Rose of Hope (22 page)

Had her brother returned to his home in the forest? Mayhap, on the morrow, she could slip away and visit his cottage. ’Twas unlikely any rebels were near the burh and the short journey into the forest should be safe. If he remained absent, mayhap, she would find something he left behind to explain why he had abandoned her in the time of her greatest need. She refused to consider he might be dead.

For now, the simple gladness at the ease and lack of fear with which her people openly enjoyed the meal was as a further balm for healing. How different this meal was from what it had been such a short time before. With the men Fallard left behind there was no riotous, drunken revelry, and no lecherous hands to pinch and squeeze where they belonged not. The serving children, their features relaxed and smiling, did their work without strain of wondering when the slightest mistake might result in a massive hand cruelly smashing them to the floor, mayhap, breaking a bone. Oh, there was laughter aplenty, and much conversation, but ’twas good-natured, lacking the raucous, brutish quality from before.

Aye, the new lord of the burh was Norman, but if Wulfsinraed
must
have a new lord, then better it be Fallard D’Auvrecher. In so short a time, he had proven himself a better man and a more capable leader, and certainly more honorable than Renouf, true Saxon though her husband had been. There was no doubt which her people preferred.

Her brows tugged together. All, mayhap, except one. Since Ruald was escorted away in bonds, the slave Leda smiled only to gain favor. Ethelmar informed her the girl was surly, vicious to a fault, and must be constantly prodded to do her work. The others disliked her. Mayhap she truly grieved, and missed Ruald. Certainly, she missed the prestige she had enjoyed as the woman who held the favor of the lord’s brother.

As if aware of Ysane’s thoughts, Leda turned to stare straight at her. Ysane’s breath caught at the contempt and hatred that blazed from the girl’s amber eyes. Startled, she stared back. The other woman sneered, but then her eyes fell and she flounced off to the kitchen.

If she is miserable and makes others unhappy as well, mayhap, she should be sold. I will speak to her in the morn.

“Are you not well, my lady?” Jehan bent to her from his place on the bench beside her chair. “You eat not, I notice.”

“Nay, Jehan,” she said, letting her delight in the eve show in her smile. “In truth, I have been so preoccupied with the differences in my hall I fear I have quite forgotten to eat.”

To prove her words, she speared a piece of smoked, honeyed ham and ate it with relish.

But Jehan’s thoughtful gaze left her not. He spoke again, so low only she would hear. “That woman, the slave, I saw how she looked at you. She was disrespectful. I would chastise her, if you like.”

Ysane shook her head. The intensity of the encounter with Leda had shaken her, but the problem was a simple one, and as mistress of the hall, entirely hers. “My thanks, Jehan, but I will deal with it.”

“Well and good. But I am available, Lady Ysane, should you have need of my services. I will suffer you not to come to harm, nor am I pleased to stand aside and allow you to be so disparaged by a slave.”

Served by Jehan’s squire, Ysane took a bite of carrot flavored with mint and ginger, and cocked her head at the Second. “Sir Jehan, did my lord D’Auvrecher set you to watch over me in his absence?”

The faintest hint of color drifted over Jehan’s sculpted cheekbones. He offered her a sheepish grin. “Was I so transparent, then, my lady? Forgive me, I meant no offense.”

Ysane managed to refrain from laughing. The Second appeared quite comically disgruntled with himself, and concerned she might have been insulted by his words. “Oh, nay, Jehan. In truth, I am flattered, and not surprised my lord would leave you so onerous a duty. Fear not, sir knight. You have been most gallant.”

Jehan’s brows puckered, as if wondering if she jested. But he must have decided to take her words as they seemed, for he smiled at her instead.

Across from them, Lady Matty, wife to Thegn Noll, finished a honeyed almond. “Lady Ysane, I noticed the unfinished tapestry on your loom, this morn. The colors are quite striking, but the piece is not yet far enough along to discern the design. What is the scene?”

Ysane smiled. “’Tis an after sup scene of a country hall, much as you find anywhere. I thought the children might be gathered around the scop as he entertained. The ladies will be at their embroidery and the men talking around the fire, or playing at dice. The dogs will gnaw on supper bones. ’Twill be an uncomplicated scene, but one I hope to instill with all the peace and beauty of a simple life.”

