Page 30 of Knight of Darkness
“But—” Ceridwen began only to halt any further words she may have spoken when the Empress raised her hand to silence her.
“I shall get back to you in a moment Lady Ceridwen,” the Queen said. “Norwood… I have heard of you and your service to my cause. They call you Knight of Darkness, do they not?”
“So I have heard, my Empress,” Wymar replied with a bowed head.
“Your reputation has served you well for I have indeed heard of all you have done in my name. Such a name strikes fear in the eyes of our enemies, or so I have been told by my advisors. Are these your brothers?”
“Aye, Your Majesty, along with our friend, Lord Richard Grancourt.”
The Empress nodded her approval. “You men must have done an exceptional job of fighting on my behalf if I have knowledge of the names your fellow knights have begun to call you. Brothers all, in spirit if not in blood, and knights I shall claim as my own champions. That is… if you all swear to pledge your fealty to me,” the Empress said whilst waiting for their answer.
“We would follow you to the ends of this earth and to our last dying breath, my Queen,” Wymar answered as he once more bowed his head.
“We shall pray the situation does not call for such an end for you.” The Empress reached out her hand and a lightweight ceremonial sword was placed in her palm. She stepped before Wymar who kneeled in front of her and tapped him on each of his shoulders. “Rise, Lord Wymar Norwood of Brockenhurst. For your service, I restore your title and lands to you and your family. Those who stole your estate have been already been vanquished and your people only await your return.”
Wymar sunk to the floor, reached for the hem of her gown and kissed the fabric. “You are most gracious, My Queen.”
“Now… back to Lady Ceridwen.” The Empress returned to her chair.
“I swore my fealty to you several years ago, Your Grace. I shall gladly do so again if this will please you.” Ceridwen bowed her head in the hopes that this submission would be enough to appease the Empress.
“What would have pleased me would have been for you to have done as you were told in the first place. Have you no ken what is happening on your lands? The lands I wanted you to stay and guard in my name?”
“My father! Is he unwell?” she asked with furrowed brow, a cold chill moving down her spine as she recalled the horrible dream she’d had the night before they’d left the camp at Lincoln.
“I am uncertain as to his health. I wish I could tell you more as to his well-being but I cannot. What I do know is a runner arrived just this morn and has come to inform me that your estate has been seized by supporters of my cousin Stephen. That is all I have learned at this time.”
Ceridwen felt faint for the first time in her life. Worry, regret, and thoughts of what she should or should not have done consumed her. She rose from her place on the floor and began to head toward the door. “I must go to my father at once!”
“Not so fast for I have not dismissed you,” the Queen commanded, whilst Ceridwen returned to stand before her Queen. “Lord Wymar… before your return to Brockenhurst, I must needs ask a favor of you.”
“I am yours to command, Your Majesty.”
“First, I need both of your brothers for a scouting mission of grave importance. Their discretion is required, and I will send them off posthaste.”
“And the second?” Wymar inquired without any hesitation in his words. One would have thought that he cared not that he would be separated from his siblings. Mayhap they were not as close as Ceridwen was led to believe in her brief encounters with them.
“I must needs first ask what you and Lady Ceridwen were fighting over. Do you bear each other ill will?” the Empress inquired with a raised brow.
Wymar’s gaze briefly went to the lady in question. “Nay, my Empress. We are not enemies but were merely exercising for the benefit of the men. It was a simple wager where the outcome had yet to be determined.”
“I see.” The Empress continued to stare at them whilst drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. “Lady Ceridwen… is this a fair description of the reasons behind your… sword play? Would you agree that you also bear no animosity toward Lord Wymar?” she asked, waiting for her answer.
“The score is settled, my Empress,” Ceridwen whispered, “and I bear no resentment toward Lord Wymar.”
“Since neither of you proclaim you are enemies, then I need not worry over my next request of you, Lord Wymar. See to it that Lady Ceridwen returns home and assist in any means necessary in securing her lands once more. I shall offer you extra forces to take back the castle. If you do this for me, you shall be handsomely rewarded.”
Wymar bowed low even whilst Ceridwen was fuming inside, not that she would show any outward appearance to the queen of her anger. She felt as though she were being treated like some insolent child who was incapable of listening to her elders and who needed to be watched over by a minder lest she wander into trouble on her own.
Their audience with the queen over, they watched as she left the inn with her retainers following closely behind.
Ceridwen made for the stairs and Wymar halted her progress by taking hold of her hand. “Get your things whilst I find out details of the men the Empress will provide us. Meet me in the stable in an hour’s time.”
Ceridwen was uncertain if the look he gave her was concern for the welfare of her father or smug satisfaction that he had some kind of hold or power over her. Whatever the case may be, she had little time to mull overLordWymar. Her father needed her. ’Twas time she went home.
Chapter Sixteen
Wymar’s patience wasstretched to his limit as he waited for Ceridwen in the stables. Surely the woman had little to pack. What could be taking her so long?
