Tanon snapped her hand back. Cedric! No! It was Gareth’s brother! And his cold, meaningless smile hadn’t changed. What was the exiled prince doing in Wales? Had he come back for her?
“My true husband is Gareth, and this is his first in command,” she said mustering all the strength she possessed not to recoil when his gaze penetrated hers. “I give you fair warning to leave us in peace, or this mighty warrior shall be forced to kill you and your men.”
Cedric laughed right in her face. “This man, you say?” He rode his mount around her and stopped in front of Madoc. “Why, it is he who has delivered you to me.”
Tanon’s eyes darted to Madoc. She would never have believed such a terrible lie if he did not, in that moment, lift his gaze to meet hers squarely, boldly.
“Non.”She could barely form a whisper. “I don’t understand.”
“Peace”—Cedric’s taunting voice made her blink, but she could not tear her stricken gaze from Madoc’s—“is an ideal that will cost my brother his life.Cymruhas no place for cowards like Gareth.”
She was only half listening. The rogue prince had to be lying. “Madoc, how could you?” Her voice and her hands shook. It couldn’t be. Madoc would never betray Gareth.
“He is helping reclaimCymrufrom your people.” Cedric trotted beside her and pinched her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look at him. “As will you.” He flashed her a grin that was devoid of anything but self-importance. He called over his shoulder to a large, rough looking brute with hair as dark as Tanon’s, and a beard to match. “Dafydd, ride with the lady. I have matters to discuss with Madoc.”
“You betrayed him.” Tanon’s eyes seared into Madoc’s as he rode past her. “Bastard.” He didn’t respond, nor did he look at her again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
They rode southwest,following the winding river Tywi across the rolling ranges of Deheubarth. After his talk with Cedric, Madoc returned to Tanon’s side. She would have preferred not to look at him, but he rode his horse close to hers. She glared at him twice when his knee rubbed against her leg. She tried to concentrate on a way to escape, but even if she succeeded in getting away from the men, she had no idea which way to go. Her thoughts returned to Gareth’s first in command.
He was good at deceit, that one. Why, no one would ever believe him capable of betraying Gareth. He was always at Gareth’s side, guarding him from danger: at the tourney, at the wedding feast with Roger, at the campsite. How was it possible that Madoc could turn traitor on his childhood friend?
Gareth was clever. How could he not have known? He wasWyfyrn, the warrior who’d eluded William’s marcher lords and then found a way to kill them in their beds. He had calculated and countered Bleddyn’s next move that first night at the campsite. Tanon’s heart began to pound in her ears. How did he know about Prince Dafydd’s planned attack on the king? Unless Madoc told him. Was that why Gareth had been in such a sour mood before he left the village?Non,Tanon’s heart rejected what her mind told her. If Madoc didn’t betray Gareth, then that meant Gareth knew about her abduction, mayhap even staged it himself, careless of what befell her while in Cedric’s company.
She laughed at herself, fighting the sickening knot tightening her belly. He didn’t know. Gareth wouldn’t risk her life. At the campsite, he’d known Bleddyn’s men would come to him. But he’d been there all along. He hadn’t left her, and he barely knew her then.Non,Tanon convinced herself. He didn’t know about Madoc. He couldn’t. She’d let him in. She trusted her heart with him. He didn’t know.
*
When the moonbroke through the wispy clouds and bathed the land in a silver fog, they made camp within a stand of tall ash trees. Madoc returned to Tanon’s side while Cedric’s men spread out their pallets and built a small fire. Crouching beside her, Madoc offered her a hunk of stale bread and a cup of water. She refused both.
“Eat.”
“Rot in hell.”
“Madoc, slap the teeth from her mouth,” Dafydd commanded on his way toward the fire. “The saucy bitch needs discipline.”
Tanon glared up at him. Her fingers rolled into fists at her sides. She was afraid of them, but she never could tolerate bullies, and her temper got the better of her. “Did you discipline your daughter after she helped Gareth escape your dungeon?”
Dafydd pivoted on his heel and glared at her. “Lying bitch!” He was upon her instantly, his large hand pulled back over his shoulder to strike her.
Madoc reacted even faster. Curling his arm around Dafydd’s calf, he yanked hard, bringing the northern prince to his knees…and then flat on his back. Madoc’s eyes smoldered with murderous intent while he held a short dagger to Dafydd’s throat.
“Touch her, and I’ll cut off your hands, one finger at a time.”
“Madoc, remove yourself from the prince,” Cedric called out blandly as he strode toward them. “Dafydd, you’ll do well to remember that the wench belongs to me.”
“You’re deranged.” Tanon flung at him. When he squatted before her, she met his level gaze directly. “My father and King William will—”
“Bring war toCymru? Aye, that’s what I’m hoping.” He studied her with a long calculating gaze that made Tanon want to run for her life. “Does my brother tolerate such cheek from this woman, Madoc?”
“She’s frightened, Cedric. She means no—”
“Because I won’t tolerate it. Give me your knife.” He held his hand out to Madoc.
“I said she’s frightened,” Madoc repeated, rising to his feet and pushing Dafydd away from him.
“AndIsaid, give me your knife.”