“Then I will definitely have to come,” Ava said, making a move to get up.
Rowena shrugged. “Do as you will. I do not think this meeting will take very long. We may be back before this jousting match is finished.”
A loud crash sounded, echoing over the green field. A knight smashed his lance into the chest of his opponent, sending the wooden splinters flying ever which way.
The crowd gasped in excited horror and began to cheer enthusiastically.
With one last glance at the lists, Rowena and Ava left the grandstand.
CHAPTER 24
Their mounts’ hooves rang through the deserted courtyard as they made their way to the main stable.
“I do not know why Sir Jonathan did not find a more suitable venue to meet with you,” Ava grumbled. She held her scarf to her nose as if the dainty cloth could block out the stable smells.
But Rowena welcomed the familiar scent of fresh hay that mingled with the smell of horses. It was one of the few places that she felt at ease when her father rejected her as a child.
She dismounted and tied her palfrey to the wooden panel that was attached to one of the empty stalls. “I told you that you did not need to come with me,” she said.
Ava grunted and scrambled off her horse. “Let us find what Sir Jonathan wants and be on our way,” she said. She peered into the darkened corners. “Where is he?”
At the moment, the stables were quiet aside from a handful of palfreys and pack horses resting in their booths. The larger horses, the chargers and destriers were all put to use in the tournaments. When the games were over for the day, the stables brimmed with horses and activity.
Rowena took out the parchment from the sleeve of her tunic. She held it up to the dim light, frowning at the script. “All it says is that he will meet me at the stables at high noon.”
“Well, when we rode back to the castle, the sun was over head. He should be here by now.”
The sound of Rowena’s palfrey pawing at the ground made both women turn to look at the horse. The other palfrey stood in one spot, also looking tense.
Ava watched her with wide eyes when Rowena moved closer to the tied horses. “Are they all right?” she asked in a whisper. “I remember Beauty used to get skittish when she sensed danger…”
“I remember,” Rowena said, trying to sound brave. “But I do not know these palfreys very well. I have ridden mine just a few times. She may just be skittish by nature.” She reached down to a bucket filled with oats that sat along the wall and offered it to the troubled horse. She then walked over to the second horse and offered oats to it.
The palfreys accepted her offering, chewing carefully, although their ears were perked as if they were attuned to the whispered movements that only they could hear.
Ava twisted her hands in her apron, and looked around her with worry. “These horses are making me nervous,” she said. “Perhaps we should get back to the lists.”
Rowena’s palfrey snorted as if to agree with Ava’s fears. Rowena dusted her hands together to shake off the remaining oat flakes.
“We shall leave in a moment,” she said. Then raising her voice, “Sir Jonathan,” she called out. “If this is an urgent matter, you must come speak with me now otherwise I shall return to the lists.”
She heard no sounds aside from the soft munching of hay, and the occasional nickering from the few horses in their compartments. Nothing out of place. But she still couldn’t quell the uneasiness that settled in her stomach.
“He is not here,” Ava said, stating the obvious. “Let us leave.”
Rowena nodded and began to untie the palfreys when suddenly she felt a prickling sensation at the back of her neck, as if someone was with them, watching.
She turned to look at Ava, but her nursemaid was busy trying to get on her palfrey without assistance.
Rowena’s hand went down to the dagger that she carried at her belt. She unsheathed the blade and gripped it in her hand, feeling its cold strength. She took a cautious glance to either side of her.
Ava watched her with alarm from the top of her palfrey. “Did you see something?” she asked, sounding frightened. “I knew that we should not have come here.”
Rowena shook her head. “I am imagining things,” she mumbled to herself. She slid the dagger back into its sheath, feeling foolish. “If Sir Jonathan had something important to say, then he should have the decency to show up and tell me,” she said, irritated. “He really must hate me to humiliate me yet again.”
