Knight Defender (Knight Chronicles) (22 page)

Clarwyn smiled. “I can tell you that your maid, having delivered her message, took passage on a ship bound for northern Scotland. She told the king’s man who took the message to Edward that she’d left you on your orders and must return to see you were safe with the, er, wild Scot to whom you were promised.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jessamyn fluttered her eyelashes and smiled back at Clarwyn.

Raeb frowned at the exchange. Though why he should care if his friend fell for her lying smiles, he did not know.

“Then all is settled. You will return to Scotland with Baron MacKai.”

“I dinna want her.” Unreasonably eager to stop their nattering, he nearly shouted the words. Immediately he felt a flush heat his neck. Was he was that close to losing control?

“Too bad my friend,” Clarwyn said. “You’ll have to keep her until you can give her back to her father yourself. After you gather more men and defeat Edward’s troops, which are already on their way.”

With his hands still on Jess’s wrists, Raeb shook his head at what he knew he must do. “You’re right. I must return to Dungarob. And to keep Jessamyn from running to her godfather, she’ll have to come with me. But what of you?”

Clarwyn’s smile broadened. “You will lock me in those manacles you so recently wore, but not before you render me unconscious. When I recover, I’ll make sure the hounds are not used to track you.”

“You want him to hit you hard enough to knock you out?” Astonishment colored his betrothed’s voice.

“Yes. And, Raeb, make it look good. I would not want my guards to think I let a Scot get the better of me too easily.”

“Verra well.” Raeb let go of Jessamyn. He pulled his free arm back ready to deliver a blow.

Clarwyn held up his hand. “One more thing. I’ll remind you that when I arrived, Lady Du Grace was helping you escape. When you finally have time, promise you’ll listen carefully to her explanation before you judge her too harshly.”

“I dinna wish t’ promise. I know too well what kind of woman she is and what motivates her,” he lied. Her actions were incomprehensible.

“Do it for sake of our friendship. I know whereof I speak, for I once failed to listen to Juliana. ’Tis a wonder she wed me anyway.”

Raeb cast a glance Jessamyn’s way to see her rubbing at her wrists. Her gaze met his, and in her eyes he recognized desolation like he’d felt when told his parents were dead.

“Jessamyn?”

She turned her head away.

Raeb shifted back to Clarwyn. “All right, I promise, but you owe me.”

One corner of the man’s mouth kicked up. “Somehow, I think it is you who will be owing me.”

“Gentlemen, the guard won’t be distracted forever. We need to leave now.” Jessamyn glanced nervously at the stairs.

“Aye.” Raeb frowned at her. “Can I trust you no to raise the alarm?

“Why would I do that when I’ve gone to so much trouble to disable the guard?”

Aye, why would she? Why incapacitate the guards? Why leave Dungarob at all? She had much to answer for.

“Then go to the top of the stairs and check to see if the way to the stables is still clear.”

Jessamyn nodded and left.

“She loves you, you know,” Clarwyn said as he braced himself for the blow to come.

“I’m no so sure. But thank you for giving me this chance to vent my anger.” With that he struck his friend, laying him out with one hit.

Under cloudy night skies, Raeb crept with Jessamyn toward the stables. They were lucky enough to encounter no one. She kept watch while he retrieved the saddled horses then muffled their hooves with rags. He handed Jessamyn her mare’s reins.

“Follow me to the postern?” He breathed the words next to her ear. “And you are certain ’tis no watched?”

She nodded and moved into position behind him.

“I doubt any of the guards are able to stand right now. But I don’t know how long that will last.”

“Then we’d best no delay.”

The postern gate opened silently onto a road that led to a nearby village. ’Twas the only path available, so he trusted darkness to hide them until a short time later when they left the road for the trees.

Raeb paused long enough to remove the cloth from the horses’ hooves before helping her to mount.

They’d gone only a little way into the forest when the noise of several riders caused him to halt. He groped for Persia’s reins, stopping Jess. He could scarcely see her in the gloom, so he uttered a quiet “shh.”

