Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER TWENTY

A French swordsman.

Sinclair was looking forward to the challenge. It wasn't often that he had the opportunity to fight someone who was specifically trained only with the sword in mind, so he was ready for it. He was eager for it.

The fight, from the start, was violent.

The Frenchman used a longsword, made from steel, that was heavy and sharp and deadly. Sinclair assessed it the moment he unsheathed it. But Sinclair was carrying his personal sword, the one forged in Spain with a textured hilt, a wider hand guard, and a serrated edge. It was a beast of a sword, surprisingly lightweight, but it could carve through a man's body cleanly in one stroke if delivered with enough force.

And Sinclair had done it, time and time again.

The Frenchman came at him first and Sinclair simply stepped aside, letting the man's momentum take him right past. The Frenchman had more to prove, and it was clear from the start that he believed himself superior to anything Sinclair could do.

That was where Sinclair was going to defeat him.

But he had to shut everything out. The noise, the surroundings. Mostly, he was shutting out Elisiana, whom he could hear weeping off to his left. He had to reduce his fighting stage to his own little world, where only his opponent was visible, and that was exactly what he did. More than that, the Frenchman's initial offensive would be his last because Sinclair intended to end the fight quickly. He didn't have time for a prolonged battle. Once the Frenchman stumbled past him, it was his turn to attack.

And he did, ably.

With a heavy arc of his sword, he caught the Frenchman on the left side of his torso, carving into his back because the man hadn't had the opportunity to turn around and face him again. It was a deep cut, a bloody cut, and one that put the Frenchman at long odds from the start. After that, Sinclair charged him like an enraged bull, throwing his weight and skill at the Frenchman, who was already in a difficult position. At first, he was able to fight back and drive Sinclair back a little, but he was bleeding heavily from the gash that had driven mail, leather, and fabric into his torso and kidneys. In a short amount of time, there were bloody footprints all around him as he bled down his leg and onto his shoe.

But Sinclair showed no mercy.

No mercy!

The fight moved across the great hall floor, which was stone because Sybil didn't like a dirt floor. But that also meant the blood dripping down the Frenchman's left leg was making it slippery, and more than once, he slipped in his own blood. But Sinclair didn't let up. He swung at the man so hard, and so swiftly, that sparks flew when their blades came together, and the Frenchman, for all his skill, was being beaten into the ground by a man who had far more to lose than he did.

But the fight went on.

At one point, they reached the dais and the Frenchman got a hold of one of the pitchers of wine and hurled it at Sinclair, who was able to turn his head in time so he wasn't hit in the eyes. That simply enraged him, so he leapt over the table and tackled the Frenchman, shoving him to the ground and landing on top of him. The Frenchman tried to fight back, but Sinclair was on top of him, bringing his blade around to cut his head off. The Frenchman managed to move his head, and his body, which threw off Sinclair's aim. His sword ended up hitting the stone and bouncing back up again, only to embed itself in a chair. It was enough of a diversion to give the Frenchman the opportunity to throw a punch into Sinclair's face that sent him tumbling backward.

The Frenchman was on his feet now, staggering away from the dais, practically dragging his sword because his blood loss was so great. He teetered in Santiago's direction and the pirate king gave him a big kick, sending him sideways and onto his knees. As Sinclair finally managed to yank his sword from where it had been wedged into the wood, Aristeo appeared from behind his uncle.

And he was armed.

Sinclair leapt over the feasting table again, hunting the injured Frenchman, but Aristeo was hunting him as well. For his sister, for the anguish she'd been through, it was an apology as only a brother could give. He came up behind the Frenchman and rammed his broadsword into the man's back, effectively ending the fight. Before Sinclair could reach him and finish the job, the French swordsman bled out all over Lady Sybil's stone floor.

The battle was over.

Realizing this, Sinclair simply stood over the man, watching him breathe his last. It was a sobering thing watching a man die, especially when it did not have to happen. Winded, Sinclair finally moved his gaze to Robert.

"I will pay you what you are owed," he said in a voice that was not meant to be countermanded. "You no longer own any betrothal contract. Agree with me at this moment that Elisiana is free to wed whomever she chooses or I swear I will take your Frenchman's sword and ram it down your throat. Is this in any way unclear?"

Robert, eyes wide, tried to back away, but Payne and Anteaus were there. He had nowhere to go. Cornered, and frightened, he simply nodded. Once.

But it was enough.

Thank God, it was enough.

Now that the situation was acknowledged, Sinclair heaved a sigh of relief and returned his attention Aristeo. He studied him for a moment before speaking.

"I have seen you before," he said. "The night Lisi was taken from the Black Cock. You were the one who took her."

Aristeo nodded. "I did," he said evenly. "But you understand I was under orders."

"I know."

