Page 66 of The Darkland

“Where is your father?” she demanded breathlessly.

Lily looked shocked. “I… I believe he has gone to his solar with my uncle. Is something wrong, Lady Mara?”

Mara realized she was very close to tears. And Lady Lily’s kind eyes somehow intensified her anguish. “Kirk… he and… oh, I must find your father!”

Lily did not question her further. It was apparent that something was very, very wrong. “Then I shall take you to him immediately.”

They ran from the hall. Lily led her through the tall, narrow foyer and into a smaller corridor. To their left a warm room beckoned, scented of hides and liquor. Lionel was seated before the fire, laughing softly with an older man as his daughter and Mara stumbled into the room.

“Father!” Lily said. “Something is…!”

“It’s Kirk, my lord,” Mara gasped. “He has challenged Spencer and even now they are battling in the garden. You must stop them!”

Lionel leapt from his chair, his bushy eyebrows aloft. “They are battling?” he boomed. “Great Gods! I told Kirk to leave Spencer alone!”

He propelled his girth from the room, leaving Lily and Mara to follow. Lionel took the long route to the garden, not wanting to enter the great hall and create havoc for his guests with his brusque manner. Skirting the perimeter of the keep, he passed through a small fortified door andemerged into the bailey. He could hear the clash of broadswords almost immediately.

Mara hadn’t realized that Lily was holding her hand as they reached the entrance to the garden. Lionel burst through the gate with the fearful ladies in tow, watching in horror as Kirk backed a bloodied Spencer against the wall with merciless strikes.

“Kirk!” he roared. “Enough!”

Kirk immediately came to a halt, breathing heavily as he turned to the source of the shout. Spencer, seeing that Kirk was distracted, brought up his sword. But Kirk caught the movement, turning away before the man could spear him deep in the belly. Instead, the broadsword passed cleanly though the muscle of his torso, just below the ribs. Had Spencer’ aim been an inch to the right, he would have missed altogether.

Mara screamed as Kirk whirled away from Spencer, bleeding profusely. Lionel rushed forward, putting his rotund body between the two knights.

“Enough, both of you!” he bellowed, his hard gaze on Spencer. “An unfair move, Spencer. You’re too good a knight to indulge in such unethical tactics!”

Spencer pushed himself off the wall, trembling as a result of his blood loss. “It was perfectly legal. My opponent was distracted and, as we know, distraction can be deadly.”

Lionel glared at him. “When I called a halt to this battle, I meant the both of you.” He glanced at Kirk, standing tall and strong in spite of the fact that blood was streaming from his wound. “And you. I told you not to kill Spencer, did I not?”

“He gave me little choice, my lord,” Kirk replied steadily. “I warned him against pursuing the lady and he chose to ignore me.”

Le Vay sighed heavily, looking to his blond-haired captain. “You knew the lady was spoken for and still you pursued her? I find this difficult to comprehend, Spencer.”

Spencer emitted a ragged sigh, wiping the sweat from his brow and gingerly touching the wound in his shoulder. “Some things in the world are worth fighting for, my lord,” he said quietly. “She is one of them.”

Le Vay did not reply for a moment, waiting for Kirk to erupt. But the knight remained silent and Lionel maintained his gaze on the young knight.

“No more, Spencer,” he said, more gently. “It is obvious that you are not meant to have the lady. I would demand you leave her, and Kirk, in peace.”

Spencer eyed his liege before gazing at Kirk. The reluctance, the defiance, was obvious. But the young knight said nothing as he turned away, wearily moving for the gate.

Le Vay watched him stagger his way through the garden, a genuine sadness filling him. Spencer had been devastated by Genevieve’s death two years prior and this was the first occasion the man had shown interest in another woman. An interest that had been proven tumultuous. Still, it showed that the death of his lady had not permanently damaged him; indeed, he was capable of feeling again.

“Lily,” le Vay indicated his daughter, “assist Spencer if you would.”

Lily obeyed, helping the weary knight from the shadowed garden. Mara was left standing alone, her eyes wide, as Kirk and Lionel faced one another.

“This does not please me.” Le Vay’s voice was quiet. “You knew better than to challenge him.”

Kirk’s stance was unwavering. “I explained my reasons, my lord. I was given little choice.”

Le Vay sighed heavily, pondering the situation as Kirk’s wound continued to ooze. The knight had broken out in a cold sweat, indicative of his pain and exhaustion. After a moment, Lionel simply shook his head.

“You will understand when I withdraw my permission for Spencer to accompany you to Ireland,” he said. “And I would suspect you will have little objection.”

Kirk’s stone-gray gaze was even. “I plan to leave before the end of the week. Spencer’s shoulder wound will take longer than that to heal.”