She was about to climb back on to her palfrey’s back when she heard heavy footsteps behind her. Whirling around, she said, “There you —” But the words died in her throat as she saw two scruffy, unfamiliar men emerging from the shadows.
“Who are you?” she said, her voice filled with suspicion. “I have not seen you here before.”
“Get on your horse, child,” Ava cried anxiously. “We do not want to speak to these vagrants.”
There were two of them, one was short, looking no bigger than a young page, and the other was as tall and large as a tree. They were not dressed as if they came from town. The large man wore clothes that were several sizes too small for him, causing him to look like an overgrown boy. Both wore tattered tunics and they seemed as if they cared little about the many holes and rents in their clothing.
“She called us vagrants, Donald!” the small man sneered. He gave Rowena a vicious, calculating look as if she had something that he wanted. “Nay, we’re not vagrants but the humble servants of the mighty King Edward.” He bared his rotted teeth. “I’m Sir Eban and that is Sir Donald.”
Donald guffawed. “Aye, the king’s servants,” he repeated. He gave a clumsy bow and then let out another laugh. “That’s a good one, Eban.”
Ava let out a terrified moan. “Do not hurt us!”
“No one will be hurt as long as you listen to me,” Eban said in his raspy voice. He gestured to his partner. “You take care of the older one and tie her up. Meanwhile I’ll take this one.” He turned a menacing eye toward Rowena. “Come with me, m’lady,” he continued. “The mighty king awaits.”
“I will not be going anywhere with you,” Rowena said. “I do not even know you.”
“You don’t need to know us,” he said impatiently, all pretenses gone. “I might have to hurt you if you cause us trouble.”
“But the Lord Knight said not to hurt her,” Donald protested.
The small man glared up at his partner, silencing him with a look.
“I demand to know who this Lord Knight is that you are speaking of,” Rowena said.
Eban smirked. “‘Tis someone who thinks you’re special, I suspect,” he said. “Although I must admit that you are a fair maiden. I would keep you for myself if the Lord Knight hadn’t offered a small fortune for your capture.”
Rowena unsheathed her dagger. “Do not come any closer,” she warned, her voice ringing with authority that was bred into her. “As I said, I will not be going anywhere with you. I want you to let my nursemaid go. After that, I might listen to your demands.”
From Ava’s pale face, Rowena knew that her nursemaid would never leave her, no matter how scared she was.
She knew from martial practice long ago that one dagger was useless to defend against two men. She looked around her in panic to find anther weapon to defend herself, and spied a pitch fork lying at the side of the stall. Without taking her eyes off of the men, she picked up the pitch fork with her free hand, and pointed the tip at them. The two men watched her, uncertain as to whether she would attack.
Rowena quickly sheathed her dagger, backing to where Ava was. Then when she felt the Ava’s palfrey behind her, she slapped the horse on the rear, and let out a loud yell.
The noise startled the palfrey into motion, and Ava held onto the reins for dear life as it charged out of the stables.
“Ride, Ava!” Rowena yelled to her back. “Ride and get help!”
Then before the two brutes knew what happened, she
ran straight at them with the pitch fork.
At first, her rapid movements stunned them, but they were quick on their feet and avoided her attack.
Eban began laughing. The giant glanced at his friend and began to laugh as well, although he didn’t seem to know what was so funny.
The little man gestured to Donald. “You take that direction,” he said. “And I’ll go this direction.”
They advanced in unison and forced her to retreat until the wooden wall was at her back and she was trapped.
Rowena watched them cautiously and when they were within range, she thrust the fork hard at the shorter man, nicking him in the arm, drawing blood. The man howled in rage and pain, and ran at her, grabbing the pitch fork from her grasp while knocking her to the ground.
Eban looked at her with fury. “‘Tis not wise to anger me,” he said. He turned his head and spoke to his partner, “Help me tie her up.”
Before the giant got a hold of her, Rowena scrambled to her feet. “What do you want from me?” she demanded. Her eyes darted from one man to the other as she reached for the dagger attached to her gold belt.
