A Stormy Knight (5 page)

Father Darius arrived, shuffling his feet as he ran. The sounds of boots scuffing the floor reverberated around her as more people arrived.

Leda scurried away as the priest came over and cleared everyone back. He studied the unconscious man for a moment as Gemma too backed away to give him space. Her father still lived, but that was all she knew. She bent down to retrieve the letter that had fallen from his hand and searched for Oliver de Toeni,
but he was nowhere to be found.

She inched closer to a burning candle and scanned the paper. It was not good news. Her brother was missing
,
and the king himself had no further information on his possible whereabouts. Gavin left with his soldiers, his bride-to-be, and her chaperone on schedule. They should have arrived at Blackstone on time.

Something was terribly, terribly wrong. She was sure of it. It was time to ask King Henry for help, just as her father had suggested.
Had her father known something would happen to him?

There was much confusion in the great hall as the priest arranged for Blaise to be taken up to his chambers in the solar. Because Blaise was lord of the castle, it
was
only right he be in his own bed away from the hubbub of daily life in the inner bailey rather than above the chapel. This would allow him to heal in peace if he survived what ailed him.

Leda returned with the now unneeded linen. Blaise had been taken up the steps. His breathing was still regular, but he would not rouse from his sleep.

Gemma
sent her to find Oliver
,
and then
she sat down on a wooden bench for a moment to catch her breath
. Suddenly, she
felt strangely alone and overwhelmingly vulnerable
, and she knew she needed help
.

Hesse brought Isabel down the steps to go to morning mass. Gemma motioned for her to take Isabel to the kitchen to keep her out of the way. Everyone appeared to be moving in slow motion
;
the world had taken on a dream-lik
e quality as seconds ticked by.

Oliver arrived with Leda. Gemma took a deep breath and tried to take charge of the situation
.
"
Leda, please continue as if nothing has happened. Isabel is in the kitchen. There are hungry people who will be looking to break their fast soon enough. Because Father Darius is with Father, there will be no morning mass. Oliver, please come with me to the chapel so I may speak with you in private. We may also say a prayer for my father.
"

Her father
'
s seneschal nodded and followed her out into the early morning sunlight. They stepped through the dewy grass and into the chilly darkness of the empty chapel. Gemma lit a few candles and light sprang up around them.

"
Milady, I am
truly
sorry I was not with your father this morning,
"
Oliver
said.
"
He wanted me to have men ready in the event Gavin needed aid, so I was not with him in the hall. Is there anything I can do to assist you now?
"
H
is
face was solemn, his tone flat.

With a deep sigh and shaking hands, Gemma relayed the contents of the message her father received before he fell over.
"
I don
'
t think Gavin is just lost, Oliver. I fear something bad has befallen him and his bride. Can we send out a search to see if any trace or clue can be found?
"

"
Milady, I have the men on the ready as we speak. We can leave as soon as you wish it. Is there anything else we can do?
"

"
Aye
.
"
S
he stood and turned her back to de Toeni momentarily so he could not see the fear in her eyes as she tried to steady her hands. She
was
lost and alone, and the weight of the morning
'
s events was c
rushing her spirit.

She let one tear slide down her cheek before she steeled herself and
spun
back to face him.
"
You must send a message to King Henry. I need assistance. My father said if something were to happen to him
,
Henry should be reached immediately.
"

"
Right away, milady
.
"
H
e stood to leave the chapel. He hesitated for a moment and then said,
"
Your father has faith in you and so do I. You know what to do. You have watched your father run this castle for years
,
and these people love you. You have to stand tall and lead until help arrives. Do not doubt yourself and do what you already know has to be done. I am always ready to assist if you need me.
"

Without waiting for her response,
Oliver
ducked to go
through
the door of the chapel and walked out into the early morning light. He and his men were soon gone, leaving her to think about what he said and
what she was going to do next.

She called for her father
'
s squire, who had stayed behind to help her whil
e Oliver was gone. T
he remaining men
were ordered to be
on high alert. For the time being, the gates were locked to anyone not
already living in Blackstone. Next, s
he found Hesse with Isabel in the hall. It was time to eat.

