Page 185 of Forbidden

“Do you relish the thought of war?” Dominic asked curiously.

“No. Neither do I relish seeing my sister turned into Duncan’s whore.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “The witch was not without a part in Duncan’s betrayal.”

“Losing Duncan is a greater punishment for Amber than you can imagine,” Erik said.

“And you? How will you be punished for arranging things so that Duncan would be forsworn?”

“Watching what comes to Amber will be my punishment. It will be suitable in ways only the Learned can comprehend.”

Dominic flicked at glance at Cassandra. She nodded once, but it was the pain bracketing her mouth that told Dominic what he needed to know. He turned back to Erik.

“And Duncan’s punishment?” Dominic asked softly. “For you wish to punish him, too, I suspect.”

A falcon called wildly from beyond the walls, triumph and fury at once.

Erik’s smile was as cruel as the falcon’s cry.

“Erik!” Amber cried. “No! Duncan doesn’t understand! You can’t scourge him for that!”

“Duncan will be the first to know his punishment,” Erik said gently, never looking away from the Glendruid Wolf. “And he will know it too late to do anything but rage at himself for the fool that he was.”

Silence filled the hall while Dominic measured Erik with eyes like quicksilver.

“Will Duncan survive this ‘punishment’?” Dominic asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Canhe survive?”

“I don’t know.”

Delicately Dominic allowed a bit more of the broadsword’s weight to rest on Erik’s flesh.

“Whatdoyou know, proud lord?” Dominic asked softly.

“That Duncan and Amber are joined in ways that defy measure. In denying her, he denies himself. In humiliating her, he humiliates himself. In hurting her—”

“He hurts himself,” Dominic interrupted curtly. “A man can survive hurt. A man can’t survive in the Disputed Lands with no money to buy knights.”

“Amber is in Duncan’s very blood,” Erik said flatly. “Tell me, Glendruid Wolf, how long can a man live without blood?How long would he want to live?”

Dominic looked at Duncan. The Scots Hammer’s back was turned. Quite plainly he had no further interest in what passed between Dominic and Erik.

The Glendruid Wolf looked at Amber. The paleness of her face and the stark fear in her eyes told him more than he wanted to know. Dominic sheathed the sword with a smooth, powerful stroke.

“You owe me your life,” Dominic said. “Use it to help Duncan. I must have him alive and in power at Stone Ring Keep. It is the only way war can be avoided.”

Erik said nothing.

“I am merciful only once with the same man,” Dominic said coolly. “If war comes, you will die. You have my word on it.”

Motionless on the floor, sword still in his hand, Erik took the measure of the Glendruid Wolf. Erik knew he could attack Dominic, possibly kill him—and surely die himself—or he could accept the terms as offered.

“If Learning can help Duncan,” Erik said, “he will be helped.”

Cassandra’s soft laughter shocked everyone.