Page 16 of Knight of Havoc
“Lady Elysande has been surviving remarkably well considering the circumstances,” Hawke replied before he began eating from the food set between them on the trencher they were to share.
A grunt left Reynard. “Is that what you call it, Hawke? She could barely feed herself let alone the rest of you who stayed with her.”
Elysande raised her eyes to peer at Reynard. “I am sitting right here… you can address me directly, sir.”
Reynard shrugged before he took a mouthful of venison and began to chew. He finally answered her after he swallowed and wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve. “Since we have fallen out of accord, I assumed you would prefer that I speak through Hawke.”
Wymar leaned forward. “Watch your manners in front of the lady, Reynard.”
“I have done nothing wrong,” he said with a scowl of disapproval.
Elysande took another sip of her wine. “There is no need to come to my defense, Lord Wymar. I assure you that although your brother and I have had our differences in the brief time we have known one another I have become used to his… moods. I am certain we can tolerate one another and remain civil for at least one meal.”
A laugh from Theobald erupted as he banged his fist on the table in merriment. “I believe you may have met your match, Reynard,” he teased. “’Tis about time you encountered a woman who would not put up with your foul temper.”
“Hear, hear,” Wymar added raising his tankard of ale. “A toast to the Lady Elysande… a rare beauty among women, with a brave spirit to match.”
Everyone raised their cup in a toast whilst Elysande could feel a blush of embarrassment rush across her face. She was unused to such treatment of late and was not certain she deserved such accolades to be raised on her behalf.
Hawke pushed the trencher closer to her. She began to eat her fill while conversations swirled around her.
“What brings you to Winchester?” Hawke inquired in curiosity.
Theobald thumped Reynard’s shoulder. “You mean besides keeping abreast of what this young scamp is up to?”
“Shut up, Theo,” Reynard muttered, taking a quick glance at Elysande from beneath his lashes.
“Aye,” Hawke returned, waiting for the reply.
Wymar rested his forearms on the edge of the table. “I would think it would be obvious, but we are here to ensure there is a calm exchange between the prisoners. One can only pray that this will happen on the morrow peacefully. There has been enough bloodshed between enemies of late.”
“And then?” asked Olive when she set down her goblet.
Theobald gave her a wink. “And then, Wymar and I will return to Bristol to ensure Queen Matilda and those with her are also released in a peaceful manner. After that, the two of us will return home to the lovely wives who await us.
“Oh!” Olive said in what sounded like a disappointed tone. She appeared saddened to learn that both men had commitments elsewhere. She began to also eat her fill and no longer contributed to the men’s conversations.
“Aye…” Reynard grumbled into his tankard of ale.” Marital bliss. I wish my brothers both well with such an endeavor.”
A smirk lifted at the corners of Wymar’s lips. He turned his blue-grey eyes to Elysande and then his youngest sibling before he at last commented. “One day you shall know the love of a good woman, Reynard. Until then, ’tis best that you treat those who you escort with respect, especially if she may one day be one of the empress’s attendants.”
“I have treated Lady Elysande with respect,” he said in a snarl.
Elysande hid her laughter behind her chalice of wine. ’Twas clear that these brothers were close but also that Reynard’s temper was something the older two were well aware of. She could only ponder what the cause was, not that his temperament should overly worry her or be cause for concern. She only had to endure the man for as long as it took them to travel to Oxford, and then she would be well rid of his company. Still… she did wonder.
Setting her cup down, her gaze traveled to the oldest Norwood brother. “How did you meet your wife, Lord Wymar?” she asked.
Another jovial chuckle left Theobald. “An interesting story…”
“Aye,” Wymar replied with a smile. He seemed lost in the memory of his wife for a moment before he returned his attention to Elysande. “I suppose originally I met her prior to the Battle of Lincoln, although at the time I only knew her as a young knight needing aid.”
“The lady was hardly in need of your aid, Wymar, nor did she want it if I recall,” Theobald said thumping his tankard on the table.
“She fought in a battle?” Elysande inquired with wide eyes. She could not even image herself in such a place let alone hefting a sword to defend herself.
Wymar pointed to his brother. “As did Theobald’s lady, Ingrid.”
“You met them both at Lincoln?” she asked.