Aristeo shook his head after a moment, pointing his bloodied sword at the Frenchman. "No more orders," he said. "At least, none that I am going to follow where it pertains to my sister. This situation is finished."

He smiled faintly, and Sinclair's features reflected the expression. With a nod of his head in silent thanks to Aristeo for assisting him with the Frenchman, Sinclair turned to Adriano.

He was standing with his arm around Elisiana, his pale eyes fixed on Sinclair. Before Sinclair could say a word to him, Adriano looked at his daughter.

"This is the man you want?" he asked quietly.

Elisiana, who was still somewhat in shock over the fight she had just witnessed and the magnificence of Sinclair's skill, nodded eagerly.

"Aye, Papa," she said. " Please. "

There was such pleading in her tone that Adriano knew he had no choice. "If I denied you, we would never know a moment's peace, would we?"

"Nay."

Adriano nodded as if his suspicions had been confirmed. With a grunt of resignation, he turned to Sinclair. "I hope you know what you are asking," he said. "Dirty drawings and all. I have no sympathy for you."

Sinclair laughed softly. "I am not asking for your sympathy, my lord," he said. "But I am asking for permission to marry your daughter."

Adriano looked between his daughter and the man who had vied for her hand. More than that, he'd killed for it. But Adriano still really had no idea who the man was other than what had been told to him in the heat of an argument, and he started to laugh at the ridiculousness of everything. As he put his hands over his face, perhaps to reconcile himself to what was coming, Elisiana left her father and rushed to Sinclair, throwing her arms around him.

"Are you well?" she asked. "Did he hurt you?"

Sinclair shook his head. "Of course not," he said. "Why? Did it look like he hurt me?"

"He was very skilled."

He poked her nose affectionately. "But I was better."

She nodded, laying her head against his chest and hugging him tightly again. Sinclair kissed the top of her head, letting her work through her fear of just having seen him participate in a deadly fight, as Santiago made his way over to them.

"Lisi," he said, putting his hand on her back. "Is marrying this man what will make you happy, mi hija ?"

Elisiana was still clinging to Sinclair, unwilling to let him go, fearful that Santiago might try to separate them even though she knew he wouldn't. Still, after what she had just witnessed, and after everything she had been through with her father and brother and even her Uncle Robert, she wasn't convinced that someone wasn't going to try to take her away from Sinclair again. She wondered if she'd ever get over that fear. But for now, it seemed that everything was as she'd prayed it would be.

The man she wanted was here.

Adolph was already married.

There was nothing more to say.

"Aye," she said to Santiago. "This is what will make me happy. He is what will make me happy. And you brought him here. He was with you all the time?"

It was more a statement than a question. She had figured out that Sinclair had come in Santiago's escort, and Santiago nodded.

"I brought him," he said. "He is a determined man, Lisi. He came to me for help and I am glad he did."

Elisiana turned her adoring face up to Sinclair. "So am I," she said. "I do not know how any of this came about, but I suppose there will be plenty of time to explain it. All that matters is that you are here. I can still hardly believe it."

Sinclair smiled at her. "It took some doing," he said. "You told me that Lord Santiago was sympathetic toward you and I had to take the chance that he would care about this betrothal enough to do something about it. It was really the only chance I had to break your betrothal. Thank God it worked."

He kissed her on the forehead, in full view of her father and brother, who did not protest. Aristeo was not displeased at the prospect of having a new brother-in-law who was a Blackchurch trainer, and Adriano was simply resigned to the fact that his daughter would get what she wanted in the end.

But there was still the matter of Robert.

He was still standing back with Payne and Anteaus, who hadn't let him move except to check on his French swordsman. Santiago had been eyeing him since the fight ended, and even now, as he stood with Elisiana and Sinclair, he continued to eye Robert. After a moment, he turned to Sinclair.

"Do you remember when we were on board my ship and you told me that you would be in my debt for helping you with Lisi?" he asked.

Sinclair's demeanor suggested that he was leery of where the conversation was going. "I did, my lord," he said. "That has not changed."

Santiago indicated the great hall with its broken chairs and blood all over the floor. "I have seen many swordsmen in my life," he said. "But I have never seen one with your skill. The Frenchman never stood a chance against you."

"Thank you, my lord."

"I told you that I may want that sword arm someday in payment of your debt to me."

Sinclair sighed faintly. "And you have it, my lord," he said. "But may I at least marry Elisiana first? That way, you and I shall be kin. And I am always happy to lend my skill to my kin."

Santiago looked at him in surprise. "You would not be ashamed of having a pirate as a relative?"

Sinclair chuckled. "I would be honored," he said. "Also, I think having you as a cousin will greatly irritate Abelard."

Santiago burst out laughing. "And I am always looking for the opportunity to do that to him," he said. "My old, dear, and irritable friend Abelard. I like you, Swordsman. You think like I do."

