Beneath a Midnight Moon - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,112

to go,” Hardane said.

He brushed his knuckles over her cheek, then kissed her one last time, quickly, fervently.

“Pray for me, lady,” he murmured, and turning on his heel, he left the chamber.

Pray for me. His words seemed to hang in the air. Immediately, she dropped to her knees beside their bed and began to plead with the God of Argone to watch over her husband, to protect him in battle, to return him to her safe and unharmed.

Hardane followed Jared out of the keep. The courtyard was swarming with men, mostly farmers, whose fear was evident on their faces as they ran for cover from the arrows and rocks that were raining into the courtyard.

The castle walls were manned by Hardane’s fighting men. Climbing onto one of the parapets, Hardane stared down at the enemy. Hundreds of armored men swarmed around the castle walls. Some were firing arrows. Others lobbed rocks from a catapult. Others were obviously seeking for a way into the castle.

Agonized screams slashed through the air as some of Hardane’s men poured a cauldron of boiling oil onto a group of Renick’s men who were battering the main portal.

The fighting went on for hours, but Hardane’s men managed to keep the armies of Mouldour and Corianton at bay.

The sun climbed in the sky, and still the fighting went on, with neither side gaining an advantage until Renick’s men began shooting fire arrows over the wall, igniting several bales of straw, as well as one of the outbuildings that was being used to house some of the women and children from the village.

In minutes, the courtyard was filled with confusion as women and children ran out of the burning building screaming in panic.

“Jared, get those fires out!” Hardane hollered.

Shouting his acknowledgment, Jared rounded up a dozen men and put them to the task.

Swearing softly, Hardane went to check on conditions at the rear of the castle.

From a distance, Renick watched the battle, not caring that his losses were heavy. He must seize the lady Kylene. Only when she was dead, only when it was certain that she would never bear Hardane’s sons, would the throne of Mouldour be secure.

And once he had Kylene, he would have Hardane as well. He would execute them both once he had them safely aboard his ship, thereby forever putting an end to the prophesy. It would be his children, his and Selene’s, that ruled Argone and Mouldour.

Renick nodded with satisfaction. Even now, four of his most trusted men were making their way through the tunnel that led to Hardane’s chamber. Soon, he thought, Kylene would be in his custody. And when he had the woman, the man would follow.

In the meantime, his men had been ordered to take as many lives as they could, but to inflict as little damage as possible to Castle Argone, which would, after all, soon be his.

Kylene sat at the window, her hands fisted in her lap as she watched the activity on the castle walls and in the courtyard below. Occasionally, she caught a glimpse of Hardane. Even in a crowd, she had no trouble picking him out. Taller than most of his men, he moved with a purpose and assurance that set him apart from the others. The fighting had been going on for hours, but so far Renick’s men had been unable to breach the walls.

Sharilyn had spent the morning at her side, but now, with the coming of dusk, she had gone downstairs to make sure that food was being prepared for the men.

How much longer, Kylene wondered, how much longer could Hardane’s men repel Renick’s army? Hadj had come to her every hour, bringing news of the battle. Losses on their side had been few, though many had been wounded. Several small buildings within the bailey had been burned to the ground. A child had been trampled to death when a frightened horse jumped a corral fence. Three women had suffered severe burns in the fire; a fourth had died. Renick’s losses were high.

With a sigh, Kylene buried her face in her hands. When would it end?

Thinking it was Sharilyn returning, she didn’t look up when she heard footsteps coming up behind her.

A scream was trapped in her throat as someone dropped a sack over her head. Rough hands pulled her to her feet, and then she was being dragged across the floor.

She cried Hardane’s name, her nails digging into the arms of the man who held her. She heard him curse,