Raik's eyes narrowed. "Ye didna allow my wife upon the walls, did ye?"
"Nay. We kept two guards at her door during the day. After the enemy camp quieted for the third night, we thought all were safe within." Cormac, his face stricken, paused at the top of the stairwell.
"We thought?"
Raik didn't like the sound of those two words. When his eyes spied the signs of hastily washed blood outside his solar door, he near shouted in rage.
"We found the guards dead yester morn. Their throats cut. No one had heard a sound."
"My wife?"
Raik grabbed the door and shoved it open. What greeted his eyes made his knees go weak. The bedding looked like a great fight had ensued there. Blood covered the sheets. He followed a red trail leading into the solar and over to the window. Smeared blood colored the opening. He leaned out and spied a drainage pipe close enough that a tall man could reach it. Dark spots and long smears marked it all the way to the ground.
His legs threatened to fold.
"Aubrey and my mother?" He had his answer when Lady Joneta came rushing into the room. She clutched Aubrey as if it would take an army to pull him from her arms. Their eyes red and swollen, Sybilla and Maud followed.
He folded his arms around his mother and Aubrey and felt her shaking with sobs.
"You must find her, Raik," she cried.
Cormac opened his arms to Sybilla and she went to him. His comforting hug and whispered words stilled her shaking.
Aubrey began to wail, the sound pitiful. Raik leaned back and studied his son, his eyes puzzled.
"He is hungry," Maud said. "He refuses to nurse from any wet-nurse in the castle or the village. Letia has been weaning him to eat porridge thinned with milk, but he still needs her."
"Shh, little one. Everything is going to be all right," Raik murmured then rubbed and kissed Aubrey's fluffy head.
The crying broke off, and the child's blue eyes searched for Raik's face.
"Come, let us leave the men to their battle strategy. We are delaying them from finding Letia." Maud put on a confident look, and placed a motherly arm around Sybilla.
Raik watched as they left the room. Once they were out of sight, he bombarded the men with questions, working his way up to that fateful night.
Edmund, his face haggard, rushed into the room and near fell into his seat. He swallowed a cup of cold ale before he started talking. "A sennight ago, Julian lurked out of sight. We would spot men within the forest during the day. In the quiet of night, we heard horses stomping. Enough that we knew the army was a goodly size, though they did not show themselves.
"We loosed fire arrows up at night to discourage them from stealing close to the walls. He attacked the third morning."
"How long before you sent his men to flight?"
"Four days. The army melted away during the night." Sir William stood in the doorway. Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
"We had set young Giles and Freki to patrol inside the outer walls each night," Cormac said. "We found them both on the ground by the postern gate at dawn. The back of Giles' head bore a lump the size of a hearty apple. We thought him dead, but he was not." Cormac shook his head. "Lady Joneta and Maud have been tending him. He has not awakened."
Sir William nodded. "Freki looked to have been strangled with a rope around his neck. That dog has as many lives as a cat. When the beast crawled to his feet, I thought he would follow the scent of whoever attacked them. Strangely, he howled and wobbled to the drawbridge. He regained his balance by the time he reached the woods. Somehow, he sensed where to hunt for you."
Cormac's accusing eyes studied Raik's, his lips pinched in at the sides. "Why did you not heed our messenger when he reached you?"
"A man did find us. I didn't recognize him but thought mayhap 'twas someone I had not yet sparred with. He said Muriele was in danger. When we got to the convent, we realized it was a ruse."
"Shite!" Cormac swiped his hands over his face. "Julian must have had our man followed until he learned his direction then killed him and sent you farther away."
Raik grated his teeth together.
"The minute lookouts spotted you," Cormac said, "I ordered the men to prepare to leave at first light. Cook is preparing food for the wagon and squires are readying their knight's armor."
Raik nodded. Darkness was near upon them. Both men and horses needed rest. It would do them no good to start out afore they regained their strength, else they would drop from exhaustion.
