it?”

Between my lack of sleep and worry over Walter, I had very little
patience left.  I slammed Alexei up against a wall, my hands
around his throat.

“Look,” I snarled at him. “I’ve just about had it with all of
you! Pulling me here, pushing me there – You’re getting me out of
here, and then I’m going to find Lord Walter, and that’s it!  Do
you understand?”

“But – “

I slammed him again. “I said, do you understand?”

Alexei glared at me but muttered, “I understand.”

“Good.” I let him go and gave him a mock bow. “Lead on.”

Alexei led the way out of the manor and into the older part of
the castle then, much to my surprise, down a narrow flight of
stairs.  He unlocked an old door at the bottom of the stairs,
relocking it behind him. Then he picked up a torch and lit it.

"This way," he said, gesturing towards a dark tunnel before us.

I looked apprehensively at the tunnel. It was dark and dank and
obviously hadn't been used in decades. "Where does this go?"

"The village." Alexei started walking and I hurried to follow
him, not wanting to get caught in here in the dark.  "It was an
escape tunnel that the original builder of the fort put in – also
handy for smuggling contraband from the bay to the castle."

"How'd you find out about this tunnel?" I asked curiously,
wondering if Lord Walter knew about it – and if he knew that
Alexei had somehow gotten the keys.

"Je – the king told me about playing under the castle when he was
a boy, hiding from his brother. Once I knew about it, finding it
was easy."

I frowned at that; if the king was involved in this little plan,
I had a feeling that it wasn't in my best interest to go along.
But with the keys in Alexei's possession, it was either go
forward or remain trapped here. We continued the rest of the
journey in silence and I was relieved to see a gradual lightening
of the sky ahead of us.

As we reached the entrance, Alexei suddenly dropped the torch and
turned, pinning me against the tunnel wall. I gasped, finding it
hard to breathe with his arm across my throat. His face was a
breath away from mine and he grinned mockingly.

"Don't like being on the other end of the punches, pretty boy?"

"Shouldn't have – trusted you – "

"Oh, I'm not turning you over to that bastard," Alexei snarled.
"I'm taking you to the king."

I blinked at that.  "Why?"

"Because, you dimwit, Spender has charged your precious lord with
treason, and he'll torture the man until he tells them where you
are."

My blood ran cold at that but I snarled back, "So you're saving
the torturers all that time and trouble?"

Something passed over his face for a moment, and I could almost
swear it was pain.  "No," he said shortly.  "I'm saving Je- the
king.  It'll kill him to see his brother hurt and disgraced."
Then his face tightened again.  "As for you, I expect that
Spender'll get his hands on you eventually, although the queen
will probably want her turn with you first."

I blanched at that and then heard a cool voice say, "I don't
think I like that idea." Alexei stiffened and saw an armored
female figure step into the sunlight, a naked sword in her hand.
"Let him go."

Alexei swore but released me and I rubbed my sore throat with my
hand, peering into the bright light. I recognized that voice but
the clothing – "Sister Melissa?"

The Amazon healer smiled and inclined her head.  "At your
service, Fox."  She looked over at Alexei.  "And you – hands
behind your back, if you please."

"How did you – "

" – know you were here?" she asked, giving me a droll look.

"Never mind," I said with a sigh. "You just knew."

"Exactly." She jerked her head towards Alexei who was watching
the Amazon warily. "Check him for weapons and then tie his hands
behind his back. And quickly, Fox.  It isn't safe to linger
here."

"Then he was telling the truth when he said that Spender was on
his way here."

"His men are searching the castle right now, and undoubtedly
they'll turn to the village when they don't find you. I have a
boat waiting to take us to safety."

I removed the four knives Alexei had hidden on his body and tied
his hands tightly together.  "Where are we going?"

"To the Shrine. You'll be safe there."

"But Lord Walter – "

"Is alive but a prisoner." She gripped my shoulder.  "Fox,
they'll be taking him to Town as well.  We can't do anything to
get him free now, but once we are safe at the Shrine, I'm sure
the Goddess will show us the way.  Now come."

I nodded, my heart heavy in my chest, and followed her out of the
tunnel.

I found that we were on the shore of the bay, about a half-mile
above the village.  A small boat with two oarsmen waited on the
beach, and a few yards out I saw a larger ship.  I drew a deep
breath and pushed Alexei ahead of me as I walked down to the
waiting boat. Now was not the time to think of my own fears. Lord
Walter needed me and, by the Gods, I would not let him down.

Walter

Cardinale's troop left immediately, heading south towards
Beauforte, while Spender's troop set out on the southeasterly
road towards the Mulder River and Spender's own lands instead of
directly towards Town.  We rode through the morning at a brisk
pace, Spender clearly wanting to be off my lands before Scully or
Lamana could catch up with him, but once we forded the river, he
called a halt to make camp.  I was pulled off my horse and
secured under guard while the rest of the troop watered their
horses and ate their luncheon.  Spender paced restlessly,
however, his eyes searching the track behind us. And, as the
hours dragged past, his temper grew increasingly darker.

The sound of an approaching troop made him stride to the
riverbank to scan the approaching men.  I had determined at a
glance that it was neither Scully nor Lamana, and they didn't
appear to have an unarmed prisoner with them either.

"Well?" Spender demanded as Cardinale's man rode into camp and
dismounted.

The man wet his lips nervously. "He wasn't there.  We searched
the entire castle, then we searched the village. There wasn't a
sign of him."

Spender growled at that. "And the Amazon?"

"Gone, sir.  She must have taken the boy to safety, but none of
the servants or soldiers seemed to know anything about it. We
even gutted the sergeant, but none of his men would change their
story."

Even as I regretted the loss of Sgt. Pendrell, I felt a wave of
relief wash over me at the thought that Fox was safe. Bless you,
Scully, I thought warmly.

I thought that Spender would explode with anger at this news, and
I could see Cardinale's man go white with fear. "Kill him,"
Spender said curtly to his Captain, jerking his head towards the
man-at-arms.  "Then send your best assassins ahead of us to Town.
The Amazon will take the boy to her Shrine – they are to wait
there for her to arrive, then kill her and bring the boy to me."

The Captain nodded his understanding, turning to his men to issue
the orders.  A sharp cry from the man-at-arms was cut off
sharply, and his body fell to the ground.  Spender ignored him
and the flurry of preparations around him, stalking over to where
I sat.

I couldn't help the triumphant smile on my face.  "Well, Spender
– it seems that your plans aren't going quite as you wanted."

"You are still my prisoner, Lord Walter, and very soon young Fox
will be as well," he snapped. "Then we will see who is smiling."

Chapter Three

Fox

Once we were safely out of the bay, Melissa freed Alexei's hands
and set me to watch him while she consulted with the ship's
master – who appeared to be a foster-brother to Captain Scully -
about the safest place to set us on shore.  I settled onto a coil
of rope out of the way of the sailors and watched everything with
great interest.  I had been on one of the light ships that ran up
and down the river in Town as a child, not one of my fondest
memories since the motion of the water made me violently ill. But
either I had outgrown that or I was simply too worried about Lord
Walter to have time to be seasick.  Even so, the offer of food by
the cook's helper made me shudder.

Alexei had no such qualms, tearing into the roast chicken with a
voracious appetite.  I silently passed him my portion, telling
myself that it was because I didn't want it to go to waste – I
was not feeling sorry for the other man.

He gave me a cautious and puzzled look before picking up the food
I offered, continuing to watch me as he slowly ate it. The steady
appraisal made me feel funny and I snapped, "What are you looking
at?"

He shrugged and tossed the bones over the side, wiping his
fingers on his tunic before picking up his mug of watered wine.
"Just trying to figure you out."

I frowned. "What's there to figure out?  I'm a slave, just like
you."

He scowled. "You are nothing like me.  You had a home and a
family – "

"Which your master took away from me – "

"At least you had one," he snapped back.

"Poor, pitiful Alexei. You think that gives you the excuse for
doing whatever you like, don't you?" I said mockingly.  He
snarled and started to move towards me, but I pulled out the
knife Melissa had left with me.  "Uh-uh.  Sit."

With a furious glare, he sat back down and picked up his mug,
ignoring me pointedly as he drank from it. I grinned at that,
glad to see the cock-sure slave at a disadvantage for once.

"You never told me why you're so set on protecting the King's
feelings," I said, stretching out on my rope seat.

"That's right," he said shortly. "I didn't."

I eyed him speculatively. "Last I saw, Spender had given you to
the queen to be her new play-toy.  You doing this to make her
happy?  Or did she get bored with you already?"

He curled his lip.  "Her attention span is ten minutes, tops."

"Ten minutes?" I said mockingly. "That's the best you can do?  No
wonder she got bored."

Green eyes flashed at me. "And what would you know about it,
catamite?"

"I know I can last longer than ten minutes, whore.  So you ended
up back in Spender's stable?  Or did you find someone else's bed
to warm?" Alexei flushed at that, looking away from me, and I sat
up straight. "The king?  No, that story won't fly. Everyone knows
he hasn't taken anyone to his bed except the queen."

Alexei's eyes flashed up at me angrily, then back down at his
mug.  Oddly enough, the very fact that he refused to say anything
about it convinced me. "It's true.  And not only that, you care
about him, don't you?" I asked, stunned.

He still didn’t look at me. "He – he was the first one who didn't
hurt me," he said lowly.  "He cared about – my pleasure, too."

For a moment, Alexei looked younger than I, young and uncertain,
and I felt another unwilling pang of sympathy for him. "Does he
feel the same?" I asked quietly, and he shrugged. "Did he know
what you were going to do?  Does he know that you’re running
around the countryside, kidnapping other people’s slaves?"

He scowled at me.  “Of course not!”

“Then I imagine he’s not going to be too pleased with you when
you wander back home,” I said with a grin.

“You should talk,” Alexei said snidely. “I don’t think your
master would be thrilled to know that you went running off with
me.  If he gets his hands on you -”

“I was going to rescue him!” I said indignantly, then I sagged in
despair.  “Besides, he’s missing. But if it will bring him back,
I'd gladly let him beat me black and blue every day.”

"No master is worth that kind of loyalty."

"Mine is."

Alexei snorted at that but said no more. I turned my attention
away from the other man, looking towards the shore, and silently
repeated my pledge to every god that I could think of. Please,
let him be alive, let him be safe, no matter what happens to me.
Please.

Walter

The streets of the town were almost deserted by the time we rode
through the gates, too late for the Court to assemble to hear my
case.  Spender personally escorted me to the common prison cells,
the ones used for criminals and traitors, not the more
comfortable lodgings where noble prisoners were kept. I ignored
the gloating look on his face and calmly walked into the cell,
steadfastly refusing to think about the clang of the door closing
behind me. Instead, I lay down on the cot and concentrated on
Fox, hoping that he was safe, praying that Scully had gotten him
to safety.

Under the warmth of my cape, I managed to get a few hours sleep. 
Still, it was barely dawn when the jailors began making their
rounds, waking all of us up, thrusting a cup of water and some
bread through the bars. I ignored the bread but thankfully drank
the water, then set about making myself as presentable as
possible under the circumstances.

After several more long hours, the guards returned to escort me
to the Throne room.  I gathered my dignity, ignoring the fact
that my clothes were the worse for having spent nearly three days
in them, and stood impassively before the throne. To one side, I
could see my good friend Reggie looking grave and concerned,
while my brother steadfastly refused to meet my eyes.

“My lords,” Spender said loudly, walking into the middle of the
room.  “It is my unfortunate duty to bring forward grave charges
against this man. Lord Walter stands accused of conspiring with
those who work against the best interests of the kingdom, those
who seek to tear down the laws and replace them with their own,
those who desire nothing less than the overthrown of our lawful
king so that they may put their own man on the throne.”

“Really, Spender,” Reggie interrupted. “You are talking about
Lord Walter, a man we all know to be honorable to a fault.  He
has risked his life for this kingdom, time and again.  Ten years
ago, he had the opportunity to take the throne – if he didn’t do
it then, why would he do it now?”

“True, but ten years ago, he hadn’t taken a demon’s get into his
household.  An incubus who has since used his seductive
influences to turn Lord Walter’s loyalties away from the Truth.”

“An incubus that you seem mighty interested in getting into your
own hands,” Reggie said dryly.

“So that the priests may examine him, learn how he and his
brethren spread their lies, and thus purge their evil influence
from the land,” Spender said smoothly.  “It is possible that even
at this late date Lord Walter may be saved.”

“Fox is just a normal young man,” I said firmly. “He is no
demon.”

