Page 146 of Forbidden

“Duncan? Is something amiss?”

He started and looked toward Amber. Her heart stopped, then quickened fiercely.

For an instant he hadn’t known her.

Duncan looked down at his partially drawn sword and then over his shoulder. Behind them, fanning out from the point where cart path and forest merged, the keep’s fields lay darkly beneath a peaceful sky.

Beyond the fields, clouds lay against the fells like languid harem girls awaiting their lord’s pleasure. Over all poured the sun, its rich golden light a healing benediction.

Turning in the saddle, Duncan looked ahead. The lord’s forest still wore an autumnal blaze of yellow and red and orange. Frost-killed weeds clung in brittle disarray to rocks and fallen limbs. Leaves dried by three windy, rainless days swirled around the horses’ fetlocks as they walked side by side along the cart road.

When Duncan showed no sign of answering her question, Amber braced herself in the stirrups and leaned toward him. Fingers that trembled slightly closed over the wrist of his sword hand.

Nothing came to Amber through the touch but the savage conflict within Duncan’s mind.

“Do you know me?” Amber asked, her voice urgent.

Duncan’s eyes focused on her and he laughed in surprise. He picked up her hand and kissed her palm.

“I know you as well as I know my own heart,” he said.

“But a moment ago you looked at me as though I were a stranger!”

Amusement faded from Duncan’s eyes, leaving only the shadows that haunted him relentlessly.

“A moment ago,” he said, “I was lost in shades of darkness.”

Amber made an unhappy sound.

“Part of me constantly cries danger,” Duncan added grimly. “Part of me constantly scoffs. I feel like a haunch being gnawed by two wolves.”

He laced Amber’s fingers between his. For a time they rode slowly, side by side, talking little, letting the brilliant colors of autumn brighten all shadows.

Duncan and Amber were still holding hands when a weighted net sailed out of the forest and wrapped around the Scots Hammer.

17

INSTANTLYDuncan fought to free his sword hand, but only succeeded in tangling himself more tightly within the net’s coils. Crying Duncan’s name, Amber pulled out her dagger and leaned toward him.

Before she could slash at the net, a man appeared beside her and grabbed her wrist. The hatred that poured through the contact was more painful than anything she had ever felt. Amber gave a horrifying cry and fell senseless to the ground. Nor did she move again, even when Duncan called her name.

Duncan went mad.

He clawed at the net, ripping its tough fibers as though they were straw.

“Now!” cried the man who had grabbed Amber.

Two more men ran from the forest. One of them seized Duncan’s left foot and heaved upward, sending him tumbling to the ground.

All three men jumped on their captive, trying to subdue him. Though one of the men was as big as Duncan, and the others hardly smaller, Duncan had a berserker’s strength.

“Simon, grab his other arm!” Dominic said harshly.

“I’m trying!” Simon retorted through his teeth.

“God’s blood,” Sven said, “he’s strong as an ox.”

“Duncan!” Meg called. “Duncan! You’re safe! Don’t you remember us?”