[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

from the cold ride in the night air, hacked at the groggy
soldiers as they tried to mount an attack, struggling to get to
their feet and arm themselves.
Without ceremony, Jase leapt from his horse and bolted
inside the small tent. It was dim from want of light but he had
no trouble catching sight of Clive struggling to control Myla's
thrashing body.
"My lord!" Myla screeched.
Jase grabbed Clive by the back of the tunic. Bracing his
feet, he hoisted the man upward, freeing his body from
Myla's. With an angry bellow, Jase shoved Clive outside the
tent. Clive landed on his hands and knees against the frozen
ground, an audible thud renting the air.
"My old friend," Clive snarled trying to right his body. He
yanked at his clothing, trying to get his drawers up and
anxiously glancing around at the commotion with his army.
93
Captive Heart
by Fawn Lowery
All manner of bedlam rang out. The metal clash of swords
as the men battled; the loud cries of pain as a sword broke
the skin and ended a life. Even the thunder of horse hooves
as men tried to escape the foray.
Clive scrambled to gain his footing. A broadsword lay
nearby and he picked it up.
"You are my enemy!" Jase declared, pulling his sword from
his belt.
"Aye! You kidnapped my betrothed! For that, you will die!"
Clive yelled.
Clive raised the broadsword above his head and lunged at
Jase.
Jase sidestepped Clive and made a lunge with his weapon,
narrowly missing his mark.
"You attacked Claymoor twice in my absence. You are a
coward, Clive!" He lunged at Clive's mid-section, making Clive
stumble back.
The frozen terrain was pebble strewn, making footing
treacherous. Clive slipped, and slid down an incline. Jase was
quick to follow, his sword poised to end the battle.
A malicious laugh tore from Clive's throat as he steadied
his footing. The cover of the pine grove could work as an
advantage for him. The dark night reeked havoc with the
eyes. One second the gleam of the sword was apparent, the
next, obscured.
Jase had Clive in his sights. He would not be fooled by his
treachery again. He too, knew of the cover the grove of trees
afforded. Carefully, he stepped amid the foliage, his senses
94
Captive Heart
by Fawn Lowery
keen, his eyes pinned on the shadowy figure mere feet before
him.
"Perhaps your attention to my prize has taken the edge off
your ability to do battle," Clive sneered.
"You deserve no prize!"
Clive laughed loudly, and lunged at Jase with his sword.
Jase quickly jumped aside, evading the point of Clive's
sword, then he lunged with his own sword, making Clive
curse aloud and seek refuge behind a spindly tree trunk.
"I have rutted with the very wench you seek to kill me for!
I have planted my seed inside her!"
"You lie and the truth is not in you!"
Jase watched Clive's shadowy figure as he moved slowly
amid the grove. He dared not take his eyes off him. Sounds of
his soldiers battling Clive's men came to his ears but he dared
not allow any distraction to grab his attention.
"I shall lop off your head and then the wench can mourn."
Jase felt a new surge of anger rise up inside him. He
gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. Enough of Clive's
pandering. He had allowed him to live much too long.
Jase raised his sword above his head and lunged quickly,
feeling his blade meet its mark.
Clive yelped out in pain and rushed backward, stumbling in
the dense underbrush of the grove.
Jase was quick to charge onward, lunging once more with
his sword, and feeling it come into contact with Clive's body.
Clive fell back, careening into the branches of a tree and
dropping his sword. He yelled out in pain, clutching his belly
in agony, and giving Jase the edge.
95
Captive Heart
by Fawn Lowery
Jase pushed the point of his sword against Clive's chest.
"Clearly I am the better man."
"Kill me. Or are you too cowardly?"
Jase laughed. "Your life shall be ended, as you wish, but it
will be by the order of our King. You will stand before him and
face charges of treason for your treachery against my army."
"You have no proof!"
"Aye. The proof lies within the deed. Your greed cost an
entire English encampment their lives. You allowed the
Moores to bribe you with gold and treasure. In turn, you
divulged secrets bringing a surprise attack. Had not I been
conferring with Richard, I would have met my fate as well."
He poked the point of his sword sharply into Clive's belly. "But
I live to tell the story and shall be in attendance when King
Richard passes sentence against you."
Clive sneered in his painful agony. "Our King knows of my
conquests. I've served him well."
"Lies, Clive. You claim victory when indeed, the conquests
belonged to me."
Clive spat at Jase.
Jase withdrew his sword, sheathed it, and grabbed Clive by
the tunic. "On the morrow, I shall take you to King Richard
and I will have my revenge against you."
"Aye!" Menton exclaimed as he made his way into the pine
grove. "And I shall witness our King's sentence against you as
well." He bound Clive's wrists behind his back. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]