Read The Darkland for Free Online

the first time
since they had met that she appeared emotionally vulnerable. Away from all of
the fire and resistance, he could see the soft little lady beneath.
    "There was no one
to save me," she murmured. "I did as I pleased."
    He wasn't strong enough
to tear his gaze away this time. The urge to give into the strange emotions was
overwhelming. "Those days are gone, lady."
    She continued to stare
at him, without the usual hostility. "My sister calls me a hellion."
    "And my men call me
the Master. Who do you suppose will be the first to surrender to the
other?"
    "'Twill not be
me."
    "It had better be.
Or I will do what I should have done yesterday."
    "What is
that?"
    He rose, the stone-gray
eyes intense. "Take my hand to your backside. One more infraction and I
shall."
    She lowered her gaze,
giving a careless shrug. "My father threatened me all the time but never
once carried through."
    "Then you do not
fear my threat?"
    The bright gaze fixed on
him again. He swore he saw a flicker of a smile. "I believe you."
    "That is not what I
asked."
    "I know what you
asked." She stood from the bed, deliberately avoiding his gaze and he saw
the smile broaden. "I choose to give you a pleasing answer rather than the
reply you truly seek."
    He sighed heavily. If he
had any sense, he would spank her this minute and be done with it. Even so, he
couldn't seem to muster the will and his impotency confused him. Knowing only
that this lack of sense had something to do with the odd warmth this little
hellion seemed to provoke. Emotions he had no intention of exploring.
    "We shall arrive at
Anchorsholme come the morrow," he muttered. "I suggest for your own
sake that you behave yourself, whether or not you give credence to my threat.
Do you comprehend?"
    Mara nodded faintly. But
Kirk did not like the gleam to her eye; nay, he did not like it at all.
     

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
     
    The following morning
dawned amazingly bright considering the rain that had pounded for most of the
night. The camp was quickly disassembled and a simple meal of bread and cheese
provided. Before the sun burst free of the eastern horizon, the escort party
was on the road, nearing home with the prize of their lord's betrothed.
    At the first sight of Anchorsholme
Castle, Micheline's jaw dropped and she burst into tears. Riding beside her
sister under clear skies and a brisk sea breeze, Mara tried to comfort the
weeping woman. A halting explanation revealed that Micheline felt herself
unworthy to preside over such splendor.  All anticipation of her new marriage
aside, the very real fact remained that the woman was terrified to meet her
destiny.
    Up until the moment
Micheline dissolved into tears, the air between the sisters had been strained.
Kirk had remained tactfully silent, allowing Mara to explain to her sister what
had happened the previous eve. She did not mention the near-rape or Kirk's
heroic appearance, only the brief story about the fat merchant and nine
children. Had Micheline not been so angry with her sister's show of rebellion,
she would have laughed at her play-acting. For all she knew, Mara had been
seized by Kirk at the inn and escorted back to camp.
    With the subject
gracefully skirted, it had been a long ride to Anchorsholme. The Lancashire
castle was a magnificent Norman structure near the sea with an inner and outer
wall to protect the mighty three storied keep. As a pair of hawks shrieked
overhead, the escort party was greeted by a host of well-formed ranks. Taking a
good look at their fine tunics and armor, Micheline began to weep all over
again.
    "Welcome to The
Darkland, ladies." Corwin was riding slightly behind them, the impressive
structure reflecting in his soft brown eyes.
    Mara, in the midst of
calming her sister, turned to the knight. "Why do you call it The
Darkland?"
    Over the top of Mara's
head, Corwin caught Niles' negative expression. Clearing his throat, he
shrugged faintly.
    "Lord Edmund’s
Irish subjects gave it the name,