Unbidden (The Evolution Series) (28 page)

David enjoyed their sparring, but his friend also brought news of Rochelle
. He tried to appear unconcerned, casually asking every morning if Rochelle was well. After all, his intention to separate himself could not extend to ignoring her safety. On Monday and Tuesday, Theo had given brief assurance of her health. On Wednesday, when Theo did not arrive within a few hours of dawn, David began to worry.

He’d already donned most of the armor he would wear in the tournament:  a leather brunia over his body and iron-splinted greaves on his arms and legs
. He tried to occupy himself with strengthening exercises, but couldn’t concentrate. After a few moments jogging the perimeter of the clearing he realized he’d stopped where Woden grazed to mindlessly wipe the stallion’s back as though preparing to saddle him. He muttered a prayer of thanks when he saw Theo clear the edge of the woods on the back of his own war horse. He traveled at an exasperatingly slow walk.

“Where have you been?  Is all well?” David called, even though he knew Theo would not approach so casually if there had been any trouble in town.

Theo waved a hand in greeting, waiting until at a comfortable distance before he spoke. “There have been developments. Rumors. Riculf has been bragging around town about this agreement.”

David squinted up at the sun, his heart sinking
. He supposed it had been too much to hope her betrayal would remain a secret.

“How did you know it was true?” Theo asked gently.

“She tried to tell me herself, several times.”

“That is something, at least
. I did not think her capable of it. Guess I was wrong.”

“That still does not explain why you are late.”

“Rochelle was summoned to an interview with the emperor. I escorted her there this morning.”  He dismounted his horse, laying his lance on the ground to one side.

“You could have sent a message,” David said sulkily.

“Forgive me, Lord Hermit, but you made it clear you wanted no one to know of your secret hiding place.”

David pursed his lips
. It was true.

Theo unclasped his cloak, and folded it neatly on the ground, followed by his cap
. He removed his tunic. Underneath the fine cloth he already wore his leather brunia. He belted his scabbard onto his hips. His conversion from peacock to warrior was complete when he slid his shield on his arm. “Shall we begin?”

“
I give!” David shouted in exasperation. “What did the emperor want with Rochelle?”

Theo smiled
. “He, too, has heard the rumors. Called her in for a scolding.”  At David’s wild expression, Theo quickly added. “She showed great restraint.”

“She will lose Alda yet.”

“Not so intent on losing it as she is on giving it up.”

“What do you mean?”

“She told the emperor she wishes to be bound by her betrothal with you. Neatly done, really. Win or lose, your betrothal stands.”

David could hardly believe his ears
. A surge of joy filled him, quickly ruined by the memory of her betrayal. “If I lose, what happens to Alda?”

“The winner gets Alda
. She says she will leave.”

“What?”

“She says she will leave Alda if you lose.”

“She proposed this.”

“Yes.”

“She will never leave Alda.”  He turned to retrieve his metal spangenhelm.

“It appears she has chosen you over the estate.”

“No, she is maneuvering again.” David grasped his shield, annoyed that she had been handed the opportunity to make another flanking move he wouldn’t be able to counter.

Theo stared at him. “I do not think so, but if you truly believe that you should know that the emperor will release you from the contract if you choose.”

David’s eyebrows lifted slowly
. “Release me?  Why?”

“’No man should
be saddled with a devious wife.’ His words, not mine.”  He unsheathed his spata. “You would not do that to her.”

“Would I not?” David asked testily, pulling his own spata out of the scabbard on his hip
. Its edges gleamed with polished deadliness.

Theo paused, cocking his head as if he hadn’t heard correctly
. “If you do not marry her
and
make her leave her estate, she has lost everything, David. Absolutely everything.”

David swung his blade round a few times, its familiarity and balance making it an extension of his own arm. “She should have thought of that before she
hired Riculf.”

“You are the fool if you let her go.”

“I would be a fool to marry a faithless woman I cannot trust.”

He and Theo began testing blades lightly, the edges sliding across one another with a metallic zing that echoed in the forest.

“She is not faithless,” Theo argued. “I wish you could see her. She suffers. She sits in my hall, the target of malicious gossip. She does not hide, she does not make excuses. Just sits and waits.”

The blades sang together with increasing intensity until Theo suddenly abandoned his spata for the longer lance, swinging it in a arc that nearly caught David across his leather covered chest
. David backed away, defending, until he reached his own lance, and they picked up their fencing again.

“Waits for what?” David said impatiently.

“Waits for you, I think. Will you come to talk to her?  Just a few moments to show her –“

“No!  If she suffers it is her own doing.”  David jabbed his lance forward wickedly, stopping just where it would have penetrated Theo’s brunia at his abdomen.

Theo was not deterred. “It is of your doing. She waits for
you
, from before dawn until late at night. You did not even tell her you no longer sleep at my house, though I finally broke down this morning when she swallowed her pride to ask about you.”

“Damn you, Theo!  If I wanted Rochelle to know where I sleep I would have told her myself.”  He stalked away to fetch a skin of water.

“Oh, forgive me,” Theo countered sarcastically, leaning on the shaft of his lance. “It is fine for me to answer your desperate queries about her every day, but heaven forbid I reveal anything of your activities to her!”

David wiped a dribble of water from his chin with the back of his hand.

“If her affection does not sway you, there is another reason you should marry her.”