"See how eagerly he leaps to the defense of this demon-child?"
Spender demanded.  "The boy is nothing – a slave, a toy, a bed
warmer, and yet this man, sprung from the loins of the Highest in
our land, is ready to give his life for the slut. If that is not
the work of a demon, then what is?"

Even Reggie looked troubled at this statement and I took a deep
breath.  It would not do to look like a besotted fool – it would
not help me or Fox. "The boy is not important. But these charges
– if you believe that I have committed Treason, then where is
your proof?  Surely you have more than this Old Wives' Tale about
demon-spawn."

Earl Spender smiled at that and turned to one of his men who
handed him several sheets of parchment. "I have here confessions
from several of these traitors. All of them spoke of their plan
to put Lord Walter on the throne."

I made a dismissive motion. "There are always dissatisfied men
who speak of such things. Because they wish to make such a change
does not mean that I wish to take the Throne, nor does it make me
a conspirator."

"Several of them have admitted that you have attended their
traitorous meetings – "

"Which would be difficult for me to do as I have not left
Beauforte in months.  Or am I accused of harboring these meetings
there? In either case, my own servants can vouch for the fact
that I have neither left the lands nor had visitors since the
last time I was in Town."

Spender continued as if I had not spoken. "Then there is Sir
Cardinale's claim that you demanded that your vassals support
your claims to the Throne, and that he refused you. He states
that he feared for his life – and now he lies dead."

"Killed by one of your men, Spender, after Cardinale tried to
murder me in my bed," I said, starting to lose my temper. "If any
is to be accused of Treason – "

"You dare accuse me – "

"Enough!"

The voice stunned us both to silence, and I turned to face the
throne where Jeffrey now stood.  Spender looked as startled by
this as I was, a fact I noted with some smugness.

"I will talk with my brother alone."  Jeffrey walked towards the
antechamber.

Spender blinked.  "Is that wise, Majesty? He is accused of
Treason – "

Jeffrey paused and turned, and the arrogant look he threw at
Spender abruptly reminded me of our father. "Really, my good
Earl.  I should be afraid of a few minutes conversation with an
unarmed man - with my finest guards within call?  I think not."
He gestured imperiously for me to follow and, with a mock bow to
Spender, I did.

Almost before the door closed behind us, Jeffrey spoke.  "Is it
true, Walter?  Do you want my throne?"  The pain in his voice
stabbed me to the quick and for a moment I felt that I couldn't
breathe.

"No! Jeffrey, how could you even think such a thing? I have been
your staunchest supporter, I helped put you on that throne when
others said you were too young, untried -"

"People change," he said quietly. "You've changed."

"In what way?" I demanded.

"Your infatuation for that slave boy – "

"He has a name," I said through suddenly clenched teeth. "And I
am not infatuated with him.  I love him."

"More than you love me?" Jeffrey turned and looked at me for the
first time, and it tore my heart apart to see the grief in his
eyes.

"It is not the same thing. We are brothers; we have the same
blood, and I love you more than any other."

"Except this Wolf person." His voice was cross, reminding me
forcibly of the petulant nursery-child who had thrown fits
whenever I left him to go play with my soldiers.

I sighed and crossed to him, taking his shoulders in my hands.
"Jeff, I love you dearly, but Fox is my heart."  He pulled away,
turning his back on me angrily. "I don't want your Throne or your
life. All I want is to be allowed to live peacefully at
Beauforte, with Fox, till the end of my days."

Jeffrey turned away again, walking over to the window.  He idly
traced the patterned glass with a finger.  "You know that Spender
won't drop this," he said lowly. "Not unless you surrender the
boy."

"Even if I knew where Fox was right now, I wouldn't turn him over
to Spender."

He turned his head to stare at me in disbelief.  "You would give
up your life, your honor, for this worthless slave – the son of a
traitor?"

"He isn't worthless to me," I said firmly.  Then softly,
persuasively, I said, "You can end this farce, Jeff. Spender is
the danger, not me.  Send him away before it is too late."

Jeffrey gave a bark of harsh laughter, angrily dragging his hand
over his eyes. "It is already too late.  You are not the only one
with other lives to protect."

My heart lurched painfully. "Jeff, if you are in trouble, let me
help. I – I'll even stay here in Town, for as long as you need me
- "

"Will you give up the boy?"

I drew in a deep breath and let it out. "No."

"Then you are a fool! And if you are so determined to run towards
your death, far be it from me to stop you!"  He strode towards
the door, all angry determination, and I couldn't help reaching
out a hand to him.

"Jeff – "

"Guards!" he said, flinging open the door, and a handful of
guards entered the room.  "This man is Earl Spender's prisoner.
Take him away."  Then he was gone and I knew that the little
brother I had loved so dearly was gone as well.  Forever.

Chapter Four

Fox

It was dusk when we left the ship, putting to about a mile
outside Town, Sister Melissa not wanting to take a chance by
remaining on board when it docked at the main port.  As a
precaution, she retied Alexei's hands in front of him and gagged
him so that he wouldn't betray our presence.  We slipped through
the streets, keeping to the shadows as we headed towards the
religious center of the Town.  Across from the Shrine, we stopped
and Melissa took a cautious look around.  To reach the Shrine
itself, we would have to cross the open plaza in front of it.
There were very few people in the streets as it was almost the
dinner hour, but Sister Melissa was inclined to be cautious.

"Stay here," she said quietly to me, pulling the knife from her
belt and handing it to me again. "And keep an eye on him. I'm
going to make sure all is safe first."

I nodded, gripping the knife firmly. "Be careful."

She smiled, clasping my shoulder like a comrade-in-arms. "And you
as well."

With another look around, she stepped out into the streets and
walked boldly towards the Shrine, just another Amazon returning
home for the evening meal.  I watched her start up the stairs,
intrigued by this different view of the Healer. I had only seen
her in the simple gown she preferred to wear as the village Wise
Woman, and had never thought about her warrior side. But now,
watching as she hurried up the stairs, I realized how much like
her Sword Sister she was.  Same warrior's outfit and armor, of
course, and the same flaming hair bound back as a sign of her
Vows, even the same sort of purposeful stride –

She stumbled just before reaching the top step, falling to her
knees.  I started to go forward to help but Alexei suddenly
grabbed my arm, holding me back.  I opened my mouth to protest
and pull away, then stopped as I saw Sister Melissa fall back on
the steps, an arrow protruding from her chest.

Shot, my mind numbly filled in.  Hidden assassins.

A shove knocked me against the wall and I dropped the knife. I
looked at my companion, started, and saw Alexei pull the gag from
his mouth.

"Run, you idiot!" he hissed at me. "Run for your life!" And then
he was running himself, away from the Shrine, disappearing into
the night.

I spun around and ran blindly down the streets we had come
through, letting my instincts guide me as I ducked through side
streets and down alleys, heading back into the merchant areas of
the Town. Twice I had to duck back into doorways to avoid being
seen by the patrolling guardsmen, but finally I reached the
little bookstore and barreled into it, startling Brother Frohike
who was just preparing to lock the doors.

"Mouldy?" he asked, in stunned surprise.  "What are you doing
here?  I thought you were enjoying your pastoral paradise – "

"Captured," I managed to gasp out. "Walter.  They're after me."

Frohike hurried to lock the doors and fasten the shutters, then
pushed me towards the hidden stairs to the cellars. "Then we'd
better get you out of sight. Your Amazon friend?"

I shook my head.  "I don't know.  She went looking for Lord
Walter.  One of – one of her Sword Sisters brought me to Town,
planned on hiding me at the Shrine.  Only – only they shot her.
Right on the steps of the Shrine, Frohike."

Brother Byers had heard that as we came down the stairs and he
exchanged a troubled look with Frohike. "That's bad.  The
Sisterhood takes it personally when one of their own is hurt. If
the Sisters decide to avenge her, things could get real messy,
real soon."

"We'll worry about that later," Frohike said, helping me towards
the back of the workroom where the sleeping quarters were.  "You
look all done in, Fox.  Rest and we'll talk about it when you
wake up."

"But Walter – "

"I said rest." Frohike's determined hands pushed me towards a
cot. "We'll ask around, see what we can find out about your –
friend."

I nodded and sat down on the cot, feeling suddenly exhausted from
all the worry of the past few days. The tightness in my chest
reminded me that I was still recovering from my illness, and that
a lie-down might not be a bad idea. I pulled off my shoes and
reached for the blanket.

I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

******************

I awoke several hours later, feeling refreshed in body if not in
spirit.  After using the privy and then splashing cool water on
my face, I started looking for my hosts.  I found the three
Brothers in the main workroom, intently studying a scroll pinned
to the table.

Brother Frohike looked up at me as I entered. "You look a little
better.  How are you feeling?"

I shrugged. "Any word?"

They exchanged a look, then Brother Langley said, "I have a
friend who works with the Court clerks, and he says that Lord
Walter has been arrested and charged with High Treason."

I sat down abruptly. "How – why?"

"I would think the why is obvious," Langley said dryly. "Spender
wants you, and he's using your friend to get you."

I shook my head, numb. "Walter won't talk, not matter what they
do." I stood up.  "I've got to go.  If I turn myself over to
Spender – "

"They'll kill Lord Walter," Frohike said bluntly.  "And you won't
be far behind."

"But I've got to do something!" I protested.  "I can't just let
him die!"

"Rushing in there won't save him," Brother Byers pointed out.
"If you're going to get him out, you'll need a plan.  And you
need to know what Spender wants with you – besides the obvious."

Frohike gestured towards the table. "Which is what that can tell
us."

I looked over at the table and recognized the scroll pinned there
as the one that the Thinker had given to me, the one I had thrust
into my travel pack before leaving Beauforte with Alexei. "You
can read it?”

“It's written in Welsh, like many of the old Temple documents,"
Byers said, and I recalled that he had been a priest of the
Temple at one time.  "I'm a little rusty, but what I can
translate indicated that it's a private record that one of the
priests involved in Spender's little conspiracy made – probably
to save his own neck if the group got caught."

"Only it goes deeper than Spender," Langley added.  "And the High
Priest is involved in it, right up to his scrawny little neck."

"How far back?"

Byers shrugged.  "It doesn't say exactly, but it gives the
impression that this began during the Old King's days, maybe even
had something to do with his death."

I frowned. "But what does that have to do with me or Walter?"

"Plenty," Langley said, sitting down on a stool and peering at me
with his shortsighted eyes. "You know that the Priests oversee
the minting of coins, right? Well, it seems that for the last
twenty years, the High Priest has diverting part of the gold and
silver from the minting process into his own private little fund.
With the special molds they've been using – which leaves a small
cavity of air inside the coin instead of being completely filled
– they've been able to siphon off the extra without anyone being
the wiser."

I blinked. "What does the High Priest want with money?"

Frohike rolled his eyes. "What do you think?  Bribes, hired
mercenaries, spies – those things don't come cheap."

"So what has this got to do with me?"

Langley sat back and crossed his arms. "What did your father do
in the Clerk's Office?"

I shrugged. "Lots of things.  His last post was with the
Treasurer's – "

My voice died away as it all started to make sense.  My father
must have somehow figured out what had happened, about the
diverting of the funds. He had kept quiet for a while – maybe
even had taken payment to ensure his silence – but then something
had changed. Pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. I had
gone to University, planning to follow in his footsteps as a
Clerk – and I had come to Spender's notice. And my father could
no longer keep silent, so they had killed him.

Anger began to build inside me. These people had destroyed my
family, my life, and who knew how many other lives as well. If
they were allowed to continue, if they succeeded, the lives of
everyone in the kingdom – and beyond – could be ruined as well.
"We have to stop them."

"And just how do you plan to do that?" Byers asked dryly. "Just
march up to the palace and demand to see the king, show him this?
You'd be in the cell next to Lord Walter before you could blink."

There was a noise from the stairs, a yelp from Max, and then the
sound of booted feet coming down the steps. Byers grabbed my arm,
pushing me towards the back rooms and the escape tunnel there,
even as I heard Max's protesting voice.

"Uncle Melvin, she insisted – "

"Where's Milord Fox?"

I knew that voice.  I stopped and swung around, relieved to see
Captain Scully's form fill the doorway.  "Scully!"

She crossed the room in two steps, pulling me into a hard
embrace.  "I didn't dare hope," she muttered, clutching me tight.
"When I found Sgt. Pendrell's body – if it wasn't for Sister
Melissa's note - "

"Pendrell's dead?" I asked, horrified at the thought that someone
else had died to protect me.

She held me at arm's length and scowled. "Just how did you get
out of the keep?"

