Chapter Nineteen #2
Wynter was weeping softly, her tears falling onto his naked, tattooed chest. “He died so terribly,” she whispered.
“Two bolts to the back. We were not far from Septentrion when the bolts came flying at us and as we ran away, I turned to see if we were being followed and I swear I saw a man bearing a blue and yellow tunic.”
Gage’s caresses slowed. “De Reyne?”
“I believe so.”
Gage sighed faintly. “Some of my brother’s men escaped the battle,” he said. “Clearly, they have not gone far, ready to kill anyone they deem the enemy. Brian was wearing the de Luci tunic the last time I saw him.”
“He was still wearing it, like a target,” Wynter confirmed, sniffling.
“He bled to death in front of me while I tried to comfort him. I told him how great he was and how noble. I told him anything I could to ease his suffering, but all the while, I could not help but think it was all my fault. Had he not gone to Ashleven, he would not have been killed.”
“It was not your fault,” he assured her.
“Brian was a knight. He always knew that death could come for him and it did, so it was not your fault. He was doing something honorable and kind and he paid for that gesture with his life. As a knight, I cannot think of any finer death, Wynnie. Brian died a glorious death.”
She lifted her head, tears running down her face.
“He did not die a glorious death,” she said, almost angrily.
“He died a painful death while the physic struggled to save him. But he knew he was dying. I think that is the very worst part, Gage. He knew he was dying and he asked me if I would remember him once in a while. I told him that I would. I told him that if I ever had a son, I would name him Brian in his honor. All the while, he was bleeding to death in front of me and there was nothing I could do to help him. Nothing but speak… stupid words. Just stupid words.”
Gage could see how shaken she was and he felt bad for her.
“They were not stupid words,” he said quietly.
“Do you know why? I shall tell you. Last night, I had a raging fever. I was certain that I was not going to live through the night. I told Brian that I was sorry, sorry that I did not realize he was vying sooner than I did, but even then I still continued to pursue you. I told him that he was a kind man and I was sorry to have wronged him, but not sorry enough to stop in my quest for you. Were those stupid words?”
Sniffling, Wynter averted her gaze and looked away. “Nay,” she said. “They were the truth.”
“Exactly,” he said. “They were the truth in an important moment. What you said to Brian as he lay dying was the truth in an important moment. Not stupid words, but important words that meant everything to him. Do you think the pain of his wound will be the last thing he remembers? Of course not. It will be your words as you told him you would name your son after him. Our son. Brian de Reyne has a good sound to it, doesn’t it? ”
“It does.”
“I am sure Brian thought so, too,” he said. “You made his last moments meaningful, Wynnie. Do not think otherwise.”
He put it into terms that, upon reflection, made her feel better. She wiped at her eyes one last time as he reached up to pull her down to him again.
“Now,” he murmured. “Give me a kiss before you speak another word. Make this moment meaningful for me, too.”
Forcing the impact of Brian’s death aside, this was a very important moment between them.
Gage was out of danger and Wynter was by his side, where she belonged.
They were together and that was all that mattered.
Wynter managed a smile as she slanted her lips gently over his.
Gage’s hand was in her hair, holding her to him, as she kissed him deeply but gently, kissing his cheeks, his nose, as well as his mouth.
Gage simply lay there and enjoyed it.
“Ehem… Gage?” Clark was in the doorway, clearing his throat when he came upon a rather tender scene. “Flush said you wanted to see us?”
Wynter pulled away quickly, embarrassed that she’d been caught in a very unladylike position by her father’s captain no less, as Gage simply grinned.
“I do,” he said. “I want you to help me to see Brian. I understand he is in the solar.”
Laurence was standing right behind Clark and the two of them looked at each other with doubt. “Are you certain that is a good idea, Gage?” Laurence asked. “Only last night, you were on death’s door.”
Gage nodded. “I realize that, but no longer,” he said. “I must pay my respects to Brian and it cannot wait. He was killed escorting Wynter to Septentrion so she could be with me, so I owe him much. Will you help me?”
When he put it that way, they couldn’t deny him. They came into the room as Wynter stood up and moved aside.
“The priest arrived from Hexham Abbey a little while ago,” Laurence said. “He is still praying over Brian. Varro and a few of his men are there, too, praying for Brian as well.”
