Page 67 of The Robber Knight
“What do you think?” she wanted to know.“When will they attack?”
He shrugged. “Only God can tell. We can onlybe vigilant.”
There was a pause.
“Milady?”
“Yes, Uncle?” His tone had been as quietlyunemotional as always. But she had known him long enough to detectthe hint of apprehension in his voice. It made her nervous.
“I have to tell you something else.”
“What?”
“An hour ago, I received a message. The othertwo riders have returned. They bear word that your two remainingvassals, Sir Waldar and Sir Rudolfus, will be arriving within thehour.”
“How wonderful!” A broad smile started tospread over Ayla's face—until she saw Isenbard's expression. “It iswonderful, isn't it? You just said it yourself; we haven't gotnearly enough men. There's nothing bad about reinforcements,surely.”
“If you say so, Milady.”
Once again, she heard more than he said.
“Isenbard?Isthere something bad about reinforcements?”
“That depends on who recruits, trains, andcommands them, Milady.”
Just then, shouts went up from the scoutsstationed on the other side of the village, whose job it was tolook out for the approach of Ayla's remaining vassals. They bothturned and, looking towards the west, saw two groups of menapproaching. Groups, not columns. It was obvious, even to Ayla'suntrained eye, that these men, unlike Isenbard's soldiers, were notmarching, but simply walking.
“It's a long time since Sir Waldar and SirRudolfus have been on a visit here,” she said, timidly. “I don'treally know them at all. Are they... err... very capablecommanders?”
Isenbard didn't reply.
VacillatingVassals
It was about an hour later that the door to Reuben'sroom swung open and Ayla staggered in, one hand covering hereyes.
“You don't mind if I sit here and contemplateour doom for a while, do you?” she asked, slumping down at the footof his bed without waiting for a reply, and without removing herhand from her face.
“Err... no, not at all.”
“Good. Oh, and by the way, you were right. Weare all going to be slaughtered.”
Reuben had spent a lot of time in femalecompany, and had perfected the art of reading their moods andoutbursts. He might be wrong, but something told him that somethinghad transpired, something which wasn't very encouraging andpromising.
“What has happened to you, Ayla?” He reachedout and tried to pull her hand away from her face—in vain. Hecouldn't have lifted a leaf from the ground, he was so weak. Damn!“Ayla, talk to me! What happened? Did you have an encounter withthe enemy?”
“Worse,” she groaned. “I just met ourallies.”
Reuben relaxed, rolled his eyes, and let hishand sink back onto the bed. “So that's it. You're simplyoverreacting.”
“You haven't met Sir Rudolfus and Sir Waldarbefore, have you?”
“I must admit that I haven't had thepleasure, no.”
“Then do me a favor and don't speak of thingsyou don't understand.”
“Come on. It can't have beenthatbad.”
Ayla turned around and lowered her hand. Forthe first time since she'd entered the room, Reuben could see herexpression—and flinched at the sight.
