Page 10 of Promises Made at Midnight
“He will if he can but learn to control the anger that continues to consume him.”
“And yet you placed a bet that he would lose all the same.”
Ulrick shrugged with a raised brow toward his friend. “Well… he is not ready yet now, is he? There must be something in Godfrey’s past that haunts him to act out so rashly. I shall work on figuring out what plagues him on the morrow.”
With a knowing smirk, he thumped Bertram on the back, and gave a salute to Drake. His friend was in the process of readying himself to take on another local lad who thought he could best one of the Devil’s Dragon’s men. Ulrick strode off to find what would next hold his interest.
It had been some time since the village of Berwyck had enjoyed such festivities and mayhap the merriment was even greater because of the last fiasco of the tourney that would have landed the victor the Lady Lynet as his bride. But that was long since passed. Ulrick knew Dristan would never allow another mistake as to have one under his lord’s protection stolen from beneath his very nose.
Hawkers called out to him to perchance buy a trinket or two to bestow upon a lady of his choosing. He passed them by, for he had no need for such frippery. He saw Dristan, Amiria, and their children at one such stall as Dristan purchased a sweet each for his son and daughter. Several garrison knights headed in the direction of a nearby field where jousting competitions were being held, but Ulrick had no need to prove his worth in that direction. A day of rest was, indeed, a luxury and for once in his life since he joined Dristan’s personal guard, he would enjoy the day unto himself.
The sun came out from behind a cloud, and he stopped his stroll to shield his eyes from the brightness overhead. He was surprised when he felt his left elbow being taken and he looked down to find an elderly woman with grey hair staring up at him with a mischievous smile.
“My lady, may I be of assistance?” he asked, wondering how she was able to sneak up on him as she had.
“Oh, aye, laddie, that ye may,” she said, with a heavy Scottish brogue.
He waited for her to continue to state how he may be of service, but she only watched him. Her gaze was so intense that Ulrick shuffled on his feet under her close scrutiny. His brow rose in a silent display for her to tell him what aid she needed but again she remained silent, as if she had no perception of what she required of him.
“May I ask, how may I be of service, madam?” he at last inquired.
“’Tis the wrong question ye ask. Mayhap ye should be inquiring what I can do fer ye?”
“Since we have just met, I do not understand what I would need of you… no disrespect intended, of course,” he mumbled, inspecting this elderly Scottish woman who held his curiosity.
“Fair enough,” the woman replied, patting his arm. “’Tis nice tae see a knight who remembers his manners and continues tae live by a code of honor. Ye are honorable, are ye not?”
Ulrick looked down at this tiny woman whilst she urged him forward. No one in his entire adult life had ever questioned his honor. He was a knight of the realm living by a code of chivalry his entire life. ’Twas engraved into his very soul.
“Aye, madam,” he answered truthfully.
“I really had no doubt, but I had to ask ye,” she answered with a wink. “’Tis required, ye must know.”
Ulrick was confused as to where this conversation was going. “What is required?”
’Twas the lady’s turn to look confused, as if he should not be asking her anything. She peered at him once more, before smiling up in satisfaction again. “Why, that ye be worthy, of course.”
“Worthy of what?”
“Ye shall see. Will ye escort me tae the well at the edge of the village, dear boy? ’Tis a far bit of distance fer these old legs of mine.”
“Of course, my lady,” he answered, ignoring her reference that he was a mere boy. No one had called him such for more years than he cared to remember, and he tried not to scowl at the reference.
Despite the woman’s reference to her age, she seemed to pick up her pace as though she were suddenly in a hurry to reach the well she spoke of. The crowd began to thin as they left the festivities far behind and Ulrick saw their destination up ahead. She continued to pull him along before she sat to take her ease on a log that served as a bench of sorts.
He looked around, thinking that mayhap she was to meet someone, but there was no one else around. He could in no way leave her here alone so he waited somewhat impatiently, not knowing how else he might be of help to her besides standing guard.
“Ye be a good laddie,” she said with another bright smile. “Will ye be so good as tae get me a dipper of water from the well?”
Ulrick gave her a brief nod and went toward the well, taking the rope before dropping the bucket down and hearing it splash in the water far below. He began to pull the rope end over end and gazed over his shoulder. He squinted whilst he gazed upon the old lady for, as the sun hit her body, she appeared surreal. The light perchance was playing tricks with him, for she waved at him as if he should hurry with his task. He turned and, before he knew what had happened, a womanly body was hurled into his arms, slamming into him. They began to stumble backwards to the ground and Ulrick quickly maneuvered so she would not be crushed by his weight.
Merde!Where the devil did she come from?He began to worry for her health when she did not open her eyes. He turned to the elderly woman he left on the log only to see that she was gone. Returning his attention to the young woman beneath him, he saw that she was in need of reviving. Rising briefly to retrieve the full bucket, he set it next to the woman in order to splash the cool water upon her face.
“My lady? My lady, can you hear me?” he asked. Green eyes began to slowly flutter open like the soft wings of a butterfly in flight.
He could only stare in wonder at the vision in front of him whilst she came to life. He refused to think of who she might be. His eyes widened in surprise when a woman’s voice sounded inside his head as clear as the day was fair…Ye be welcome.
CHAPTER8