I flushed. "Alexei.  He snuck in and helped me slip out, only he
wanted to turn me over to the King. Then Sister Melissa showed up
and brought me to Town – we were going to the Shrine for
sanctuary, but – " I paused and swallowed hard, reminded of one
more death because of me.  "She'd dead. Assassins shot her on the
steps of the Shrine."

Scully's hands tightened on my shoulders. "Any news of Lord
Walter?"

Frohike stepped forward. "He's in prison, charged with Treason.
They are still searching for Fox."

Scully drew in a deep breath. "Then we must get you safely out of
town. My foster-brother, Charles, has a ship, and he can take us
to the Continent – "

"No."

Scully glared at me. "What do you mean, 'no'?"

"I'm not going."

"You are, if I have to tie you up and carry you aboard ship."

"Walter wouldn't run away if I was the one in prison, and I'm not
going to leave him to die."

"And you think he would allow you to risk your own life for his?"
she demanded.

"He isn't exactly here to forbid me, is he?  I'm going to get him
out of there."

"By yourself?"

The condescending tone in her voice made me angry.  All right, I
was no soldier, but I was tougher than she thought. Besides, this
was Walter, and I would crawl over broken glass to get to him if
necessary. "If I have to."

She must have seen the determined look on my face because she
exploded.  "Are you crazy? Are you completely insane?" she
yelled. "How do you think you're going to get him out?"

"I don't know." I drew a deep breath.  "I love him, Scully. I've
got to try to get him out or die in the attempt." I looked at
her, meeting her eyes. "I'd do the same for you, and I know he'd
do the same for us."

Her eyes locked on mine, then she sighed. "All right. I'm coming
with you."

"So am I." We both swung around as Frohike spoke.  "We're all
going."

Scully studied the brothers' faces. "You understand that if we
are not successful, we could all be arrested? Imprisoned? And
you're still willing to take that chance?"

Langley shrugged.  "I don't think we have any other choice. We're
going to need Lord Walter."

Byers nodded.  "He still has a lot of supporters in Court and
throughout the land.  He's our only hope for stopping Spender's
plan."

Scully looked puzzled and I gestured towards the scroll on the
table.  "Brother Byers deciphered that.  It details the plan to
overthrow the king – the High Priest, Spender, and all the others
who are involved.  If we don't stop them now…"

Scully sighed and sat down on a stool, rubbing her face wearily. 
"And just how do you plan to get Lord Walter out of prison?"

I frowned, trying to remember details of the palace from the two
weeks that I'd spent there before Midwinter. Then I had a sudden
mental image – that of an irate Lord Walter emerging from the
bookcase via a hidden doorway. "Scully, did you know about the
secret entrance to Lord Walter's rooms, the one through the
bookcase?"

She nodded. "I used to play in the hidden passageways as a
child."

"Passageways?" Langley asked, his face lighting up.  "What kind?
Where do they go?"

"All over.  They were part of the original building, used by the
lower servants to access the rooms to clean fireplaces and
chamber pots instead of using the main corridors – and, no doubt,
used by lovers to slip into rooms without being seen. When the
late king acquired the place and turned it into his palace, he
added on the new wing where most of the Court is housed, and
people stopped using those passages."

"But they're all over the old section, right?" I asked eagerly.
"And the dungeons are in the old section."

She shook her head. "The passages don't go all the way to the
dungeon."

"But they go close enough, don't they?" I persisted.  "We'll be
able to at least get into the palace and get close without being
detected."

"I suppose so," Scully said slowly. "One of the passages – the
one that runs behind Lord Walter's rooms – leads up from the
postern gate, intersecting with another passage that leads down
to the old storerooms.  There's little activity there at night;
we could probably get into the prison section without being
seen."  She gave me a dark look.  "That still doesn't get us into
his cell – or get him back out without being seen."

"We'll worry about that once we get in," I said determinedly, and
she sighed but nodded. "All right.  We'll wait till dark and then
we'll go get Lord Walter out of there."

"If he's still alive," Frohike pointed out, and I glared at him.

"Of course he's still alive!" I snapped, praying that I was
right.  I wouldn't allow myself to think of any other
possibility.

Chapter Five

Walter

The door to my cell opened but I ignored it, turning my head away
from the sudden light that flooded my cell. Even that slight
movement reopened the welts on my back and I caught my breath at
the sudden pain that flooded my body.

"Good afternoon, Lord Walter."

I bit my lip until the pain passed, determined not to give him
the satisfaction of hearing me groan. "Spender."  I spit out his
name like a curse.  "What do you want?"

"Information."

I laughed hoarsely. "I don't know where the boy is and, even if I
did, I wouldn't tell you."

"We believe young Fox is in town," Spender said, ignoring me.
"Your Amazon captain was killed on the steps of her Shrine last
evening. I assume that she brought the boy to town with her, but
he wasn't found anywhere in the vicinity.  So where would he go
here in Town?"

I closed my eyes tightly against the wave of grief that hit me.
Scully had been with my household since she was a child, had been
my most trusted soldier for many years.  I would miss her brave
heart and her keen mind greatly.

"Lord Walter, you are trying my patience.  If you will not
willingly tell me what I want to know, then I will have to employ
other methods to get answers."

I sat up, ignoring the fresh wave of pain that filled me, and
glared at him with all the hatred I possessed. "Enough of your
threats, Spender! I will never tell you a thing, no matter what
you do to me!"

Spender's eyes flashed angrily and he ground out his smoke under
his heel.  "The session with the whip doesn't seem to have
loosened your tongue, but I have ways to make you sing a
different song.  Guards!"

Rough hands dragged me up from the cot and pain stabbed through
me again.  I pushed away the pain, pushed away the fear of the
upcoming tortures I would face, and filled my mind with thoughts
of Fox instead. If I had to die today, it would be with his image
in my mind.

Fox

We hugged the walls, keeping to the shadows, and slipped inside
postern gate which was unguarded, being too small to allow anyone
to enter on horseback and only leading into the kitchen gardens.
Anyone trying to enter the palace itself would have to go through
the main gate, now doubly guarded. Scully located the entrance to
the passageway and took a quick look inside, then signaled for us
to follow. We didn't dare use a torch for fear of a servant or
guard noticing the light so we linked hands – Scully, then me,
then the Brothers. Slowly and cautiously, we made our way through
the twisting corridors, Scully counting off every cross-passage
and turning as we moved deeper inside the castle. Several times,
we had to slip back into a shadow as a guard or servant moved
nearby, and each time I thought that my heart would stop.

Finally, at last, we emerged in the storerooms near the prison.
Scully motioned for us to be silent and stay back, quickly
scouting the route to the prison before returning.

"There's one guard sitting at the desk, watching the cells," she
murmured.  "I don't know how we're going to get past him."

"I do."  Brother Byers smiled.  "A humble priest, here to offer
words of consolation to the condemned."

I looked doubtfully at him. "Are you sure?  Enough people have
died already."

"Trust me." Byers folded his hands into the sleeves of his robe,
lowered his eyes humbly, and moved with measured steps down the
corridor leading to the prison. Scully followed him in the
shadows, and the rest of us crept along quietly.  We heard the
murmur of voices, Byers playing his part to the hilt. Grumbling a
bit, the guard got up from his post and led the way down the
corridor towards the cells.  Scully slipped up behind him,
thumping him hard with the hilt of her sword, and he hit the
floor like a ton of bricks. I hurried forward to take the keys
from his belt, then the brothers moved the guard into an empty
cell while Scully checked for additional guards.

Swiftly, I moved to each cell and glanced in the grill, growing
more desperate as I looked without finding Lord Walter anywhere.
"He's not here!" I called to Scully.

"Fox?"

The voice was faint, and I swung about, trying to pinpoint the
location. There - the last cell I had checked. I had been certain
that there was nothing but now I could see the pile of cloth on
the floor was moving. I quickly unlocked the door and entered,
kneeling and placing a hand on the figure.

"Master?" There was a hiss and I realized that I had touched a
wound of some kind. "We've got to get you out of here."

"Where's Scully?"

"Outside with some friends of mine."

"I want you to listen to me and obey me, Fox." He drew a deep,
painful breath. "Get Scully, and get out of here. Do you hear
me?"

The flat tone of voice, the lack of hope, nearly made me cry. "I
hear, but I'm not leaving you here."

"Fox, I'm ordering you - "

I couldn't believe that he was just going to give up and anger
blazed through me.  Damn the man!  After all that we had gone
through, he wasn't going to do this to us!   "And what are you
going to do if I don't obey? Beat me? You can't even get up off
the floor." I was taunting him now, deliberately. "You'll have to
get out of here first."

I heard a faint chuckle, then a sigh, and a glimmer of hope
filled me. "Brat. Help me up, then."

I tried to grab onto his arm to help him up but he hissed in pain
again. "Master, I don't know where to touch you. Where are you
hurt?"

There was a low chuckle. "Everywhere." I heard him take a deep
breath and he pushed himself up enough that I could get my
shoulder under his arm. He winced again as I threw an arm around
his waist to steady him but made no other sound.

Frohike hurried to join us and I gave him the keys so that he
could lock the cell and restore the ring. It wouldn't fool anyone
for long, but every moment we could delay pursuit might help.
There was a slight movement and Scully was with us, breathing a
soft question.

"Milord Fox?"

"He's hurt badly - I can't tell where. He won't be able to go
far."

I could see Scully's head nod, then she was moving again. Langley
moved to Walter's other side and, between the two of us, we half-
dragged and half-carried him back down the passageway. Scully
paused and then turned in a different direction from the way we
had entered, and I wondered what she had in mind.  Walter could
not go far in this condition, and Langley and I were tiring.

The passage suddenly ended at the river and my heart sank. Scully
had obviously gotten lost – there was no way out of here except
for a drop into the icy cold river, and I knew that none of us
would survive long enough to swim to the opposite shore.  We
would have to retrace our steps.

To my surprise, Scully stopped in the opening and, cupping her
hands to her mouth, made a peculiar sound. Within a few minutes,
I heard the sound of oars and water against the side of a hull,
and a small barge slid out of the fog towards us.

"Sister? Success?"

"Yes. But he's badly hurt. We must get him to the Shrine."

A line was flung to Scully's waiting hands and she pulled the
boat in closer.  Two Amazons on the barge slid a narrow board
across the gap between ship and opening, then one of them deftly
crossed over to our side. I reluctantly relinquished my burden to
her, wincing as I heard Walter's painful moan as he was hoisted
onto her shoulders for the trip. I don't think I even breathed as
I watched her cross the precarious bridge with her burden, but
then Walter was being handed down into waiting hands on the other
side.  I scrambled after them, not wanting to let Walter out of
my sight for a moment, and heard the Brothers follow me.  Scully
pushed the board back across, then jumped the narrow distance.

The moment she was on board, the Sisters at the oars began rowing
swiftly, moving away from the palace walls. Even as they did so,
I heard the shout from the wall above us and a call to arms.
Well, I thought, that explained why Scully didn't suggest taking
us in that way – we never would have reached Walter's cell once
the alert was given.

Scully nodded at the look on my face. "I couldn't risk it," she
said simply. "I only had them waiting for us in case we couldn't
get him out the other way."

"But they know he's escaped," I said anxiously.  "They'll be
looking for him – and they'll probably guess where he's at."

"They would in any case," she pointed out.  "We'll have him
safely inside the Shrine before they can reach it – and even
Spender is not foolish enough to attack the Shrine itself."

I wasn't so sure about that but, having nothing better to offer,
I left Scully to her plans and made my way over to where Walter
lay.  The cloak had been pulled open and I gasped as I saw the
discolorations and whip marks marring his upper body. One of the
Sisters was kneeling beside him, her eyes closed as her hands
hovered inches above his body, while another knelt beside her and
jotted down what she was saying.

"Two broken ribs. Dislocated shoulder.  Broken collarbone.
Bruised kidney.  Multiple lacerations across the back and chest.
Fractures in the left hand, burns on the right.  No damage to the
lower extremities – looks like they were saving that for next
time."

My eyes filled at the litany of injuries and I bit my lip to hold
back the painful howling that filled my soul. A gentle hand
touched mine and, startled, I looked up to see the Healer's eyes
were opened and focused on me.

"The ribs didn't pierce his lungs and there hasn't been enough
time for infection to set in. He is a strong man – he will heal,"
she said gently. "You got him out before they broke him. It could
have been much worse, lad."

"How can you say that?" I demanded, gesturing at the battered
body before us.  "They hurt him – because of me!"

"And how will your wallowing in guilt help?  You wish to make
amends? Then put away your useless emotions and assist me."

