Page 35 of Promises Made at Midnight
She gave a laugh, causing Maya’s smile to broaden. “You’re quite the instigator, aren’t you?”
“Do ye love him?” Maya asked, instead of answering the question.
Bridgette’s eyes widened as Maya’s words echoed inside her head. She pondered them but an instant. “Yes… I suppose I do.”
“And what does that love look like when ye think of yer handsome knight?”
Bridgette momentarily closed her eyes, while memories of her time alone with Ulrick rushed across her soul. “It’s like my soul was completely lost, but everything comes back to me when I’m with him. We’re only whole when we are together.”
“Then what are ye waiting fer, Bridgette? Ye best hurry before ’tis too late. Find my granddaughter. She will help ye in yer disguise.”
“Thank you, Lady Maya, for everything you’ve done for us,” Bridgette said, as the vision of the woman disappeared from view.
“Ye are most welcome, my dear.”
Rushing down the passageway, Bridgette entered the turret and ran up to the fourth floor where the family was housed along with her own room. She saw Amiria rushing from her solar.
“Amiria! I need your help,” Bridgette said, attempting to calm her racing heart.
“’Tis not a good time, Bridgette. I must needs get to the outer bailey to wish my husband Godspeed.”
“I want to ride with Ulrick but need your assistance so I won’t be recognized,” Bridgette’s words rushed out, causing Amiria’s steps to falter. She turned to stare directly into Bridgette’s eyes.
“Are you certain? ’Tis not a leisurely ride and they will be battling men who have overtaken one of the southern villages on our lands.”
“I can’t allow him to leave without me,” Bridgette insisted.
“Then come with me,” Amiria said. “I know a thing or two about disguising myself as a lad. My Aunt Freya actually gave me the idea during the siege of Berwyck. She, too, refused to stay behind when the man she loved rode off without her.”
Bridgette listened to the stories Amiria quickly told her and how hard it was to keep her true identity hidden from Dristan’s men. Bridgette followed behind Amiria when they returned back to her solar. Inside a chest, she pulled out chainmail and a worn helmet. Bridgette was quickly dressed, and they returned to her bedchamber where she retrieved her sword. At the stables, she was not recognized as anything other than another squire preparing his horse to join the knights who were mounting their warhorses. Bridgette gulped down any last minute thoughts of retreating back to the safety of the keep. Something in her gut kept telling her she was making the right decision as she rode through the barbican gate. Ulrick needed her. He just didn’t realize it as yet.
CHAPTER23
They rode fast and hard that morning, despite the torrential downpour of rain that burst upon them whilst they went south. Clumps of wet mud flew from the thundering sound of the hooves of their horses, covering those who rode behind the front riders. Lightning flashed in the sky above. Ulrick squinted at the momentary brightness. ’Twas not as though they had not ridden in such conditions before. The upcoming battle would only be more difficult, the wet ground making footing hard to maintain.
Despite the conditions, Dristan and his knights were more than prepared when they came across a small army of men making their way in the direction of Berwyck… the fools! Did they not know that Dristan did not take kindly to those who made attempts to harm his lands and people?
As they reached the front line of men, swords were raised to slice through those who would give their lives first to a cause that would ultimately fail. Horses barreled through the men as if they were nothing more than troublesome ants. Some steeds were lost when blades of steel slashed into their flesh, causing the knights atop them to jump from their saddles to fight hand to hand as their horse fell dead to the ground.
Dristan’s battle cry rang out and his men began forming into a tight formation that was as well-known to them as ’twas to take their next breath. Shields raised to protect themselves from flying arrows, they began to heavily attack the men, who were unprepared for such a foe. Dristan trained his men well. He would not be merciful to those who attacked what belonged to him and his king.
The steel of Ulrick’s blade slashed forward, striking down one man after another as he swung his weapon over and over again. He caught a glimpse of Godfrey as he, too, continued his attack on their enemy. The young knight was proving his worth. But Ulrick had no further time to think how Godfrey would make an exceptional guardsman for their liege lord. There were too many men they needed to conquer first.
The slippery ground beneath their boots began to mix with brown wet dirt and a river of red from the blood of the injured and dying. Moans came from those who had already fallen and still those who remained upright continued to carry on in their efforts to win the day. Their enemy was fierce in their determination, but Ulrick knew Dristan’s reputation as the Devil’s Dragon would overrule any thoughts of defeat by his army.
The foe in front of him shattered his shield and Ulrick threw the now useless wood to the ground. His sword rang out time and time again as he hacked away at first one enemy and then another. He slipped in the mud beneath his boots and fell to one knee. Before he could stand, he heard his name yelled out from somewhere on the battlefield. His eyes widened in horror at what he beheld.
“Behind you, Ulrick!” The sweet sound of Bridgette’s voice rang out over the sounds of battle. She pulled a kirk from her boot and threw the steel in his direction with uncanny accuracy. He heard the sickening smack as the blade made contact with someone behind him. Turning, he saw a knight with the kirk’s handle protruding from his forehead. The sword he was about to plunge into Ulrick’s back fell uselessly from his hands as his body hit the ground.
Ulrick quickly stood and continued his attack whilst continuing to search for the woman who should be nowhere near a battlefield. But there she was, raising her sword to defend herself time and time again.By the Blessed Virgin Mary!The woman should be safe at Berwyck. She had defied him!
For every step he took forward to reach her side, another came to take the place of the man whom Ulrick had just maimed or killed. He was making no progress and yet another was closer to Bridgette and could help.
“Godfrey,” Ulrick shouted, pointing to the woman who fought besides Dristan’s knights. “Protect Bridgette.”
Godfrey appeared just as surprised as Ulrick had been when he recognized Bridgette’s small frame and quickly made his way to the lady. There was no further time to consider her fate but at least Ulrick knew Godfrey would protect her. Ulrick’s instincts warred within him, knowing he could not be at his lady’s side. He was fighting for his own life and refused to be cut down by some cowardly man who thought he was the weaker foe.
Ever onward on their quest to win the day, ’twas not long before the majority of their enemy who yet lived yielded to the Lord of Berwyck. The stench of the dead filled the air whilst Dristan’s men reformed and began looking for their own amongst the dying. Ulrick wiped his blade before putting the sword in his scabbard and, with a determined stride, made his way toward Bridgette.