Eban expected her movement and dove at her. “I told you not to anger me,” he hissed. For a small man, he possessed surprising strength. In one smooth motion, the man’s arm snaked around her waist, locking her own arms at her side while his free hand covered her mouth, cutting off her scream.
This can’t be happening to me, she thought. She ran away and no harm befell her. But in her own castle, she was being kidnapped!
She summoned an energy that she never knew she had, twisting and turning, using the only weapons she had left — her legs and feet. She grounded her heel onto the man’s toes, making him gasp at the pain.
Donald stood watching, an amused look on his face.
“Wipe that smirk off you face, you lazy oaf!” Eban growled at his companion. “Give me a hand or else you forfeit your share.”
With the talk of money, the large man sprung forward. He drew a rag from his tattered sleeve and stuffed it into her mouth. Then untying the rope from around his waist, he used it to bind her hands, and then lastly, he found an empty grain sack on the ground and threw it over her body.
“You carry her,” Eban said in his raspy voice.
Rowena then felt herself being hoisted up and slung over firm shoulders.
Even though she knew she didn’t have a chance, she continued to fight every which way, and her foot came in contact with a body part. The man carrying her dropped her and cursed. Her head hit the hard ground.
Just before her world went black, she heard the rasping voice hiss at his companion. “What did you do that for? She’s not worth much to us if she’s dead.”
CHAPTER 25
Jared was still in his heavy armor, unable and unwilling to move from the spot underneath the tree. He cursed under his breath at the soreness he was experiencing. He was no longer young and it showed.
A great commotion caught his attention and when he looked up, he was surprised to see a crazy woman tearing across the grassy field on a palfrey. Her wimple was skewed and she appeared to be heading straight toward him.
He squinted and with growing concern, he recognized the plump figure of Rowena’s nursemaid.
Ava urged her horse onward as if a fire was lit beneath her mount, not caring about the curious looks and irritated shouts that she received. As she approached, he braced himself against the tree trunk and pushed himself up, ignoring his aching muscles.
When she reached him, Ava scrambled down from her palfrey.
“Sir Jared,” she said, breathless. She looked at him, a frightened expression on her face. “Send help! Lady Rowena has been abducted!”
It took a split second to register what Ava was telling him. “Abducted?” he repeated in disbelief.
She nodded. “I — we need your help to find her.”
He grabbed Ava’s arms, holding her still. “Take a deep breath,” he commanded. “Tell me what happened. Who are they that you speak of?”
She took in a shaky breath. “We went to meet Sir Jonathan at the stables, and two men appeared, men whom I have never seen before in my life, and they attacked us!” She brought her hands together, trying to steady the trembling. “I did not know what to do. Lady Rowena, she slapped my horse and ordered me to get help. I did not want to leave her,” she said, biting her bottom lip. “By my honor, I would never want her to face those two horrid men on her own.”
He straightened his back, the pain in his body forgotten. “We need to inform Sir Philip and send out a rescue party,” he said. “When did this attack occur?”
“Just now,” she said, twisting her fingers in the white apron that she wore. “I rode straight from the stables.”
“We need to act quickly and find Lady Rowena before she is harmed.”
Ava brought up the edge of her apron and wiped at her eyes. “I am ten times the fool. I thought I could keep her out of trouble by accompanying her to the stables. Then she ends up being captured while I am free. I should not be surprised if Sir Philip banishes me from the castle because of this.”
Jared looked at the crying woman, unsure as to what to do. He had little experience comforting the female gender. He brought his hand up and awkwardly patted her on the shoulder. “I do not think that there was much that you could have done,” he said.
A splash of familiar colors caught the corner of his eyes and he felt relieved to see his employer. “There is Sir Philip and his lady wife. Come. Let us go tell him about the abduction.”
Philip looked like he was in a good mood and Jared loathed to dampen his good spirits.