I drew in a deep, shuddering breath and tried to let go of the
guilt.  She was right – it wouldn't help Walter now. "What do you
need me to do?"

The Healer gave me a broad smile. "There's a good lad," she said
warmly. "Between the two of us, your man will be right as rain in
no time."

I returned the smile and, for the first time since this nightmare
began, I started to believe.

Chapter Six

Walter

My head hurt. Hell, everything hurt. But there was softness under
me, and softness over me, and a smell of incense in the air, so I
knew that my dream of rescue had not been a dream. I tried to
move and had to bite back a groan at the pain.

"Lie still," a soft, female voice said. Not Maggie. Not Scully.

"Who - ?"

"My name is Anne. You're safe now. Sleep."

I couldn't - not until I was certain. I forced my eyes open and
found that I was in a strange room, dark but cozy. A woman was
wringing out a cloth in a bowl and she smiled as she placed it on
my forehead. The scent of herbs in the air made me sleepy.

"Where am I?"

"Shh," she said softly. "You'll wake him, and this is the first
time he has slept in days."

I didn't really need to know who the 'he' was, but I looked
anyway for the pure joy of seeing him again. Fox was curled up in
a chair that had been pulled over to the bed, and I drank in a
sight that I had never expected to see again in this world. There
were shadows under his eyes and he looked thinner than I
remembered, but he was there.

"Where am I?" I repeated softly, forcing my eyes back toward the
strange woman.

"The Shrine of Artemis. Our sister brought you here for healing.
You need have no fears - you are safe here." I nodded, wincing at
the pain this sent through me.  The Healer picked up a bowl from
the table and sat down on the bed.  My stomach growled as I
caught the aroma of the soup in her hands and she smiled.

"That's a good sign. You need to eat to regain your strength."

The Healer fed me since my hands were bandaged, and I managed to
eat half of the bowl before fatigue overwhelmed me again.  I was
embarrassed by my body's failure but she just gave me a soothing
smile as she settled me back down on the bed.

"It's all right. Sleep is what you need most."

My eyes drifted shut without any encouragement, the last image in
my eyes the sight of my Fox sleeping peacefully.

Fox

I hadn't meant to fall asleep, and I cursed myself roundly when I
learned that Walter had awakened while I slumbered. But still, my
heart was lighter for the knowledge that he had woken – even for
a brief time – in full possession of his senses.

The three days between his rescue and his waking were the longest
in my life.  I had thought that the most painful part was
watching Anne, the Healer, tend Walter's many injuries. However,
although I will never forget the dreadful sound of his shoulder
being popped back into place, that was nothing compared to the
anxious hours spent at his bedside, watching as fever and
delirium claimed him.  When he began to thrash in his sleep, Anne
had to drug him to prevent him from worsening his injuries. I sat
by the bed for many long hours watching him, hardly recognizing
the strong warrior I had come to love in the man that lay in a
drugged stupor. I hated seeing him like this but, even more, I
hated the idea of leaving him for even a moment, as if he might
disappear the minute my back was turned. Scully tried to coax me
away, tried to get me to eat, but I refused any attempt to pry me
from Walter's side.  And, in the end, sheer exhaustion claimed me
and so I missed the moment when he first woke up.

However, the next time his eyes opened, I was there, sitting
beside his bed, reading over the translation of that scroll. I
heard a low moan first and, putting down the parchment, saw his
eyes open.  He blinked as if trying to focus, and looked around
the room before finding me. A smile curved his lips and the dark
eyes warmed. "Fox," he murmured.  "Am I dreaming, or are you
really here?"

"It's not a dream," I said softly, and I knew that I was grinning
from ear to ear.

He tried to raise his bandaged hand toward me, wincing in pain,
and I moved hastily to the side of the bed. "Don't," I scolded
gently. "You've been messed up pretty badly; you need to take it
easy."

He scowled at me.  "This is pay-back for the time you were ill
and I bullied you, isn't it?"  I grinned but wisely said nothing,
and he sighed and let me help him into a sitting position.  I
fussed over him, adjusting the pillows and blankets until he
finally growled at me to leave it be.  I couldn't help it – the
sound of his familiar growl was so welcome, and I was so tired
and scared about the future that I felt like crying.  Instead, I
buried my face in the covers and fought back the tears, swearing
at myself fiercely.  I would not spoil this reunion by weeping
like a lost child.

"Fox?"

I could hear the alarm in his voice and managed to drag up a
smile before I lifted my head.  "It's all right, Master. Just
feeling a little – overwhelmed."

"I know the feeling," he said softly.  "And you don't appear to
be sleeping or eating."

I let myself smile at that. "Yet another reason for you to get
well, Master. See what a disobedient slave I am the moment your
back is turned?"

He chuckled.  "I can see that.  You look like hell."

"You should talk," I shot back at him.  "You need more sleep."

"Very well," Walter said, raising his unbandaged arm.  "Come here
and we shall both sleep."

Longing to be cradled once more in those strong arms filled me,
even as I shook my head.  "Your ribs – your shoulder – "

"This shoulder is fine, and my ribs well-wrapped, although I
doubt your slight weight could harm them." I gestured with my
hand.  "Come, my disobedient one, before I get cross."

I grinned at that and slipped off my shoes, then eased myself
onto the bed at his side. Cautiously, I laid my head on his
shoulder and felt his arm wrap loosely around my body, his
splinted and bandaged hand lying on my hip. It wasn't perfect but
we were both alive and – for the moment – safe, so I decided not
to quibble with the gods.  I sighed contentedly.

Warm lips brushed my forehead and I turned my head up for a brief
kiss.  "Sleep, my heart," he said softly.  "We will worry about
the future when it comes."

Contented, I closed my eyes and went to sleep.




Chapter Seven

Walter

Fox was gone when I next awakened, but his scent lingered on the
pillow and the place where he had slept was still warm, so I knew
that he had been here, that it hadn't been a fever-induced dream
like before. The Healer returned to check on my healing injuries,
then gave me privacy to attend to my body's needs while she
fetched food for me.

I found that I was ravenously hungry and eagerly set into the
thick stew and bread the Healer had brought. It was a little
awkward to eat as my right hand was stiff from the healing burns
and my left still splinted and bandaged, but I managed. Dressing
would be even more difficult – I would certainly need help.

"Where's Fox?" I asked between mouthfuls.

"Speaking with the Mother-Abbess," Healer Anne replied. When I
gave her a startled look, she smiled and said, "Do not worry, he
is not in trouble. They are merely discussing a scroll he was
given."

I frowned, unaware of any scroll that Fox had owned. It must have
been something one of those friends of his had given to him.

"I'd like to speak with the Mother-Abbess myself, if it is
permitted.  To thank her for the hospitality we have received."

"I am certain that can be arranged." The Healer took my empty
bowl and set it aside just as Fox came hurrying into the room.

"You're awake!" he said with a delighted smile on his face,
falling to his knees beside the bed. "How are you feeling,
Master?"

"Much better," I said and, unable to resist that smile, lifted my
hand to caress his cheek. "In fact, I'm ready to get out of this
bed."

Fox gave the healer an anxious and inquiring look and, at her
nod, hurried to fetch my clothes.  I needed all his help in
dressing for I was still weak and my injured hands made me
clumsy.  Fox moved with quick efficiency, pulling on my tunic and
pants, lacing my boots and buckling on my belt, all without
making me feel helpless for which I silently blessed him.  Then
he helped me to my feet and braced my body as I slowly made my
way out of the infirmary into the common room.

Scully was at my other side in an instant, helping me to a chair
by the fire.  "It's good to see you, my lord."

I smiled at her.  "Good to see you, too, Captain.  My thanks for
the rescue."

She shook her head.  "I was only a part of the team.  It was
M'lord Fox's plan, his determination to get you out."

Fox had settled on the floor beside me and I reached out again to
touch him.  "Then I was truly blessed on the day that I saw you."

He shook his head, staring down at the floor. "No, Master. If you
had never seen me, none of this would have happened to you.  You
would be whole and healthy, Sister Melissa and Sgt. Pendrell
would be alive – "

"Fox," I said, quietly but firmly. "You are not to blame for the
actions of others, only your own. It was not by your will that
you were enslaved, nor that Spender became obsessed with you, nor
that Pendrell was killed.  Melissa will be missed, but it was her
decision to aid you."

"I'm tired of people dying for me," he said lowly.

"I know, but don't make their sacrifice be in vain."

He sighed, then turned back towards me, a determined look on his
face.  "I know how we can make Spender pay for their deaths. I
was given a scroll, and Brother Byers translated it. In it are
details of the plans of a group of men to take the rule of the
land for themselves – including Spender and the High Priest."

I gave him a sharp look. "Are you certain?  May I see this
scroll?"

He jumped to his feet and hurried into the chamber I'd just left,
returning with the scroll and another piece of parchment. "This
is the original," he said, handing me the scroll.  "And this is
the translation."

I glanced at the original, not recognizing the language it had
been written in, then picked up the translation. As I read it, my
sense of disbelief grew until, finally, I looked at Fox in
exasperation.

"And you actually believe this?" I asked impatiently.  "I don't
care for either Spender or the High Priest either, but to think
that they might be involved in something of this magnitude – it's
incredible. No, it's unbelievable."

"The scroll was written by one of the priests – " Fox began.

"And how do you know that? Did you speak with this priest?"

Fox hesitated.  "Well, no.  Another man gave it to me."

"And this man – he was someone you know, someone you trust?"

"Um – actually, that was the first time I had met him," Fox
admitted.

Understanding dawned. "This is what you snuck out of the castle
for? What you risked dying for?"

Fox sat back, a stubborn expression on his face. "What about the
coins?  They really are hollow – you can check the ones in your
own pouch and see."

I shrugged.  "A flaw in the mold, nothing else.  It doesn't mean
that the money is being siphoned off – not unless you have
clerical records to prove it."

Fox's eyes shadowed and he said angrily, "My father worked for
the Treasurer's office.  He must have found out about this –
that's why they killed him!"

"You don't know that for certain." I sighed and rubbed my
temples, feeling a headache starting up. "Look, Fox, I know that
you want justice for your family, and we both know that Spender's
up to no good, but this – " I indicated the document on my lap.
"This is way beyond the manipulation of the current crown. This
speaks of – "

"A far reaching conspiracy by shadowy figures within the
government," Fox said forcefully. "A deliberate and calculated
plan to bring down the monarchy, an action that will affect the
lives of every man, woman and child in this kingdom."

"Or the delusion of one man - your 'priest'."

Fox snorted and stood up, snatching up the scrolls. "He's not the
only one who's deluded!"

"Fox!" I said sharply. "I suggest that you sit down and think
about what you're saying."

"Why?" he said, his voice bitter and insolent. "You don't really
want me to think – I'm just here to tend you and warm your bed."

"Enough!" I said sharply. "If you can't control yourself, then I
suggest you go to your room and remain there till you can."

White-faced, Fox stood still for a moment, a look of betrayal on
his face.  "Alexei was right after all," he said quietly, then
turned and left.

The room was deadly quiet and, too late, I remembered our
audience.  I looked over at Scully, expecting that she would
support my position, but found that she was looking at me
reproachfully.

"What?" I asked, irritated.

She seemed to revise what she had been going to say. "Don't you
think you were a little hard on him?"

"Scully, you heard him! He was being insolent – "

"He was defending what he believes is the truth," she corrected,
then sighed.  "Lord Walter, Fox is an intelligent and capable
young man, despite his knack for getting into trouble. I always
thought that you respected that about him, but if you're only
willing to accept it when he agrees with you, then perhaps – "
She drew a deep breath and continued.  "Then perhaps you should
send him away before you break his heart further."

"Of course I respect his intelligence!" I growled.  "But he's so
caught up in his hatred for Spender that he's willing to accept
any thing he hears, no matter how unreliable the source."

"We don't know that the source is unreliable," Scully pointed
out.  "Just unavailable – more than likely dead. Which seems to
point to the validity of some of Fox's conclusions."

"You believe this story, Scully?" I asked incredulously.

She drew another deep breath, then tilted her chin up. "Yes. I
do."

"Without proof?"

"Sometimes, sir, the only proof we have is faith."  She stood up.
"And I have faith in Fox."

She left the room, going in the same direction that Fox had, and
I sat contemplating her words, and then Fox's. I thought back
over what I read with a frown. It was improbable, hell, it was
nigh on fantastical, but – as a tutor of mine had once said –
there was a difference between improbable and impossible.

"Lord Walter?"

