disgrace myself.'
The irony of her worry finally penetrated her fear. 'Why am I worried about disgracing myself, when Duncan 's horse is going to trample me to death? What will I care if they think I'm a coward? I'll already be dead.'
Her argument helped lessen her fear. Madelyne was beginning to calm down a little, until she noticed the stallion appeared to be watching her. The animal didn't like what he saw, either, Madelyne concluded, when he began to stomp the ground with his front paws. He even snorted at her. The stupid horse had taken on all the odious characteristics of his master, Madelyne decided.
She gathered her courage and walked over to the stallion's side. He didn't like that much and actually tried to nudge her away with his hind flank. Madelyne reached up to grab hold of the saddle, but the horse let out such a whinny, she jumped back.
Madelyne put her hands on her hips in exasperation. 'You're bigger than I am, but certainly not as intelligent.' She was pleased to see the horse actually glanced at her. She knew he couldn't possibly understand what she was saying, but it made her feel better all the same just to have his attention.
She smiled at the beast while she timidly edged her way to the front.
Once she faced the animal, she pulled on the reins, forcing his head down. And then she began to whisper to him, her voice low, soothing, as she carefully explained her fears. 'I've never learned the way of riding and that is why I'm so afraid of you. You're so strong, you could trample me. I've not heard your master call you by name, but if you belonged to me, I'd call you Silenus. 'Tis the name of one of my favorite gods from the old stories. Silenus was one of the mighty spirits of nature, wild and untamed, very like yourself. Aye, Silenus is a fitting name for you.'
When she'd finished her one-sided conversation, Madelyne let go of the reins. 'I've been ordered by your master to climb upon your back, Silenus. Please stand still, for I'm still very afraid of you.'
Duncan had finished his dress. He stood across the clearing now, watching with growing astonishment as Madelyne talked to his horse. He couldn't hear what she was saying. Lord, she was trying to gain the saddle from the wrong side. He started to shout a warning, certain his horse would bolt, but the words wedged in his throat when he saw Madelyne seat herself on the top of the huge animal. It was all incorrect and certainly strange. He had to sigh over it. Now he understood why Madelyne clung to him when they rode together. She was frightened of his horse. He wondered if her ridiculous fear was confined to his stallion or to all horses.
The skittish stallion hadn't moved a muscle to disrupt Madelyne's awkward climb into the saddle. And damn if she didn't lean down and say something else to the animal once she was settled.
'Did you see what I just saw?' Gilard asked the question from behind Duncan 's back.
Duncan nodded but didn't turn around. He continued to stare at Madelyne, a smile catching the corners of his mouth.
'Who do you suppose taught her how to ride?' Gilard asked, shaking his head in amusement. 'She doesn't seem to possess the least amount of skill.'
'No one taught her,' Duncan commented. 'That much is obvious, Gilard. Odd, but my horse doesn't seem out of sorts over Madelyne's lack of education.' He shook his head then and began to walk toward the lady under discussion.
The young squire, Ansel, approached Madelyne from the opposite direction. He had a snicker on his freckled face and began to lecture Madelyne on her inferior abilities. 'You're to mount on the left,' he said with great authority. He took hold of Madelyne's hand, as if he would pull her to the ground so that she could remount correctly. The stallion began to prance just as Duncan appeared. Ansel's hand went flying, as did the rest of his body.
'Don't ever touch her again.' Duncan 's roar followed Ansel to the ground. The squire quickly regained his feet, apparently unscratched from the fall, and nodded his compliance.
The poor lad looked so horrified over displeasing his lord that Madelyne intervened on his behalf. 'Your squire was thoughtful enough to instruct me,' she stated. 'He wanted to help me back to the ground, for I foolishly forgot in my haste to mount from the proper side.'
Ansel gave Madelyne a grateful look before turning back to bow to his lord. Duncan nodded, apparently satisfied with the explanation.
When Madelyne realized Duncan was about to mount Silenus, she squeezed her eyes shut, certain she was about to be hurled to the ground.
Duncan saw Madelyne close her eyes before she turned her face away from him. He shook his head, wondering what in God's name was the matter with her now, and then gained the saddle and lifted Madelyne into his lap in one swift action.
Madelyne was wrapped in his thick cloak and settled against his chest before she could worry over the deed.
'You're no better than Louddon,' Madelyne muttered to herself. 'Think I didn't notice that you didn't even take the time to bury your dead before you left my brother's fortress? Aye, I noticed all right. You're just as ruthless. You kill without showing any sign of remorse.'
It took all of Duncan 's self-discipline not to grab hold of his captive and shake some sense into her. 'Madelyne, we did not bury our dead, because none of my men died.'
Madelyne was so surprised by his answer, she dared a look up at him. The top of her head bumped his but she didn't pause to apologize. 'There were bodies all over the ground, Duncan.'
'Louddon's soldiers, Madelyne, not mine,' Duncan answered.
'Do you expect me to believe that your soldiers are so superior that they-'
'I expect you to quit goading my temper, Madelyne,' Duncan answered.
She knew he meant what he said when he slapped the cloak back over her head.
He was a horrible man, Madelyne decided. And he obviously didn't have a heart. Aye, he wouldn't be able to kill so effortlessly if he were gifted with human emotions.
In truth, Madelyne couldn't imagine taking another person's life. Having led such a sheltered existence with only Father Berton and his two companions left her ill prepared for the likes of Louddon or Duncan.
Madelyne had learned that humility was a treasured goal. She forced meekness in front of her brother. Inside, she raged. She prayed she didn't have a dark soul like Louddon. They did share the same father. Madelyne wanted to believe she was given only the goodness from her mother's side of the family and none of the vile traits from her father. Did she fool herself over such a hope?
She was soon too exhausted to worry. This day's journey was proving to be the most difficult to bear. Her nerves were strained to the breaking point. She heard one of the soldiers remark that they were almost home, and perhaps because she believed the end was in sight, each hour seemed much longer.
Rough, hilly terrain slowed their progress. Duncan wasn't able to keep up his usual neckbreaking pace. Several times Madelyne was certain the big stallion was going to stumble, and she spent most of the long, torturous day with her eyes closed and Duncan 's arms around her. Aye, she worried herself into exhaustion, convinced that they were about to be thrown into one of the deep, jagged crevices Silenus seemed so fond of getting as close to as possible.
One of the soldiers shouted the news when they finally reached Wexton land. A resounding cheer echoed throughout the hills. Madelyne sighed with relief. She sagged against Duncan 's chest and felt the tension ease out of her shoulders. She was too tired to worry over what would happen to her when she entered Duncan 's home. Just getting off Silenus was blessing enough for now.
It had turned bitterly cold during the day. Madelyne was growing more and more impatient as the minutes since gaining Wexton land turned into long hours and still not a single glimpse of Duncan 's fortress.
Daylight was fading when Duncan called a respite. It was Gilard who nagged him into stopping. Madelyne could tell from the harsh exchange of words that the stop wasn't to Duncan 's liking. She noticed, too, that Gilard didn't seem the least offended by his brother's harsh remarks.
'Are you weaker than our captive?' Duncan asked Gilard when he had insisted on taking a few minutes to rest.
'My legs have lost all feeling,' Gilard returned with a shrug.
'Lady Madelyne hasn't complained,' Duncan commented after raising his hand to signal his men.
'Your captive is too frightened to say anything,' Gilard scoffed. 'She hides beneath your cloak and weeps against your chest.'