She gave a nod and stroked her mare’s neck to reassure the steed. Fortunately, the chestnut destrier Raeb had borrowed was well trained and stood quietly awaiting its rider’s next command. Silence reigned for some time before Raeb pointed to his left and quietly told Jess, “Head west. I’ll be right behind you.”

Wordless, she set her mount in motion.

Raeb followed close. Had her horse not been pure white, he’d never have seen her. ’Twas part of the reason to have her go first. From behind, his darker mount would hide the mare and its rider. The position also allowed Raeb to keep a close eye on Jessamyn. She’d not escape to carry tales to her godfather. Too bad keeping watch on her compelled him to observe the sway of her hips as she rode, making his cock harden. That brainless part of him caused Raeb no little pain and a lot of anguish as images of Jessamyn naked and riding him seized his mind and body.

He bit the inside of his cheek and forced himself to focus on their surroundings. The trees stood close together with just enough room to squeeze between the thick trunks. Too often the way was blocked. He and Jessamyn lost much time skirting around deadfalls and impassable walls of thorny brush. As the dim light of dawn filtered through the trees, the ancient forest gave way to newer growth. Still he did not hear the stream until they were nearly upon it, and Jess’s small mare stopped of its own accord.

Throughout the long night ride he’d heard little but the shuffle of the horses’ hooves and the distant cry of a lone wolf. Jessamyn had spoken not a word, even when he was certain they were beyond the hearing of any human being. She’d kept silent. Her shoulders hunched but otherwise she was relaxed in the saddle. What was wrong with her? Had his anger over her betrayal cowed her so much that she dared not speak for fear of sparking his temper again? Despite the hurt she’d inflicted on him, he hadn’t shown that much anger—had he? He wouldn’t, for she’d know exactly how much personal damage she’d done if he’d unleashed his fury.

So if she didn’t think him angry, why keep silent? Where was the talkative, spirited woman who’d lightened his world, even when he least wanted her to?

Raeb maneuvered beside Jessamyn and peered over the crumbling edge of the creek bank.

“Do you know this stream?” she asked, the neutral words a balm to his worries.

He shook his head. “What I do know is that it flows from the north. If we follow it to its source, we should be well on our way back to Scotland with very little chance of encountering any Englishman. They prefer to ride on roads, being too delicate for the strains of rougher paths.” That should ignite the fiery spirit that had challenged him during their first weeks together.

She shrugged and guided her mount upstream.

“We’ll need to cross at the first good ford.”

A single nod was all the acknowledgment he received.

He might despise what she’d done in breaking her vow to him, but even so, he’d not wish to see her so unnaturally quiet, as if the dark of night possessed her soul.

They rode for the entire night and half the next day before finding a ford the horses could manage. The water came up to Persia’s withers, and Jess’s clothing was soaked to the waist.

They emerged on the west side of the stream, and Raeb waited, expecting Jessamyn to insist they stop and allow her garments to dry.

When they passed through the third clearing without any comment from her, Raeb called a halt.

“We need a rest and some food,” he muttered as he helped Jessamyn down from her saddle.

On the ground, she nodded. “If Gillam—the stable lad who saddled the horses—was able to get food, you should find a sack tied to your cantle with bread, dried meat, and fruit inside. I’ve a waterskin with me.” She unhooked the leathern bag from around her pommel and went to sit on a large rock.

St. Finan’s ghost, could she not speak with some life? Or did she think herself a martyr? Was she sunk so deep she would take her life and risk her soul for acting as she believed right, even if she’d been wrong? He’d yet to obtain explanations from Jessamyn about leaving Dungarob and her actions since.

Raeb found the sack then took a seat on the ground not far from Jess.

Wordlessly, she offered him the waterskin.

He accepted it, holding out the sack for her to take.

She stared at it for a long moment then grasped the bag, opened it, and rooted around inside. Her hand emerged with a piece of dried meat and a few slices of dried apple, which she chewed in silence.

He shook his head then drank his fill of water and laid the skin between them. Next he consumed his meal. From the corner of his eye he watched Jessamyn, praying he would see some flash of her familiar defiance. She finished eating and wiped her fingers on her skirt. Once or twice he saw her open her mouth, but the only sound that emerged was a small sigh. Enough. ’Twas past time to get answers from her.

