Page 16 of Knight of Darkness
“Good!” Ceridwen said taking her goblet and giving him a salute with the cup. “I would hate to have to call you out to test your sword arm against my own.”
A half snort, half laugh escaped his lips. “You would lose.”
“Do you think so?”
“Aye!”
A corner of her lip turned up. “Well, we may just have to put such an event to a test after tonight’s celebration.”
“I will not lift my sword against a woman.”
“Yet if we had met just this morn, you very well may have been fighting side by side with someone who you, and everyone else for that matter, assumed was a young lord.”
“You played the part well.”
Ceridwen smiled. “I shall takethatas a compliment. Do you care to know my name since we shall be spending a considerable amount of time together?”
Norwood shrugged. “If it pleases you, I will not gainsay you.”
“Fair enough,” she replied. “I am Lady Ceridwen Ward of Norwich.”
He watched her for several moments as though her name meant nothing to him. “What do you wish from me?” he said although the narrow glint in his eyes clearly indicated how much he hated being at her mercy.
A small laugh erupted from her lips. “I have no idea. I never thought I would be revealing myself to anyone in the Empress’s army let alone having one of her men claiming he all but owed his life to me.” There was no cause to share with him that she had been forced into the decision to reveal herself. “’Tis a new challenge for me and I shall need to think on the matter. Until I come to a decision, you must needs remain close by. I will send one of my men for you on the morrow.”
“Fine!” he said between clenched teeth and began to take his leave.
“Norwood!” she yelled out.
He spun around to gaze upon her. “What?”
“Did you forget something?” she asked needing to remind him that he owed her respect, if nothing else. She waited whilst attempting to remain indifferent to his charms. Her heart raced within her chest with his nearness and yet she continued to remain calm whilst he came to some inner decision. She had not enjoyed herself this much in a very long time. Goading him was such a pleasure but even more so she wanted him to remain close as she came to grips with her emotions wreaking havoc in her mind.
He cursed beneath his breath but not quite enough that Ceridwen did not hear several foul words pass his lips. “My lady,” he said with a short bow, the words issued from between gritted teeth, “I am at your service.”
“Enjoy the celebration this eve, Norwood. I shall call for you on the morrow.” She waved him off. Once he was gone, she reached for her wine and gave the departed man a silent salute whilst Arthur only shook his head. She swore she continued to hear Norwood grumbling and cursing her name to hell as he walked away from her tent.
Chapter Nine
Wymar kicked astone in his path as he trudged through the ranks of his Empress’s army. His mind was filled with the woman he had just left, and he was unsure how he would ever face his men again. No doubt, word had already spread of who had saved his life. He could already imagine the sound of their laughter. He could still hearherlaughter ringing in his ears, high and sweet. Lovely, for all that it had been mocking him.
Once he had entered her tent, he had been momentarily stunned, not that he would show such an emotion to her. She had undone her braid and had stood there with a confidence most women would not show to a stranger. With her blonde hair cascading down to her waist, Wymar would have needed to be blind to not see the beautiful woman hiding beneath the garments of a man. ’Twas not hard for him to imagine what she would look like dressed in a gown and with the grime of battle cleansed from her body. And those eyes… aquamarine and as clear as a tropical sea. Aye… she was a beauty and Wymar would be hard pressed to keep his wits about him when he was once more back in her presence.
Richard fell into step with him. “Dare I ask what she demanded of you?”
Theobald slung his arm over Wymar’s shoulder. “Aye, brother! Tell us… did she ask you to grovel at her feet or, even better, to service her?”
Wymar elbowed his brother and chuckled in gratification hearing the air rush from his lungs. “She asked nothing of me as yet, but that does not mean she will let the matter rest. She seemed to take considerable satisfaction from the fact I owe her my life.”
Richard gave Wymar a nudge. “Who would have thought the young man we saw at the tavern was in truth a female? She certainly looked the part at the inn.”
“Aye, I more or less reminded her of such a fact. She could have easily told me she was a woman when I went to her tent to inquire if she was in need of my aide.”
“Ratcliff certainly knew who she was,” Theobald added.
Wymar halted in his steps and peered over at the army of men. “Which makes the fact he had no issue pushing her around all the more upsetting. No man of honor would treat a woman that way. I did not notice him lingering near her tent with her other men, or did I miss his presence?”
Richard shook his head. “I did not notice him, but I was not really looking for him either.”
