Page 32 of Knight of Darkness
“We accompany the Empress for now. She has declared she will let us know what she requires of us when she is ready to impart such wisdom,” Reynard said not to be left out of the conversation.
Wymar ruffled his younger brother’s hair as though he was just a small lad before Reynard swatted his hand away. “You best take care of one another in my absence.”
Reynard briefly looked worried. “We were supposed to stay together,” he said with a grim expression, “as a family.”
Wymar grabbed hold of Reynard’s arm and again gave him another fierce embrace. “I promise we will soon be together again. Have no fear.”
“Aye, at Brockenhurst! I cannot wait until we can return to our ancestorial stronghold once more,” Theobald answered with a grin.
“’Twill be a cause for celebration once we are all reunited,” Reynard said. “I can barely remember the place since we last set foot there.”
“There will be plenty of time to become reacquainted with our home, brothers. I have been told the keep still stands, which is a blessing,” Wymar replied as he gazed upon them both. “Just stay alive until we are all together again.”
Richard interrupted the trio. “You all best do as Wymar dictates or you will answer to me. I have not traipsed myself across the whole of England to lose one of you.” He shook his gloved fist at the men before turning to Wymar. “I will continue to watch your back, my lord, and have already split the company as you ordered. Half will travel with us and the other half with your brothers.”
Wymar nodded. There was nothing left to say until the brothers were reunited at some later point in time. “Godspeed,” he said before turning away and mounting his horse.
With a wave of his hand, Wymar put his horse into motion. The course of his life had just altered and he began to realize that for good or bad, he would never be the same.
Chapter Seventeen
They rode untilthe sun was low on the horizon whilst the sky was awash with vivid shades of orange and pink as the day came to a close. For Ceridwen, time passed all too swiftly and she was uncertain where her future would lie. She could not deny the attraction she had for Wymar. He was her equal in many ways, and he was superior to most men of her acquaintance who would never allow her to speak her mind, let alone spar with her upon the field to save her honor. But with that said, there was no doubt left her in mind of who was in charge of this small contingent of an army making its way southwest to Norwich. Ceridwen was none too pleased that any sense of leadership of the group she used to command now fell to Norwood. Although she would not admit it aloud, she could at least acknowledge to herself that Wymar was a born leader, commanding respect instead of demanding it from the men who willingly followed him. That did not make it easy to give up all sense of control, though.
Arthur had at one point given her a silentI told you solook. No words were necessary to voice his displeasure that another now took charge of their company. Norwood, for the most part, ignored her and rode ahead of the group. Scouts were occasionally sent ahead to ensure no one lurked within the trees to ambush them. With Norwood in charge, they were making good time and Ceridwen should be thrilled that she would soon reach Norwich. But everything about their travel was seemingly going all too smoothly, and she kept waiting for something to go terribly wrong with each curve of the road they traveled upon.
She was worried about her father and what awaited her when she returned to Norwich. Empress Matilda had said that her father’s estate had been seized. She had no doubt that Sperling was the one who had done it. Was he holding her father captive, planning to force her to trade her hand in marriage in exchange for his safety? She could only hope that was not the case. She had no wish to commit her life to such a vile man, especially after how he had treated her. He was a traitor to their Empress. Surely she and her father, working together, could find some way to throw Ratcliff and his men from their gates.
A thatch of tawny colored hair caught her attention and she swore her limbs began to tremble just thinking of him. Aye, ’twas no wonder Norwood was so confident he could bend her to his will. He knew how to make her want him in the most carnal way, imagining their bodies coming together in every conceivable way, even though she had no experience with lovemaking to give clear form to her thoughts. Wymar was her first real kiss—she had told a falsehood when she had claimed that she had been kissed before. The ones she had experienced in her youth had been from inexperienced boys who but gave a quick peck to her lips. At times during the day, she began to hope Wymar would be the last man to kiss her. She shook her head at her fanciful thoughts. Their kiss may have meant something to her but she had no idea of Wymar’s thoughts on the matter. Ceridwen may just be one of many conquests in his mind.
The night would bring its own complications or so she began to assume. She had no doubt that Wymar would insist he stay close to her, and she could already see the altercation between him and her captain. Arthur would voice his displeasure but in the end Norwood would have his way…his way… with her perchance? God forbid he thought her willing to forsake her maidenhead for a meaningless romp with a mercenary.
Nay, that was not correct. He was a mercenary no longer but a lord once more. His title and land restored by their Empress only made Ceridwen want to question him more about where his home was or had been. In their brief time together, they never once spoken of where he once hailed or how he might long for home. For that matter, with his brothers gone, did he miss them? Did he feel alone in the world much like she had been feeling for months on end? She ran her hand across her eyes knowing she was getting sentimental and no such emotion had a place leaking its way into her heart.
Arthur’s horse suddenly moved closer to her own causing Ceridwen to pull on the reins of Defiance. “What?” she said, returning her attention to the present.
“You appear lost in thought, my lady,” Arthur declared, his brows crunched together.
“I have much on my mind,” she murmured. A small smile lit her face when Wymar looked over his shoulder and caught her eye before he returned his attention to the road.
“BySaint Michael’s Wings, my lady, you will be the death of me. You must keep your feelings to yourself or before you even know what is happening, you shall be ruined!” Arthur snarled.
Ceridwen pulled on her reins to bring her mare to a halt and watched her captain do the same. “You dare to voice your opinions of my future, and yet you have no say on how I shall run my life!” she fumed.
“How can you not see Norwood will bring you to ruin?”
“You have no right to—”
“I have every right!” Arthur shouted and several knights turned to watch them, especially one knight in particular. “You have been left in my care. I am the captain of your guard. Until your father releases me from my vow to protect you, then you continue to be under my protection and my responsibility! For once in your young life, listen to my words and heed them well.”
“I have always listened to your council when your words held truth and sensible advice. But your warning now is unnecessary. Norwood will deliver us to Norwich without further loss of men and fulfill his oath to our Empress. He will then be free to return to his own estate and will forget all about me.”
A snort left her captain. “You know nothing of men and their desires, little one. Norwood will never forget you, Ceridwen. How could he? You are a woman beyond compare but I refuse to see you lose your heart to a man of his ilk.”
“Who said I am falling in love with him?” she asked, even whilst her heart beat a rapid staccato inside her chest, betraying her and the words she had just spoken.
Arthur heaved a sigh. “You are already halfway there, Ceridwen, from the looks the two of you share. You cannot in truth know if he is a man of honor.”
“You know nothing of him and his character,” she returned lifting her chin defiantly.