I looked up to see the Healer standing impassively in the
doorway.  "Yes?"

"The Mother-Abbess will see you now, if you have the time."

Cordially phrased, but I knew an order when I heard one. I rose
slowly to my feet, nodding my head. "Of course."

She led me through the corridors of the Pilgrims' wing, the only
portion of the Shrine where men were allowed, then gestured for
me to enter a doorway.  "The Mother-Abbess will be with you
shortly."

I entered the room and found myself in a small antechamber,
sparsely furnished as was the rest of the Shrine, although a
cheerful fire blazed in a brazier in the middle of the room. I
warmed myself by it until the sound of a door opening at the
other end of the room made me turn politely as the Mother-Abbess
entered.

"Please, Walter, be seated," she said graciously.  "You are still
recovering from your injuries and must conserve your strength."

I inclined my head in thanks and sat down. "I am grateful for the
care that you and the members of your House have given me," I
said warmly.  "You saved my life."

"You are most welcome, but you are in error – we did not save
your life.  Young Fox did that – we merely assisted in your
recovery."

Guilt pricked me at the mention of Fox's name. It was true – he
had risked his life to save mine, and I felt uncomfortably in his
debt. Perhaps, I thought, there lay some of the reason why I had
been so short with him.  I was accustomed to being his protector,
not the other way around.

"It appears that we have a dilemma to solve, one that will
require both your knowledge of the government and the king, and
our armed support," she said and I looked at her inquiringly.
"The scroll Fox has."

"You believe that nonsense?" I asked incredulously.

The Mother-Abbess studied my face for a long moment. "Walter, how
long has it been since you lived in Town?"

"I was here just two months ago – "

She shook her head.  "No, not to visit, but lived here."

"Several years," I admitted. Even before Sharon's death, I had
avoided the Court, and I had resisted more than token visits ever
since.

"Then you have no idea just how much things have changed."

That caught my attention and I leaned forward, my eyes fixed on
her.  "Changed in what way?"

"Over the past five years, I've seen more good people displaced
and dispossessed than in the previous fifteen since I became
Abbess. The number of widows and orphans petitioning at our gates
has doubled – unusual when the country is at peace.  At the same
time, the number of initiates has dropped, as has visitations by
women of family."

I frowned at that; maidens had always come to the Shrine with
their prayers for love, wives for good fortune and fertility. And
for spirited young women, the Amazons offered an alternative to
traditional marriage and family, and most families were grateful
and proud to see a daughter accepted into the Goddess' service.
"I don't understand what that has to do with this scroll."

"For generations, the worshippers at Temple and Shrine have co-
existed in peace, but lately the Priests have begun to covertly
preach against us, exhorting the men to watch to the rule within
their own families, to keep their womenfolk from forgetting their
place and reaching above themselves."  She grimaced. "And we are
not the only ones they are speaking against – they also preach
about the 'ungodly idle who neither sweat nor till the lands, yet
derive the wealth from it'."

I snorted.  "I bet that went over big at Court."

She gave me a half-grin. "I think that few there know about it –
the King has his own priest who, I am certain, only speaks dulcet
words in his presence, and few courtiers can bestir themselves to
visit the Temple more than once or twice a year.  But do you see
what this is doing?"

I nodded slowly.  "If the people are told not to trust the
nobility and the monarchy, they have no where else to turn except
the Priests."

"Exactly.  And if the priests tell them to tear down the monarchy
– "

I shook my head, frowning. "But Spender and his friends want
control of the government, not the priests."

"I believe that the High Priest does as well. For the moment,
they are working together to bring about the downfall of the
government, but once they accomplish that, they will turn against
each other."

I sat back in my chair, rubbing my chin. "Even if this is true,
what proof do we have?"

"The scroll."

"Flimsy evidence," I objected. "I wouldn't believe it if it was
brought before me, and I doubt that Jeffrey will either."

"Ah, but you are forgetting one thing – how Spender will react
when he sees Fox with the scroll in his possession."

"You are expecting Spender to panic and betray himself?" I asked
and shook my head.  "The man is too cool for that – he has ice
water, not blood, in his veins."

"Spring enough surprises at one time and even he may crack."

"I'd feel better if we had more surprises to spring," I said.

The Mother-Abbess nodded. "Agreed.  I will have my warriors
spread through the city, see what they can learn."  She stood,
effectively calling our audience to an end. "In the meantime, you
need to rest and recover your strength. Shall I have one of my
staff accompany you to your room?"

I smiled at her polite way of asking whether I was capable of
making it to my room without falling on my face, then my smile
faded as I remembered what waited for me in my room. "Fox," I
murmured then, seeing the questioning look on the Mother-Abbess'
face, I said ruefully, "I believe I have some apologizing to do. 
I was rather – forceful in my disbelief of Fox's ideas."

She gave me a stern look at that. "Lord Walter, the Goddess has
gifted you with a great treasure. Be careful that you do not
abuse Her trust in you."

"Yes, Mother-Abbess," I murmured, abashed at the rebuke, no
matter that I had earned it.  "If I may be excused, the sooner I
get this sorted out, the better."

She waved her assent and I bowed my head to her, then hurried out
on my way towards my temporary rooms, not looking forward to the
upcoming talk with Fox but determined to make my peace with him.

Chapter Eight

Fox

I sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, knees drawn up to
my chest and my arms wrapped around them, staring into the flames
without seeing them.  I felt as if I had been torn in two.  On
the one hand, I was appalled that I had had the effrontery to
talk to Lord Walter like that – I was a slave, and he would be
well within his rights to beat me senseless.  On the other hand,
I was certain that I was right and I was bitterly disappointed
that the man wouldn't even listen to me.  Scully had followed me,
offering reassurance and support.  I was grateful that someone
believed me, I suppose, but it wasn't enough.

There was a noise in the doorway behind me and I spoke without
looking up.  "Scully, I'm fine.  I don't need you to watch over
me."

"It's not Scully," said a gruff voice and I swung around, wide-
eyed, to see Lord Walter standing there. For a moment, we looked
at each other, and then he closed the door and leaned against it.
"Fox – "

I shifted to my knees and bent forward to rest my forehead on the
floor.  "I am sorry, Master.  It was not my place to speak to you
like that."  I swallowed hard.  "I didn’t bring your strap with
me.  Shall I fetch a whip?"

"No," I heard his voice say with a quiet sigh, then I heard him
move slowly across the room to sit on the bed. My heart ached as
I heard the gasp he made as he sat down and cursed myself again
for forcing his hand when he wasn't fully recovered. "Fox, come
here."  I lifted my head and started to crawl over to him. "On
your feet, please."

The softness of his voice and the 'please' at the end caught my
attention.  I looked up to see him looking at me with a penitent
look on his face and quickly got up, making my way over to him.
Before I could sink to the floor next to the bed, he grasped my
hand and pulled me to sit on the bed facing him.

"Fox, I owe you an apology." I opened my mouth to protest and he
laid a finger on my lips. "Let me finish, please.  No matter how
– how improbable the situation appeared, I should have allowed
you to finish speaking, and I should have listened to you with an
open mind. I went into this whole discussion unwilling to listen
because – "

"Because I'm a slave," I said softly.

"No," he said firmly. "Because I am in your debt, and that
doesn't sit well with me. And not because you are a slave but
because I am supposed to be protecting you, not the other way
around.  Secondly, if I was going to argue the matter with you, I
should have had the courtesy to do so in private."

I know that my eyes went round at that. One didn't treat slaves
as if they had any pride to be hurt although, looking back on the
matter, I was aware that Walter had always treated me with
respect, never punishing me in public.  A feeling of warmth
filled me; it was the way one would treat a lover, a spouse.

"It is I who is indebted to you," I said warmly.  "You saved my
life the day you bought me, and you have always treated me well,
even when I didn't deserve it."

"Then you forgive me?" he asked, lifting his right hand to gently
stroke my cheek.

"Nothing to forgive," I began but he shook his head.

"You are too generous, Fox, and you will make me a tyrant if you
let me treat you thus without making amends."

I smiled and turned my face into his hand, nuzzling it. "Very
well, since you insist, I do forgive you." I pressed a kiss
against his poor burned palm, an injury he had suffered trying to
protect me.  I thought of the last time this hand had touched my
body, five long weeks earlier, and longing to have him touch me
again filled me. I shifted to my knees on the bed, smiling
wickedly at him. "And I know just how you can make amends."

He chuckled at that and said, ruefully, "You may be expecting too
much from an old injured warhorse."

I leaned over to kiss him, gently and tenderly. "Let me do all
the work," I said softly, and I let my lips trail down to nuzzle
his neck.

"I don't think the Sisters would approve," he began but the moan
that followed belied his protest.

"Then they don't have to watch."

I carefully eased off his tunic, checking to make sure that his
ribs were still wrapped well, and eased him down onto his back. I
trailed kisses over his healing flesh above and below the
bandages, teasing and distracting him as I unlaced his leggings
and pushed them down to the tops of his boots.  He tugged at my
tunic and I readily disposed of it, carefully leaning down to
kiss him while my hand found his stiffening erection and began
stroking it slowly. He moaned into the kiss, something that
sounded like my name and a plea, and I felt my body tighten even
more in response.  It had been too long, and neither of us was
going to last long, but I didn't want it to happen like this. I
wanted him to be inside me, where he belonged.

My soft shoes and pants were quickly disposed of, the passage
slicked with the cream the Healer had left for his hand, and then
I was easing myself down on his proudly jutting cock. I was tight
after long weeks of enforced celibacy and I had to pause several
times to catch my breath, but at last my ass was resting on his
thighs, his full length buried deep inside me. And it was good,
so good, this burning pleasure, and I never wanted it to end…

I leaned over again, kissing him thoroughly as I began to slowly
move on his cock.  His hands automatically went to my hips to
steady me, and my heart ached at the feel of the splinted hand on
one side and the puckered skin on the other. But I had no time
for regrets because the need in me was building, a need that was
too intense to be ignored.  I sat up again, moving faster and
faster, letting my head drop back and my back arch as I felt my
body race towards release. And Walter was right there with me,
his moans telling me that he was close as well.

"Fox!" he cried out, his whole body shuddering with release.
"Beloved!"

I gasped and then I was coming, so hard and so intense that I was
afraid I would pass out and crash down on poor Walter's chest.
But somehow I managed to retain enough of my sanity to hold
myself together long enough to flop to one side of my master. I
lay there for a long time, trying to breathe and regain my wits,
but all my thoughts seemed to circle around one thing – Walter
had called me 'beloved'.

He chuckled softly and I lifted my head to see what had amused
him.  "I've still got my boots on, and my leggings are around my
ankles."

I grinned and leaned over to kiss him. "Debauched is a very good
look for you," I said, then added wickedly, "and you can't run
away from me so fast like this."

Walter snorted.  "As if I'd be fool enough to do that – although
perhaps I should consider keeping you hobbled like this."

"Any time, Master," I said cheekily, and set about freeing him
from boots and pants, then pulled the blanket up over him. I
would have slipped out of the bed to let him rest but he caught
my wrist and tugged me to him, so I readily settled down along
his injured side. He was already asleep so he didn't notice when
I kissed his shoulder and murmured, "I love you, too, Master."

Walter

The next few days passed uneventfully as I continued to recover
from my injuries under Fox's watchful care. Word from the outside
was grim – in the wake of my escape, the Town had been searched
from top to bottom and more had been arrested and charged with
Treason as well.  Our little group of conspirators grew as the
Brothers abandoned their shop and took sanctuary within just
hours before the soldiers placed a guard around the Shrine.

The Sisters didn't seem perturbed by the siege, assuring me that
they were stocked with foodstuffs and had their own well. And it
was certain that no king in his right mind would attack a Shrine;
only one had done so in known history and, although he had
succeeded in his attack and destroyed the Sisterhood in his
kingdom, it had started a Blood war. Within six months, his
kingdom had been leveled by the combined Sisterhoods from other
kingdoms, his pleas for assistance from other rulers falling on
deaf ears – no one else wanted to risk the Amazon wrath.

Still, it worried me enough that I had Scully send a message to
Beauforte, ordering Lamana to assemble as many of my soldiers as
he could and bring them here quickly.  Even now, they were
encamped outside the gates of the city, not in siege but waiting
for my orders.  So we were rather comfortably settled before the
fire one morning, discussing and discarding plans, when the
Mother-Abbess entered, a grim look on her face.

"What is wrong?" I asked.

"Whatever we are going to do, we need to do it now," she replied.
"Word from the palace is that there is to be a Full Court called
this afternoon."

"For what reason?"