He fought to curb his own impatience to be gone.
"We leave after the bells of Vigils and ride by torchlight. We can easily travel half the night on roads we know. By sunrise, we will be many leagues closer to Chatton Castle."
CHAPTER 38
Chatton Castle, Northumbria
A hundred night insects nattered to each other inside Letia's skull. White streaks of pain pounced and bit at her brain. The hard bed rocked and swayed, making it worse. Her eyelids squeezed tighter. She shivered, near freezing. Where was her wool blanket? To steady herself from the constant swaying, she stretched her arms out wide at her sides.
Where was her familiar bedding? She swept one hand back and forth. Wet. Slimy. She jerked it back. Where was she? To find out meant forcing her lids open. She could barely lift them. Her face was swollen and battered. The faint light caused her to whimper in pain.
Nausea roiled again. This time, she couldn't swallow it back. It shot from her lips. She vaguely remembered it happened before. Had she awakened before?
Men's voices. Laughter. Taunting.
Whom did they call "Satan's trull?"
She started to grit her teeth. It hurt to move her jaw. She forced herself to peek through her lashes. Blinding light brought more flashing pain. She spewed again. Bitter.
More laughter. More taunting. From above.
The bed was small. Her legs hung out into space, uncovered. Cold air prickled her flesh.
Could she believe what that brief glimpse had shown her? Her world rocked again. This time, 'twas so violent it forced her to open her eyes to seek purchase afore she fell from the strange bed.
She grasped out and her hands gripped something round. Wood. Bars? A distance of three hands separated each one. She held on as she swung from left to right, in rhythm to the laughter above.
The bed was a wooden cage.
Something snapped in the breeze, and she slowly turned her head to the side. A green banner with a black bear, his white tusks tipped in red, flew beside her cage instead of atop the ramparts. For anyone who saw it, it was a gesture of possession.
"The great, fighting Lady of Seton. Is your room to your liking?"
Julian. His gravelly chuckle followed.
She looked up through the bars. Standing in the opening of the battlements above, men leaned outward as far as they could. Some hung over the tops of the merlons to get a better view. The sun behind their backs hurt her eyes. She did not need to see the man who taunted her. It was enough to note that long, black hair framed his face. She envisioned brown eyes peering above a well-formed, thin nose and stubborn jaw. Her knife had caused some damage, for he appeared bulky around his chest!
"Though you have lazed abed near two days, you do not look well rested. Mayhap we should rock you to sleep?"
He chuckled and nodded to the men on either side of him. They reached out and grabbed the rope tied to a large ring and tugged it, making her cage lurch and sway.
Determined not to spew again, she held tight as they renewed their taunts and laughter. Cold air on sensitive flesh made her squint down at her body. She still wore Raik's shirt. But it barely flirted with her lower parts. How long had she been exposed like this? She jerked her legs toward her body, scraping her skin on the rough bars. She freed one hand to tug the shirt hem down.
"Nay, lady! The sun has near browned yer skin!"
Shame filled her that the hateful men had feasted their eyes on her unknowing flesh. She pulled herself to a sitting position. T
hankfully, the billowing shirt allowed her to shield her crossed legs beneath it.
"Hide now if you must. You will soon sleep again and we will look our fill."
Letia ignored him. And she ignored the filth where she had sickened in her sleep. At least it was her own and not tossed from above.
Taking deep breaths, she sought to orient herself. Her wooden cage hung in front of the barbican. The raised drawbridge was directly behind her. She hugged her arms as she realized if anyone lowered it, the top of the bridge would snag her prison and pitch it into the wide moat below.
Closing her eyes, she tried to remember what had happened. The only thing that came to mind was the dream that turned out to be half-real. When Julian had attacked her, she'd heard no other sounds from the keep. Hope filled her, for that quiet meant she might have been the only one involved that night. Knowing his army could not defeat Seton, had Julian contented himself with capturing her?
