Page 66 of The Sword and the Damsel

“One month, and we both go,” Victor interjected.

Lady Helisende’s attention whipped from her to Victor. “Four months, and only one of you goes. You choose which one. I can’t lose all of my leverage after all.”

“Two months, and we stay in Guestling, not Hastings,” Victor countered.

“Three months, and I don’t care where you sleep at night, so long as you spend your days here—both of you.”

Victor nodded slowly. “Three months of Lord Daniel’s choosing, and he can call me back at any time should he have need of me.Andour agreement is predicated on Lord Daniel’s approval. He is my liege lord, and I do as he bids.”

Lady Helisende looked at him long and hard then pursed her lips. “I suppose I can live with that.”

“And you will never attempt to hold either of us against our will again,” Alais added. “Oranymembers of our family, currently living or future members. Furthermore, this agreement only remains in force while all three of us live. It does not pass to future generations. We must have your solemn oath if we are to return here.”

With a chuckle, Lady Helisende said, “Smart girl, your wife. I knew you two would make a good match. Didn’t I say so before you left for Winchelsea, Victor?”

Alais looked at Victor. She’d remembered all the hints Lady Helisende had dropped about her nephew when she was imprisoned the year before, but she didn’t know Victor had been the recipient of similar hints. It made his initial reluctance to court her even more of a mystery, though perhaps he was as wary of his aunt’s motives as she was. Either way, it cost her something to admit to herself that Lady Helisende had been right.

“What would you prefer, my love?” Victor murmured for her ears alone. “Would you rather go to your brother-in-law or stay?”

There was no question. “I think you should stay, and I should go to Daniel. You’re wounded and need care. Also, I think he’ll take it better if your aunt detains you than if she detains me.”

“Agreed.”

“Have you decided which of you will go to Lord Daniel?” the countess demanded.

“I will,” Alais answered. “We should leave immediately to be sure I reach him before he arrives.”

Victor kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you again very soon, my love,” he murmured into her hair.

“I know,” Alais whispered.

“Let us depart,” Thomas said gruffly.

She followed the grizzled commander out, taking one last, longing look at Victor. It made her heart ache to be parted again so soon after being reunited. But it was temporary, she assured herself. With luck, she would see him again before sunset and possibly much sooner than that. After all, Winchelsea was a mere three leagues away.

Thomas seemed like a man with about as much humor as a rock, Alais thought sadly as she mounted the horse Sir Thomas directed her to. Her charm would go nowhere with him.

“My lady, are you ready?” he asked in gruff tones.

“I am.”

Without another word, he mounted and rode out through the castle gates, keeping a brisk pace. She followed closely.

It was a lovely, clear, crisp autumn day with the sun shining and a pleasant bite in the air. The blue of the Channel flashed and sparkled beside them as they rode northeast along the ancient Roman road that connected Hastings to Winchelsea. The horses’ hooves clopped on the massive paving stones between the grooves worn by centuries of carts traveling to and fro.

It was not the natural state of things for Hastings and Winchelsea to be at odds, as this road proved. Travelers and commerce had flowed back and forth unimpeded for time immemorial. Perhaps it was for the best that Daniel and Lady Helisende were going to talk, even if the reason for it was troubling.

Less than halfway to Winchelsea, Alais spied a carriage with a contingent of knights accompanying it in the distance.Daniel.Who else could it be? She quickened her pace, passing Sir Thomas, who swiftly caught up.

“You think that’s Lord Daniel?” Thomas asked, his voice full of disdain.

“I’m sure of it. I can see his coat of arms on the pennant.”

“Then we must be wary.”

“We must make haste. The sooner I reach him, the better it will be for all concerned.”

She trotted forward, ignoring Sir Thomas’s grumbling behind her.

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