Page 7 of Knight of Havoc
He reached over for the chalice, bringing him closer, and Elysande flinched, moving slightly away. She had been just short of being touched and for a moment their eyes met and held. She was not certain what she saw in those depths except perchancefar too much concern as to her welfare and future. After he took a drink of his wine, his next words confirmed her worst fears.
“Nay. You did not say you were alone, but I fear you are more or less close to such an outcome. I do not see the normal number of servants rushing about a hall this size, no guards standing on what is left of your battlements as I approached. You, yourself, have said your parents are abroad which leaves me wondering what I am to do with you?” His gaze held hers and he tilted his head as if studying her further.
“Do with me?” she gasped. “There is nothing for you to do with or for me, sir. You shall finish your meal and be on your way.”
“I can hardly leave a woman alone to fend for herself, my lady,” he muttered whilst pushing the trencher in front of her.
She looked at the remainder of the food he had left her. She would not be able to get even a morsel past her lips in fear she might choke upon it. “There is no reason for you to be concerned for me. I assure you I am more than capable of seeing to my own needs.”
He placed an elbow on the edge of the table. “And does that include what will happen to you the next time an army crosses your gates? Who will see to your safety then?”
“I do not need you or any other man toseeto my safety. I can take care of myself!” she dared to repeat herself but clearly he was not impressed with her words.
His dark brow rose as if he was ready to challenge her words. “I admire your determination, my lady, honestly, I do. But as a knight of the empress, I am bound to offer my protection to any in need along my travels. Even now, those I travel with will arrive shortly since your castle is in the direct path on our way to Bristol.”
“And should I fear those in her army as I did Stephen’s?” she inquired tartly.
“I can vouch on the honor for several of the knights that are well known to me but who is to say some may not be as ethical,” he declared frankly.
“Then if I have nothing to fear, there is no reason why I cannot stay here at my home,” she murmured even as the dread of the unknown and how to survive the coming months consumed her.
“Let me be blunt, my lady, so you may come to the same conclusion as I have already done in the short time I have been here,” he began before his hand ran over the back of his neck. “Your fields are gone, your outer walls destroyed. You are lucky the keep still stands but how will you feed yourself with the winter’s approach? How many others are you responsible for? How will you feed any remaining servants if you stay here? Certainly, if they were not seeing to your welfare, they could return to the households of whatever family they might have close by. Or they could travel with us until we can find them a suitable place to live.”
“I have been doing fine without you,” she reiterated with a scowl.
“Starving yourself to feed others is to be commended but if you fall ill from fatigue, who, then, will take over their care?”
“Do you think I have not thought of this before? I assure you we were doing fine before your arrival. We shall be just as fine once you are gone.” She stood as if this alone was a clue that he should take his leave of Blackmore. But his words did cause her to worry as to the welfare of her remaining people. She had no future plan that would keep them safe and fed. Sir Reynard was correct, as much as she hated to admit it, even to herself. She did not know how she would make it through the winter, but somehow she must try.
“You do not appear fine, Elysande,” he said using her given name. “You should resign yourself to the fact you must leavehere and ride with me and the empress’s army. You will be safe in our company and she will find you a place in her court.”
A distressed laugh escaped her. “Safe? You think I shall be safe with you? I do not even know you,” she bellowed as the sound echoed in the empty hall.
“You do not have toknowme, my lady, to know I shall keep my vow to see that you are well protected until you can one day return to your home.” He stood. “I will give you time to think on the matter. In the meantime, I will see to my horse and sleep in the barn.”
She stomped her foot. “You have eaten your fill. Now you can be on your way!”
He gave her a courtly bow that rivaled anything she had ever witnessed from those who tried to win her favor in her hall. “I shall leave as long as you plan to accompany me. I have given you a knight’s vow that I will see you are protected. What kind of man would I be if I so readily dismissed it once given?”
He left her standing there with her mouth hanging open in surprise. She watched him depart even as Hawke rushed into the hall from the kitchen.
“I heard we had a visitor. Are you unharmed?” he asked seeing that she was alone.
“Aye… for now.”
Her captain watched her closely. “Who is he?”
“Sir Reynard Norwood. He is on a mission for the empress and will sleep in the barn tonight.”
“You did not offer him his own bedchamber?”
She turned to face her captain. “Nay but then again, he gave me little choice. He is expecting me to leave here with him.”
A curse left Hawke. “That is bold of him.”
“Aye. I have the feeling I will not be able to dispatch Sir Reynard so easily. He is… determined.”
Hawke silently observed her before he apparently came to his own conclusion. “If we are to look at our situation objectively, now that your grandfather has passed on, the knight might have a point. If we were to travel with his company, you and the few who might agree to accompany us at least would be fed and protected.”
