Love Everlasting (34 page)

“I challenge you, Royce. Come down here and
fight for your lady’s honor.”

“By all means,” Royce said. “Let us finish
this quarrel now.”

“Be careful, Royce,” Michael urged as Royce
passed him on the steps. “Kenric will try to kill you, but we need
him alive, so we can wring the entire truth out of him, along with
the names of his associates.”

“Leave Kenric to me,” Royce said through
tight lips. He had grown calm again, and he knew Michael was right,
but he could not allow anyone, least of all Kenric, to abuse
Julianna’s name. Any slur upon her honor reflected on him. He had
no choice; he had to answer Kenric’s challenge.

Julianna reached the great hall before
Baldwin caught up with her.

“My lady, I beg you, go back,” Baldwin cried.
“The fighting isn’t over yet.”

“Yes, it is!” Etta yelled, all but tumbling
down the steps to the hall in her excitement. She was followed by
most of the older children. “I looked out through an arrow slit and
saw Lord Royce’s banner. He has come to save us! Lord Royce is
here!”

“Lord Royce! Lord Royce!” The women and the
few old men in the hall took up the chant and all of them rushed as
one to the keep door, to unbolt it.

“Stop!” Baldwin shouted. “It may be a ruse to
make us open to the invaders.”

“Do as Sir Baldwin says,” Julianna cried.
“Wait until Sir William sends a message to tell us it’s safe to go
outside.”

They couldn’t hear her over the uproar and
she wasn’t sure they’d have paid attention to her if they had
heard. The keep door was flung open and everyone rushed out to the
bailey. Julianna was carried along with the rejoicing women and
Baldwin was left behind to fight a hopeless delaying action against
the children, who also were eager to see what was happening.

Julianna pushed away from the crowd, letting
everyone else run down the stairs while she stopped at the little
porch just outside the door. From that position she could look down
to the inner bailey, and she noticed some familiar faces. Michael
came up the steps to join her. His chainmail coif was pushed back
and he displayed a bloody gash on one cheek, but he was grinning
and he looked remarkably healthy.

“I am so glad you are safe,” she said, though
her thoughts were not really on him. She was seeking a different
male figure.

“Aye,” Michael said. “So is Brian. We had an
easy ride to Northampton.”

She didn’t think they’d had an easy ride at
all, but she had just spotted Royce, so she let the subject of
Michael’s heroic journey drop for the moment. She’d make time later
for the full story.

“Dear heaven,” she whispered, gathering the
obvious conclusion from the scene below, “does Royce really mean to
fight Kenric here and now?”

“He has little choice,” Michael answered.
“Kenric challenged him, calling you a traitor.”

“I can’t let him do this!” Julianna tried to
push past Michael, but he stood firm, blocking her passage.
“Michael, let me pass. I have to stop them. Kenric won’t fight
fairly. He doesn’t know the meaning of fairness, or of
chivalry.”

“Oh, he knows the meaning,” Michael drawled,
sounding as if a life and death fight was of no concern. “He just
ignores any rules he doesn’t like. Royce knows well enough what he
has to deal with in Kenric.”

“Royce cannot risk his life for me,” Julianna
insisted. “I won’t allow it.”

“You cannot stop it. The matter has gone too
far. Besides, Royce may think you are worth the risk.”

“No, he doesn’t.” She whispered the words and
when Michael didn’t respond, she assumed he hadn’t heard her. Or
perhaps he was just too engrossed in the duel that was beginning
below.

Royce was a full head taller than Kenric, and
finely muscled and strong. Kenric was squarely built, with bulky
shoulders and arms. Julianna had seen him practice a few times and
she recalled how he swung his sword like a cudgel, and how he gave
no quarter, not even during practice. He had maimed a few opponents
who had imagined they were only playing at battle.

Kenric began the fight with Royce in his
usual way, by employing his weight and bulk to aim the edge of his
blade at Royce’s arms in repeated attempts to disable him as
quickly as possible. So deadly was Kenric’s long, deliberate swing
that Julianna feared he’d lop off Royce’s arms or hands.

