Page 4 of Knight of Chaos
“Are you mayhap lost, my lady?” Theobald asked politely, hoping to put her at ease.
She watched him suspiciously, still keeping her blade firmly gripped in her gloved hands. “To whom do you swear your alliance?”
Her question surprised him. ’Twas not what he had been expecting. “Does it matter?”
“Aye, it does,” she answered with a tilt of her head whilst she continued to peruse him. “There are many rumors surrounding London of who should be crowned England’s ruler.”
He folded his arms across his chest, feet spread apart. “I go to fight on behalf of Empress Matilda in Winchester. Does this perchance answer your question, or do you have more?”
A smile lit her face brightening her entire countenance. “’Tis her army that just passed?” she inquired, whilst slightly lowering her blade.
“Aye, my lady,” he answered when she finally placed her sword in the scabbard at her side. A huge sigh of apparent relief left her and the woman at last relaxed her stance. If Theobald thought her beautiful before she began to speak, she was more so now.
“I am no lady,” she said lifting her chin.
“Well, you are a woman, are you not? You cannot expect the clothing you are currently attired in would hide such a fact,” he stated pointing to her garments.
She shuffled her feet. “I suppose not, although I had hoped to pass for a man whilst journeying along the road.”
“Why?” he demanded, wondering what this woman’s purpose was.
She appeared puzzled at his question. “’Tis not obvious?”
“Mayhap you can inform me. I am a simple man with simple needs and cannot fathom why on earth you would wish to pass for a man,” he replied, curious as to this woman’s motives.
“I am dressed thusly in order to ride with the Empress and fight for her so she might win the crown,” she answered with a confidence that would be impressive from anyone but even more so from a woman.
Her words took a moment to sink into his head before he roared with laughter. This lady could hardly be more than a score of years and should be married and seeing to babes at her lovely breasts, not traipsing across the countryside in search of glory.
He was bent over chuckling and therefore did not see her approach. She kicked him in his side harder than he expected and momentarily lost his footing. He recovered quickly and held out his hands once more when she appeared ready for a fight. Whether with her fists or sword, Theobald was not sure, but he would not be so overly confident again in her presence.
“You will not make fun of me, sir,” she warned. “My purpose is honest. Trust me when I inform you that I am perfectly capable of defending myself with a sword.”
Theobald composed himself whilst attempting to keep the smirk of laughter from his lips. “I will bow down to your inner knowledge of the competence of your blade, my lady.”
“I told you, I am no lady.” Her head lifted higher once more with her words.
“Then what am I to call you, oh beautiful wanderer of the woods?” he teased.
For a moment her eyes twinkled in delight at his jest. “My name is Ingrid. Ingrid Seymour.”
“And I am Sir Theobald Norwood. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mistress Ingrid.” He bowed as though he was in court and a short laugh escaped her which she quickly hid with her hand.
“A pleasure.”
She bobbed an awkward curtsy, giving Theobald the impression she was not used to performing such a gesture. Now he was indeed curious about this woman. What in the world was he going to do with her? He certainly could not leave her on the open road to continue her travels to join the Empress’s army without someone to watch her back.
Chapter Four
Ingrid gazed atthe handsome knight before her, still filled with a fair amount of skepticism toward the idea that she was safe in his company. Still, whether he was honorable or not, there was no denying he was a comely man. Wavy dark brown hair fell to broad shoulders and the green of his eyes could rival the forest around them. His nose was slightly crooked, giving her the impression that it had been broken a time or two. A small scar along his left cheek made her ponder what other battle lines might be on his muscular body. Heat flared to her cheeks at such a thought and she briefly tore her gaze from his to peer through the woods toward the open road, hoping to refocus her thoughts.
She nodded in that direction. “So, the Empress is on her way to Winchester.”
“Aye, she is to set up a base there,” he answered before he took his hand to his chin. “I cannot in good conscience leave you here to your own devices nor do I have the time to return you from whence you came.”
One of her brows arched at his words. “Oh, I am not going home. I’m joining her army.”
A snort left him. “Surely you jest. You can hardly be prepared for what we will encounter, especially since you have in no way made an attempt to conceal the fact you are a woman.”
