“Am I to understand that these are the peasant children you mentioned earlier?”
Derica nodded. “Aye. Their mother pulled me from the river and took care of me until I regained my strength. She was accidentally killed. The least I can do is care for her children, and gladly so.”
Fergus looked at the little boy, who was now staring at him. “I see,” he smiled at the boy. Sian responded by sticking a finger in his nose. “Charming.”
Derica loved the children but didn’t want to talk about them at the moment. “How is he really, Fergus? Garren, I mean.”
“He is very well,” Fergus’ thoughts were diverted from the children, thinking of Garren and the trouble they would all be in soon. “He is thought of nothing but you, so much so that he has risked all to come home to you.”
“What does that mean?”
Fergus didn’t want to alarm her. “Nothing,” he assured her, sorry he had to lie to her. “Suffice it to say that his joy in seeing that you are alive will eclipse the sun.”
Derica smiled at him. “I can still hardly believe. Tell me again, Fergus. Swear it to me.”
“I swear to you on my oath as a knight that Garren is alive and well.”
Her smiled broadened, her eyes closing briefly as if to dream him yet again. “And you have come to bring me to him again, just as you did those months ago.”
“ ’Twould seem to be my calling in life, to unite the two of you.”
Derica didn’t want to wait any longer to see her husband and Keller was dragging his heels. She spurred the palfrey toward the gate.
“If we hurry, we can be to Cilgarren in a few hours, don’t you think?” she asked.
Fergus moved after her. “Two hours at the most.”
Keller had been talking to one of his knights, waiting for the two Welsh crossbowmen he had requested to join the party. When he saw Derica and Fergus already moving towards the gate, he spurred his charger in their direction.
“Hold,” he commanded.
Fergus didn’t listen; he waited for Derica to respond. She did so by simply turning her head, not stopping her horse.
“Why?” she asked innocently.
Keller was beside her on his red-and-cream beast. “Another moment and the escort party shall be complete. If You will simply wait, we shall….”
“I do not want to wait,” Derica told him. “I have waited long enough. I am riding to Cilgarren Castle at this very moment. You may ride with me or not. It makes no difference to me, but if you choose not to, then give me Aneirin so that I may take her.”
Keller’s expression darkened. He made a surprising move by reaching out and grasping her horse’s reins, effectively stopping the animal.
“You’re not going anywhere until our escort is complete,” he rumbled. “I am assembling my men to protect you and you will do me the courtesy of complying.”
Derica’s voice was like ice. “You do not want me to go to Cilgarren; that much is clear. Any more attempts to delay me and you shall suffer Garren’s wrath in this. Be assured that I will tell him of your reluctance to return me to him.”
It threatened to grow ugly. They had come too far to have it turn bad at this moment and possibly cause Keller to forbid either of them to leave Pembroke.
“My lady,” Fergus said quietly. “Sir Keller is merely trying to protect you. Your statement was harsh.”
Derica had a moment of doubt that what Fergus said was true. Her remorse grew. “I apologize, Keller,” she murmured. “I am not quite myself at the moment. My desire to see my husband seems to be taking over all of my senses until I cannot think clearly.”
Keller forgave her, of course. “As I told you before, were you married to me, I should expect the same devotion. I can only admire your determination.” He glanced over his shoulder at the assembled escort party. “It seems we are complete, after all. By your command, my lady, we shall depart.”
He let go of the reins and Derica’s little horse danced forward. Sian thought it was great fun and giggled as the horse shook him about. Derica’s heart was soaring, her joy in seeing Garren too delirious for words. Two hours seemed like an eternity to wait, but wait she would have to. As they neared the great gates of Pembroke, a familiar figure caught Derica’s attention. A small, cloaked wisp of a figure was walking towards her, the face pale and the blue eyes red-rimmed. Derica nearly fell off her horse when she realized she was looking at her maid.
“Aglette,” she hissed. “Dear God… Aglette!”
She slid from the palfrey, careful not to take Sian with her. The women fell into each other’s arms, the red-haired maid sobbing pitifully. Derica was seized with fear, with surprise, and shook the woman gently.
“What is it?” she demanded. “Why are you here? How did you know…?”
“Your father,” Aglette sputtered. “He and his army lie beyond the gates. They sent me in to tell you….”
Her weeping cut her short and Derica was filled with terror. She shook Aglette hard enough to snap her neck. “What are you to tell me?”
The maid struggled to control herself. “That the garrison commander is to turn you over to the army of the Earl of Norfolk, ’else they will raze Pembroke and kill all who stand in their way.”
Derica knew her face went pale. She looked at Fergus. “No,” she breathed. “Not here, not now. How did they find me?”
Fergus’ face was grim. He dismounted his charger and focused on the hysterical maid. “How many men did de Rosa bring?”
Aglette shook her head. “I do not know exactly, my lord. We stopped to pick up more men at Hereford Castle. I heard one of the men say that the total army was about one thousand fools and men.”
It was a massive army. Fergus looked at Keller; he would give the man credit, for he held no discernible expression even though his castle was grievously threatened. It took Keller a moment to realize everyone was looking at him, expecting some manner of response. His first response was to look at Derica.
