Page 107 of Raven's Rise
Rafe shook his head. “Goswin and Angelet both left the manor, possibly with a stranger, and now no one has seen them for hours. That’s no coincidence. I have to find them.”
“You’re not going alone,” Alric said.
“You don’t trust me?”
“Of course I trust you, but two swords are better than one.”
“Excuse me, but by that logic, three are better still,” said Octavian.
Rafe regarded the other two knights. “You’re under no obligation. I brought all this here. I’ll deal with it.”
“Don’t be an idiot.” Alric put a hand to Rafe’s shoulder. “We want to help.”
“Yes,” Octavian agreed. “At least, I do. Sir Alricisobligated, because of that oath you three took. I’m just joining you out of Christian duty, and a desire to find a man who seems to have something against the lady Angelet. Who, from what I can tell, nobody could possibly hate.”
“Well, someone does,” Rafe said.
Alric said, “Then let’s go.”
Soon the three rode out of Cleobury, fully armed and wearing chain mail. They had only a vague idea of where to search, and no proof that anything evil had befallen either Angelet or Goswin. But Rafe knew something was horribly wrong.
* * * *
Angelet had been confined for hours in a tiny hut, with the guard Ulmar posted just outside. Somehow, Ernald had found a deserted farmstead not far from Cleobury, and he’d spent the last few days watching the manor to see when and how he could send someone to steal Angelet away.
If only she’d spoken to someone before leaving! Even a maid. Then they’d know. As it was there was no way Rafe would have any idea where she was, or that she was captured. “Sweet Mary, please help me,” she whispered. Then she sighed. Why would she merit help? She had just spent a night sinning in achurch. If anything, this was a direct punishment for her actions.
She bent her head. “I’m sorry. Forgive me,please.”
“Why should anyone forgive you?”
Angelet’s head snapped up, and she saw Bethany in the doorway. The former maid thrust half a loaf of bread toward her. “Eat.”
She took the bread, ravenous since she’d missed the midday meal.
“Bethany, I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here,” Angelet said, trying to reason with the maid.
“God knows I’d rather he never found you,” Bethany agreed with a snort.
“Then help me get away.”
“Help you? Ernald would kill me.”
“Only if he knew you had anything to do with it. Please.” She put a hand on Bethany’s arm, but the maid jerked her arm away.
“Don’t touch me, you freak!”
“You’re afraid of me?” Angelet asked, surprised. Bethany’s eyes, shifting between Angelet’s hand and her own sleeve, told her the truth. “You think you’ll get the same affliction, just by being near me? You’ve been my maid for years!”
“And I hoped to never see you again!” Bethany hissed. “Why does he want you so?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never encouraged him.”
“You draw him on with your aloofness then. Men always want what they are denied.”
Angelet closed her eyes. “So it’s my fault if I encourage a man and it’s my fault if I discourage a man! I can’t win!”
The maid sighed with vexation, but then said, “That’s truth, I grant you. Any woman knows that.”