"To discuss the Succession. A majority of Lords of the Court has
declared that the Crown Prince is unfit to rule the kingdom in
the event of the king's death."

I frowned at that.  "He's just a boy – what reason could they
possibly give?"

The Mother-Abbess drew a deep breath and, looking at Fox, said,
"Spender and his cohorts claim that last winter the boy was
ensorcelled by a demon.  They say that his health and his mind
have weakened, that he talks to spirits and knows things that he
shouldn't.  Spender wants him put aside and a new heir declared –
there is a son of his late majesty's sister who stands next
nearest."

I snorted.  "Stands is a dubious term.  Felix hasn't been sober
in years."

"The High Priest, on the other hand, wants the Prince turned over
to them.  He believes that they can cure him of this affliction
and, in the meantime, will stand as Regent in his stead, should
something happen to the king."

I felt a prickling over my skin and looked over at Fox. "By the
gods, you were right.  Either way, Jeffrey will soon be dead and
Gibson not long after him."

"There is already death in that household," the Mother-Abbess
said.

"My sister-in-law?"

She nodded.  "She took to her bed two days ago with a sickness
that none has seen before, writhing and screaming in agony before
succumbing to a coma, as has one of her maids tending her.  She
died this morning. The Temple Healer called in to treat her has
declared that her body, the maid's, and all her possessions must
be burned to prevent it from spreading, however my informant
thinks that there is no sickness, that she was poisoned and this
is but to cover it up."

I covered my eyes with my hand; there had been no love lost
between me and Diana, but still it sickened me to think of her
meeting such a horrible ending.  Then I drew a deep breath and
stood up.

"It is starting, and if we do not move quickly, it will be too
late."

Scully nodded.  "What do you want to do, my lord?"

"Send a message to Lamana and have him assemble my men to meet us
at the palace gates in two hours."

She nodded and hurried off to compose a message and send it by
the secured carrier they had established, and I turned to the
Mother-Abbess.  "We will need to join our forces."

"All my warriors are at your command, Lord Walter," she said
formally, but I shook my head.

"I would rather they were under your command. You know how best
to utilize them." I held out my right arm.  "We march as allies."

She grasped my arm in a warrior's salute. "And may the gods give
us justice."

She went off to assemble her own troops and I turned to Fox. "I
will need my armor."

He nodded, leading the way to our bedchamber. "Jerry sent it here
two days ago, and I have readied it." He was quiet as he helped
me dress and arm myself, and I could see the fear lurking in his
eyes.

I caressed his cheek and said, quietly, "I want you to stay
here."

He shook his head, his face set in the stubborn look I knew so
well.  "No. You need me – need what I know about their plans."

"It'll be safer – "

"Master, if we fail, no place will be safe," he said calmly. "I'd
rather die at your side than live as a slave without you."

I sighed.  "You are stubborn, Fox, but you are right." I kissed
him, knowing that it might be for the last time, and picked up my
cloak.  "Let's go."

The Mother-Abbess was waiting in the assembly room, along with an
entire company of her warriors.  I saw at a glance that each of
them wore the red plume on their helmets and a red armband, and I
gave the Mother a sharp, respectful look. The Amazons were
indicating that they were pursuing a Blood Debt, avenging the
murder of their Sister, something that should frighten anyone
facing them today for when fighting for Blood, no quarter was
given. It would more than make up for the fact that, even with
the addition of Scully and my troops, we would be outmatched in
numbers if my brother called in all his men.

I was surprised to see one of Fox's friends, Brother Byers, among
them and Fox must have noticed my surprise. "They may not believe
us about the scroll, but Byers was a priest in the Temple before
he joined the Brothers, and he knows who wrote it. The rest of
the Brotherhood will be watching the Temple and the Palace in
case one of the traitors tries to escape."

I nodded.  "Very well, then.  Let's go."

Stepping outside the Shrine, we saw the soldiers stationed out
there fall back at the sight of the Amazons in their battle gear.
We let them flee, knowing that they would alert the palace guard
but also counting on them to start a panic among the guards.
Ranks were quickly formed with the two unarmed men in the middle
under Scully's protection while I took my place beside the
Mother-Abbess at the head. Then the order was given and we began
the march on the Palace.

Chapter Nine

Walter

The streets emptied before us, people scurrying into doorways or
down side streets to get out of our way, but we met no challenge
until we reached the gates.  There, sitting on his horse before
the gates, was my old friend and comrade Reggie, along with his
company of house guards.  Lamana was there as well, warily
watching Sir Reggie. I gestured for the company to stop, mounted
the destrier that Lamana had brought for me, and rode a step
forward to meet Reggie.

"Hello, Walter," Reggie said genially, looking over the assembled
men and Amazons behind me. "Fine day for fighting, isn't it?"

"Reggie," I said quietly. "I don't want to fight you."

He chuckled.  "Oh, I'm not here to fight you, Walter. I'm here to
join you."

I blinked at him.  "Reggie, if we lose today, you will lose
everything – lands, your life."

Reggie shrugged.  "Walter, anyone with eyes can see that the
kingdom is going to hell between Spender and the High Priest.
Besides, your friendship has been the only thing of value to me
since my wife passed.  If I die, then I die."  Then he grinned.
"But it'll be a hell of a way to go!"

I smiled back at him and turned back to the company, signaling
for them to move out.  Reggie wheeled his horse and took his
place on my other side, his company merging with my own.

The palace guard was assembled on the other side of the gate and,
although the man at their head – one I recognized as Spender's
captain, looked resolute, I could see the disquiet among the men
facing us. With a little judicious management, at least part of
their forces could be routed.

I rode a few paces forward, raising my voice to be heard. "Most
of you men know me – many of you have served with me, as have
your fathers and brothers.  You know that I do not seek glory for
myself." Silence had fallen across the courtyard. "No matter what
you have been told, I am not the enemy. Your true enemy – the
enemy of our entire kingdom - is Earl Spender, and even as I
speak, the lives of your King and Prince are in jeopardy! I ask
you now to throw down your swords and step aside or, if you will,
to join me in going to their aid."

There was murmuring among the troops facing us and I saw many a
sword lowered.  Their captain said, sharply, "Don't listen to
him, men! The Earl says that he's been ensorcelled, like the
Prince."

"The Earl lies!" the Mother-Abbess said, stepping forward so that
all could see her.  "He has caused the blood of our Sister to be
spilled on the steps of the Shrine itself, and the Goddess will
see that he pays with his own blood, as will the assassin. If you
come between the Sisterhood and our Prey, your life will also be
forfeit!"

Faces paled before us and even the captain seemed to hesitate
before hardening his face and giving the order to attack. My
combined forces moved to meet them, an honor guard headed by
Scully remaining back to guard Fox and Brother Byers, and the
sound of swords clashing rang through the courtyard.  I was
heartened to see that many of the palace guards had heeded my
words, tossing aside their swords and surrendering.  The rest
fought as best they could but were no match for the vengeful
Sisters and my better-trained troops, and we steadily made our
way to the palace itself.

"Lamana, hold the grounds!" I ordered, "Scully, you're with me." 
A glance exchanged with both Reggie and the Mother-Abbess
confirmed that they were coming with me as well.  Scully's elite
team safeguarded Fox and Byers through the fighting, and I
noticed that several Amazons and part of Reggie's troop was with
us as well. A final look over the rest of the courtyard assured
me that Lamana and Reggie's lieutenant would be able to defend
our back.

We strode rapidly through the halls towards the Throne Room,
watching as servants and courtiers fled before us, encountering
little resistance till we reached the doors to the room. Spender
had obviously counted on his men being able to hold us off, and I
smiled grimly as I thought of the first surprise that he would be
getting.

The Captain of the King's Guard stood between us and the Throne
room, and I saw his eyes widen as he saw us sweeping down on him.
He was well known to me, having been one of the men I had trained
in the field, one of the best.

"Out of the way, man – the King is in peril!" I barked as we
approached and, out of habit, he obeyed me, lowering his sword.

"My lord?" he asked doubtfully, torn between loyalties.  On
impulse, I reversed my sword and held the hilt out to him.

"My word of honor," I said, meeting his eyes. "Earl Spender is
the threat to the king, not I, and I've come to free him and the
Prince."

A wide smile lit his face and he said, fervently, "Thank the
Gods!  Take back your sword, Lord Walter – I think you'll have
need of it." He gestured to his men on either side of the doors.
"Open them and stand guard outside. Let no one leave here without
my word."

The doors swung open before us and we marched into the Throne
room.  The tableau before us froze in place, Spender and the High
Priest facing each other from separate sides of the dais, with my
brother and nephew between them. All heads had turned to see what
was causing the disturbance, and I couldn't help grinning at the
stunned look that crossed Spender's face

Fox

Jeffrey stared at Walter across the expanse that separated us,
his eyes wide.  "Walter? Have you come in truth now to kill me?"

"I have come to save you – brother," Lord Walter said, and I
could hear a trace of bitterness in his voice. "Even though you
failed to save me."

His face flushed at that and I could see his hands tighten on the
prince's shoulder.  I looked at Gibson and was appalled at the
change in the boy. Gone was the endearingly shy boy with the
sweet smile I remembered from last winter.  In his place was a
thin and pale child, fear and terror etched on his face. He
looked like a penitent instead of a prince, his body clothed in a
rough white gown and his hair shorn close to his head.

"Gibson," I said hoarsely. "Are you all right?"

His thin face lit up at the sight of me, warming my heart. "Fox?"
he breathed.  "Is it really you?"

"There!" shouted the High Priest. "What more proof do you need?
The child knows the Demon that enslaved him, calls his name."

"Of course he calls Fox's name," Walter said contemptuously. "Fox
was probably the last one to show Gibson any kindness."

"Walter, what are you doing here?" the King asked, and his voice
seemed weary.  His face looked drawn and tired, and I remembered
how Alexei had said that it would destroy the king to see his
brother accused of treason. It appeared that the other slave had
been right. That, compiled and compounded with the threat to his
son and lineage, and the death of his Queen must be nearly
breaking the man. My eyes drifted past him briefly to take in the
sight of the other throne draped in black, and I felt a twinge of
sorrow for him.

"If you will not defend your son and kingdom, then I will,"
Walter said, his voice still angry. "I have brought proof of a
conspiracy against the Throne, reaching all the way back to our
father's time.  Proof that he was murdered at the hands of
Spender's associates. Proof that the High Priest has been funding
a secret army to depose you."

Spender gave a short, ugly laugh. "You don't frighten us, Lord
Walter. Where is this proof you speak of?  I don't think it
exists."

"It exists," I said, stepping forward with the scroll in my hand.
"One of the priests involved in your conspiracy made a record of
everything, in case something happened to him.  Does the name
Iugulus Internus mean anything to you?"

I watched with satisfaction as both Spender and the High Priest
paled.  "I thought that it would.  You were afraid that he had
talked to my father but you couldn't be sure, so you had to kill
both of them.  You killed Iugulus, but you didn't know that he
had left a record, did you?  And he left instructions that it was
to be delivered to me in case of his death or disappearance."

"Let me see that," the King said imperiously and, after a look at
Walter, I walked forward to hand him the scroll. Once the King
released Gibson, the boy hurtled forward and wrapped his arms
around me, burying his face in my tunic.

"Fox," he whispered. "I'm so scared."  He was shaking so badly
that I thought he might collapse any moment.

"It's all right," I said softly, sitting down right there on the
steps of the dais and pulled Gibson into my lap. "You don't need
to be scared anymore. We're here, and your uncle won't let
anything happen to you."

His arms tightened around me. "You won't leave me, will you?" he
begged, and I reassured him, crooning some sort of nonsense to
him that seemed to sink in past the fear. He sighed deeply, as if
he had been shallow breathing for days, and snuggled in closer to
me.  Over my head, the four men were arguing but I had lost the
thread of the argument and besides, I had my hands full at the
moment. Walter would take care of the rest.

Chapter Ten

Walter

I could have wished that Fox had picked a more out of the way
place to settle with Gibson, but he seemed fully occupied with
reassuring the boy, and I had other matters to attend to. Jeffrey
was reading the scroll with a frown, picking out a phrase here
and there from his early schooling in the Temple before he looked
up impatiently.

"I can't make heads or tails of this," he said.

"Allow me to translate, Majesty," the High Priest said, stepping
forward.

"No," Jeffrey said. "I don't trust you."  He glanced downward at
his son, resting in Fox's lap, then looked around the room, his
eyes falling on Brother Byers.  "You – you don’t look like a
priest."

