Page 65 of The Darkland

“In good time, lass,” he said steadily. “After I take care of your suitor.”

“I do not want you to ‘take care’ of him.” She tugged on his arm. “I want you to come with me, now. Please?”

Kirk moved away from her, placing her out of the line of fire. “Return to the hall and find Niles,” he told her. “Tell him that I have need of him.”

Mara watched the men tense, preparing for the first strike. “Nay!” she cried. “Kirk, please do not! I promise I shall…!”

“There will be rules established, my lord.” Spencer interrupted Mara’s pleas. He sounded so terribly cold. “To the death.”

“As expected.”

“No mercy.”

“None given.”

“And the lady belongs to the winner.”

“The lady belongs to me.”

Spencer cocked an eyebrow, watching Kirk as the man circled around, bringing them further and further away from Mara. When the blows started, they would be hard and furious and if she happened to be in the way, the results could be deadly.

“If I win, my lord, she will belong to me.”

Kirk continued to move back, away from the wall lest he be trapped against it. Spencer’ blade was still poised against Kirk’s as he followed the man’s movements, his young face determined and fearless.

“You shall not win.”

The first blow came heavy, sparks flying into the damp night air. Mara screamed with fear as Kirk plowed into Spencer with an unearthly strength. Knowing she had been forgotten, she did not try to stop the battle. She suspected there was only one man who had a chance of bringing about a bloodless cessation. Turning on her heel, she raced for the keep as fast as her legs could carry her.

The men locked in combat never saw her leave. Spencer was meeting Kirk’s onslaught admirably, but in truth he was having a difficult time. Kirk was larger, stronger, and had the advantage. But Spencer was young and quick, providing a reluctant target for Kirk’s rage. Sparks from the broadswords burst against the backdrop of the dead garden as the battle raged.

Kirk backed Spencer against the small bench overlooking the pond. But the young knight deftly leapt over the seat, sloshing through the water with Kirk in pursuit. The noise was deafening as broadswords met with each other, the old bench, and in one case several stalks of dead foxgloves.

A few servants had heard the commotion and came to watch, joined by several soldiers. It wasn’t often that they were treated to a true swordfight, with the grace and skill that made the spectacle exciting to watch. But it was also apparent that the stakes of this match were high, higher still when Kirk landed a heavy blow to Spencer’ armorless forearm. Blood streamed from the wound, sprinkling the ground with every move.

“Why do not…” Spencer grunted as he countered Kirk’s thrust. “…you simply leave the lady to a younger man. Do you truly think you can…” he grunted again as he narrowly avoided being gored. “…make her happy?”

Kirk would not be distracted with chatter. With a growl, he lunged for Spencer, anticipating the man’s reaction and thereby countering. The result saw Spencer stabbed in the shoulder.

“You have no idea what you’re saying,” he breathed, taking a step back as a wounded Spencer took the offensive. “We are very happy. More so after I marry her. Why couldn’t you have simply left her alone?”

“Because I want her.” Spencer backed Kirk against a cluster of dead daisy bushes. Kirk simply plowed through the bramble, fending off theyounger knight’s energetic blows. “When you saw her for the first time, did you not feel the same?”

“I did.”

“And if she had been involved with another man but not yet betrothed, would you have still pursued her?”

The vicious thrusts slowed, coming to an unsteady halt. Panting and sweating, the men stared at one another.

“Mayhap,” Kirk said quietly. In truth, he would have done exactly what Spencer had done. “But tell me; if it were you she was involved with and I attempted to woo her away from you, would you not react as I have?”

Spencer’ expression tightened. “I would have killed you.”

There was nothing more to be said. The swords came up again.

*

The great hallwas warm and smoky, smelling of meat and dogs. Mara raced into the hall, searching frantically for Lord le Vay. But the only familiar face she saw was that of Lady Lily, seated at the head table with her relatives. All jealousy for the woman aside, Mara pushed her way through the crowd of people and servants.