“
So that no guard sees, he travels with the brothers for a distance. His comrades await him well down the road, and when they are reunited, he enters the forest. Don’t worry,” he said with a smile.
“
He has more protection than Tedric could ever claim.”
Chapter 20
The sun was high in the sky and a brewis was set to simmer on the hearth. Bread was being kneaded in preparation for baking. All fires but for those needed in cooking were low to preserve firewood for the long winter. In the highest level of the manor, Chandra looked over the cloth that was being woven. The women accepted her compliments and heeded her reprimands, whichever was the case. In a far corner sat Wynne with Hugh at her feet, playing with a doll made of rags and twigs and a small ball of wool.
The commotion caused by Tedric and his returning men echoed through the manor, yet even in this high loft Chandra could tell that it sounded strangely different. It sounded far too raucous. Or was it furious?
A page burst into the room.
“
My lord sends for you, lady. He is in his chamber. He orders you to come at once. And there are injured men in the courtyard.”
“
Injured?” she questioned.
“
Aye, lady. I do not know how this came to pass.”
The page, a lad of ten or twelve, had been about Cordell for at least two years. Chandra knew his face and suddenly realized she did not know his name. He was a fair youth and she liked him. Though he served Tedric’s men, he had responded to her kindness.
“
Lady,” the youth said with a worried look in his eyes,
“
Sir Tedric is angry.”
Chandra tried to smile her thanks to the lad for his warning, but her lips trembled and the effort was lost. She turned to the women in the room and found that all eyes, round with fright, were on her. She signaled them with just a
t
ilt of her head to take themselves below and give aid to the wounded. They dropped their spools and went quickly. Her eyes went next to Wynne and the communication was clear. Wynne held Hugh close to her and hushed her young ward. She was prepared to protect the child.
Chandra went quickly to her husband’s chamber and entered without knocking. Tedric stood on the far side of the room and drained a cup of wine. He looked at her with obvious rage and filled the cup again, taking another long pull. He then placed the chalice on the chest near his bed and took long and determined strides toward her.
Chandra’s eyes were wide with apprehension as he walked toward her. He had often been angry and abusive, but the rage that seemed to consume him now looked to be even more powerful. Studying the silver slits of his eyes left her unprepared for his hand as he struck her hard across the face. She reeled backward and fell against the door, clutching the bruised cheek, tasting blood in her mouth, and stared at him in mute wonder.
“
So you’ve seen him,” Tedric shouted.
“
He comes to you here!”
Terror gripped her. Did Conan lay below injured? But she could not ask. She knew what part she must play
--
until all was lost.
“
Who?”
“
Your knight! Conan, the bastard!”
“
Conan is here?” she heard herself squeak.
“
No longer, fairest Chandra,” he sneered.
“
He’s made his escape, but not before laying three of my men low. They may not live through the night.”
“
How so, Tedric? What has happened?”
“
Do you play the innocent with me?” he shouted.
“
Do you pretend to know nothing of this? You knew I would be upon the road, and that is where we were attacked.”
“
I know nothing of his presence here,” she protested.
“
Ask the servants if I have been in these walls since
--
”
He jerked her roughly to her feet, his grip tight and painful on her upper arms.
“
Do not think to make me your fool, Chandra. I know your rote. You have been to mass, and Sir Conan was garbed as a monk.”
He flung her away and strode to the other side of the room. He turned then and shouted back at her.
“
He led a mule, and it was one of my own men who stopped that caravan when he
n
oticed one brother carrying something beneath his robes. It was a sheathed sword. I recognized the face of that devil. He would be dead now but that his cry brought his companions to his aid.” He looked Chandra over and smiled sardonically.
“
He did not leave in good humor, my love. He suffered at least one blow before he made his horse.”
Chandra held her head up, trying not to show her fear.
“
I am surprised that you did not follow and slay him,” she said.
“
We followed,” Tedric snapped.
“
But our horses were weary from this morning’s ride, while theirs were rested.”
“
It could be it was his plan to attack you,” she said.
“
There are those here who resent you, Tedric, for you have been a difficult man to abide. Perhaps he had learned your habits and
--
”
“
How could he learn my habits when there is a guard around every corner of this town? He did not come to fight me. He came to see you!”
“
I have not seen him,” she said simply.
“
You lie! You alone would dare to betray me!”
“
I? I am the one to caution these people to obey you. Truly, without me to hold them back, they would have defied you long ago. I have not betrayed you. I had not the opportunity.”
“
Nor will you!” he shouted.
“
Nor will anyone dare to betray me again. Whoever does, will die!” As quickly as his rage had mounted, it began to die. A sinister smile replaced the look of anger, and the insult of Conan’s penetration of Cordell seemed to fall away as he devised yet another plan. He was confident again. He walked to the door of his chamber with a direct, unhurried step. He turned at the door and looked at her.
“
Do you think I would let you live if not for the
fact that he wants you? Aye, che
rie, he will risk his stupid neck to have you, and I will be the one to watch him fall. But no more will I allow betrayal in my village. These good and fearful folk will feel the weight of my hand this very day
--
and be assured, no one will dare to give Sir Conan aid again.”
“
What will you do, Tedric?” she asked anxiously.
“
I would have done with you now, but the Falcon needs a lure,” he said, and left the room.