Byers bowed.  "No, Majesty.  I am a Brother of the Order of the
Single Arrow."

Jeffrey blinked at that. "Oh.  Well, you read Welsh, don't you?
Come here and read this to me."

Byers bowed again and stepped forward, taking the scroll and
starting to translate aloud.  As the words began confirming what
I had said, Jeffrey's head snapped up and he glared at the High
Priest. "So – you've been siphoning off money from the Treasury
to fund your personal army?  And you dared to say that my son was
unfit to be king, to treat him like this! Captain!"

The Captain of the Guards stepped forward from his place beside
Scully.  "Yes, Majesty?"

"Arrest this man!" The High Priest began protesting, but Jeffrey
cut him off sharply. "Don't worry – I'm sure you'll have plenty
of company in your cell before your execution.  The entire Temple
will no doubt have to be purged." His eyes turned to the Mother-
Abbess. "I have no knowledge of religious matters – would you and
the Sisters take on this task?  Examine the Temple documents,
question the priests, see what can be salvaged. The people need
to have faith in their priests restored."

"Of course, Majesty," the Mother-Abbess said, bowing her head to
him.

"And as for you," Jeffrey said, turning his head towards Spender.
"I have no doubt that the rest of that document will prove very
enlightening." His mouth turned down bitterly.  "I trusted you,
put you at my right hand, and this is how you repaid me?"

Spender had managed to recover his equilibrium and even had the
effrontery to light one of those damned tobacco sticks of his. "I
think that you will find no mention of me in that document."

"But you'll find plenty of others in his rooms and on his
estate," said a new voice from the window and we swung around to
see the slave, Alexei, standing in the opening. He jumped down
lightly on the floor, sending an insolent look towards his former
master as he said softly, "You should have killed me instead of
giving me away."

Spender's mouth tightened. "A mistake I shall remedy at the first
opportunity."

Alexei laughed shortly, then turned back to the King. "In his
rooms here in the palace, there is a hidden drawer in the bottom
of the cupboard in the bedroom.  There you will find records of
those in his employ – either purchased or blackmailed – as well
as those he's had killed.  As well as the disposition of his
enemies and their families."

I saw Fox's head jerk up at that and he glared at Spender.
"Where's my sister, you bastard?" he demanded.

"Later, Fox," I said sharply.

Alexei continued.  "I expect that you'll even find the details on
the poison he gave the Queen."

There was an audible gasp from the Court at that and Jeffrey's
eyes hardened as he glared at Spender. "A mistake that you will
pay for with your life."

Spender smiled coldly and dropped his tobacco stick on the floor.
"You first."

He moved quickly, before anyone could stop him, and I watched in
horror as he plunged a knife into my brother's chest. Jeffrey
gasped and fell backward, Alexei diving to catch him before he
hit the floor.  I knocked Spender to the ground, pinning him in
place with the point of the sword at his throat as I kicked the
knife away.

"Guards!" I shouted, and two men hurried forward to haul Spender
to his feet and bind his hands together behind his back. "Take
him below."

I turned back to the two pairs on the dais. Alexei was holding my
brother across his lap as he pressed a cloth against the wound,
while Fox was shielding the still-dazed prince from the sight.  I
met my slave's eyes and said quietly, "I think it would be better
if he was taken out of here."

"I'll take him to his room and get him settled. If I can have
Scully's help – "

I nodded.  "I'll meet you back in my rooms here in the palace
when I'm free – don't go back to the Shrine."  Fox nodded and
Scully helped Fox rise with his precious burden, then I turned my
attention back to my brother, dropping to my knee beside him.

"How is he?" I asked Alexei.

"He can hear you and answer for himself," Jeffrey said crossly.

I nearly chuckled at that and raised the cloth briefly to take a
look.  The wound was deep but not wide, fortunately on his right
side or it would have punctured his heart. Barring infection, he
would heal.

I looked up and met Alexei's eyes, seeing the deep grief in them,
and was startled.  I hadn't known that Alexei and Jeffrey had
gotten involved, but the depth of this grief seemed to be
extreme.  "What?" I asked.  Silently, he mouthed the word
"poison" and my heart fell into my boots. "No."

"Walter?" Jeffrey said weakly.

I looked down at him and managed a smile. "Rest, Jeffrey. The
Healers will take care of you."  And where were the blasted
healers, anyways?

"I'll kill him," Alexei muttered, tears running unheeded down his
cheeks and dropping onto Jeffrey's chest. "I swear it." He
started to get up, murder in his eyes.

"No," Jeffrey said, catching hold of Alexei's tunic.  "Live – and
be free, Alexei.  And remember me kindly."

Alexei's eyes widened as the word of his King set him free and he
nodded silently.  The Healers arrived with a litter and Jeffrey
was quickly borne towards his chambers. I followed, pausing
briefly to confer with Reggie and get him to fetch the papers
Alexei had spoken of before one of the conspirators disappeared
with them.  But before I left the room, I looked back towards the
dais where Alexei still knelt, his hands stained with Jeffrey's
blood.  He looked up and met my eyes, his own carefully blank,
but I wasn't fooled. I saw the hardness at the back of those eyes
and didn't give much for Spender's chances of surviving to face
trial. And, at this moment, I couldn't think a more just
punishment for that evil man.

Fox

Gibson's rooms were cold and empty as we entered them, and Scully
set off to find the servants and order a bath while I sat the boy
down on the bed and built a fire in the fireplace. Once a cheery
blaze burned there, I coaxed Gibson to join me sitting before it,
and he settled down so close to me that I thought he was going to
be in my lap again.

I wrapped my arm around him, stroking his poor shorn head, and
said, "Are you all right?"

"I suppose so," he said in a faint voice. "They're – they're not
coming back for me, are they?"

"No," I said reassuringly. "They'd have to get through me, and
your uncle, and Captain Scully first.  And Scully scares me half
to death, so they haven't got a chance."

He made a sound that might have been a laugh. "Good."

"Can you tell me what happened?" I asked softly.

He shrugged.  "They said that a Demon had put a spell on me, and
that they had to do this to cure me."  He looked up at me
sideways.  "Are you really a demon, Fox?"

I laughed at that and ruffled his head. "No.  I promise you that
I'm just a normal person, just like you."

"Oh."  He sounded disappointed and I laughed again.

"Sorry to disappoint," I said teasingly.

He shrugged.  "'S-okay.  I like you anyways."

I laughed even louder at that. "I like you, too."

Gibson sat up, looking solemn. "We understand each other better
than anyone, like kindred spirits."  His eyes looked wistful, as
if he was afraid of pressing too much, and my heart ached. How
could a seven-year-old boy come to be so filled with doubts of
his own self-worth.  Then I snorted – I knew exactly how that
could happen. Kindred spirits, indeed.

"Of course we are," I said firmly.

He settled back against me with a dreamy sigh. "I'm glad you're
with Uncle Walter. I wish I could be with you, too."

"Your father would miss you."

He shrugged, another wistful look on his face. "I love my father,
but he's so busy – he never has time for me. And he's always so
sad…"

I hugged him tightly. "I promise you that I'll talk to your uncle
about spending more time with you.  Remember how you said you
used to visit him in the spring?  Well, it's almost spring now,
and I'm sure that your father will need time to recover from his
injury, so I'll see if you can come with us when we leave."

"Really?" Gibson said, in the voice of a child who is accustomed
to hearing promises that were never kept.

"Really."  That seemed to reassure him and he settled quietly
against me.

The bath arrived and between me and Scully and the servants, we
got Gibson washed and dressed in a bed gown, then tucked into a
warmed bed.  I conferred with Scully briefly, then leaned over to
brush a kiss over Gibson's forehead.

"I've got to go check on your uncle now, see how your father is
doing, but Captain Scully's going to sit right here by the
fireplace and make sure you're safe, all right?" He nodded
sleepily and I smiled.  "Good boy."

The hallways were oddly silent as I moved through them back
towards the older part of the castle. I saw small clumps of
people talking in hushed voices as I passed but the avidly
curious looks they gave me didn't make me want to linger.
Finally, just before I reached the staircase to our rooms, I ran
into Sir Reginald.

"Fox," he said, pausing for a moment. "The prince is settled?"

I nodded.  "Scully is guarding him.  The king?"

His face grew solemn. "Not expected to live, I'm afraid. Walter's
with him now."

I felt numb.  "He'll need me – "

"Later, lad," Reggie said in a kind but gruff tone.  "Best wait
in his rooms."

I nodded again and turned towards the stairs. "Lamana and our
men?  Are they okay?"

"We had some casualties, and your Lamana was slightly wounded,
but he'll be fine."  He hurried off and I slowly climbed the
stairs, feeling weary in mind and body.

"Lord Fox?" a voice asked hesitantly behind me and I turned.

"Just Fox," I said tiredly, looking at the clerk who was staring
at me with rabid curiosity. In another time and place, this would
have been me. I was amazed to find that the thought of what I had
lost no longer hurt so badly.

"Not anymore," he said cheekily, then thrust some scrolls at me
before scurrying away.  I looked down at the parchments,
bewildered, and thought that they must have something to do with
Lord Walter.  I would deal with this later.

I entered Lord Walter's chambers and found them dark and empty,
although a fire had been laid out in the grate. I lit it and
coaxed it into a warm blaze and debated about lighting some
candles but I was too tired to do any more. I collapsed into
Walter's chair gratefully and glanced over at the scrolls I had
set on the table.  Sighing, I decided I should see what they said
so that my master would be prepared for whatever disaster had now
befallen us.  I picked up the first one, noticing as I did that
it was written in a flowing handwriting, but not a clerk's normal
style. Dropping my eyes down to the signature, I felt stunned. It
was from the King.

Fox, I know that it is too late to make full restitution to you
and your family for the pain that you have suffered, but I hope
that I can make some amends.  First, the pardon of your father
and the restoration of your freedom. Second, a financial
recompense for all that you have suffered. And third – that which
I think you will value most – the location of your younger
sister.  Spender's papers state that she was taken to the Isle of
Maidens, where she has lived in their care for the past nine
months.  I only hope that you can forgive me for having been a
blind pawn in their games – believe that I am paying dearly now
for my folly. Jeffrey, Rex.

I stared at the letter, then at the documents that came with it,
stunned.  Free. I was free.  And Samantha was safe and well. I
stood and headed towards the door, calculating in my mind how
long it would take me to ride to the Isle to get her.  A day at
most, and then another day to bring her home –

Home.

I stopped on the threshold of the door, realizing that home no
longer meant the townhouse that I had grown up in. Home meant
Beauforte, and Walter.

I returned to the chair, feeling my legs tremble. Not any longer,
I thought numbly.  I knew that Walter loved me, that he enjoyed
my company and my body, but that was when I had been a slave.
Now that I was a freeman again, I had no place in his bed – men
in his position took slaves or consorts from their same station
in life to their beds, not common Clerks from a middle-class
family.  I should leave, I thought numbly, and save myself the
further humiliation of being kindly but firmly sent away.  He
would tell me that it was for the best, arrange for me to go back
to University, ensure that there was some sort of position for me
when I graduated, something that kept me far away from him.

And my heart began to break.

Chapter Eleven

Walter

I paced in the hallway outside my brother's chamber for what
seemed like hours, briefly conferring with Reggie when he brought
Spender's documents, but alone for the most part. Clerks and
pages ran in and out of the chamber till I wondered how Jeffrey
could possibly be healing in that bedlam.  And he would heal –
Alexei must have been wrong – I'd had far worse injuries in the
field –

And through it all I paced and worried and wished that Fox was
here with me to keep me company while I did so.

I looked up when the Healer called my name, hurrying to the door.
At my inquiring look, he shook his head gravely. "I'm sorry, my
lord. His lung was punctured and the weapon was indeed poisoned.
He has a few hours at most."

I swallowed hard.  "Does he know?"

"Yes. He wants to see you." He opened the door and gestured for
me to enter.

Jeffrey was in bed, propped up slightly with pillows, his breath
sounding harsh. He held out his hand and I moved to take it,
sitting on the side of the bed.

"Are you in pain, Jeffy?"

He smiled at the nursery-name and shook his head, speaking slowly
between breaths. "I seem to be…numb all over. The Healer
says…there will be little pain…for which I am…grateful."

"Lord Spender is dead. One of the guards says he was pushed down
a flight of stairs on his way to the prison, and his former slave
appears to be missing."

A faint smile curved Jeffrey's face. "Alexei.." he murmured, then
sighed. He fixed his eyes on me, his face dark and sad. "I
shouldn't have…trusted Spender."

