England, 1245

Ian rode straight through the night towards the East wall of the fortress in hopes of catching the Earl of Chaswick before he returns home from the raid. Corbin a guard stepped forward and slowed down the restless horse that Ian ran tirelessly toward them.

"I must speak to Lord Duncan."

"I am here. What has happened? Why have you traveled without guards?" Duncan stepped forward looking at Ian as he paled.

"My lord..." Ian stepped forward sloaching on a rock. The moonlight made eerie figures of the few dozen dark guardsmen and their even darker lord.

"She is gone,"he looked up panting to catch his breath.

"Lady Tara is gone."

"What?" Ian found himself lifted from the rock by his neck until he was eyes length with Duncan's murderous glare.

A few faces behind Duncan glared at him as well, and he couldn't help his shudder of fright.

"One of the children playing by the bailey saw her leaving with a woman and he mentioned it to Moira, but at sunset she still had not returned. I alerted the guards, and the land was searched. We spent hours, but she was nowhere to be found."

"We ride," Duncan turned to his men.

"Ian, ride back and alert the rest of the men. Tell them to meet us in route to Marlaudes keep.

"Brother are you sure he has something to do with her disappearance?" Aidan asked.

"I am sure of it," Duncan said mounting his horse.

At his signal they rode off into the night.

*********

Slowly Tara stirred with a moan. Opening her heavy eyelids she focused on the dim lit space around her. A slight chill coursed over her skin as she moved.

Her body ached and a low whimper escaped her as she sat up slowly on the cold wet ground. The smell of wet earth and mold met her nose as she took an intake of breath.

Where am I?

She squinted at the sharp pain at the back of her head. Reaching for it she felt the knot on it and winced when she glided her finger over it.

Then she remembered.

Erica

"Finally your awake," a soft female voice came from the far corner.

Slowly turning to look at where the voice came from, she slowly sat up.

"Who's there?" she asked grabbing her head. The space and its darkness around her began to slightly tilt.

"Don't fret t'is just me," she stepped closer.

"Where am I?" Tara moaned. The mild thumps began to get stronger in her head.

A silence followed then Erica spoke.

"In my dungeon," she said.

"Why?" Tara clipped. Pissed she sat and looked where Erica stood.

"Because we need you out of the way," she explained. The slight tone of fright and determination could be heard in her voice.

Tara scoffed. "So you knock me out and drag me here as if that will make a difference?"

"It could," Erica answered back with a tinge of hope.

Tara shook her head as hard as it was to do from the pain.

"Duncan will not rest until he finds me. You know that?" Tara breathed.

An eerie silence drew out while she sat and waited for the girl to speak.

"So what are you planning on doing with me?" Tara patiently waited for her to tell her what fate awaits her. But, Erica said nothing which worried her.

"Are you going to kill me?" she blurted out hiding her fear.

Again no answer.

"Why the f*ck won't you answer me?" she shouted in aggravation slowly raising her hands to her head that ached.

"I don't know what....my father wants to do with you," she whispered.

"Unbelievable, kidnapped without a plan," she shook her head in disbelief blinking away the tears burning at the back of her eyes.

"Perhaps we can send you back to your people," she said with hope.

Tara's eyes darted over to Erica's shadow in the corner.

Her heart ached with the idea being such false hope.

"If it were possible I would take you up on that offer and hop on the first horse you give me Erica but i'm afraid thats not possible," her voice shook.

"Why?"

"Because......" Tara began.

"Because? What?" Erica stepped closer.

"I don't have family here," Tara whispered.

"I am sure my father can take you to them," Erica urged with anticipation.

"No, he can't," Tara argued.

"Why are they dead? Are they in another land?" Erica pushed inccesantly for an answer.

The unbearable pain in Taras' head pushed for an erratic answer that she lashed out in anger.

"No!!! you dimwit because im not from this time ....im from the future." she sobbed with a moan with the sharp pain that shot up the back of her head then nausea began to form in her stomach and the room began to spin.

Erica gasped and stepped forward and knelt before Tara.