Sinclair chuckled, glancing at Elisiana, who was laughing along with them even though she'd not met St. Abelard. Still, she knew enough about Santiago to imagine what St. Abelard must be like.

"I will take that as a compliment, my lord," Sinclair said. "But if you want my sword, when will you want it? You've not been clear."

He was back to business because there was no telling what Santiago would want, or how long he would want it. Santiago's focus lingered on him, and Elisiana began to fear that her cousin would want him indefinitely.

" Tio ," she said softly, "please… do you truly need him now? May we not marry first?"

Santiago looked at her and a gleam came to his eye. After a moment, he turned to look at Robert, across the hall, and pointed to him.

"You," he said. "You tried to harm my Lisi and I cannot tolerate this. You told me that you have a bigger army than I do, but I have something you do not."

Robert, unable to move because of Payne and Anteaus, eyed Santiago with some fear. "What is that?"

" Demonios del mar ," Santiago said, his dark eyes glittering. "I have a new ship and she needs men to take care of her. Someone to scrub her decks and ensure her sails are always prepared to fly. Come with me, de Norbury. I shall make a man out of you."

Robert looked at him in horror. "I will not go with you," he said flatly. "I am not a seaman."

"You are not a decent man, either," Santiago said. "You would be perfect amongst my fellow pirates. You are underhanded and unforgiving, and you also make light of a man's life like you tried to make light of Lisi's. In fact, there are chains in the hold with your name on them. For trying to ruin my Lisi's life, you deserve nothing less."

He looked at Payne and Anteaus, nodding his head in the direction of the bailey, and they took the hint. They proceeded to take Robert by the arms and began dragging him toward the entry door.

"You cannot do this!" Robert cried, panicking. "Stop this instant! Adriano, tell him to stop!"

Adriano and Aristeo were watching the man being dragged away. So were Sinclair and Elisiana, all of them with hardly a flicker of emotion in their expression.

Adriano shrugged.

"I will pay you the money I owe you when you return," he said, lifting a hand to bid farewell as if the man was taking a pleasure trip. "I will tell your wife that you chose to sail with Santiago de Fernandez, the most feared pirate in the world. You are off on a new adventure, Robert, that you very much deserve."

Robert started to dig his feet in, refusing to be dragged. "I will not go," he said. "You cannot force me!"

"Ah, that is where you would be wrong," Santiago said. "I can force you. And I shall. Take your punishment like a man, de Norbury. And know that if you try to run, I will cut your feet off and put you in my hold for the rest of your miserable life."

With that, he pointed to the bailey where the rest of his pirate escort was currently gathering. Sinclair took Elisiana by the hand and they walked to the door, watching Robert as he was tied up and tossed onto the back of a horse. Santiago had a brief conversation with Payne and Anteaus before turning to bid Sinclair and Elisiana farewell. He blew kisses at them, waving happily, before mounting the silver horse that he was so proud of.

As Santiago and his men began to move out with their unhappy captive, Payne and Anteaus returned to Sinclair.

"Do you want us to clean up the Frenchman, Sin?" Anteaus asked, nodding his head in the direction of the cooling corpse. "We can send him to the nearest church."

Sinclair nodded back, turning to look at the crumpled figure. "He was very good," he said. "His death is… unfortunate."

"Better him that you," Elisiana said seriously. "It makes me ill to think that I might have lost you when you were just within my grasp."

Sinclair smiled. "Never," he said. "I had to sell my soul to pirates to get you back, Lisi. No French swordsman was going to stop me."

"You dinna sell yer soul, Sin," Payne said. "But I did."

Sinclair looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Payne grinned, throwing a thumb in the direction of Santiago's departing party. "I mean that Santiago did indeed want yer sword," he said. "But I offered mine instead and he agreed. It seems as if I'll be a sea devil for the next year."

Sinclair didn't like the sound of that. " You are paying my debt to him?" he said, shocked. "Payne, I cannot ask that of you. I will speak with Santiago."

"Save yer breath," Payne said. "Ye have a new wife tae consider, or at least, ye will. I dunna have a wife. Or anyone. It makes more sense that I should go, so let me do this for ye. Ye've been a good friend tae me, Sin. And Lisi… this is my wedding gift tae ye, lass. A husband who will stay by yer side and not be out tae sea."

Elisiana had both worry and gratitude in her eyes. "Are you certain of this, Payne?" she said. "This will be a big change for you."

"Of course," he said. "As I said… I will be a pirate, and a damn good one!"

Sinclair put hand on his forehead in disbelief. "You vomited the entire time you were at sea," he pointed out. "Payne, this is not a good idea."

Payne grinned. "I'll get used tae it," he said. "Ye must let me do this, Sin. I want tae."