It was futile, but she tried desperately to make sense of it all. Her father was ill. Father Darius was still with him
,
and she had not heard a word from him. Oliver should be well on his way to London by now. There was a traitor among them, though what they wanted was a mystery. It could be someone they trust
ed
. To what end, though? He
r
father was stern but well loved, so who had been killing off servants and possibly even him?

She felt a tugging on her skirts.
"
Gemma?
"
It was Isabel.
"
Wh
ere is Father? Can we eat now?
"

Gemma
glanced
around. Everyone was watching her. Since her father was not there, she had to sit down at the dais for the meal to begin. She moved
toward
the high table
and beckoned Hesse to join her.

Hesse listened as
Gemma
spoke in hushed tones while the food was set before them. She tried to speak without alarming Isabel, who was quick
-
minded and did not miss much going on around her.
"
Please stay with Isabel today and do not leave her side for one moment. Remain within the castle walls and try not to allow her to prattle on too much about Father.
"

"
Milady, I understand.
"
Hesse nodded sl
owly.
"
What are we to do then?
'
Tis hard enough to keep her occupied on most days. She
'
ll be wanting to know
about yer father soon enough.
"

"
Just do what you can. Do not wander away from the eyes of father
'
s men-at-arms, at least until instructed otherwise. If you can get her to read or to work on embroidery in the nursery, all the better. I shall talk with her about our father later today.
"
Hesse nodded again and glanced at Isabel who was playing with her food.

Gemma got up quickly and took the steps two at a time to reach the solar. She wanted to see her father. The priest was just leaving Blaise
'
s chambers when she arrived. He s
lowed his pace when he saw her.

"
He lives, my dear. The Lord has not asked him to go home just yet
,
"
Father Darius said.

"
But what,
"
she stammered,
"
what is wrong with Father? Can I see him?
"

"
Aye, you may see him, dear, but he is not awake. He cannot see or hear you. I am not sure what is ailing him, but other than being in a deep sleep, there appears to be no injury. Some people do fall into a sleep after a great shock, but I do not know if this is what has befallen your father. He has a small bump on the back of his head, but that would be from the fall he took on the stone floor.
"

"
He will awaken soon?
"

Father Darius shrugged his stout shoulders. His round cheeks bore no hint of a smile.
"
That I do not know. I will remain with him as long as he rests.
"
He placed a hand on Gemma
'
s shoulder for a moment before he walked around her.
"
I will return shortly. You should go sit with him now.
"

Gemma obeyed, almost as if in a trance. She hesitated at the door to her father
'
s chamber.
His massive chest rose and fell
rhythmically as he slept. He did not move otherwise
, and his
face was completely without any sign of his personality. It did indeed appear he was in a deep sleep from which he could not awaken.
Someone had removed his
clothing
and pulled linens
up over his body to keep him warm but unencumbered.

She sat down and took his hand, which was warm and rough as it had always been.
This was comforting
, as if his soul did indeed still inhabit his body.
"
Father,
"
she whispered near his ear,
"
what has become of you?
'
Twould seem I am alone now
,
and I do not know what I am to do.
"

Her father said nothing. He did not move his hand, nor did he stir in any other way. Gemma
'
s
tears start
ed
to slide down her cheeks again
,
and she willed them to stop. This time she could not do it.
She let her head fa
ll to the bed
and
let the sobs come. Her whole body shook as the pain and fear from the last few weeks came pouring out of her.

When the anguish subsided, she raised her head, her green eyes, bloodshot and swollen from her crying, fixed on her father
'
s face.
"
That is the last time I will feel weakness. I swear to you no matter what happens next, I will make you proud of me. I will run this castle until the time when you are able to again
,
and I will protect Isabel from whatever evil has come our way. I swear it.
"

She released her father
'
s hand and bent to put a small kiss upon his cheek. Her hair fell over her shoulders as she whispered a prayer for him.
As she
stood,
she
straightened her back and squared her shoulders as if she must walk out of the room and take on the world.

In many ways, that was exactly what she did.