Velvet Song (Montgomery/Taggert 4)

“Joss,” Joan called. “Stop her.”

Jocelin grabbed Alyx’s arms, held her in place. “It’s a slaughter,” he said, catching her eyes. “Perhaps Roger’s hatred was greater and has given him more strength. But whatever the reason, Raine is losing badly.”

Alyx pushed away from Joss. “Raine is mine in death as well as alive. Let me go!”

With one look at Joan, Jocelin released her.

Nothing could have prepared Alyx for the sight in front of her. The two men fought on foot, and Raine’s armor was so covered with blood that the gold Montgomery leopards were nearly hidden. His left arm seemed to be hanging by a thread, but he kept fighting, swinging valiantly with his right. Roger Chatworth seemed to be toying with the weakened, bloody man as he circled him, teased him.

“He’s dying,” Alyx said. Raine always believed in honor so much, but now, to die like this, as an animal in a cage, at the mercy of Chatworth’s torments.

She started forward, but Joss caught her. “Raine!” she yelled.

Roger Chatworth turned toward her, looked at her, although his face couldn’t be seen beneath the helmet. As if understanding her misery, he circled once more and plowed his ax into the small of Raine’s back.

Raine hesitated for a moment then fell forward, face down, Roger standing silent over him.

Instantly, Alyx pulled away from Joss and ran forward. Slowly, she knelt beside Raine’s torn body and pulled his head into her lap. There were no tears, only a deep numbness, a feeling that her blood was also pouring onto the ground.

With great reverence, she lifted his head and removed his helmet.

The gasp she let out at the sight under the helmet made Roger Chatworth turn back. After one long moment of disbelief, he threw back his head and let out a horrible cry—a cry very much like the one Raine had given when he heard of Mary’s death.

“A life for a life,” whispered Brian from Alyx’s lap. “Now Mary can rest.”

With a trembling hand, Alyx touched Brian’s sweaty cheek, watched as he gave his last breath and died in her arms.

“Leave him,” Roger said as he bent and picked up his brother’s body in his arms. “He is mine now.”

Alyx stood in her blood-soaked gown and watched as Roger carried Brian toward the waiting Chatworth men and horses.

“Alyx,” Joss said from beside her. “I don’t understand. Why is Chatworth taking Raine’s body?”

Her body was shaking so much she could hardly speak. “Brian wore Raine’s armor and Roger has killed his young brother.”

“But how—?” Joss began.

Joan held up thistle down, the ends of it soaked in blood. “He must have planned this for a long while. No doubt he used the down to pad a hauberk so Lord Raine’s armor would fit.”

Alyx turned to them with wide eyes. “Where is Raine? He wouldn’t have docilely allowed Brian to take his armor.”

It took them some time to find Raine, his armor missing, lying in his leather padding, soundly asleep under a tree. Joan laughed when she saw him, but Alyx didn’t. The unnatural position of Raine’s body alarmed her.

“Poison!” Alyx screamed and ran to her husband. The warmth of him showed he wasn’t dead, but he might have been for all the notice he paid her.

“Fetch Rosamund at once,” Jocelin ordered Joan.

Alyx started to slap Raine’s cheeks when her voice couldn’t rouse him. “Help me stand him up.”

It took all Joss’s strength and Alyx’s to lift Raine’s inert form, but still he slept on.

Rosamund came running and after only a glance at Raine she looked at Joss with fear in her eyes. “I hoped I was wrong. My opium was stolen two days ago, and I hoped the thief knew how to use it.”

“Opium?” Alyx demanded. “Isn’t that a sleeping drug? My sister-in-law used it.”

“It’s common enough,” Rosamund answered, “but what most people don’t know is that if too much is taken, the victim could sleep until death.”

Alyx’s eyes widened. “You don’t think Brian Chatworth gave Raine a great deal, do you?”