“Your father is the Earl of Norfolk?” he asked, quite calmly.
She shook her head. “He serves Norfolk. He is garrison commander of Framlingham Castle.”
“Framlingham?” Keller almost looked amused. “The Marshal neglected to mention that.”
Derica knew that she should explain; the man was at risk for reasons he knew nothing of. “My father is loyal to Prince John and Garren is loyal to Richard. We ran off and were married against my father’s wishes.”
“I see,” Keller said. “That being the case, your father has come to retrieve you. However, the better question would be, how did he know you were here?”
“I do not know.”
“Nor do I,” Keller didn’t seem overly concerned. “Spies abound, my lady. Even now, I am sure that Pembroke is littered with them.”
Derica couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “What do you plan to do?”
Keller sighed heavily, dismounting his charger. There was much on his mind; that was evident.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I will speak with my father. But I want you to help Fergus escape to Cilgarren to warn Garren.”
“And hold off the horde to buy him enough time?”
To hear Keller say it made it sound as if she was asking the world of him. And he was getting absolutely nothing in return. Fear crept into her veins.
“I know it is an enormous request, Keller, but I would be eternally grateful to you if you would….” she trailed off, feeling stupid and desperate at the same time. “There is no way I can repay you and nothing I can promise you in return other than my undying gratitude. But if you would do this for me, I swear that I would repay the favor if ever I were able. So would Garren.”
He smiled at her, ironically. “What I would have from you, you could not repay. I know Sir Garren certainly wouldn’t.” He didn’t look the least bit distressed as he lifted his helm, propping it up on his forehead as if that made it easier for him to think. “Let me assure you that
your father cannot destroy Pembroke, no matter how he believes otherwise. I invite him to try. But getting you out of here is another matter altogether.”
Derica felt a tremendous amount of relief and fear, one after the other. “Then you will help me?”
Keller looked at her, feeling himself weaken as he stared into the green eyes. “I believe we should think about this for a moment and come up with a plan,” he said. “But the first order of business is to close the gates and arm my men. I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.”
Derica felt more relieve than she could express. She put her hand on Keller’s arm. “Thank you, Keller,” she whispered. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”
Keller couldn’t decide whether he felt noble or like a fool.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Keller didn’t waste any time in ordering the timber hoards erected on the battlements. Timber hoards were wooden platforms that extended beyond the tower battlements from the corner of the walls, providing a fighting platform that was well above the heads of the enemy. The entire east wall was protected by a cliff, rendering it a non-threat, and Keller ordered the massive catapult on the northeast tower wall to be loaded and cocked. Normally, the catapult was directed at the sea should the attack come from that direction, but Keller had it directed at the northwest towards the trees that would undoubtedly shield the de Rosa army.
The story Aglette gave Derica was a sad one; Bertram had received a message that Derica was at Pembroke almost three weeks prior, but she couldn’t say who had sent the missive. Bertram, contrary to his nature, had spent a day and a night drinking in indulgent self-pity until he finally made the decision to march on Pembroke. More than anything, he wanted his daughter home. He didn’t care about Garren le Mon, revenge or reckoning; all he wanted was his only girl-child home where she belonged. He had missed her terribly, and her absence cut at him like a knife. Knowing how well she might not respond to him, he commandeered her servant and childhood friend to march with the army and relay his terms of her surrender.
Derica had cried at the tale. She loved her father very much. The situation at their parting had been difficult for her, but she had been overwhelmed with her desire to be with Garren. She still was. Nothing Aglette told her could take that away. She was angry with her father for so many reasons that she couldn’t seem to pick just one.
It was late in the day when Derica sent Aglette back to her father with the message that she wished to negotiate. She retreated to her chamber with the children and removed the simple clothing she wore in favor of something more elaborate. She thought that, perhaps, if her father saw her good fortune and good health that he would not be so inclined to remove her from a situation that obviously agreed with her. She wanted to present a strong, collected front.
She was nervous. Everything seemed to hinge on this day and what would be said. She dressed in a sheath of the softest white linen and topped it with a heavy brocade surcoat in rich green. The full skirt swept the floor and gold thread in designs ran throughout. The bodice was laced tight, giving her a glorious figure. Around her neck she wore a necklace of pale cut emeralds that Keller had given her, and her long hair was pinned at the nape of her neck and secured with a golden web. She made an absolutely stunning sight. She only hoped her beauty would dazzle them if her courage would not. The tension was rising and the stakes were enormously high.
Fergus knocked on the door and she let him in. He had been with Keller in the courtyard, discussing his retreat from Pembroke. One look at Derica and he found he had never seen anything quite so beautiful. It was enough to cause him to impulsively take her hand and kiss it.
“You know,” he said, “if Garren saw me do that, he would run me through. In fact, I am not so sure how He is going to take any of this.”
“What do you mean?”
“You, here, living in the same keep with a man who is not your husband.”
He said it rather dramatically, wagging a finger at her. She knew he wasn’t serious, attempting in his own annoying way to lessen a tense situation.