She didn't catch her intention in time until Tara grabbed her wrapping her arms around Erica's neck in a choke hold. But too weak to hold on she could barely hold Erica's weight as she thrashed about in Tara's arms.

She fought the pain as best as she could while she tried to subdue Erica but to no avail, she didn't have the strength the thumps grew heavier and her vision began to blur.

Slowly her grasp on Erica began to loosen just enough for her to pull away gasping for air. Tara groaned in agony holding the back of her head where a large lump had formed. Spots clouded her vision then suddenly she slump to the cold floor beneath her, darkness claimed her again.

**********

Beady anxious eyes looked over the wall in the dark night to the thousands of mini torches leading their way towards his keep. At the distance and rate of the moving fires they were coming in fast.

Footsteps clamoured up the steps behind him. Shortly a breathless voice called to him.

"Milord!, Milord! a messenger has been sent forth with a missive."

He waited a while before turning to the young squire at his side.

"What does it say?" he hissed.

His eyes lowered to the squires shakey hands as he unrolled the small parchment paper before him. Nervously he cleared his throat taking short breaths.

"Hand my betrothed over or pay the consequence."

Silence fell between them.

He did not anticipate they would arrive so quick. He clenched his jaw.
He sent men in to the village to attack and distract Duncan and his men. He would take the girl and hide her far away to force his hand in marrying Erica then he would release her. But, he never expected him to be here this quick.

"I take it your plan is not going very well," Trevar soon joined him.

His jaw tightened at the pitch of amusement in his friends voice.

"It is going just as I planned," he clipped with an irritated tone.

"It does not seem so because by the hour they approach closer and you still have not readied your men." Trevar turned to face him.

"Do not badger me," Marlaude faced him.

Trevar scoffed in outrage.

"You have incited the fury of a feared knight by taking his woman, we have no strength against him nor his men."

"We can take them," Marlaude swirled around to watch the riders quickly riding towards his keep.

"You and what army?"

"Do you speak of those that litter you courtyard that have barely lifted a finger to train all winter?"

"Or the children still sucking on their mothers tit?" he asked sarcastically.

Marlaude grumbled with an curse.

"Tell me, did you atleast check on the lass your daughter brought back with that oaf of Gordy that carried her through your gates barely breathing?" he inched close.

"Did you atleast feed her and give the poor thing water?" he added.

Marlaude faced him with a menacing glare.

"I would hate to be by your side when you have no betroth to produce because she is dead. That is blood on your hands my friend," Trevar stepped away but stopped as Marlaude spoke.

"Run coward that it is what you are," Marlaude growled.

"No...coward no...but a smart adversary that knows when not to pick a battle I will surely loose. I have nor the man power or reason to take on Chaswick and his men for your stupidy. I have a family I need to round up and take with me before the blood shed begins. I am sorry my friend...you chose this. Not I," Remorse evident in his tone he looked at Marlaude waiting for him to reconsider.

"Leave and take any boneless sap not willing to fight. Begone with all of you," he shouted angrily turning to watch the horses and riders come towards the clearing.

"Fine I will leave, and will be sure to leave a stick with the guards, one long enough for you to fish the poor souls below out of the moat...t'would be unsightly for their own loved ones to do it. Since they did not put them there." Trevar turned to leave with out another word.

Marlaude turned to watch 6 horses and their riders approach the lowered porticullis. Slowly 3 advanced baring the Chaswick flag. All men suited in armor stood by ready to fight. A slight sliver of panic crept up Marlaudes spine at Trevars words. You and what army?

Tightening his fists and clenching his jaw he slammed his fist in anger on the crumbling stone wall before him.

Damn him...damn them all!!!
I will NOT claim defeat just yet....

*******

Here we go !!!! I know its short chapter but I had to post it.
So sorry for the late post guys ive been so tied up with daily life and finally got all my orders done...woohoo!!!

Please comment and like and dont forget to check out the book trailer I finally got around to making.
Yeah...I know its late but I was stressing over it big time....

But....good news is I got over the hump of the next few chapters and 🎵I can see clearly now the rain is gone🎶🎶
The final chapters are approaching so stay tuned..