But Ava drew back as if she wished she could disappear into thin air. “What shall I tell them?” she asked, her voice filled with fear.
He pressed his lips into a grim line. “The truth,” he said.
She wiped the remaining tears with her fingers. “He will be angered when he hears the truth.”
“Do not fret, Ava. I shall tell him about Lady Rowena.”
She nodded and swallowed hard as if she couldn’t trust herself to speak.
He pulled her along with him and when they reached Philip, the easy-going expression on his master’s face dropped. His eyes darted from the bleak expression on Jared’s face and the tear streaks on Ava’s.
“Where is my daughter?” he said, frowning.
Jared winced inwardly at the direct question. Philip always got straight to the point. “We will need to organize a rescue party, sire. Lady Rowena has been abducted.”
“What do you mean Rowena has been abducted?” Philip said, his frown deepening. He turned to Ava, his eyes as cold as ice. “What has happened to her?”
Ava flinched as if she was served a physical blow. “She was —”
“The ladies were attacked in the stables earlier, sire.”
The nostrils on Philip’s face flared. “And what were you doing in the stables?” he asked.
“Sir Jonathan asked Lady Rowena to meet her there,” Ava said, miserably. “I went to accompany her.”
“This is odd,” Lorena said, a puzzled look crossing her face. “Is Jonathan not competing in the next joust? How could Sir Jonathan ask Lady Rowena to meet him in the stables when he will be jousting soon?”
“I do not know, my lady,” Ava said, shaking her head. “But I take full blame. I should not have let her go to the stables at all.” The tears started to fall and she wiped them with the corner of her apron. “Lady Rowena is my responsibility and I failed in my duty to her. I am sorry, sire.” She held out her palms as if appealing for Philip’s understanding. “I wanted to stay with her, I truly did, but Lady Rowena forced me to leave and get help. By God, I wish it was me that they took captive.”
“When did this happen?” Philip snapped.
Jared stepped in front of Ava as if to shield her from Philip’s growing rage. He sensed Ava looking at him with surprise at his intervention, but he didn’t return her gaze.
�
��It has not yet been an hour, sire.” Jared said. “I will set out with my men to search for her before it gets dark.”
A number of people stopped to look over at their direction.
“Perhaps we should move to a less conspicuous place, my lord,” Lorena suggested gently.
Philip glanced around and became conscious of the onlookers. He nodded and they moved to the outskirts of the crowd. “Do what you must to find Rowena,” he said to Jared. “I want to hear news within the hour.”
Philip turned his piercing gaze on Ava, rooting her to one spot. “And you, Nursemaid, come with me to the hall and tell me what you know.”
CHAPTER 26
“My lord,” Lorena said, wincing as if she were afraid that Philip would explode with impatience at any moment. “I am certain that there is a simple explanation for all of this. If you do not sit down, I fear that you will wear down the stone floor with all your pacing.”
Philip grunted, but he stopped and forced himself to relax. He gave Lorena a tight smile. “Perhaps you are right,” he said in a strained voice that didn’t sound very convincing even to him.
He sat down beside his wife and began drumming his fingers on the trestle table. “What is taking Jared so long?” he growled. “It must be long past an hour by now.”
The tournament was over. The guests had expected grand festivities at the completion of the games, but Philip was forced to cancel the entertainment in the great hall. There was no point in keeping up with the facade. At first he hoped that Rowena had run away again, but after hearing Ava’s recount, his heart turned frozen with fear and worry. And now enough people knew that Rowena had gone missing.
Lorena had distributed the prizes and the celebrations had moved into town. Still, there were too many people in the castle, and this added to the chaos.
Whoever took Rowena must have been long gone by now. The one thing he could hope was they were after a ransom and had no plans to harm his little girl.
He rubbed his temples, the beginnings of a headache starting to bloom. He regretted hosting the tournament since it was more trouble than he anticipated.
One True Knight (The Knights of Honor Trilogy) Page 20
