“From whose point of view?”
“Mine. Yours. The men who will not then die over me”
He looked down at her.
“There is no-one that I could wish for more than you. But men will still die. Beside the banner of your father is that of my brother Falk, a version of our one time family banner. And he will only leave when he sees me dead,” he paused “I too would like to see him dead,” he added.
Annis snorted.
“Is this worthy idiot worth wasting your time and effort on?” she snapped “Let him do the fretting while you do the getting. His line will die and yours will prosper.”
He laughed suddenly and the drawn lines of troops without the wall stirred at his harsh mirth; and one slender figure looked up with a frown of concern. Gyrfalon did not notice.
“You always manage to surprise me, Annis. What an earthy little thing you can sometimes be!”
Annis blushed and dropped her eyes.
“I see no point in coy,” she murmured.
“No; you are right; it is an irritating trait in a woman,” he agreed. “Well, I shall call for a parley anyway, on such terms. Perchance we may at least get rid of your father at least if he might call me son-in-law; for I stand between his lands and the lawless north,” he pursed his lips in thought. “Tell me more of the relationship between your father and Marfey. What will he do?”
Annis considered, sliding a hand into his gloved fist; and absently he lifted her hand and laid his other over it.
“Marfey would ever run bleating to the church,” she said succinctly. “Which, if your brother is here could be what he has already done. I expect that Marfey has bought enough bishops to command the services of Falk; of whom I had heard, isolated as I have been in my father’s castle, as a champion to be had only for the most worthy of causes and only as a personal favour. Though if you are involved he might put aside those two conditions I suppose” she added brightly.
Gyrfalon laughed again.
“Your cynicism is refreshing” he remarked “So will he remain?”
“Until or unless his personal safety is threatened,” she said dryly “I suppose if we apprise your rabidly righteous brother of his iniquities we might get rid of both as the sanctimonious sibling pursues the dirty little creature.”
He chuckled at her descriptions of Falk.
“Well, whatever else I might say of my brother, he does not suffer fools or cowards gladly; and were he aware of Marfey’s predilections I could almost guarantee he would be as nauseated as I am. Divide and conquer, hmm?”
She grinned at him.
“Put me up on the parapet, Gyrfalon: then jump up and dangle me off. That way, any shooting at you ensures my death too so you may call for parley in safety.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Are you sure they will be so careful of your life?”
She chuckled.
“I never heard yet it was good politics to kill the hostage you come supposedly to rescue,” she commented dryly. “Besides, my lord and betrothed husband – do we not stand together and fall together as husband and wife should?”
“Many women would not take that quite so literally,” he said dryly.
She smiled with brittle brightness.
“They say it’s not so much the fall that causes the problems as the sudden stop at the bottom.”
He ruffled her hair, laughing; pulled off his gloves; and hoisted her up onto the high crenellations. In a moment he was up there behind her, grabbing her wrists and dangling her over. Annis struggled with herself not to look down. Her head swam and she bit the inside of her mouth not to cry out in terror. She concentrated on the comforting feel of Gyrfalon’s strong hands at her wrists, his flesh on hers for a surer grip. He rarely removed his gloves and Annis made herself think of the pleasure of his touch that enabled her to school her face into impassivity.
Gyrfalon called,
“This is the Lady Annis for whom you have come. Should I let you have her?” His grip tightened and then he made as though to drop her, laughing. The laughter was a sheer release of mirth that he and Annis fooled them; that she trusted him where no other would. Annis blinked a couple of times, glad he had warned her with the firmer grip before rapidly lowering her ere raising her again. The assembled armies gasped involuntarily. The firmly impassive look Annis wore was read by them of a girl frozen with terror. Gyrfalon smiled grimly.
“That rather got your attention, didn’t it, my brother, Falk?” he called “Well, I want to parley. I don’t much care if you be there or not, brother mine, not yet the fat oaf Marfey; I want to parley with Lord Peter Haldane, the girl’s father.”
There was a flurry in the ranks and the slender graceful figure of the paladin Falk strode forward.
“What is there to parley, Gyrfalon?”
Gyrfalon laughed.
“That is none of your business. Not that such has ever stopped you sticking your nose in. But the longer you waste my time, the tireder mine arms will get. She’s no very great weight but even so…. I’m sure you don’t want that!”
Falk’s mouth tightened.
“Speak then of this parley” he said.
“Tomorrow. Mid morning. In the village church. Oh, and do try to prevent your ruffians from damaging my village too much; you’ll upset my reeve.”
He hoisted Annis back up with an effortless movement, put an arm about her waist and jumped down with her, lifting her easily with him one armed. She clung to him shaking, her teeth chattering.
“Why, what is this?” Gyrfalon lifted her face, cupping it in both hands, gazing down at the white, set look to it and big dark eyes. “I would not have let you fall, little one; I thought you trusted me?” There was hurt in his one eye.
“I do,” she said earnestly. “And I knew you would not drop me; and I know I be stupid but I am terrified of heights. I always have been. Not battlements; or turrets; but climbing or such.”
“Then why did you suggest it?” he was incredulous.
