Page 53 of Knight of Chaos
Word spread through court life quickly of the arrival of Theobald’s party and how he finally caught up with his disobedient wife. Rumors quickly took flight how he had beaten Ingrid for leaving him. Theobald lacked the energy to reprimand those who spread such falsehoods. He was too tired and only required a life of leisure where this bloody war was over. But that, too, was denied him. Once they had changed into dry clothing, they were all summoned to attend the Empress.
With Ingrid at his side and their traveling companions directly behind them, they entered the great hall where the Empress sat in her throne-like chair. Bejeweled and gowned in her finest, her ringed fingers drummed on the arm of her chair whilst waiting for their approach. The men bowed whilst Ingrid curtseyed. Silent, with lowered eyes, they awaited either their condemnation or their new instructions.
“You test my patience, Lady Ingrid,” the Empress began before crooking her finger for Ingrid to come further. “What, pray tell, were you thinking to leave here without permission?”
“I was not of sound mind, my Empress.”
“Sound mind? You fool! My best knights were required to go traipsing across the countryside searching for you,” she said with a fierce frown before she pointed to Kingsley and Blake. “And you two… Goodee and Kennarde… what do you have to say for yourselves?”
“We only offered to protect Lady Ingrid, Empress,” Kingsley answered with a bow of respect.
“Aye. We were bound by our honor to not allow Lady Ingrid to travel on her own,” Blake added.
“Ack! She was more than capable of fending for herself,” the Empress murmured. “Have you not seen her these many months fighting against my enemies for my cause?”
The two men began sputtering a reply, and the Empress waved them off as her attention came back to Theobald. “Well, Norwood? Have you tamed this runaway wife of yours yet?”
Theobald could only grin. “Probably not, my Empress.”
“A shame, but I should not be surprised. I said it at your wedding, and I will say it again… you will have your hands full with this lady,” the Empress stated, holding out her hand for a chalice. Wine was poured into the cup and the Empress took a sip before handing the golden goblet back to a servant.
“How may we be of service, Empress?” Theobald asked with a feeling that his time with the Empress was at an end.
“I have come to a decision,” the Empress said whilst rising to her feet. She came to the edge of the dais’s steps. “Lord Theobald… you, your wife, and Lord Grancourt will head to Calbridge Castle and take your place there.”
Richard stepped forward. “But my Empress… would I not better serve you here, offering my sword for your protection?”
“Your stop at Calbridge will be brief, Grancourt. Since I am now missing one lady attendant with the marriage of Lady Ingrid, I wish you to bring your sister Beatrice to court.”
A sound of disbelief left Richard and his gaze traveled between the two Norwood brothers. Theobald held back his amusement. Bringing Beatrice to court was asking for disaster. She would most likely flirt her way through the men here. In the end, she would find herself compromised and the culprit at the end of Richard’s sword for defiling his sister.
Reynard burst out laughing. “I do not envy you such a task, Richard. You will be hard pressed handling such a rebellious woman.”
“Shut up, Reynard.”
The Empress stepped forward again. “I am not finished.”
The group once more lowered their heads.
“Reynard Norwood, you will remain here with me to see to my protection along with Kennarde and Goodee. I should think the three of you will do well as my personal guardsmen.”
Reynard gave a courtly bow. “As you wish, my Empress.”
“Do not attempt to flatter me by appearing contrite, Norwood. I know you for who you truly are—but hopefully under my supervision, you will lose some of that cockiness that tends to overrule your rational thinking, resulting in the trail of havoc you leave behind.”
“Aye, my Empress.”
Theobald’s gaze traveled to his brother. They were getting reputations. First his older brother, Wymar, had been called the Knight of Darkness. Then Reynard had laughing accused Theobald of being surrounded by chaos. Now the Empress was telling his younger sibling that he left behind a trail of havoc. Who was next? His eyes met Richard’s… a brother of his heart who appeared as though a cloud had formed over his head with thoughts of his sister at court. A laugh threatened to escape him, and he masked his face into one he hoped would testify that he had been listening to the Empress even though he had not heard a word she said.
“In the meantime, we are preparing to leave for Oxford and make arrangements for Robert’s release even if I must needs let loose that usurper as a condition,” she growled out. She began waving her hands at her attendants. “Must you have a special invitation? Leave me and get to packing your things. We ride with the break of the new day.”
Theobald took hold of Ingrid’s hand and brought her fingertips to his lips. “It appears, my dear, there is no delaying your arrival at Calbridge Castle.”
He watched when her shoulders slumped. “I would have preferred to put off the inevitable,” Ingrid replied softly. “I thought perchance we might persuade the Empress to allow us to continue our service to her within her court—or better yet, back on the battlefield. My sword arm is still as good as it ever was even though I am now wed.”
“If the Empress has her way, your fighting days will now be behind you,” Theobald said tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow.
Ingrid raised her eyes to peer at him. “If it were up to you, you would allow me to continue to fight for a cause I believe in?” she asked in apparent wonder.