“What is that?”  David asked flatly.

“Your betrothed is an excellent person of business. I will never admit that in public as she is, indeed, a woman, but I have no compunction about telling you since you could soon be benefiting from her acumen.”

David grunted.

“Even now, as we speak, she is making money in Ribeauville.”

“How can she be a person of business in a town 13 leagues from her home?  She came with only a few clothes and a dagger, and according to you is pining away in your hall.”

“Brought the business to her, clever girl.”

Theo’s smiling praise did nothing to help David’s mood
. Any man’s special notice of Rochelle blackened David’s day, but knowing of Theo’s prior interest in her made his words rankle all the more.

“Would you explain yourself?”

“Apparently when Doeg arrived at Alda to bring Rochelle here, he described the rather carnival-like atmosphere beginning to develop in town. Rochelle recognized an opportunity. Told her manager to inform the tenants that good trade might be available in Ribeauville. A small group of them arrived last evening, their little carts loaded with goods to sell or trade. They came to my house to let her know they had journeyed safely. She went outside to praise them for their speed and industriousness. She can do no wrong in their eyes.”

“Hmph.”

“But that is not the best part.”

“There is more?” David asked dryly.

“Rochelle had her manager send a few casks of new wine. Think she would sell them to an inn or one of the food vendors?  No, she is selling it on the street, by the cup!  Imagine the profit in that!”

“Fire and smoke!  Are you telling me my future wife
— possible future wife — is selling wine in public?”

“Not her personally
. That boy from the estate, Samuel I think is his name, is selling it for her.”  Theo’s smile faded. “Rochelle herself does not leave my home.”

“Nor should she
. It sounds as if your town has become Sodom,” David said darkly.

“It is not that bad
. And you should not make light of her vigil, David.”

“It does not sound like much of a vigil.”

“You do not know anything about it. In any case, she wishes me to tell you something.”

“Are we going to train at all today?”

Theo narrowed his hazel eyes. “Very well then, I will not bother you with her message.”  He sheathed the lance on his back and pulled out his semi-spata.

David did likewise and they swayed in front of each other for moment, before David finally straightened
. “Just tell me so I can put it out of my mind.”

His friend stood up to meet his eyes seriously
. “She is sorry.”

David spat in the dirt.

“And she asks that, no matter what you decide, you give her a chance to speak with you.”

“About what?”

“The weather,” Theo answered, his patience at an end. “Honestly, man, you are as thick as the leather on that brunia you are wearing.”

“The last thing I need is to talk to
her
.”

“Yes, anyone can see how dangerous words could be to a well
-armored figure such as you.”

David wiped the sweat from his brow
. “You know the danger of wrong thoughts, Theo. Despite dressing like a milksop, you are a warrior, just as I am.”  David poked his forefinger into his own temple. “You know preparation of the mind is just as important as the training we are doing here. Riculf and The Black are not here to lose. I can beat them both, Theo. I know I can!  But not if I am distracted by a country girl’s betrayal or my own lust, or even softer feelings for her.”

Theo scra
tched the top of his head. “You
do
still care for her?”

“God’s teeth, man!”  David erupted
. “Have you not heard one word I just said?  I do not wish to speak of it, or even think about it.”

“I heard, I heard
. It is just that she suffers cruelly. She is not eating and can hardly be sleeping. Even just a message I could carry back to her would be – oof!”  David’s fist connected with Theo’s stomach.

“I have no message to send right now
. Rochelle is exactly where she should be:  safe in your house. I am exactly where I should be:  training for a tournament I have to win. What happens to her if I lose, Theo?  Do you think Riculf or The Black will show the patience or restraint I have? Are you certain Louis will be able to prevent a marriage to one of them?  My best service to her is to win so there is no question of who has the rights to Alda
and
her. I must win!”  David’s last word came as a shout. Both horses’ heads came up, looking earnestly for signs of danger.

Theo studied David for a moment
, then stepped forward to clap him on the shoulder, all impatience gone. “You are right, of course. Victory is necessary. Losing Alda will crush her, though I think she frets more about losing you. Just do not let your anger take root too deeply, my friend.”  He took a deep breath then punched David in the stomach in return. “So, we train!” he shouted, and the fight was on.

Despite his determination to avoid distractions of the heart, David couldn’t stop his wandering mind that evening as he stood by his conical tent wiping his tired body with a wet cloth. He welcomed the approaching chill of evening against his nakedness. An autumn mist had begun to settle in the clearing, colored slightly pink by the setting sun. Tomorrow would be a day of rest and preparation. He would sharpen his weapons, polish his shield, and repair his armor as needed.

Tonight, though, he would consider everything Theo had said to him, and try to meld it with what he knew of Rochelle
. He had suppressed thoughts of her for three days and nights. Theo’s description of her meeting with Louis broke through every hardened barrier he’d raised.

She’d asked for their betrothal to stand
. Win or lose. With or without Alda.

It was astonishing
. There was no other word for the request. It might also be humbling if he could get past doubting her sincerity, and the humiliatingly public knowledge of her betrayal.

The combination of incredulity and embarrassment were almost enough to make him want to see her
. But his caution hadn’t completely dissolved. Since the day he’d met her in Aix, she’d been angling to avoid marriage. Her mind never stopped working, that much he knew, and he suspected she had another plan, though he couldn’t decipher it.