“Because it seemed the best way to do it, that would give you some protection,” she said simply.
He stared.
“That is true bravery,” he was much struck, “to voluntarily do something that you know will petrify you with fear.”
She buried her face against him.
“You give me courage by your presence, my lord,” she murmured in a muffled sort of way. Then she pulled herself together. “Well, my lord, is it not time to do your face and make you comfortable while your worthy brother suffers pangs of outraged horror and the consequent indigestion that be like to bring?”
He gave a whoop of delighted laughter that had Falk shuddering without.
“You bad girl!” he crowed in delight “So much sanctity as a cause for naught but belly ache….. that will I dwell on with great pleasure!”
Chapter 9
Annis smoothed ointment onto Gyrfalon’s face, noting all the little lines of worry that had sprung up since his brother had arrived. He relaxed somewhat under her ministrations, his good eye shut as he lay back in the great oak chair, giving her the perfect trust of being helpless in her presence – though she wore obediently the wrist sheaths and their knives as well he knew – even as she had placed perfect trust in him on the battlements.
Annis smiled wryly and shook her head at him; then leaned forward and dropped a gentle kiss on his maimed eye.
The effect was electric.
Gyrfalon started; and Annis jumped back in consternation.
“My lord? Gyrfalon? Did I hurt you? I am sorry!”
He stared; blinked, and stared again frowning.
“Hurt? No you did not hurt me … It was an odd sensation … like a wound that tightens as it draw together ….” he covered his good eye and moved his hand up and down in front of his face, turned to the window; then he rose to his feet as he uncovered the other eye and took her by the shoulders, his face blazing with hope and exultation. “Whatever you did girl – I see light! I can
see light and dark!” he told her “Can you do more?”
Annis stared as he sat himself down and looked hopefully expectant. She blushed.
“All I did was this” she said, shyly repeating the kiss.
He gasped again as the odd feeling seized his eye again and gazed at her amazed.
“You kissed it? Why? You could bring yourself to do so?”
Annis flushed scarlet.
“You looked so tired” she managed “I – I wanted to….”
He possessed himself of her hands, and pulled her closer.
“I do not understand it” he marvelled “But it is working … with that second kiss … I see dim shapes!”
“You must not tire it by peering!” she chided “Else you will get headaches; and maybe strain what sight you have regained. I – I do not know how much can be done at once. Curses are outside of normal medical texts you see,” she added apologetically.
He came to his feet and looked down at her.
“You are amazing” he said; and bent to brush her lips with his. To his amazement her mouth clung and opened under his; and her little body pressed urgently against him. He slid his arms around her and kissed her fervently, passionately. Annis ran her hands up his back, pulling him closer. When he lifted his face from hers her smoke blue eyes were dark with passion and shining like stars; and though she trembled he knew it was not from fear. He cleared his throat.
“You – you had better go to your room,” he told her almost harshly, his voice hoarse. “If you stay I will not answer for my self control. It is better that you leave.”
She took a single step back and regarded him steadily.
“Do think entirely of protecting mine honour, Gyrfalon, or is it part of you that is afraid to let yourself go lest I prove as faithless as Alys and run off with your worthy, but boring, brother?” she asked quietly.
He stared.
“He is handsome and dashing,” he admitted “Mayhap it has crossed my mind.”
Annis came forward again and wrapped her arms around him.
“I am not Alys,” she said firmly. “She lost; I have won. I know what I want and I am not such a little fool as she was to lose it.”
He could hardly believe it.
“You – you want to stay?” his voice was a whisper, full of deep longing.
She nodded; and raised her face.
“Unless you think it will jeopardize healing you? The maiden pure bit I mean?” she asked anxiously “I’d not want to risk that….”
“I could not care less,” he said savagely and swept her up into his arms “I would live with the pain at its worse if you but cared for me!”
“I do care, my love,” murmured Annis into his chest.
Somehow they reached the bed; and somehow clothes mysteriously disappeared. Annis surrendered herself to the ecstasy of her lord’s hungry embraces until they both slept, spent.
At some point, Elissa had knocked, since Annis was so long; and the knock had not even been heard. The female warrior put her head round the door; and withdrew, hastily, unseen by the lovers on the bed.
“Well how about that!” she muttered to herself; and took herself off to a more comfortable place to sleep.
He could guard the chit quite adequately for himself.
Gyrfalon woke to the sound of the early morning bustle in the courtyard, and lay in happy lassitude for a moment before he awoke enough to be aware of why he was so happy, feeling Annis’ little body snuggled up beside him. He looked down at her still sleeping figure with incredulous wonder. No one had instilled in the girl any kind of indoctrination about decorum and restraint in all things for ladies; and she had responded to him instinctively, passionately, joyously and oh so definitely indecorously. Gyrfalon smiled down at her with unwonted gentleness; before he suddenly realised that he was looking at her lovely face with two eyes! Forgetting resolve to leave her to sleep he reached to her white shoulder and shook it gently, calling her name.
“Annis – wake up Annis!”
She grunted, wriggled and opened her eyes to smile adoringly up at him; and then she stared in surprise.