Her dear Aubrey and Seton's people were likely safe. Leofwan was wise. He would keep Cormac and Edmund from letting their tempers overrule caution. He'd not allow them to attack Chatton Castle until Raik returned.
She leaned her head back against a bar and casually crossed her arms. Her fingers stole down her sides, cupping her stomach. The babe was too small to show signs, but she must keep Julian from getting even a hint that she was breeding. He would take great delight in killing her in front of Raik, while telling him she was taking his child into death with her.
That she still felt sickness encouraged her. She refused to think that mayhap it was because of Julian's beating. She would hold on and keep the babe safe until Raik came.
He would arrive in time.
He had to.
She ignored the whistles and lewd suggestions called down to her. Her eyes ached. If she rested them for a period, the pain lessened. When she opened them again, she wasted no time on the hateful men above. Without turning her head, she scanned the cleared area outside the castle walls. Her vantage point was as good as Julian's to watch for Seton's army. Mayhap even better, for she believed she would know when Raik neared long before he came into sight.
Why had she been such a frightened fool when they wed? She should have told Raik that first sennight . . . nay, in the church before they spoke the marriage vows . . . that Aubrey was his.
The answer was simple. That first night he had been so gentle when she came to him in the darkness, she had fallen in love with him. She frowned, thinking. Nay. She had loved him even before that, for his first touch had ignited a fire in her emotions.
When he arrived to take over Seton, she'd feared that if she told him her shameful secret, he would forever hate her. She couldn't endure his hatred.
Whatever he would have done to her then would have been far less than she suffered now. She had put everyone she loved in peril.
Raik would never leave until either he or Julian died.
o0o
Raik took a long, hot bath, relaxing his body far more than restless sleep would have. By the time he finished soaking his muscles, dressed and met with his commanders to make sure they understood his battle plans, he was ready.
When the men left and Edulf held the door for Cook's helpers to bring in the evening meal, Raik's mouth watered for the first time in over a month. He had not enjoyed a meal since he had punished Letia so unmercifully.
He regretted every unkind word he had ever uttered to her. Thinking of the times he'd accused her of being more squire than woman spasms crossed his face. What a fool he'd been. He had wasted all those months thinking of the perfect woman of his dreams while she had been right there in the bed with him. He dug his nails into his palms.
Regardless of how she conceived Aubrey, he should have been overjoyed when he learned of his son.
He had checked on Giles earlier in the evening. Lady Joneta was sitting beside the young man's bed. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes had a haunted look. She was smoothing and patting a crimson ribbon she held against her chest. 'Twas one of Letia's. When she heard his footsteps, she straightened and tried to smile when her gaze met his. He asked her then to bring Aubrey and dine with him.
Hearing her voice crooning to his son and the bairn's sounds in reply, Raik grinned. When she came through the doorway, she smiled down at the child and, holding him securely against her breasts, pointed to Raik.
"Look, Aubrey. Here is your Da."
Raik's mouth dropped when the baby turned his head to follow her finger. His face lit when he spotted Raik, his arms swatted the air. Raik burst out laughing. Why, the wee mite recognized his father!
He took Aubrey to wiggle him in the air over his head, not caring when the baby's chuckles showered his face with spit.
The three enjoyed the peace of the solar. Now and again, his eyes strayed to the dark stains on the floor where Goda had tried to remove all traces of blood.
"Son, Letia is a fighter. I would bet my life that it is her assailant's blood, not her own."
"Aye. I know. 'Tis too much for a woman to lose. Had it been hers, the bastard would have left her body hidden in the bushes. He wouldn't burden himself carrying off a dying woman."
"Cormac felt the same," she nodded. "He called for everyone to take a weapon, no matter how crude, to search the grounds for any signs of...," she hesitated before adding, "a body. Julian dares not kill Letia, else King Stephen will see him hung." Lady Joneta nodded, her mouth firm. "Sir William reassured me the moment we found her missing."