But what Royce lacked in bulk he made up in
skill and speed, and in his quick wits. Julianna had seen swordplay
many times, during tournaments or daily practices, so she quickly
perceived what Royce’s strategy was. Kenric was already tired after
the battle to get into Wortham, and Royce was allowing him to tire
himself still more with unproductive blows that either landed on
Royce’s shield or else missed altogether when Royce leapt out of
the way at the last possible moment.

Kenric didn’t seem to understand what was
happening, for he repeatedly overbalanced himself. Royce took full
advantage of Kenric’s mistakes, aiming hard blows from the flat of
his sword to Kenric’s body, though he did not strike to wound
badly, or to kill.

“Why doesn’t Royce just end it?” Julianna
gasped after one particularly telling stroke that nearly laid
Kenric flat on the ground.

“He wants Kenric beaten beyond any question
or doubt,” Michael explained, “but he also wants Kenric left alive
when the fight’s over, so he’ll be able to talk. Kenric has
information that Royce needs.”

“That’s a dangerous way to fight,” Baldwin
remarked from Julianna’s other side, where he had quietly joined
the little group at the top of the steps. “It’s much easier just to
kill an opponent outright.”

“Aye,” Michael agreed. “Not many men would
dare attempt such a victory.”

“Oh, Royce,” Julianna whispered, “take care.
Don’t let - oh, dear heaven, what a blow!” Knowing that a momentary
distraction could mean a swordsman’s death, she covered her mouth
with both hands to prevent her scream from emerging as Kenric took
an unchivalrous whack at Royce’s midsection. Baldwin’s hand on
Julianna’s right shoulder steadied her when she swayed in alarm.
Royce brought his shield up just in time to protect himself from
being cut in two.

The end came suddenly, in a flurry of
slashing blows too rapid for Julianna’s eyes to follow. Kenric was
on his knees and Royce lowered his sword just an inch or two. He
bent down and said something to Kenric, apparently asking if he
would give up the fight. Kenric bowed his head as if in surrender
and gripped the hilt of his sword in both hands in a way that
suggested he was about to offer it to Royce.

“No,” Julianna whispered, fearing Kenric’s
treacherous nature. “Royce, don’t trust him, not for an
instant.”

The softly uttered words were barely out of
her mouth when Kenric, who was still kneeling, swung at Royce in a
vicious, two-handed swipe meant to amputate or maim his legs.

Julianna was close to shrieking aloud from
terror for Royce’s sake. She wanted to look away, yet she could not
tear her gaze from the spectacle. Thus, she saw how Royce neatly
and rather casually jumped over Kenric’s sweeping blade as if he’d
been expecting the blow. Then, while Kenric’s arms were still in
motion, Royce jammed the pommel of his sword hard against his
opponent’s chin.

Kenric went down flat on his face and lay
still. Complete silence followed, while the onlookers took a moment
to draw breath and to begin to comprehend what had just happened.
Then a raucous cheer went up, as men who’d been on both sides of
the siege acknowledged Royce’s victory over a false knight who
fought so unfairly that no honest person could want him to win.

Shouting like a pair of youthful squires,
Michael and Baldwin left Julianna’s side and ran down the stairs to
join Royce. At the foot of the stairs, Brian embraced Michael, who
pounded on the boy’s back until he doubled over, laughing.

Meanwhile, down in the bailey former enemies
were shaking hands. Kenric’s siege companions, the lords Othmar and
Edmund, handed over their swords to two tall young noblemen whom
Julianna did not know. Cadwallon issued a command, and two
men-at-arms came forward to lift the stupefied Kenric to his feet
and bind his hands behind him.

Julianna observed all of this from the
corners of her vision, for her primary attention was on Royce. He
sheathed his sword, pushed back his coif, and turned toward the
stairs to the keep.

He saw Julianna at the top of the stairs and
halted for just a heartbeat. Then he mounted slowly, his gaze
locked on hers, his grey-green eyes shining. His red-gold hair was
matted with sweat and his face was begrimed. Still, to Julianna, he
was the most handsome man she had ever seen and her heart melted at
the undaunted strength of him.

She longed to fall into his arms, but they
had parted in furious anger and at his command. Perhaps he was
still angry with her. Perhaps he blamed her for the siege, as she
blamed herself. In addition, so many people were watching their
meeting and she did not want to embarrass him by showing her
emotions in public. She fell back upon the formal manners that had
seen her through many other difficult situations in her life.

