Page 78 of While Angels Slept
Cantia cocked her head thoughtfully. “I am not sure,” she said. “What do you mean?”
Gillywiss grinned that toothy grin. “I will find this woman,” he said confidently, “so you can marry your great Lord Earl. I will find this woman who stands between you and your happiness.”
Cantia could help but grin because he was. He was being boastful and, in truth, she didn’t particularly believe him, but she humored him.
“If it is God’s will,” she said softly.
“For my sister’s life and my nephew’s life, I vow to repay you,” he said, back to his grandiose style. “I will find this woman and bring her back to you.”
Cantia simply smiled, graciously acknowledging him as Tevin lifted her up to Myles. She settled in behind him as Tevin mounted his own charger, collecting his daughter carefully into his arms.
The last Cantia saw of Gillywiss, the man was waving at her as if she were departing on a great and dangerous journey, not as the man who had once been both captor and savior. It was rather strange. The further away she got, the more vivid his waving became until he was literally jumping up and down.
As she watched him, it occurred to her that she had not collected her bags but in the same breath, she realized she didn’t particularly care. She would leave them for Gillywiss, since he was obviously so enamored with her things. Perhaps it would give the man, that complex, puzzling and intelligent man, a little of the happiness he had spoken of. He didn’t seem like a very happy man. Besides, from what she had seen, he liked her things far more than she did.
The thought made her smile.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
They reached Rochesterin the middle of the night, a castle and keep lit by dozens of flaming torches casting soot and smoke into the darkened sky. It was a massive bastion against the night, a sight that Cantia found extremely comforting. Finally, after a wild, dangerous and unpredictable few days past, she was home. The outcome could have been so much different and she did not take her safety, or anyone’s safety, for granted.
The women who tended Arabel, having been summoned by a soldier who had run all the way from the gatehouse, were waiting as Tevin entered the fire-lit inner bailey. Tevin handed his sleepy daughter into their waiting arms. As the returning army around him disbanded, he dismounted with the intention of helping Cantia and Hunt. Before he could reach them, however, he called out to the senior soldier who had charge of Rochester in his absence. The big, war-worn soldier was lingering nearby.
“Have Simon and John returned from Dartford yet?” he asked.
The soldier shook his head. “Not yet, my lord,” he replied. “I will send word as soon as they are sighted.”
“Any word of trouble from the bridge?”
“None, my lord.”
Nodding, Tevin continued to de Lohr’s charger where the man was still astride along with Cantia and Hunt. Hunt was sleepy, grumpy, and practically fell into Tevin’s arms as the man reached up for him. But that grumpiness was forgotten when the big yellow dog came charging out of the darkness and Hunt was reunited with his very best friend. Cantia watched the reunion as Tevin helped her down from the horse and set her on her feet.
“Hunt,” she instructed softly. “Take George up to your chamber, please. I will be up shortly.”
Hunt yawned, hugging the big dog around the neck. “But I am hungry,” he said. “I want thomething to eat.”
Cantia shooed him in the direction of the keep. “I will bring you something,” she said. “Take George and go now. Get out of those dirty clothes and put a sleeping tunic on.”
Hunt yawned, and grumbled, but did as he was told. Cantia watched him head towards the keep, alternately petting the dog and dragging him by his rope collar. When the child mounted the steps to the keep, she turned to Tevin.
He looked particularly drawn for some reason. Weary, yet edgy. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it and she smiled at him when their eyes met.
“It is very late,” she said softly.
He grunted in agreement. “Indeed.” His dark eyes were intense on her. “Tell me the truth, Cantia. Are you sure you are well after all of this?”
Cantia nodded reassuringly. “I am, I promise. I told you that Gillywiss and his people did not harm me.”
“I was not speaking of Gillywiss. I was speaking of Dagan.”
Her smile faded. “He did not touch me,” she said. “He never came close. But the things he said… Tevin, I have not wanted you to make any move against Charles more than you already have, but I will be honest and say that the man is coming to frighten me. If he offered Dagan my hand in exchange for his release and other promises, who else has he spoken to? What more poison has he spread?”
Tevin nodded, eyeing Myles as the man dismounted his charger. “I intend to have that conversation with de Lohr right now.”
“What do you think you will do?”
Tevin shook his head. “I am not entirely sure, but I will not keep Penden at Rochester to wreak havoc. I will more than likely send him to one of my other holdings and keep him locked up for good. In any case,the man will be removed from Rochester and punished for what he has done. I do not want you to worry over it.”