Raik wished he felt that certain. To him, Julian's temper led him to do the worst things possible against himself. He would kill and not think about the consequences until they were upon him. But Raik intended to get to him before the man lost himself to all reason.
o0o
Torches lit the keep, the front bailey, the knights and warriors' barracks and stables. 'Twas as bright as any sunny day. Though it was time for the bells of Matins, no one was abed. Squires and knights finished their final preparations as they strapped swords around chain mail, adjusted helmets and capes then settled broadswords in slings across their backs. Squires carried their master's shields and extra weapons, along with their own bows and arrows.
For the first time Letia's slingers, who worked in tandem with the archers, rode behind them on horseback. All were ready in line, waiting for Raik's command to start. He raised his sword while Storm pranced, eager as if he had not run in days. He hesitated when Goda's deep voice called to him. Lowering his sword, he turned to watch her running to him, arms waving in the air.
"My lord," she panted when he rode to meet her, "Giles awoke. He said he had given Lady Letia her dagger. 'Twas Julian who was injured. He carried her over his right shoulder and blood dripped from his left side. Two of the bastards, uh, excuse me my lord, were inside the postern gate. Giles said 'twas them that downed him and the dog."
Raik gave him a brisk nod. "Tell Giles he will have a hefty reward for following his instincts and not my orders," Raik grinned. "Though he must get well before he can claim it."
Hope surged through Raik knowing Letia was not injured. Thanks to the good Lord, she was tough. Never had he been so grateful that his 'lady who would be a squire' was also finely trained and fit.
He wheeled Storm and trotted to the head of the line. Four warriors carrying torches went ahead to light the way. Afore they galloped through the barbican, he slashed his sword toward the sky.
His fierce war cry split the air, echoed by every man in the ranks behind him.
Freki, tied to a post in the stable, pulled and tugged until he broke free. Before the last horse rode through the barbican, the beast streaked alongside.
By the time Raik gained the southern fork in the road, Freki was in step with Storm.
CHAPTER 39
"My lady. Your bath awaits," a mocking voice called.
Letia, shivering and curled in a tight ball, awoke to a still-dark sky. Torchlight from above bathed Julian in flickering amber lights as he performed a courtly bow with
a graceful sweep of his arm. A heartbeat later, buckets of cold water rained down. Not remembering when she last had anything to drink, she threw back her head and opened her mouth wide. She swallowed greedily—until she realized it wasn't the only thing within the bucket.
Slops from the kitchen tangled in her hair and collected on the white shirt. Snow would not have felt colder than the wet cloth chilled even more by the brisk October morning.
"Enjoy breaking your fast." He chuckled as if he loved the irony of it. "I would not want you so weakened you failed to relish the sight when I hang your thieving husband beside your lovely bedchamber."
Letia ignored his taunts. She pushed herself to sit upright and braced her back against the wooden bars.
Thankfully, her breasts no longer ached from unused milk. Whenever she knew no one peered down at her, she had pressed her nipples with her fingers, extracting it. She had no way to collect it for herself, other than to lick it off the palm of her hand. Now, without food and the stimulation of hearing Aubrey's hungry cries, her milk quickly dried up.
Each morn, she whispered a litany over and again, Please, God. Raik will come today. I'll see him afore the sun is overhead. She had to be strong and not be a burden when he found a way to release her.
Her stomach growled. She looked with distaste at the wilted carrot tops, apple cores, bits of turnip, the roots of beets and things she could not identify. Her need to see Raik and Aubrey overcame her reluctance. She ignored their unsightly appearance and nibbled the bits of food. Several times, she near retched but forced herself to keep it down.
Surely, people survived on less when lost in the forest. She pictured the edible berries and plants that would sustain them and pretended that was what she ate. She chewed apple and pear cores, and crunched their seeds then cleaned off the various roots where bits of mud clung to them.
When she had eaten all she could salvage, she was surprised to find she was no longer hungry. Feeling Julian's malicious gaze on her head, she took a deep breath and turned enough to look up at him.
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