“I dinna understand why you left Dungarob. Your note to Edward would make him send troops to rescue you. Why trouble yourself or break your vow to remain with me?”

“Suffice to say, I thought better of my vow and knew you would prevent me, if I told you.”

He took her wrist and turned to face her. “’Tis verra important that I understand the woman who will be my wife. So you will tell me now.”

Her mouth dropped open at his words. Was the truth that she’d no wish to marry, despite his promises to her?

Her mouth closed, and her gaze turned flinty. “Why should I explain anything to you? Did you ever tell me that you used me for more than my dowry? Did you confide your plans to take Edward’s ships and kill or capture the troops on those ships? My brother would be on one of those vessels with the innocent intent of witnessing a wedding that will never take place.”

So I was right. She never intended to wed me.

“So you ran to Edward to save your brother? Did you think I would want my wife’s kin dead at my hand or my clan’s?”

“N-no, I did not imagine you wanted that.”

“How could Edward prevent that?”

“He could not, but I thought I might be able to persuade him not to send his ships.”

“You would have been better served to contact your brother and tell him not to come.”

“I-I did not know where he was or how long it would take me to find him. Locating my godfather was more certain.” She twisted her fingers in her skirt.

Her hesitation made him wonder what else she was hiding.

“How could you be sure he would listen to you?”

“I couldn’t, but my father is one of his favorites and powerful enough to sway other lords away from supporting Edward’s endless wars. I had a good chance of making the king see reason.”

“True enough. What else aren’t you telling me?”

“N-nothing. I-I’ve told you all of any import.” Her gaze flitted at random, never settling in one place.

He doubted she’d told him all, but he’d get no more from her now. “I’ll fill the waterskin from the stream,” he said and left, unable to bear the nervous darting of her glance.

He returned to find her already mounted and waiting for him.

“Why did you no take the chance my leaving gave you to escape?”

She stared at him a moment then, without responding, she turned her head and set Persia to a northward walk.

That was enough. He was tired from days of hunting Jessamyn, a beating he didn’t deserve, and then riding through the night to escape the English. He would not endure further punishment. She was holding back. He would make her talk with him.

He hurried to secure the waterskin and food bag next to the bow and arrows already attached to his saddle then mounted and cantered after his mule-headed lady.

The narrow verge that bordered the creek bank broadened into an upward sloping valley, and Raeb was finally able to ride side by side with Jess.

“I asked you a question back there.”

“Yes, you did.”

“And you have no given me an answer.”

She stared at him a moment then looked forward again. “’Twas a stupid question and did not deserve an answer.”

He pressed his lips together. He wanted to shake her, but years of experience with sisters taught him that forceful displays would gain him nothing in this situation. “Indulge me, please.”

She gave another of the shrugs he was coming to hate. “Where would I escape to?”

“King Edward.”

She snorted. “Talking with you has made me realize the man does not even know me and cares less for me than he does for the horse he rides. In fact, he probably believes that as the daughter of a horse breeder and the wife of Scotland’s most highly regarded horse breeder, I am the means to a better horse than the one he has now.”

“Your father?”

She gave a bitter laugh. “You will send me back to him anyway. Then he will just sell me in marriage to someone else.”

Raeb saw red at the idea of Jessamyn with another man. He struggled mightily not to grab her and drag her to the ground where he could claim her.
I canna trust her; she lies still
. That thought alone allowed him to keep control. Yes, she’d betrayed him and broken her vows to him, but she’d also tried to save his life and rescued him from Ravensmere Castle. It was not enough to mend the pain she caused, but she didn’t deserve the cruelty she seemed to expect from him and every other man.

“You could go to the nuns. ’Tis what you have wanted all along.” He did not want her in a convent. He did not want her to leave Dungarob, but how could he keep a woman who might betray him at any moment?

• • •

Jessamyn sighed. “The sisters have limited resources. Had I my dowry in addition to my skills to help them establish horse breeding as a means of continued income, they might take me in. As it is, I’ve little to offer besides knowledge that they could find elsewhere at less cost.”