Sinclair tried one last time. "What will your mother say?"

"We're going tae Scotland, so she can join us!"

With that, he leaned over and kissed Elisiana on the cheek before rushing out to find the de Fernandez horse he'd come to Fremington on. Sinclair and Elisiana watched him ride off, following Santiago's party, before Sinclair shook his head in awe.

"That is quite a sacrifice he's made," he said. "You should have seen him shipboard. Every time we found him, he was leaning over the rail, spilling up the contents of his stomach. Therefore, to do this on my behalf—knowing how sick he becomes at sea—all I can say is that the man is a true friend."

Elisiana smiled. "He is," she said. "But isn't it somewhat like the sacrifice you made for Tay? The one that took you to Toxandria for a few years?"

He nodded. "I suppose," he said. "I'll have to explain it to Denis, however. I hope he understands."

"Hopefully he will be accepting when I tell him that I have volunteered to take Payne's class," Anteaus said. "I told Payne that I would. With your help, of course."

Sinclair looked at the man. "He told you of his plans?"

"He did," he said. "I think the truth is that he really does want to be a pirate. He loved it. This was just an excuse."

Sinclair grinned. "I would not be surprised," he said. "I think he'll make a fine pirate, also. As for you, Anteaus… You told me once that coming to help me reclaim Elisiana was a way of building trust between us. I am pleased to say that you have built that trust. You have proven yourself a more-than-worthy man in my eyes. And I shall support you as Payne's temporary replacement."

Anteaus dipped his head in thanks. "That is good to hear, Sinclair," he said, addressing him informally for the first time. "I'm very glad this has ended well for everyone."

With that, he turned back into the hall, where Aristeo and Adriano were trying to figure out what to do with the Frenchman. Anteaus told them that he would wrap the body up and take him to the church, and they were grateful. Adriano had two younger boys that he didn't want viewing a bloody body in his great hall and a wife who would have probably fainted at the sight, so he left Aristeo and Anteaus to clean up the mess while he made his way over to Sinclair and Elisiana.

They were standing in the doorway, wrapped in each other's arms. Adriano watched them for a moment before speaking. He felt as if he was intruding on a very private moment, but it was necessary. Now that the frenzy had died down and the situation was settling, there were a few things he had to say.

To both of them.

"Elisiana," he said, watching both her and Sinclair turn toward him. "I hope you understand that I was not being cruel to hurt you. I had made a bargain and I was determined to stay to it. It was a contract and nothing more. It was never designed to hurt you."

Now that Elisiana had what she wanted, it was easier for her to be forgiving. "I understand, Papa," she said. "But you must understand that even if Sinclair was not involved in the situation, I still would have found a way not to marry Adolph. I am sorry you could not listen to my concerns and take them seriously."

Adriano sighed heavily. "I suppose we will not agree on this," he said. "As my daughter, it is your duty to do as you are told. As your father, my duty is to ensure you are married and have a secure future. A daughter's feelings on the matter do not normally affect that decision."

Elisiana looked at the man who was struggling with his pride, with his control of his family. A rebellious daughter had shaken his foundation badly, and she knew it. She let go of Sinclair long enough to grasp her father's hands.

"I do not want to argue with you," she said, softly but sincerely. "You are my father and I love you. I am sorry we have had this disagreement. But everyone thought you were wrong but you. Even Santiago thought you were wrong. Yet I will not linger on this. In the end, I have what I want and I do not feel the need to discuss this any longer. I do believe Sinclair asked for your permission to marry me, Papa. I did not hear your clear answer."

"I thought I gave it."

"Look him in the eye and tell him, Papa," she murmured. " Please. "

Adriano looked at the man with the pale green eyes, the one who had so ably fought the French swordsman. Truly, it had been something to witness. After a moment, he snorted softly.

"You have my permission, de Reyne," he said. "But you are going to need that sword and every bit of your Blackchurch experience to manage this woman you wish to marry. She is headstrong and stubborn and, as I said earlier, you deserve what you wish for. Lewd pictures and all. You have my blessing, mi hijo , because you are surely going to need it."

Elisiana was fighting off a smile but couldn't quite manage it. She looked at Sinclair to see that he was grinning, too. With a laugh, she threw herself into his arms as he lifted her off the ground, spinning her around in their delirium. Adriano shook his head at them both, the joyful pair, and headed off to tell his wife what had become of her brother.

Well, maybe not.

As Adriano departed the great hall, Sinclair and Elisiana stood in the doorway, embracing one another in a way that suggested gratitude was the greatest feeling of all at the moment. Hope was paramount, of course, but the only thing ahead of them was life, love, and piles of ginger wafers.

For the Swordsman and the tavern wench, their joy could not have been more profound.

Or a blooming love more solid.