Gage sobered. “That is kind of them,” he said. “Truthfully, I am surprised they are still here. They were supposed to leave long ago.”
Laurence smiled faintly. “He would not leave you, Gage,” he said frankly. “You are his beloved nephew. He could not leave and wonder if you survived.”
Gage was touched at Varro’s sentiment. “Then I will have to show him that I will recover fully so the man can leave and make some money,” Gage said. “Now, help me up. Slowly.”
With Clark on Gage’s tender right side and Laurence on the left side, they managed to maneuver him into a sitting position.
Gage made them stop once he was seated on his buttocks because the world was rocking a bit and he felt nauseous.
Wynter watched, anxiously, until his wooziness passed and they were able to lift him to his feet.
Considering the size of the man, that was no easy feat, but they were able to move him into a standing position.
The physic, who had made it back upstairs, watched the entire operation, making sure the movement didn’t damage Gage’s wound, but the problem was that his right arm wasn’t secured so it was creating bolts of pain every time it moved.
Now that the man was upright, the physic moved quickly to bandage his right arm against his chest so it couldn’t move, covering up the beautiful lines of scripture that had been drawn on his chest, neck, and right arm with his boiled linen bandages.
But it was a small price to pay.
It was Wynter’s first real look at his complete display of stigmata and it was quite extensive as well as quite beautiful.
He’d mentioned that it was on his chest, arms, back, and neck but she hadn’t realized just how much of it he had.
She found that she rather liked it because it was so artfully done.
It only seemed to enhance the masculinity of the Gage de Reyne she was coming to know, the mercenary knight known as El Viento del Norte.
Here, she could see the warrior he had become more clearly than ever.
The man whose life she was so grateful for.
“There,” the old physic said when he was finished tightening the bandages. “Walk slowly and carefully and do not move your arm or shoulders too much. How do you feel?”
Gage was gray in the face and sweating. “Not at all well,” he admitted. “Mayhap this was not as good of an idea as I originally thought.”
“Shall we sit you down?” Laurence asked.
Gage shook his head, forcing down the weakness and nausea, but he gagged once or twice before he was able to force it down completely.
“Nay,” he said hoarsely. “There is a man in the solar who died because he was trying to do something good for me. I will walk to him to pay my respects. It would be dishonorable to do anything less.”
They could see that there was no discouraging him. It was clear that he was very weak and in some pain, but that wasn’t going to stop him.
He was determined to see Brian.
Wynter and the physic followed behind as Clark and Laurence helped Gage out to the stairs.
It was a spiral staircase, and somewhat narrow, so Clark got in front of Gage and Laurence got in behind him and, between the two of them, they managed to get him down to the entry level, step by slow step, without any incidents.
When they finally reached the bottom, they escorted Gage, very slowly, into the solar.
Varro was the first one on his feet when he saw Gage.
The priest’s prayers were interrupted as Varro rushed to his nephew, kissing the man on both cheeks but going no further in his happiness.
He wanted to hug him, but it was clear that Gage couldn’t take any pressure, so he settled for the kisses and cupping his nephew’s face happily.
“Mi querido,” Varro said. “I thought we had lost you. Praise to God that we have not.”
Gage smiled weakly. “Nay, you have not,” he said. “I thought you had left, but I see that you have not. I cannot thank you enough for staying to help us, Tio. I love you for it.”
Varro’s smile faded as he gazed into his nephew’s face. “I could not leave you,” he said frankly. “You are the son I never had, Gage. You are my family. I would be a terrible man indeed if I left while you were ill. Are you sure you are feeling well enough?”
Gage’s smile grew at his sentimental uncle. He may have been known as El Vibora, but this serpent had a tender heart where his nephew was concerned.
“I will feel much better tomorrow,” Gage said. “But for now, I must pay my respects to Tynedale and go back to bed. I feel as weak as a newborn kitten.”
Varro’s gaze moved to the corpse in the room. “He was a brave man,” he said quietly. “A good man. That is an excellent legacy for any man.”
“I must avenge him. You know this.”
Varro looked at him. “I already have my men on patrol, looking for your brother,” he said seriously. “I am certain he was behind this, Gage.”
“As am I.”