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the woods before the first sign of trouble. I told Emilie she had to go too.
But when the time came, no one would leave.
I'm staying with you. Emilie shook her head. She had torn her dress at the hem
and sleeves to move about more easily. I can stack arrows. I can distribute
arms.
These men are killers, I said, trying to reason with her. They'll make no
distinction between noble and common. This is not your fight.
You are wrong. The distinction between noble and common is clear here today,
she replied with that same unbending resolve as when she rescued me at Bor e.
And it has become my fight.
I left her stacking rocks and ran to the first defenses at the bridge.
Alphonse and Apples were tightening the rope.
How many will come? Alphonse asked.
I do not know, I said. Twelve, twenty, maybe more. Enough to do what it takes.
I took my station on the second floor of the tailor's house, near the entrance
to town. From there I could oversee the defense. I had a sword, an old clunker
sharpened to a tee.
My stomach was in knots. Now all that was left to do was wait.
Emilie met me toward evening. We sat against a wall, her head resting on my
shoulder. I felt what I had always known about her. She gave me strength.
Whatever happens, she said, tightening against me, I am glad to be here with
you. I don't know how to explain, but I feel you have a destiny in front of
you.
When the Turk spared me, I thought it was just to make people laugh. I
chuckled.
And you became a jester.
Yes. Thanks to you.
Not me. Emilie pulled away and looked at me. You. It is you who had the court
at Bor e eating out of your hand. But now I think God has found you a higher
purpose. I thinkthis is it.
I pressed her tightly to my body, feeling her breasts against my ribs, the
cadence of her heart. In my loins, I felt desire spark. We looked at each
other, and something told me, unspoken, that this was right. She was where she
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belonged. And so was I.
I do not want to die, Emilie said, and never know what it is like to be with
you.
I won't let you die. I cupped her fist.
She lowered herself onto me and we kissed. Not as before, with the thrill of
friendship turning into something more, but deeper, more forcefully. The tempo
of Emilie's breath began to quicken.
I put my hands under her dress and felt the smoothness of her stomach. My skin
jumped alive all over.
She raised herself on my lap. We looked in each other's eyes and there was no
hesitation. I love you, I told her. From the first. There was no doubt.
There was doubt, she whispered, but I loved you too.
She lowered herself on top of me and gasped as I came inside her. Soon she was
calm and at ease. I held her by the hips and we rocked. Her eyes lit with
pleasure, and my skin grew heated and damp as we increased the pace. We were
eye to eye, rocking against time, a smile and a sheen of ardor on her face.
Oh, Hugh. She squeezed her pelvis into me. I do love you.
At last she cried out, a body-tremoring moan. I held her close to me and
squeezed her shoulders as if I would never let go. She tremored once more in
my arms.
Do not wake me, she said with a sigh, for I am in the midst of the most
marvelous dream.
She buried her face in my chest, and I could have stayed like that forever. I
looked out at the moon and thought, What a miracle it is that I have found
this woman. I wanted to hold her and protect her with all my heart, as she had
risked everything to protect me.
Is this why I had been saved? I could ask no better purpose.
Then I heard a shout, and an alarmed cry. A chilling, far-off rumble came from
the earth.
I ran to the window. A fiery arrow arced toward us across the sky. The
lookout's signal.
I looked at Emilie, the calm of a moment ago replaced by a stabbing dread.
They are here!
Chapter 93
BLACK CROSS'S MEN STOOD just outside the sleeping town. The moonless night
covered their approach. They had ridden for the better part of two days,
barreling at full speed, knocking people and carts out of their way as they
charged through tiny forest towns. He knew that the hard journey only
heightened their eagerness for blood.
From up ahead, a scout crept back from the woods. The village sleeps, my lord.
It is ripe for attack.
And their defenses? Morgaine inquired.
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Only one. The scout smirked. They have piled their shit in the road so high
our horses may not see.
Morgaine chuckled. This would be child's play. Babes slaughtered in their
sleep. He had sought this beetle all the way from Antioch. Now he was only
minutes from holding his prize. The greatest of all of them. This insect would
not get away again.
Morgaine said to his men, Whoever finds the prize will have a castle waiting
for him on his return. Kill who you have to, fuck who you like, just find the
redhead. Run a blade up his ass and bring the worm to me.
His men's eyes lit up. Senses eager for battle, they applied their
breastplates and shoulder pieces over their riding leathers. They chose their
arms-maces and pikes and heavy swords. They donned their steel-beaded gloves.
In a few moments they would turn this sleepy mound of dung into a slop of
blood. They fitted on their helmets. Bright eyes glinted through the slits.
Morgaine's lieutenant signaled him. What orders, sir?
Level it, Morgaine said evenly. Every home, every child. Other than the
innkeeper, nothing lives. I want nothing left, and that includes the lady
Emilie.
The Tafur nodded. At Morgaine's nod, he gave the signal to charge.
Chapter 94
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