Page 76 of The Tempest
“I’m Bloody Maude’s son,” Payne said. “Ye need no more explanation than that. Give me my wife.Now.”
The man was confident.Tooconfident. But Arnaldo had all of the leverage, at least in his mind, so he refused to budge.He wanted to watch the big Highlander squirm. In fact, his lips twisted into a smirk, but before he could reply, something hit him from behind. Something hard and sharp and painful plowed into his back, severing his spine, and he immediately collapsed. Astria would have fallen to the ground had Payne not caught her. As it was, she scraped the side of her face on the dirt, but Payne swept her up and away as Cruz gored the man through the back and Creston, right behind Cruz, took off his head with his nasty, serrated blade.
And that was the end of Arnaldo de Fernandez y de San Miguel, Duc de Tarragona.
Dispatched by Blackchurch.
“Let me see her, Payne,” Ming Tang said as Payne ran to the outskirts of the fighting. “Kneel down and hold her against you. Let me look at her head.”
Payne was shaking. He was so distraught at Astria’s state that he could hardly control his emotions. “He must have hurt her,” he said, his voice quivering. “He must have attacked her and I dinna get here in time. Sweet Jesus, dunna let her be badly injured. Is she?”
Ming Tang, who had a knowledge of healing, peeled back both of Astria’s eyelids to gauge her pupil reaction and then felt the pulse in her neck. He was calm and patient, doing what needed to be done, as Payne struggled not to come apart. Finally, he patted Payne on the shoulder.
“She will regain consciousness,” he said. “Do not fret, my friend. She is not badly injured.”
Payne nearly collapsed. He breathed a great sigh of relief, realizing tears were forming in his eyes. He blinked, trying to keep them away, but the sight of Astria with her scraped face was too much for him. He let the tears fall, just for a moment. It was a brief show of emotion that was just as quickly gone. He didn’thave the luxury of wallowing over it. His mother was still inside, and now that Astria was safe, he could focus on Maude.
“Can ye see tae my wife?” he asked Ming Tang hoarsely. “My mother is still inside and I must find her.”
Ming Tang nodded. “Of course,” he said. “Give the lady to me. I will ensure her safety.”
Carefully, Payne deposited Astria into Ming Tang’s protective arms and stood up. With a deep breath for courage, he unsheathed his sword and headed back toward the fighting.
There were only pockets of fighting outside at this point. Because there had been so many Blackchurch soldiers, both pirate factions had quickly dissolved. Medusa’s Disciples had gone back to their encampment for the most part, and many of the men that came with Arnaldo had gone back the way they’d come once they saw their leader in pieces in the dirt. Horses were thundering back down the road as the fight broke up.
Inside the tavern, however, it was another matter.
There was still fighting going on, and as Payne walked into the common room, something sharp caught him in his right side. Infuriated, he swung his sword around and caught Declan in the chest. Declan grunted and fell back, taking the blade he’d just put in Payne’s side with him as he went. Fortunately, he’d missed vital organs when he’d stabbed his brother, but Payne’s sword had cut him deeply across his belly.
Blood began to flow from both brothers as they faced off against one another.
“If I’d only been better with my aim,” Declan spat, holding a hand to his bleeding wound. “Tae hell with ye, Payne, ye arrogant bastard. I hated ye as a child and I hate ye now. I wished ye dead so many times that I canna remember when I haven’t.”
Payne had his sword pointed at his brother. “Where’s Maudie?”
Declan had a triumphant smile playing on his lips. “That’s for me tae know, lad.”
Payne’s jaw twitched dangerously. “Declan, I swear by all that his holy, if ye dunna tell me, I’ll run ye through this instant,” he said. “Dunna be a fool.Where’sMaudie?”
Declan was precluded from responding when Francis, rubbing his sleepy eyes, suddenly emerged from the corridor that led back to the sleeping rooms of the Black Cock. One look at the common room, however, and the youngest brother let out a shout.
“What happened here?” he demanded. Then he saw his brothers across the room, both of them bloodied. “What’s going on? Payne?”
Payne had to back away toward the door so Declan couldn’t get in behind him. “Where have ye been, lad?” he said, sounding angry. “Men are losing their lives out here!”
Francis looked stricken. “I had too much tae drink last night,” he said. “I only now awoke when I heard some shouting outside my window. What’s this all about?”
Payne wasn’t going to take the time to explain. “Get yer weapon and find Maudie,” he commanded. “Declan has done something tae her. She’s here, somewhere, in this madness. Find her!”
Stricken, Francis wasn’t so sleepy anymore. He ran off to collect his weapon. That left Payne returning his attention to Declan, but as he did so, Sinclair and Fox entered the tavern.
“Payne,” Sinclair said in a deadly tone. “What would you have us do? What do you need?”
Payne had his eyes on Declan. “Is yer wife secure?”
“She is, thankfully,” Sinclair said. “Everyone is quite well. Tell me what you need, lad. I’m at your disposal.”
“Find my mother,” Payne said. “Francis is going tae look for her, but Declan will not tell me where she is. I fear we may be too late tae help her, but find her. Please.”
