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occurred this year and even if it had, the tincture took several moons to set. She needed
that tincture. It would help relieve pain and allow the wounded to sleep.
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Eryn Blackwell
Making a decision, she knew she d have to hurry. She knew that either Roidan or
his men would come soon. She d be needed and she wasn t going to sit and wait for
someone to take her to her own hut.
She might sleep in the keep, in the baron s bed every night to be more exact, but the
little cottage was still hers.
Acelwyn hurried from the ramparts, down to the gates. The soldier there wouldn t
let her pass.
But I need to leave. I ll only be gone a moment.
I ve my orders, milady.
This guard was young, but he clearly knew where he stood.
I need something from my cottage.
He moved to block her way just as a cry rent the air. Lottie lay sprawled on the
ground near a wagon.
I think I twisted my ankle, Acelwyn, she called out.
Why were you running, Lottie? Acelwyn asked.
She glanced quickly to the guard and motioned toward the gate with her head.
Acelwyn knew her young friend enough to suspect there was probably no twisted
ankle.
The young guard however did not know that. He blushed when he squatted beside
Lottie. Acelwyn. I forgot I left the potion simmering at the cottage. I was hurrying to
check on it and hope I hadn t burned it to a bitter brew, it will be good for nothing
then. Lottie s big blue eyes filled with tears and she tucked a stray blond curl behind
her ear. And now I ve gone and twisted my ankle. Will you go check the potion for
me?
Without another word, she raced away, hearing the guard hail her. She turned and
waved with a smile. I ll be right back. No harm will come to me. Help Lottie inside,
please and I ll bring her a draught for the pain.
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Baron s Right
Seeing her opportunity, she picked up her skirts and raced down the hill, her cloak
flying out behind her. If she didn t hurry, the young guard would more than likely send
out several more to make certain she was all right.
Just a moment was all it would take. Then she d have her tincture and more herbs
in case she was needed. And she d be back at the keep before Roidan would return so
he d only hear about it after the fact.
The man was so possessive.
To be alone for just a few moments would be heavenly.
She hurried along the path, bypassing the entire village and hurling her own door
open. Just as she stepped inside, the door shut behind her and meaty arms circled her.
She arched against their hold, crying out, knowing before he said anything who
held her.
I knew I d get you alone sooner or later. I m happy to see that little harlot came
through for me, he said behind her, hot and sweaty in her ear.
She tried to twist away and got as far as her table. But it did no good. He grabbed
her and spun her around, slamming her back against the table. Jars and jugs tumbled
and broke on the floor, spilling their precious contents.
They grappled and she opened her mouth to scream, but his cuff cut her off mid-
yell.
She tried to grab a jug hanging above her, to slam onto his head, but it was just out
of reach and only swung part way off its hook.
I like the fight in you, I ll admit, it s what drew me to approach your father. But
listen well, my girl. You ll obey me in all things before too long or suffer the
consequences.
He twisted her around, a thick forearm squeezing across her throat.
She reached back and raked her nails down his face, digging deeply.
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Eryn Blackwell
He cursed and spun her around, his fist slamming into the side of her face. Pain, hot
and bright burst behind her eye. Acelwyn stumbled into the shelves, herbs, jars,
containers wobbled and fell around her, some breaking at her feet. She would have
fallen if not for the fact he tightened his hold on her arm and hit her again.
Bitch. I ll teach you to whom you belong. You are mine. He hit her again. And
again, all the while keeping a bruising hold on her arm to hold her up.
Pain exploded in her head. In her cheek. He pressed her against the wall, his fingers
twisting painfully on her breast.
She cried out and bucked against him.
He ll kill you for this.
The baron? He shook his head and smiled his gap-toothed grin. He ll be too late.
You ll be mine by that point.
He stepped back and she tried to kick him, but he only laughed and shoved her.
You were sold to me. I don t like to share what is mine and I ve endured all I can
thus far. His putrid breath puffed across her face as he leaned in, his girth pressing her
harder against the wall.
The baron won t let you do this.
He laughed. If we re lucky the baron won t return and even when he does, he
pressed harder, twisted a hand in her hair until her neck was bent back, it won t
matter. You ll already be mine.
I won t.
Oh, but you will. A man like the baron won t take leftovers from the likes of me.
She tried again to twist away, but he turned her and slammed her head against the
wall.
Stars burst behind her eyes, the walls tilted, swam and the blackness swallowed
her.
78
Baron s Right
* * * * *
Voices filtered through first. Pain pulsed hot and heavy in her head.
Someone moaned. Her?
She tried to move and realized she was lying on the floor.
Breathing through her mouth, she carefully pushed up, pain biting through her ribs
and tried to look around.
The world blurred around her.
See, she wakens. We can get started. Othgar s voice slurred down a tunnel to her.
But, sir, she must recite the holy vows.
I ve silver enough. Just sign the blasted decree and be done with it, Othgar bit
out.
I cannot. She must say the vows, another voice said.
His voice was deeper than Othgar s, but clearly the man couldn t stand up to him.
For enough silver, you ll say she said the vows.
Silence met her.
N-no, she muttered.
She tried to find the other person, the other man. The floor was not hers. There was
wood on this floor.
Othgar s cottage. Or his ship?
Please, his cottage, not his ship.
Just then the floor pitched, slightly.
Ship. Curse it. Where were the guards? She should have stayed at the keep. None of
this would have happened if she d just stayed at the keep.
Maybe Othgar would let her go back to her cottage. Would anyone be looking for
her just yet?
How much time had passed?
79
Eryn Blackwell
Nausea rolled through her stomach, cold and greasy. Her head beat with her heart,
spiking pain through her and she moaned again.
Her entire body quivered with pain.
Silver clinked in the bag that Othgar tossed on the table between him and another
man.
The baron will kill you if you do it, she tried to say. Her lips weren t working
properly. For some reason she couldn t see right, and realized that she still wore the
cloak of dark blue velvet Roidan had given her. The cowl was deep enough it fell
forward on either side of her face, obscuring her peripheral vision and hiding her from
others.
Blood on the floor beneath her caught her attention. Her own blood.
Copper seemed to coat her tongue.
They would be looking for her. She knew that. Either the young guard or Cyrus
himself.
My lord, I do not want to cause problems with the new baron, the priest tried
again.
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