Chandra felt herself shaking inwardly and clutched at
c
omposure. She walked downstairs and looked around at the soldiers in the main room, their shields lying about and their gear scattered here and there. They looked at her with nothing less than hatred as she passed through.
Bereft of a cloak, she went out of the hall. There was a commotion within the town, and Chandra looked, first in confusion and then in horror, to the sight of some of Tedric’s men dragging the village priest toward a gibbet. With a cry, she ran to that sight and threw herself at the men, pleading with them to unhand the priest.
“
You must not obey Tedric in this!” she shouted.
“
Do you know the sin of killing a priest? I beg of you!”
But her protest was ignored, and one of the men threw her aside with a sharp blow. She stumbled back and fell, and looked from her lowly position to see the men dragging the priest to the platform. There had never been a device for hanging before Tedric came to this town, but since his coming, there had been many lashings and even a few deaths.
Villagers began to swell the street, and someone helped Chandra to her feet. She immediately took flight in the direction of the gibbet and plowed her way through the people. When Father Merric
k tripped and fell, the men-at-
arms simply dragged him. Tedric stood relaxed below the gibbet with a sneer twisting his lips.
She fell at his feet, tears wetting her cheeks and a look of horrified bewilderment on her face. As she looked up at him, she saw him watching her lazily, his eyes slightly glazed as he gloated in this power he assumed.
“
Tedric, are you mad? Would you kill a lowly priest
--
a messenger of God?”
“
He gave aid to my enemy,” Tedric said easily.
“
How do you know that he did? Did he confess this?”
“
Nay, he will not confess,” Tedric chortled.
“
But that will not stop me from doing what I have to do. Tis time these people learn that my word is law here. And Sir Conan is not welcome in this village. He means to do me harm.”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“
You wish him harm! His intention is not clear! He has only just returned from the Crusade!” She clutched at his legs.
“
Tedric, let the priest go, I beg of you. Do not hurt him. Anything, I will do anything you ask!”
Tedric raised one brow and looked down at her. He cast a glance over his shoulder and smiled as the rope was fitted about the stoic priest’s neck. He looked back at his wife.
“
Do you know your master, Chandra?”
“
Yea,” she replied.
“
Name him.”
“
You, Sir Tedric,” she humbly responded.
Tedric’s shoulders shook with silent laughter as he enjoyed bringing this proud vixen to her knees.
“
And you would do anything for the priest’s freedom? Would you take his place?”
“
Gladly,” she replied with bravado, though she knew full well that Tedric would not finish her life so easily. He needed her to draw Conan back.
Tedric looked up to the priest.
“
Did you aid my enemy and conceal him from me, Father?” he shouted.
The priest looked to the heavens and did not utter a word. His hands were bound behind his back and his eyes tilted up, his mouth set in a stern line. Tedric motioned his guards away from the priest’s side, a
nd with a wave of his hand, com
manded a man to move to the lever that would drop the floor below the priest. Tedric turned his back as the man moved the lever. He watched his wife as she looked past him to the gibbet. Her scream of anguish as the priest fell, the rope jerking his body to a halt, was all that was heard.
Tedric did not look back at the limp form of the priest hanging from his noose. He looked first at the villagers, who stood paralyzed as their priest was killed. Then he looked at his wife. She turned and looked into his eyes.
“
You have ensured your own demise,” Chandra said slowly.
“
I had hoped that before it was too late you would change your ways. But this,”
she croaked, throwing an arm wide to indicate the lifeless form of the village priest.
“
This is too much. I think you will not find mercy even in heaven now.”
Chandra turned and looked to some villagers standing near and beckoned them to her. Two women and a man walked carefully around Tedric to follow her up the three steps to the raised gibbet to take charge of the body of Father Merrick.
One of Tedric’s men approached him and asked for his next instructions.
“
Let her finish her task,” Tedric said.
“
Then escort her to the hall and see that she does not leave again.
My lady will have to do without even her prayers from now on.”
***
Sir Conan, Sir Mallory and Sir Thurwell pulled their horses along a densely wooded path. They were not traveling the well-known road through Colchester and on to Anselm, but were going through the forest until they came to a southern road to Anselm, a route that Conan’s enemies would not expect him to take. He had no desire to fight again so soon. That impromptu battle along the road had worn on him, leaving his injured leg sore and throbbing. And in this thicket he could not ride his horse but was forced to walk and lead the animal. They did not stop until the sun was low in the sky. The evening brought bitter cold, and each man quickly fashioned himself a makeshift barrier and huddled within for warmth. The night was disturbed only by the grumblings of men tired of making their beds on the hard ground.
There was a rustling in the shrub, and Conan was the first on his feet with a snarl on his lips. He hoped Tedric had found him. He would take great pleasure in killing him. The pain and weakness in his leg never for a moment worried him.
“
Nay, Sir Conan, do not strike,” the familiar voice said.
“
Sir William! How did you find us?”
The man smiled.
“
This is my wood, Conan. No one travels here without my knowledge. You did make us walk a great distance, however.” He turned and held aside a branch so that some others might pass.
“
Build these men a fire and feed them. And see to the animals.” He looked again at Conan.
“
You are a sorry lot. I thought I had prepared you for life in the wood.”