Page 35 of Knight of Darkness
“Were you not the one who said he was not to be trusted with my heart?”
“Aye, but—”
“There are nobuts, Arthur. You have known me all my life. I have heeded your council and have seen the wisdom of your words. If Norwood had even given a hint of his affection for me, I would have thrown caution to the wind and we would not be having this conversation. Since he did not, then it stands to reason that you were right in your assumptions of him. Let the matter rest. We will go on as we did before we left Norwich. Once we have secured Norwich once again, I will wed as my father dictates. I will say no more on the subject. Now please leave me in peace so I may suffer in silence.”
She put her heels to the side of her steed who trotted off to leave Arthur behind. She rode up to Thomas and Symond who gave her wary smiles.
“I swear if the two of you plan on berating me for anything other than the foul weather, I will leave you behind in the dust as I have done to my captain.”
The two men sputtered before they began talking about all their plans once they returned home. Home… Ceridwen could barely contain her excitement to see her lands and father again. She still had fear of what she would find, but she couldn’t believe that Sperling could have truly managed to capture the entire estate. Surely her father was safe in the keep. She and the others would end the siege and drive Ratcliff and the others away. She felt sure of that.
The rode in silence for several more miles and just when she caught a glimpse of the rooftop of her keep through the trees, a scout who was one of her men came galloping back to their group. Instead of reporting to her, he made his way straight to Wymar who held up his hand to halt their progress whilst he listened to what the man learned. Inwardly, Ceridwen fumed that her own knight had not reported his findings to her directly. It did not help matters that she could not make out any part of the conversation. All she could tell was that Wymar did not seem pleased. She would not sit silently whilst her future awaited her.
Kicking Defiance into another trot, she rode up to Wymar and waited for him to notice her whilst he continued issuing orders to make camp.
“I will see what game we can hunt to fill our empty stomachs,” Richard said.
“Nay,” Wymar replied before rubbing the back of his neck. “No fires. They may alert those standing guard at the castle that we are close.”
Ceridwen interrupted them. “They will already know we are here, Norwood. You cannot hide an army this size so close to the keep.”
His brow rose as if he noticed her for the first time. “Go back to the rear of the company and stay with your captain and men.”
“What is going on at Norwich that you are not telling me?” she said leaning over to take his arm. ’Twas a mistake to touch him for tiny currents of fire raced up her arm at their contact. She jumped back as though she had been burned.
“’Tis nothing to concern yourself with,” he answered before dismounting from his horse.
“Nothing to concern myself with? Why, your braying ass!” she shouted pointing in the direction of the castle. “That is my home and my people, if something that insignificant may have escaped your notice.”
Wymar swore beneath his breath before he came around toward her horse. “Get down,” he ordered.”
“Not before you tell me what is going on,” she said flipping her hair from her face.
He pulled the reins from her grip. “Get down from this horse, Ceridwen. I will not tell you again.”
“Make me!” she shouted.
“Fine. You want to act like a spoiled child, then I shall treat you as one.”
Before she knew what was happening, Ceridwen was pulled from the saddle and thrown over Wymar’s shoulder as though she weighed nothing. She saw Arthur coming to her aid but Norwood ordered him to stand down, and for some reason, he complied. Hitting her fists against Wymar’s back only made her hands sore because he wore his chainmail.
“Put me down, Norwood!”
He continued on foot until he came upon a small clearing where he did just that. Tossing her upon a bed of moss, she stared up at him in confusion whilst her heart raced and betrayed her.
“What are you not telling me, Wymar?” she asked although she had the notion she would not like his answer.
“Ceridwen, I do not know how to tell you this,” he began until he came to sit down beside her. He took her hands that began to shake.
“Oh God,” she cried out. “Just tell me!”
He did not waste any more words but told her of the situation. “Norwich has been taken. The village sacked. There is nothing left to the fields for the coming winter. Those who fought against Stephen’s army have been left to rot where they were slain.”
Her lips quivered. “No, please tell me some of my people have been spared.”
He rubbed her hands to try to get some warmth into them but nothing could break through the chill running down her spine.
“’Tis hard to say,” Wymar continued. “The scout dared not get too close in order to avoid being seen. His only words were that the way across the drawbridge was… ghastly.”
