Page 45 of Hers To Command
Since he would surely be safe if Henry was in command, Ranulf led his horse out from behind the trees, until he was standing in the road directly in the path of the column of men, who came to a shambling and stunned halt.
“Who told you to stop?” Henry bellowed from the rear before he came into view. He, too, wore a gambeson and sword belt, carried a spear and shield, and even had on that ridiculously small helmet.
Ranulf wouldn’t have believed it if he wasn’t seeing it with his own eyes. “Henry!” he called out over the grunts and panting of the soldiers, his usual sardonic manner missing.
“Ranulf?” his friend exclaimed, breaking into a smile and hurrying forward to greet his friend. “God’s blood, what the devil are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Ranulf answered as he walked toward him. “I thought you were bound for Scotland.”
“I was,” Henry replied with his irrepressible grin. “I thought you’d still be at Tregellas. What brings you to Kent?”
“As a matter of fact, I’ve come looking for you.”
Concern furrowed Henry’s brow. “Trouble at Tregellas? Does Merrick need my help?”
“Everyone is quite well, and as for our boon companion Merrick, you never saw such a changed man. I actually heard him singing to himself one morning. I nearly swooned from the shock.”
Henry grinned, then glanced at the exhausted men. “We were on our way back to the castle. You’ll stay awhile, I hope?”
“With pleasure, as long as I don’t have to endure a forced march. I had quite enough of that with Sir Leonard.”
Henry laughed in his merry, carefree way, then called out, “Cerdic, take them back to the barracks.”
A tall, blond fellow appeared from the midst of the men and barked at the men to get moving.
“Toft,” Henry called out to a small, dark-haired fellow. “Take charge of Sir Ranulf’s horse and see that it’s properly stabled.”
The soldier did as he was told and took hold of the bridle of Ranulf’s horse, then led it away, following the soldiers.
Meanwhile, Henry slapped Ranulf on the back. “Come on,” he said, starting toward the castle. “I’m in command of the garrison of Ecclesford, just as you’re in command of the garrison of Tregellas.”
Ranulf fell into step beside him. “That’s a bit…unexpected.”
Genuine and unusual annoyance came to Henry’s usually merry eyes. “Don’t you think I’m capable of being in charge of a group of soldiers?”
It wasn’t at all like Henry to lose his temper so quickly. “Of course you are. It’s just a surprise, that’s all. I seem to recall you chastising Merrick when he asked me to take over his garrison. If I recall correctly, you thought I should be insulted.”
“Yes, well, I was wrong about that.” Henry suddenly gave Ranulf a quizzical look. “How long have you had that beard? I nearly didn’t recognize you.”
Ranulf self-consciously stroked his short reddish brown beard. “A few weeks.”
“Makes you look old.”
“Does it? All that sweat makes you smell.”
Henry barked a good-natured laugh. “I daresay it does. I promise I’ll wash right away.” He slid his friend a wry, sidelong glance. “I don’t suppose you came all the way to Kent from Cornwall to show me your beard.”
“No, I didn’t,” Ranulf replied. “Merrick got a letter from your brother asking about you. A friend at court sent him word that you’d gotten yourself mixed up in some trouble between Roald de Sayres and his relatives over an estate in Kent. Nicholas wanted to know if you were still at Tregellas or not.”
A noncommittal “ah” was the only response Henry made before Ranulf continued. “Merrick wrote back that you had left Tregellas intending to journey to Dunkeathe. He suggested that you might have met with some kind of distraction, and then sent me looking for you to make sure you hadn’t gotten into any trouble.”
Henry laughed again, but there was a bitter undercurrent to the mirth. “No doubt Nicholas now imagines me lolling about in a brothel somewhere. Thank you very much, Merrick, my good friend, for giving him that idea!”
Ranulf sighed with patient forbearance. “Merrick still feels badly about what happened, Henry. And what was he supposed to do? He could hardly let your brother’s letter go unanswered.”
“Granted, but there was no need to send you haring after me—or does Merrick think I need a nursemaid?”
“He was worried when he got your brother’s letter, and I must say, so was I. What are you about, getting mixed up with Roald de Sayres’s family?”
