Page 13 of Raven's Rise
“…never do this,” she was saying as Rafe got closer to the pair. “Just let me go!”
“You’ll be gone soon enough,” Ernald returned. “You sure you didn’t tell him to do that? To get you out of Dryton? I know you’ve been trying for years to get out of here. Marry me, and you’ll be able to travel if you want. If you’d only listened to me—”
“No! I’m not interested in that,” Angelet said. “I’ve told you that over and over.”
“Shame.” Ernald leaned over, eclipsing Angelet’s form, hiding her expression from Rafe. “Then give me a goodbye kiss, Sister.”
Angelet’s next words were cut off as Ernald tried to claim a kiss.
Rafe covered the last fifteen paces at a speed he usually didn’t try for. He clamped his hand down on Ernald’s shoulder.
A second later, Ernald was flying backwards until he stumbled against the far wall. Rafe stepped between Angelet and the now-prone Ernald, keeping his back to the lady.
“Are you out of your mind?” Ernald hissed, rubbing at his jaw. “You hit me, fool!”
“I did,” said Rafe. “I suppose I could have waited for the lady to slap you, but I’m impatient. And it would hurt more if I hit you.”
The other man stood up, leaning against the opposite wall for support. The candle burning in the sconce a few feet away cast stark, deep shadows over Ernald’s face. He sneered. “Aren’t you the high-minded protector. Do you always lurk in corridors, waiting for women to save?”
“Not always, but I’ll step into the role when needed.”
Ernald rolled his eyes and attempted to skirt around Rafe to get to Angelet. Rafe shifted and half-drew his dagger.
“Stop.”
“Do you dare get in my way?” Ernald asked with honest amazement.
“I dare a lot of things,” Rafe drawled. “Which is why I’ve got plenty of notches in my sword while you’re too cowardly to attack anything tougher than that over-cooked roast from supper. If you take another step toward the lady, I’ll open up your stomach with this blade and pull out what’s left of your meal.”
Ernald paled, but said, “That’s disgusting.”
“So is raping your sister-in-law.”
“I don’t have to listen to this slander,” Ernald snarled. “I’ll report your actions to my father. Once he’s heard what you’ve done, he’ll never give you the job of escorting Angelet anywhere!”
Rafe kept his gaze steady on the lordling and made sure to keep himself between him and Angelet. “Guess you’d better hurry off, then.”
Ernald’s eyes slipped past Rafe, but he must have realized that even if he ordered Angelet to leave with him, Rafe wouldn’t permit her to go. He turned and stalked away down the hallway.
Behind Rafe, Angelet let out a sigh of relief.
He spun in time to see the disgust on her face as she watched Ernald’s retreat.
“That happen often?”
“He wouldn’t have….” she started to say.
“Are you that innocent despite having been married? I was watching him all night. He looks at you like a wolf looks at a sheep. You’re better off leaving this place.”
“I’m glad to be going.”
“Even to a nunnery?” he asked shrewdly. The few words he’d overheard suggested not.
“Um, yes.” She looked at him with those wide, green eyes. “But now the journey will be delayed. I am so sorry to cost you the position!”
He smiled at her. “I haven’t lost it yet. Not till Otto himself says so. How much weight will Ernald’s words have?”
She frowned, thinking it over. “He’ll lie, change the story to one that suits him better. He’ll say he foundyouattempting to ravish me, and that he’s the hero. Ernald will claim to have stopped you from attacking me.”