Matty nodded. “’Tis my understanding you wove many of the tapestries in the hall. They are exquisite, my child. The weaving of the threads is not so difficult to learn, but the talent of bringing a scene to life, as if at any moment the figures might step out of the frame and speak, that is a gift, and one you seem to have in abundance. Noll and I must come around to visit again in a few months. I find myself desirous of viewing the new tapestry in its entirety.”

“I would be most pleased for you and your lord to visit, and I hope you will do so oft, and stay long enough we might come to know each other better.”

“Then ’tis a certainty we will come.”

The hall doors opened, catching Ysane’s eye. A guard stepped inside. His searching eyes found Jehan. Coming to the Second’s side, he whispered a quick word. Jehan stood and turned to Ysane. “My lady, a messenger has arrived. Since the captain is not here, mayhap, you should hear his words.”

A tremor of unease jolted Ysane, but she stood and gestured to all at the table. “If you will excuse us? Please continue to enjoy your meal. I am certain we will return shortly.”

Jehan also beckoned to Thegn Noll, who arose and followed them outside. The guard led them to the gatehouse.

Slumped before the fire pit, his hands wrapped round a tankard of warm ale, sat a man in the garb of King William’s foot soldiers. He glanced up when they entered, and with obvious effort, came to his feet, but so quickly, he stumbled, knocking over his stool. “Sir Jehan! My lord, my lady. I bear an urgent message from Sir Gyffard.”

“Sit down, man,” Jehan ordered. “You are nigh to falling over. What you have to say may be said while seated, and it can wait another moment or two. Catch your breath.”

“My thanks, sir.” He retrieved his seat, and pulled it closer to the hearth.

Jehan was right, Ysane observed. The poor man reeled with exhaustion. Bloodshot eyes blinked blearily from a gaunt face. Now and anon, shivers shook his ragged frame, and the hands holding the tankard trembled. His head hung low, bearded chin as slumped as his shoulders. Bloody scratches on face and hands, and mail smeared with blood, dirt, and moss stains offered mute testimony of battle hard fought, and a need to hide close to the ground and in thorny thickets. He had been hunted.

While the soldier recovered, the guard brought stools for Ysane and Noll. Jehan seated himself on the flat hearth.

The guard who summoned them spoke. “Would you have a spot of ale, my lords, my lady?”

Jehan and Noll nodded but Ysane declined. Her suspicion the messenger had been forced to hide from pursuers during his race to the hall was proven correct when the man finally lifted his head and began to relate his message.

His tired eyes focused on Jehan. “I am Ligart, sir. I bear a message from Sir Gyffard for Captain D’Auvrecher. I would have arrived yester eve, but I was followed, and ’twas necessary to hide for a time to give the searchers opportunity to move on. I have been told why Captain D’Auvrecher is away, and I fear my message has a direct bearing on that cause.” He gulped another swallow of ale and continued. “Three days ago, our force was waylaid by a great host of Saxons. Though we remained alert for trouble, as Sir Gyffard ordered, they took us by surprise. They outnumbered us two to one. In the chaos, Sir Ruald and most of his men were freed, and escaped with the rebel host. Sir Gyffard believes that force is headed for Wulfsinraed.”

Ysane’s indrawn breath hissed loudly in the pause, as the bumps of a chill passed over her arms. She caught her elbows with her hands, hugging herself. She had thought Ruald safely on his way to London, but now! She feared not only for Fallard. If Arnulf, her brother-by-law, had obeyed Fallard’s summons, then he, her sister Gemma and their son, Sigan, would be out there somewhere, unaware of their danger. Ruald was free. His rage would be terrible, all his thoughts bent on revenge. He would kill her family if he could.

“My lady!” The messenger spoke again, misunderstanding her fear. “I left on my mission very soon after the battle, and traveled as fast as I was able. ’Twould have taken some time for the Saxon force to reassemble and prepare to march. They are a large force, on foot, and unable to move quickly through the forest. Though I spent a goodly length of time in hiding, ’tis my belief they remain a night and full day behind, mayhap many hours more.”

Jehan also spoke to reassure her. “We are safe here, my lady, fear not. Captain D’Auvrecher was well aware when he left that a large force of rebels might be on its way. I assure you, he will take care, and there will be protection for the traveling parties.”

