Page 128 of Bold Angel
“’Tis not a thing easy for me to say. In truth, for a time, I did not believe such a feeling existed. Since I have met you… since you have become my wife… I have discovered it does most surely exist, and I am the most fortunate of men to have known it.” He smiled at her with all the tenderness he felt in his heart. “I love you, Cara. I have known it for some time, but I could not say the words. I love you and for me there can be no other woman. Not now. Not ever.”
Tears filled her eyes and she spoke his name softly, her hand coming up to his cheek. “I never thought to hear you say it. I prayed for a day such as this, but in my heart, I did not believe it would happen.”
“I should have told you sooner. Mayhap if I had there would have been less hurt between us.”
“’Twas I who should have spoken, but I was afraid of losing you. You are the husband of my heart and I will love you forever.”
“Cara…” Ral bent his head and kissed her, a tender, gentle kiss to show her the love in his heart. When he finished, he held her against him, looking over her head toward the field that would soon erupt in battle. Death surrounded them, yet he felt content as he never had before. Caryn leaned into him and he tightened his arms around her, holding her for long, achingly tender moments.
If only he could be certain of her safety, what happened on the morrow would not matter. Ral stared at the mighty forces they faced, at the death and destruction just beyond the walls, and knew he could be certain of naught.
***
The wind blew bitterly across the parapet, tugging at Caryn’s braided hair. For a while she had been able to escape the harsh reality of men about to make war, of lives to be lost, of the horror about to begin.
“They have been ready for some time,” she finally said, breaking into the silence. “Why do they not attack?”
Ral shook his head. “I do not know.”
“Our men seem more than ready. ’Tis a comfort to know you have trained them so well.”
“Aye. ’Tis an advantage we will need, to be sure.”
They watched and waited a good while longer, till a man on the tower shouted down to Ral and pointed wildly toward the field. In an instant she saw the reason, for behind Stephen’s army, another group of armored men and horses appeared.
“Dear God,” she whispered, her stomach going hollow, “he has enlisted even yet more men.”
Tense and strained, Ral stepped toward the edge of the parapet, then to her surprise, he smiled. “Nay, my love. ’Tis King William’s army, no other.”
“William? If that is so, why does Beltar ride with him?” ’Twas for certain that he did. Through the center of the encampment next to William, who sat tall and proud, stout and aloof in the saddle. The king rode toward them, Beltar to one side, Stephen on the other. A meeting of some sort had occurred, it would seem, for as they drew near, it was obvious Beltar bowed to William’s command—and Stephen was bound in chains.
“Come,” Ral said. “With William arrived, we are safe.” His hand rode at her waist as he guided her back inside the keep.
She could feel his relief in every powerful stride, and her own relief grew with each step they took down the stairs. Recalling the words of love he had spoken, her own love soared. He had pledged his heart and committed himself to their future. With the king’s arrival, and an end to Malvern’s treachery, that future had only begun.
They made their way down the stairs and across the great hall, then down the wooden stairs leading out to the bailey.
“Wait for me here,” Ral said with a reassuring smile and a quick kiss on the lips.
Anticipating his needs, his squire had Satan saddled and ready, the huge black destrier prancing and pawing the earth. Ral swung effortlessly up on the horse’s back, though he wore his heavy chain mail, and Aubrey handed him his conical helmet. As Ral pulled it on, Odo and Girart and twenty mounted knights rode toward him across the bailey.
Calling for the drawbridge to be lowered, Ral nudged the black horse forward. The stallion clattered across the heavy timbers then they reached the opposite side, the men making a well-formed column behind them. As the last of the knights crossed the bridge, Caryn raced toward the gatehouse, arriving at the same time Ambra did.
“’Tis Lambert and Hugh,” the slender girl said, pointing excitedly toward the men in the field. “I could see them from my window. William must have set out for Malvern the moment he received news of Lord Stephen’s betrayal.”
“Thank the Blessed Virgin. I had not dared to hope for such a thing.”
“What think you of Beltar? He seems to have sided with the king.”
“The man may be ruthless, but he is no fool. I do not believe he ever intended to incur King William’s disfavor. He has far too much to lose. Once William learned of Stephen’s alignment with the Ferret and the part he must have played in the attack on his tax collector, Beltar was forced to withdraw his support.”
“And without it and against such odds,” Ambra said, “Stephen’s own men would surely turn against him.”
Caryn smiled. “Aye. ’Tis certain that is what happened.”
They reached the top of the stairs, Caryn’s heart pounding with excitement, and looked out across the field toward the armies of armored men. Close to the front, the king and his lords were talking, arguing heatedly, it seemed. Oddly, when they had finished, Ral dismounted and so did Lord Stephen. Someone cut Malvern’s bonds and to Caryn’s horror handed him a sword.
“Sweet God in heaven,” she whispered as Ral pulled his own sword from its scabbard.