“Fergus, may I remind you that I slept next to you on the ground for several days and you were not my husband. What makes this any different?”
“Garren doesn’t know about that one.”
“He will if I tell him.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“If you tell him anything other than the truth about this situation, you can be assured that I will tell him the story of our flight from Framlingham in a far more impressive fashion. It will not reflect well on you.”
Good-natured threats were about. Fergus snickered at her. “On a serious note, I had a bit of a chat with Keller down in the bailey. The man opened up surprisingly well after he got over his envy of me. It seems that he is quite smitten by you and those children.”
“He’ll get over us. He’ll have to.”
“That’s a rather cold attitude, don’t you think?”
She looked puzzled. “What would you have me say? I was betrothed to the man by force. I have no feelings for him other than gratitude.”
“Make sure he knows it. He is risking much to help you.”
The point was taken. Derica changed the subject. “How are you getting out of here?”
“Keller is going to lower me over the east wall while you speak with your father. I can escape on the sea side while the army is occupied.”
Derica’s expression turned wistful. “I wish I could go with you, but it is better if I don’t. The last thing we need is to have the army track you and I back to Cilgarren, and there is no reason to believe that they won’t. My father won’t be made a fool of again.”
“You should stay here, anyway. I shouldn’t like to think of some mishap befalling you as we flee back to Cilgarren. Leave it to Garren to figure out a way to get you out of here without risking your life fleeing from your father again.”
“Agreed. Besides, I cannot leave the children.”
“A noble thought, especially since I understand how badly you wish to be with your husband.”
Her expression turned wistful at the thought. “How long will it take you to reach Cilgarren?”
“Unless I find a horse, it should be at least seven or eight hours. I can run fast, but it is still several miles away.”
Derica had to be realistic. “Then let us hope you find a horse so you don’t run yourself to death before you get there.”
Fergus could only nod in agreement; he wasn’t keen on running the full thirty miles to Cilgarren.
“Hold off your father as best you can. Garren will think of something.”
They stood there a moment, a silence filled with uncertainty. There was so much to say in this fragile situation but neither of them knew where to start. Sian left his cart and horse over the corner, coming to stand beside Derica. He gazed up at Fergus, the big man with the bright blue eyes. It was the first time the child had dared to as much as look at him.
“You are a knight?” he asked Fergus.
Fergus smiled gently. “I am, little man.”
From behind his back, Sian brought out the small wooden sword that Keller had given him. He held it up for Fergus to see. “I have this.”
Fergus pretended to examine it. “So I see. A fine weapon,” he said, and Sian lowered it. “What name do you answer to, little man?”
“Sian,” he child whispered.
“Sir Sian of the Dark Woods,” Derica reminded him, smiling.
Sian grinned at her, embarrassed, pushing his face into her skirt to hide. Aneirin wandered over, not wanting to be left out. She, too, had not had the courage to look at the strange man, but her brother emboldened her. Fergus studied both of the children.
“Garren will undoubtedly feel the loss of the child you carried,” he said quietly, “but I can almost assure you that these two moppets will help ease his pain. Perhaps they have been left to you for a reason.”
Derica looked at him, surprised. “Garren knew about
his child?”
“I told him.”
She felt sad, trying not to dwell on what could not have been helped. “I can hardly wait to hold him again, Fergus,” she murmured. “When you see him, give him something for me.”
She reached up and kissed him on the lips, something so soft and sensual that Fergus lost his balance. But he knew it wasn’t a kiss directed at him; it was full of warmth and love and longing for Garren. He could feel all of that and more. It made his heart pound as he gazed back at her.
“I understand your meaning perfectly,” he muttered. “But you can wait and give that to him personally. And I swear that you shall.”
They left the severe women with the children. With a silence filled with apprehension and determination, Fergus escorted Derica down to the bailey. There were soldiers everywhere, prepared for battle, their grim faces set. Derica tried not to look any of them in the eye, fearful that they would accuse her of condemning them to their fate. All of this was because of her. Keller saw her from the battlements and descended the stairs in the northwest tower down to the ward.
“Your father and two men are waiting just outside the gates,” he told her, then looked at Fergus. “One of my men will lower you over the west wall. He’ll keep watch there for your return with Sir Garren. ’Twill be the easiest way in and out of the castle.”
“Excellent,” Fergus nodded. With the plans solidified, there was nothing more to say and he looked at Derica. “Good luck to you, my lady.”
“And to you, Fergus.”
One of Keller’s knights went off with him, moving to the eastern wall with plans to carryout. Keller, with a deep sigh he hoped she didn’t see, held out his hand. It would probably be the last time he would be able to do so. When she put her warm palm in his, he stole a split second to enjoy a feeling that would very quickly leave him.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she replied.
He took her to the outer concentric wall facing east. The de Rosa army lay beyond, like locusts on the land. It would have been foolish to open the gates and lower the drawbridge, even during the course of a negotiation. It left Pembroke too vulnerable. He continued to hold her hand until they reached the top of the battlements of the great gatehouse. Nervous, feeling slightly ill, Derica looked to the ground below.
The Agents of William Marshal Volume II: A Medieval Romance Bundle Page 55