“What do you see?” he asked.
“Your face – why, it is better than ever I could have hoped for with salves!” she gasped.
“And I can see – I see perfectly!” he told her, covering each eye in turn to check.
She grinned a wry grin.
“Well, my love, methinks had I known the proper cure for the same at first I might have been less willing to provide it,” she admitted “You are not easy to learn to know.”
He laughed.
“But now art pleased to have thus effected my cure?”
“But now, my lord,” she affected a serious face but her dimple bobbed in and out belying it “But now there might be a few bits of scar left that need more treatment.”
He chuckled, and pulled her to him; and the sun rose unheeded.
Some time later came a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” asked Gyrfalon irritably.
“My Lord, it is I, Elissa; to remind you that there is a parley you wished to go to,” said Elissa who had told Foregrim that she would run the message to Gyrfalon.
“Damn you, go find Lady Annis a fair gown for it!” called Gyrfalon.
Annis grinned.
“It were not politic to go in yesterday’s that you have mussed and crumpled rather” she said “A very hussy I would look and no demure hostage.”
“Indeed; for we shall not let your father see that there lies anything between us. It will lower the stakes and we may as well take him for as much as we can.”
Annis grinned and nodded and kissed him solemnly.
Elissa came in, averted her eyes and dropped the clean garments. She had chosen Annis’ midnight blue gown.
“I’m going now,” she said loudly and left.
Annis giggled as she hastily washed and dressed.
“Poor Elissa is scandalised,” she said “Hasn’t she ever seen naked people before? I thought she was unshockable!”
“’Tis you that shocks her, froward wench,” said Gyrfalon. “Ah, you are beautiful!”
“Better not go that road,” said Annis. “Hair loose or plaited?”
“Plaited; the better to make you look young so Falk sees why Marfey wants you. That gown is too lovely and sophisticated really; white and virginal might have been better.”
Annis giggled.
“Too late for that; and your sheets are a dreadful mess of blood.”
“For a girl who rides astride and leaps around so athletically as you that’s ridiculous,” snorted Gyrfalon. “I suppose it be no surprise that you be contrary. I did not hurt you?” he asked suddenly concerned.
“No, my dear, not at all. Though why you should suddenly care after the amount you bruise me in sword practice I don’t know.”
“Minx.”
“So my lord has said before,” she finished plaiting her hair “And we will take the priest.”
“Take the priest? Whatever for?” her lover was sceptical.
“If he sees Marfey he may have less objection about marrying us later,” she said prosaically. “Besides, a man of the cloth should be able to be trusted if he be witness to the proceedings. It is standard practice. Besides,” she added, “I rather think that Brother Michael here is trustworthy. He’s an old sweetie.”
Gyrfalon snorted.
“Trust you to be able to find good, even in a priest!” he grunted. She put her arms around him.
“Do you mind so very much that I am always optimistic, and look to find the endearing features in people – even when I half expect to be disappointed?” she asked him.
He kissed her briefly, but hard.
“No” he admitted “And another thing ere we leave! We will not let on about my face yet either. It may be good to keep my restored sight a secret.”
She nodded.
“I do not put it past Marfey at least to have assassins sneak up on your l
eft side,” she agreed “And if you and your brother cannot resist the temptation to fight, if he be tactically sound he must needs try to find an opening from a blind spot.”
“He is tactically sound,” said Gyrfalon. “Remember, it was I who taught him.”
The autumn sun was pale and miserable behind a veil of thin cloud that reached damp fingers of clammy cold unable to make up its mind if it were mist or light rain. Damp droplets clung to myriad cobwebs in which fat but disconsolate spiders waited for the emergence of unwary insects. The dampness clung equally tenaciously to eyelashes and hair and insinuated itself insidiously into clothing. Gyrfalon turned up the collar of his cloak and scowled disapprobation at the dismal sky.
“Oh do not look like that, My Lord” teased Annis “The sky weepeth overmuch already – truly if you frighten it any more with such grimaces it will cry in earnest!”
Her sally brought a rueful grin from the warlord.
“Aye, and we go forth from a good secure castle but briefly,” he said with some satisfaction. “Falk and his men must needs endure this all day under naught but canvas.”
“Oh now you be unkind and gloat. No, do not scowl at me like that; I am too happy to be anything but charitable and cheerful; grant me my little foibles, my lord,” she smiled at him sunnily; and he smiled back, suddenly knowing that the weather was irrelevant.
“I am glad you are happy, my lady,” ventured Father Michael. “Has Lord Gyrfalon intimated that he will return you to your father?”
“Oh no! That were not likely to make me happy!” exclaimed Annis “He has promised me faithfully that he will save me from the foul advances of Lord Marfey to whom my father has promised me in wedlock.”
The priest blinked.
“Surely, daughter, it is your duty to submit to the will of your father – a good father does his best to choose a good bridegroom for his daughter!”
“Now you see why I dislike priests,” said Gyrfalon. “He assumes your father has your interests at heart and makes assumption that your bridegroom is a good choice.”
Falconburg Divided (The Falconburg Series Book 1) Page 12