“He
knew
Sir Gyffard’s men were attacked and Sir Ruald was freed?
”

“Nay, he suspected only, my lady,” Noll corrected, “and there is yet another consideration. The attack on our party could have had—
should
have had—more disastrous results. ’Twas as if those who assaulted us were less intent on killing, than simple harassment. If, as is believed, they were rebels, ’tis unlikely they would risk having the countryside rise against them by indiscriminately killing Saxon noblemen and their families. My lord D’Auvrecher’s force would be more than capable of dealing with them, should they happen upon them.

“But methinks the group that attacked us had but one goal, and that to cause us to suspect betrayal from Lord D’Auvrecher and King William. Believing that goal achieved, then surely by now they would be in hiding, awaiting the larger force.”

Jehan nodded in agreement with Noll’s assessment, and Ysane felt some of her first fear subside.

“Continue your message, Ligart,” Jehan said. “I would know all you may tell.”

“Aye, sir. We were set upon nigh the end of the day, at a place in the road so narrow our numbers were forced to string out. We had already passed a number of such places and were prepared, thinking them likely spots for ambush. Though we passed each of those unscathed, we yet remained alert, and that, Sir Gyffard believes, was one reason we were not more badly taken. But he also believes the rebels were more interested in setting free the prisoners than in killing the king’s men.”

“Why would Sir Gyffard come to that conclusion?”

“Well, sir, the Saxons dropped on us like flies from the trees above the road, and attacked from the sides and both ends of the line. But the largest number assaulted the middle of the line where the prisoners were secured. There were bowmen among them, but those shot only at guards nigh to the prisoners. They succeeded in splitting our party in half. They separated and overwhelmed the soldiers close to the prisoners so those men had no choice but to defend their own lives, leaving them unable to prevent the prisoners from being released.

“Once Sir Ruald and the rest were free, the rebels melted back into the trees. Sir Gyffard rallied the force and sent men in pursuit, but those men returned quickly with naught to report. The Saxons vanished as if they had never been.

“Sir Gyffard decided to take the dead and wounded and head southwest, but he feared the Saxons would double back and seek to attack Wulfsinraed under the leadership of Sir Ruald. He sent me to warn Captain D’Auvrecher of that possibility. ’Twas his thought to rouse the garrison at Witham, and did they agree to come, bring them back with him.”

“What is Sir Gyffard’s estimate of the number of men who may be coming this way?”

“As I said, sir, their numbers were double ours, mayhap more. Sir Gyffard believed their number nigh to two hundred, with the possibility of gathering more along the way.”

“Two hundred!
”
Noll cried. “‘Why, that is impossible. There is no such force of rebels in this part of the land.”

“Aye, so all believed.” Jehan’s tone was heavy. “But it seems all were wrong.”

“Sir Jehan,” said Noll, “after what has been said here this eve, think you ’tis possible the attack on our party was a means of luring troops away from the burh?”

“Hmmm, so while they were away, chasing shadows, the larger force could arrive without warning and launch an attack of their own, thus attempting to take the burh ere the defenders could return? Aye, methinks ’tis a possibility most likely. Had Captain Fallard believed the attackers were mere thieves, or thought them William’s men, he would have feared not for the burh itself, and thus would not have taken enough precautions to secure it. ’Tis most fortunate our captain is no fool.”

“Then I may say, Sir Jehan,” Ligart said, “that most relieved I will be to learn the final words of my message have already been somewhat acted upon.”

“And those words were?” Jehan looked as if he knew them already.

“Prepare for a battle, sir, or mayhap, a siege.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Ysane returned to the hall to reassure her guests, and inform the various stewards Jehan and Noll wanted to meet with them immediately after the meal. Jehan left orders for the messenger to be fed, given wash water and a quiet pallet for him to sleep, then commanded the burh guard be further increased. ’Twas the Second’s intent, as he explained to Ysane, that as each of the escort companies returned to the burh with parties of stewards, the arriving troops would be reassigned to sentry duty. The troops in the burh, more rested, would be ordered to take their place. Come the morn, he would send riders to search for all the escort companies and urge them to make all possible haste. In particular, he would send a man to find Fallard, and pass on the message. He thought he knew where Fallard’s company might be found.