“Welcome home, my lord,” she said, offering
her hand.

Royce lifted her fingers to his lips, then
looked at the white bandage wrapped around her upper arm.

“You are injured,” he said, drawing her
closer, his free hand at her waist. She breathed in the smells of
male sweat, of horse, of overheated metal armor, and the ineffable
green and woody scent that belonged to Royce alone.

“It’s nothing,” she said. “A mere arrow
prick.”

He smiled at her, a wide, delighted smile
that warmed her heart and gave her hope. She was sure he intended
to kiss her. She’d kiss him back, and put her arms around his neck,
and she’d ignore all the folk in the bailey who were doubtless
staring at them. And perhaps she wouldn’t wait until they were
alone to tell him that she loved him.

A sudden cry from the main gate had Royce
setting her aside and rushing back down the steps and across the
bailey. Julianna waited, hands clasped at her bosom, fearing some
new attack. She could see the anxiety on the faces below her.
Cadwallon’s loud voice provided the answer they all wanted to
hear.

“It’s our supply wagons, catching up with us
at last!” Cadwallon shouted, laughing. “They’re bringing food
enough for everyone: flour for bread, wheels of cheese, chickens
and rabbits, pickled herring, wine and ale, and several cows ready
for milking to feed the babies.”

Julianna discovered that she could stay
upright no longer. Nor was she strong enough to prevent the tears
from running down her cheeks. All the competing and sternly
repressed emotions of the last few weeks overcame her until she
retained barely strength enough to stumble into the hall, where she
sank onto a bench.

Etta found her there a short time later. As
if they were dear friends instead of mistress and servant, Etta put
her arms around Julianna and held her while she wept out her
relief. The tears didn’t last long. When Julianna heard the heavy
footsteps of armed men on the stairs she lifted her head and wiped
her face with one hand, and then she stood to greet her lord and
husband as he entered his great hall in triumph.

Royce made short work of his enemies. Lords
Othmar and Edmund, along with their primary lieutenants were
consigned to the castle dungeon, to be held there until it was
convenient for Royce to have them escorted to Northampton to be
judged by King Henry. Since they had betrayed their liege lord,
their most likely sentence was death by hanging, drawing and
quartering, but in the meantime they would be treated decently.
Julianna, who had inspected the dungeons shortly after coming to
Wortham and had found them remarkably clean and dry, thought the
treacherous lords were getting better than they deserved.

The ordinary fighting men of the besieging
army, all the simple knights and men-at-arms and the foot soldiers,
were sent to their encampment in the fields with orders to be gone
by noon of the following day.

“Bury your dead in the village cemetery, then
return directly to your homes,” Royce told them. “There you are to
await word from King Henry, who will confiscate the lands of your
former liege lords and hand them over to more loyal nobles. After
that happens, you will have the opportunity to swear fealty to the
new lords. The king is not likely to punish ordinary men who have
merely obeyed their sworn oaths. But I will not allow you to
continue to camp on Wortham lands for more than a single day.”

“My lord,” one knight protested, “we have
wounded among us, men who cannot ride.”

“You also have carts in which to lay them,”
Royce said. “You must fend for yourselves. I owe you nothing. You
have ruined Wortham land, broken down my castle walls, killed some
of my people and wounded others, and you’ve eaten well from the
deer and the fowl in my forest. But I will let you depart without
punishment if you go promptly, and in peace.”

Royce’s next immediate task was to see to the
repair of the main gates and the breach in the south wall. After
inspecting those areas and deciding that work should begin at dawn,
he posted extra sentries for the night.

“The outer defenses must be repaired first,”
he said as he re-entered the great hall along with Cadwallon and
several other men, including the two nobles whom Julianna had
noticed previously. “Once the walls and the gates are secure, I’ll
see to the inside of Wortham.”

“My lord,” Julianna spoke up, refusing to be
ignored any longer, “the fields need to be replowed and replanted
as soon as possible. I trust you’ve brought seed with you? If not,
we can easily obtain it from Craydon. With luck and good weather
this summer, we may yet gather in a fair harvest.