Page 4 of Knight of Darkness
Ceridwen shook her head as the men returned to their meal. Her captain, however, continued to wear a fierce frown of displeasure upon his visage. “What?” she murmured even whilst her gaze continued to once more rest upon the stranger.
Arthur placed his cup upon the table after taking another long pull. “What is he to you?” he asked, leaning forward so their discussion would not be overhead. “Do you know him?”
“Nay, our paths have never crossed before now.”
“Then why is it you continue to gaze upon him as though you wish to remedy such a situation?”
“There is just something about him that I find intriguing…” Her words trailed away into the nothingness of the night and she clamped her lips tight when she heard a low growl from her captain.
“You have no more time for a dalliance than the men do,Lord Elric, not that I would allow such an occurrence,” Arthur warned in a low forceful tone. “I have guarded you from unsavory advances for years and have not once faltered in my duty to protect you. Your father would see my head upon a pike outside his gates and the rest of my body scattered across all of England if you are not returned in the same condition in which you left.”
’Twas Ceridwen’s turn to frown as Arthur talked as though he was in charge of her and the choices she made inherlife. “You know damned well my virtue is still intact, Arthur. And I shouldn’t need to remind you that you have no say in how I spend my days or nights,” she murmured in annoyance. She reluctantly took her eyes from the warrior across the room. She would not admit it, but for one brief instant she felt a sense of freedom from duty. Her father expected her to marry someday to bring further wealth to the estate. A brief liaison with some lowly mercenary was out of the question.
“We should not even be having such a conversation,” Arthur grumbled into his cup.
“Then why bring up such a subject? You know I would never—”
Arthur held up his hand to halt her words. “Aye, I know. Let us change the focus of our talk.”
Her brow rose in amusement seeing her captain uncomfortable for ’twas a rare occurrence. “Would you care to have speech about the weather?” she laughed.
“You are being cheeky. Nay! I do not wish to have speech about the damn weather but a bit of sun on the morrow would be most welcome.”
“Then what is on your mind?”
Arthur scratched at his chin. “What is taking Ratcliff so long, do you suppose? I would have thought he would be here long before now.”
Ceridwen leaned back against the wall before reaching for her cup and bringing it to her lips. “Why are you wasting a perfectly fine eve by bringing him up in conversation?”
“Keep your enemies close… well… you know the rest,” he said.
She leaned forward to rest her forearms upon the table. “I sent him on an errand to see to the camp,” she murmured attempting to hide a smirk of satisfaction.
“That could not have gone over well,” Arthur declared with a laugh.
“I am sure I shall pay for it upon his return. His disposition is ornery on most occasions. Being sent about like a squire will certainly not improve his mood but I could not resist the temptation. He vexes me.”
Arthur nodded in agreement. “I still do not know why your father insisted he join us.”
Ceridwen sighed and attempted to relax again against the wall. “My sire favors Ratcliff’s suit. But do not ask me why, for I care not at all for the man. I would think father would be able to see him for what he is… a man after more money, land, and power who sees a wife as nothing more than another possession to acquire. It is not a marriage where I could ever find contentment.”
Before Arthur could form a reply, the door to the tavern burst open again. All eyes turned toward the newcomer before they went back to their food and drinks. Ceridwen tried not to shiver in distaste of who stood before them. ’Twas as though by speaking of him, she had conjured up the man herself.
Chapter Three
Sir Sperling Ratcliffthrew open the door to the inn and let his eyes adjust to the dim interior light. He would like nothing more than to demand a room for the night and seek his comfort with a willing woman beneath him instead of a bedroll upon the cold hard ground at the campsite where he had set up his tent. But ’twas not to be, at least not this night. When he had tossed a coin to the lad who came to take his horse, he had been told the inn had no rooms to spare. He had lifted his fist to the heavens, feeling as if everything was against him. But while a warm bed was not to be his for the evening, there was still the chance of a hot meal and something to drink. That was enough to reconcile him to heading toward the inn. A good meal was theleasthe deserved after spending hours running about like nothing more than some nameless, worthless knight carrying out errands for his lady. For Ceridwenwashis lady, no matter the woman continued her sham of cloaking her identity. He looked forward to the day when he would take her to wife and he could at last keep her under his complete control.
Slamming the door, he scanned the room before he espied the lady of his current irritation. She was a feisty one. He was tired of taking orders from her when the situation should be reversed. If only he had been able to convince her sire for them to wed before she decided to go in search of fame and the favor of her Empress. His only choice had been to follow along in her entourage. At the very least, if he was there with her then he could keep an eye upon her. Ensure she did not fall in battle before he could make use of her. A life such as hers should not be snuffed out in service of the useless woman they called Empress.
Bah! Empress.Anyone with any sense knew that King Stephen was the true ruler of England. Sperling had long since chosen his allegiance, certain that it was the winning side. And yet he would play this game of pretending to serve the Empress to its fullest potential if through it he could win Ceridwen’s hand in marriage. Her estate was adjacent to his own and would double his wealth if they were to marry. Their marriage was a logical choice and would benefit both families. ’Twas but one more stepping-stone in his plans to amass the power he craved—along with his king’s favor.
Pretending to favor the Empress was but a ploy. Sperling planned to trade the information he learned whilst in Matilda’s camp to Stephen. He could only hope that the information he shared would hasten the end of the war—at which point they could all return home, where he would marry Ceridwen, expand his holdings, and earn true respect from the king. Surely, with the information he could impart to the king and the land he would own in Stephen’s name, Sperling would be rewarded handsomely and would be able to show his monarch how valuable he was to have on his side. He silently vowed he would be victorious in gaining all he deserved. Wealth and power were undoubtedly what the Lord intended for him. Ofthishe had no doubt!
Taking off his drenched cloak, he draped the garment over his arm and strode toward Ceridwen’s table. The men seated with her were never far from her side and he swore they sniggered into their cups as he drew near, the bastards! None of them treated him with the respect he was due—but that would change whenhewas their lord and master. He could bide his time until then.
Knowing what was expected of him, he swept down into a low bow that would have mimicked someone at court paying homage to his or her king… or empress depending on whose side you were on. “My lord,” he said loud enough for the entire room to hear his words. This situation continued to irk him that he must appear to be in service to some young lord out to seek his own glory. By rights, he should have a score of knights dancing attendance onhim.
Ceridwen nodded toward him in acknowledgment. “Ratcliff,” she said his name with a low tone giving those within hearing evidence to thislad’syouth. “All is in order with the camp and men?”
