Page 17 of Knight of Darkness
“’Tis curious, is it not? One would think Ratcliff would be keeping an eye on a woman who is the sister of his intended. Unless he lied about the connection—perhaps ’tis Ceridwen himself who he means to marry. But that would give him even more reason to stay close to her side.” Wymar replied scratching at his beard. “Theo, do me a favor and take a stroll amongst the camp and see if you can find the cur.”
Theobald glanced at his brother with a frown. “I would rather be drinking my fill to celebrate our success than searching for a man I would just as soon not come upon. I am telling you, Wymar, there’s something I do not like about him.”
Wymar patted his brother upon his back. “Aye, I agree, but that is all the more reason to keep an eye on him, if for no other reason than to satisfy myself that he is up to no mischief.”
Wymar watched his brother take off knowing he would do a thorough search of the knights who were already in the process of getting drunk. If the Empress was not careful, her entire army would be careless enough to become worthless come the morn with aching heads and roiling stomachs.
“You are upset,” Richard said as they continued onward toward their own camp.
“Owing a debt to a woman does not sit well with me.”
“I think owing the lady is but one of the reasons you are angry.”
Reaching his tent, Wymar motioned Richard to enter. He proceeded to fill two goblets with wine. “I had hoped to capture him myself,” Wymar confessed swiping at the back of his neck.
“Stephen?”
“Of course, Stephen! Do you not ken how much of an advantage his capture by my hands would have given to my quest to win Empress Matilda’s?” Wymar sat and hung his head in his hands. “I had hope that if I had been the one to have seized him, the Empress would reward me by returning my title and my lands.”
“All is not lost, my friend,” Richard said pulling up a stool. “You can still plead your case to her.”
“Aye… if she will grant me an audience but I have the feeling she will be too busy making her way to London to be crowned and seeing that her prisoner is kept someplace safe. Who am I but a hired sword?”
“’Tis certain she knows of your name. And I am certain she will feel sympathy for her cause. Stephen stripped many a nobleman from their titles and lands and claimed them for his own—singling out in particular those who were most loyal to her.”
“Indeed, for such was the cause of my father’s death, at the hands of Stephen’s men,” Wymar growled out.
“You have carried the burden of his death for many a year, Wymar. At some point you have to let the matter rest and live your life.”
Wymar stood and began to pace his tent like a caged animal. “How do I let my sire’s death rest? ’Tis still as fresh in my mind as though the deed but happened yester morn instead of nigh unto six years ago. My brothers and I were forced to escape our own keep lest the same fate should meet us. We had no chance to collect but a few things. All else, the relics of my family, gathered over the course of generations, were looted or burned.”
“You forget I was there with you afterwards,” Richard claimed. “I know all too well what you lost. But ’twill not help to continue dwelling on a matter that cannot be changed. Brooding upon how another captured Stephen will not make your father return.”
Wymar gave a heavy sigh. “Aye, I know. I had hoped that if I had been the one to imprison Stephen myself, I could return to our homeland and my brothers would no longer have to hire out their swords for a bit of coin.
“And that still may happen. If not today, then someday.”
“Let us hope so. Brockenhurst may not have been much, but ’twas our land and must needs be returned to us. In the meantime, I still have Lady Ceridwen to deal with.”
Richard chuckled. “She is interesting, to say the least. I wonder whatherstory is?”
“What makes you think she has one?” Wymar asked sitting back down and taking a sip of his drink.
“A woman masquerading as a man, fighting alongside them, and no one the wiser? She has a story of her own, I assure you.”
“Mayhap you are right. ’Tis amazing she has gotten away with her charade,” Wymar said draining his drink.
“She is beautiful,” Richard declared.
“Is she? I hardly noticed.” The lie did not sit well with him for the woman was indeed beautiful… but he dare not say it aloud to his friend. He could take no more jesting this day. He stole a quick glance at Richard whose lips twitched in amusement. He knew Wymar all too well.
Richard laughed. “You must be blind then! How could you not notice she is very fetching?”
A bitter sense filled Wymar. “Perchance I was too angry at being duped by a woman to notice.”
“Ha! Get over your own worth, Wymar. You may just have found yourself a treasure for the taking ifyouare deemed worthy ofher,” Richard pronounced as he rose and went to the entrance of the tent. Folding back the flap, he looked back toward Wymar. “Let us go and celebrate with the men.”
Wymar slapped his thigh and followed him. If anything, he would see for himself how many of his men remained or who left with the traitors who departed the battlefield once their cause was lost. He must needs also find a priest to fulfill his obligation to Turbert so his previous lord could rest in peace.