He gestured weakly towards the clerks busily working at a table
nearby, penning the dying king's last orders. "I've named
you…Lord Protector…of the kingdom. You'll …keep the throne
safe…for my son…like you did for me…won't you…Walter?" His tone
was pleading, uncertain.

I bent my head and kissed his hand. "I swear on my sacred honor.
I will protect Gibson and the kingdom with my life if necessary,
Jeff."

He drew in a breath, and I sensed that he had matters to get off
his conscience before he could die in peace. "Fox…I
have…exonerated his father…restored his name. He is a…free man
again."

I felt numb. Free. Fox was free, and he would leave me. I dropped
my head to the bed.  "Jeff -"

"And I found…his sister."

I looked up at that. "Samantha? You know where she is?"

"Spender had her sent…to the Sacred Isle…safe there…but if she
decides…not to take…the Veil…I want you…to make sure…there is a
…dowry."  His breathing was getting worse and I ached for every
painful breath he drew.

I nodded. "I swear."

"Good." His eyes drifted shut, and I was suddenly terrified at
the thought of losing him.

"Jeff!"

His eyes fluttered open and I could see the weariness in his eyes
and the shadow of death on his face. "Walter…let me…go."

"I can't, Jeffy. I love you."

"Better…this way. I'm not…loyal like you. I would…betray you
again…out of jealousy…" He reached up to stroke my cheek, tears
bright in his eyes, but there was a half-smile on his face, a
trace of the mischievous boy that I had loved. "Gave
away…Beauforte…"

"What?"

"Dowry…for the best…you'll see," he whispered. His hand tightened
in the front of my tunic as he pulled himself close to me, and I
saw a spasm of pain cross his face. Hoarsely, he said, "Take care
of…my son. Teach him…to be…good man…Swear."

"I swear."

He eased back onto the bed although he didn't release my tunic,
and his breathing seemed to be harsher. "Fox…good man…" he said,
his mind seeming to drift with random thoughts. "Take care…" he
murmured, his eyes drifting shut. "Love…"

"I will, Jeff. I swear." His hand relaxed, sliding back toward
the bed. "Jeff? Jeffy?" There was no answer and I knew that he
was gone. And I put my head down on the bed beside his hand and
cried for the little brother that I had loved.

************

My chamber was in total darkness except for a fire burning on the
grate when I entered, and there was a feeling of emptiness about
it that told me that I was alone. As I would be from now on. Fox
was free and he was gone, probably on his way to the Isle of
Maidens to bring his sister home. And then he would go back to
the University to take up the threads of a life that had been
interrupted by Spender's scheming. The next time I would see him
would be in a year or two from now, once he became a Clerk. We
would run into each other somewhere in the Court; he would flush
and avoid my eyes and I would say something cold and stupid, and
we would be careful to avoid each other after that…

My heart ached and my throat seemed to have closed. No. I
couldn't bear that. I would find some appointment away from Court
for him, make sure it was waiting for him when he graduated so
that we would never have to meet again. And I was suddenly glad
that Jeffrey had bestowed Beauforte on someone else. I didn't
think I could bear to walk through those rooms again, hear the
echo of his laughter, feel his ghostly presence in my bed. It was
going to be hard enough to do that here, where we had very few
memories.

I just wished that I had told him - just once - that I loved him.

There was a sudden movement by the fire and I swung around,
startled, my hand on my scabbard.

"Who's there?"

"It's just me." A slender, ghostly figure unfolded itself from
the chair in front of the fire. "I was waiting for you to get
back before I - " There was a choked sound. "Is he - ?"

"Yes. He died in my arms an hour ago."

"I'm sorry. I know you loved him." The voice was sincere, and I
marveled at the generosity of the man who could forgive someone
who had been Spender's willing pawn in his destruction. "And, in
the end, he tried to do the right thing."

"Yes." Silence stretched between us. "He set you free."

"Yes. His Clerk brought me the document for that." I heard the
rustle of parchment in his hands. "As well as the gift to
compensate me for what I have suffered." There was a soft snort
at that, the sound of the papers landing on the table, a glimpse
of a tight face in the firelight. "I don't want it."

"Fox - you deserve it - "

"I don't want it!" His voice was low with barely contained
passion, and then he was moving. He's leaving me, I thought
numbly, and my hand involuntarily reached out to try to stop him
before he could get to the door.

"Fox - "

But he wasn't heading for the door. He flung himself at my feet,
arms going around my knees and his face pressed against my
thighs. "Please - let me stay with you. If you don't want me in
your bed anymore, just let me stay near you. I'll do anything you
want - scrub floors, tend the horses, I don't care. Just let me
stay."

My throat was burning, my hands ached to touch him, and I could
barely croak the words, "Fox, you're free - you have your life
back -"

"I don't want to be free! I want you!" He was up again, moving
away. Before I could move, he had snatched the parchments, looked
at them, and threw one on the fire. "There -I've destroyed it."

Wearily, I said, "It doesn't matter. The decree has been
registered in the books. Besides, now that I'm the Lord
Protector, I can issue the same order."

There was a sobbing breath. "So that's why - " He crossed the
room to fling the other parchment at me. "Take it back! I don't
want your property - I don't need to be compensated for
'damages'," he said sarcastically. "I may have been a slave, but
what I gave to you was of my own free will and given gladly. I
won't be paid like a high-priced whore!" He turned away to clutch
at the high-backed chair as if seeking support.

My mind seemed to have gone blank, and I stared down at the paper
he had tossed at my head. It was a decree awarding Beauforte,
plus the lands between Beauforte and the Mulder River – some of
the lands that had belonged to Spender - to Fox and his heirs in
perpetuity. Suddenly, the words my brother had whispered about a
dowry made sense. With this bestowal, the newly made Earl of
Mulder would be a much-sought-after companion and mate.

I felt a sudden surge of jealousy; Fox belonged to me, and I
would fight anyone who tried to take him away. But now I had to
convince Fox of that.

"I had nothing to do with this, but I think you should take it,
as well as your freedom. After all, the Lord Protector can hardly
marry a penniless slave-boy."

I waited for my words to sink in. After a moment, I saw his head
come up slowly, saw him turn back toward me. His eyes met mine
and I knew that I was looking at him as if I was a drowning man
and he my only salvation. His eyes widened.

"M-master?"

"Call me Walter, my heart."

And then he was in my arms, clinging tightly as if afraid that we
would be torn apart again, and he was sobbing my name over and
over. I held him tight against me, kissing his hair and every
inch of his face, murmuring endearments. He shifted, his mouth
seeking mine, and the passion between us burst into flame.

Somehow our clothes came off and we were on the bed, and his body
was searing mine everywhere that we touched. There was nothing
gentle in our coming together, only need and desire, and he was
as fierce as I in the coupling. I didn't care; he could have
bruised my entire body if he wished, for I was deep inside him
where I had thought never to be again. And he was moving under
me, meeting each thrust with equal force, his eyes dark with his
desire and my name a constant litany on his lips. I felt the
spark starting within me, heard him cry out his own impending
climax, and then we were coming together and falling into the
light together, one heart and one soul.

Fox

I regained my senses first, finding it hard to breathe under the
weight of his body on mine, but I didn't mind in the least for I
had never thought to feel that weight again in this life. I held
his body tight against mine and smiled up into the darkness. At
last he stirred, shifting slightly as he came back to awareness,
rolling onto his side and pulling me with him. I looked into his
face and felt tears come to my eyes, but they were happy tears. I
had never seen so soft an expression on his face before, such
tenderness.

I cleared my throat. "So you're going to marry me and make an
honest man of me," I said, trying to lighten the moment.

A large hand that I knew could be surprisingly tender stroked my
cheek. "You keep me honest," he said softly, "and you make me
whole. You brought joy into my life, and I can't live without
you. I don't even want to try."

"Walter - "

"I love you, Fox. I've loved you since the moment I saw you in
the market. You looked at me, and our eyes met, and it was -"

"Magic," I finished softly. "I knew that I belonged to you from
that instant." He drew me closer, kissing me sweetly. "What
happens now?"

"I'll talk to the Mother-Abbess tomorrow about marrying us since
I expect that the Priesthood will be in a shambles for quite
awhile.  Then we'll go home."

"What about Gibson?"

His face darkened. "I had forgotten." He looked at me soberly. "I
can't turn aside from this responsibility, beloved. I swore on my
sacred honor."

"Then we'll just have to bring Gibson home with us," I said
practically. I saw the startled look on Walter's face. "Well, is
there any reason why we shouldn't? I mean, this is the seat of
government but I doubt that a seven-year-old boy will have much
to say in matters of State. It would be much better for him to
grow up away from the Court and its intrigues. And I could tutor
him in his studies."

I could see that he was comparing his childhood with that of his
half-brother, and I saw him nod. "True, he is not needed at Court
on a daily basis. Lord Reginald and the Council are trustees for
the government until he attains his majority; I am entrusted with
protecting the prince's person and the kingdom." He smiled at me.
"It is an excellent idea, my love."

I grinned at him. "Don't look so surprised. I occasionally have
ideas that harm no one."

"Occasionally," Walter agreed, a teasing gleam in his eyes. "Or
so I've heard."

"Asshole," I said lovingly.

"That sounds suspiciously like disrespect."

I looked at him impudently. "Now that I'm a free man, and will be
your consort and your land-lord, I think we need to negotiate
those rules."

"Of course. But one rule will always remain the same - you do
something stupid and your ass will answer for it."

I sighed. "Maybe I need to rethink this whole marriage thing. I
mean, I could find myself some cute young thing and be the
dominant one - "

He pulled me into another kiss, long and passionate, until I was
in danger of fainting from lack of air. "You were saying?"

" - on the other hand, there are significant compensations in
this arrangement."

"I thought you'd feel that way."

Epilog – Walter

"All right, John Richmond Walter Gibson Prys, I'm waiting for an
explanation."

The voice caught my attention as I crossed the Great Hall, and I
walked over to an open window to look into the courtyard. It was
a beautiful spring day, a little over a year since my half-
brother's death, and the air was fresh with the scent of flowers
and rain-washed grass. In the courtyard stood King John II, Duke
of Gibson, Earl of Richmond, plus dozens of other holdings, only
at this moment he looked just like a guilty – and dirty –
schoolboy.

Gibson had changed dramatically over the past year, blossoming
under the care he had been showered with since we had brought him
home to Beauforte.  Gone was the crushed and quiet boy from a
year ago, and in his place a healthy and happy youngster – and
one that had turned out to be more than a handful for his new
tutor.  Of course, the last time I had pointed out the ironic
justice of that to Fox, he had pummeled me mercilessly with a
pillow.

Now I watched as Fox stood looking sternly down at the boy, hands
on his hips while Captain Scully stood nearby, arms crossed and
face impassive as always.

"I didn't go very far, Uncle Fox. And nothing happened - "

"How many times have your Uncle Walter and I told you that you
are not to go outside the castle walls without an escort? And it
doesn't matter that nothing happened - there is no excuse for
risking your life like that!"

Gibson hung his head. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry, Uncle Fox."

"You're going to be even sorrier when I get through with you,
young man. Up to your room, now, and wait for me."

Gibson went off with dragging footsteps and Fox paused to talk
with Captain Scully before heading up the steps. I moved to
intercept him as he entered and he gave me a dark look.

"You'll never guess what Gibson has done now," he began.

"I know - I heard you through the window."

"You'd think, as many times as we've been through this, that he
would learn to think before he acts. That he would stop ditching
Scully to go off on these hare-brained escapades. That he would
consider how important his life is, not just to us but to the
Kingdom - "

I couldn't help it. I pulled my consort into my arms and kissed
him soundly. When I finally let him go, he looked at me
suspiciously.

"Are you trying to distract me?"

"No; I'm trying to tell you that I love you."

He grinned, his ire melting away, and slipped back into my arms.
"Oh. Well, tell me again. I wasn't paying attention the first
time."

So I kissed him again, and this time I knew that he was paying
attention from the glazed look in his eyes and the hardened
condition of other parts of his anatomy. He leaned against my
shoulder, trying to catch his breath while my hands caressed his
back, then he pulled back reluctantly.

"Hold that thought. I've got to finish talking with Gibson
first."

I traced a swollen lower lip with my finger. "I'll be waiting for
you in our chamber. In our bed. Naked." He purred and nipped at
my finger, then released me and turned away. "Oh, and Fox?"

He turned back, eyebrow raised. "Hmm?"

"Don't give up on Gibson. After all, it worked on you.
Eventually." I turned away, popping him lightly on the ass as I
did so. And behind me I heard delighted laughter.

The End