Читать книгу A Girl of White Winter - Barb Hendee - Страница 10

Chapter Two

My fear of Royce—combined with having been forced onto the back of a horse—was soon overridden by a fear of the open sky and the vineyards stretching all around us. Everything seemed to go on forever. The sights made me dizzy and sick to my stomach, and I gripped the horse’s mane tighter.

Where were we going? Could I find my way back?

Although Royce rode slightly ahead of me, gripping the reins of my horse, he did not speak and glanced back at me only occasionally. His expression was impassive, as if he felt nothing.

The six guards ignored me.

Lord Trey was the only man to appear visibly unsettled, and when he looked at me, his expression conveyed a mix of concern, alarm, and pity. Through his eyes, the reality of my situation began to sink in. Lord Jean had traded me for a piece of land. I had been taken from my home and now belonged to Royce Capello. Lady Giselle had promised to keep me safe, but she had been unable to stop this. I’d always viewed her as my protector, someone with power in a world where I possessed none.

Had my vision of her been an illusion?

Though I couldn’t gauge how much time had passed, at what I guessed to be mid-day, we left the seemingly endless vineyards behind and traveled down a narrow road lined on both sides by a forest of trees covered in yellow and red leaves. Long branches reached over the road and intertwined with branches of trees from the other side, creating a kind of tunnel. For some reason, this helped me to feel calmer, not so exposed.

“We should pause for a short rest,” said Lord Trey.

The guards pulled in their horses. Royce dismounted and reached up, gripping my waist and lifting me down. The physical relief was immediate, as my right hip had begun to hurt from the sidesaddle.

“Wait here,” he said. “I’ll bring food and water.”

In autumn, the day was cold, and I stood shivering inside my cloak as he walked toward the wagon bearing luggage and supplies. Quickly, his father moved to join him, and when they both reached the wagon, Lord Trey reached out and grasped Royce’s arm.

“Stop.”

They were a good twenty paces away, and Trey’s voice was low, but I could still hear him.

“What?” Royce asked, his tone not inviting an answer.

“There’s still time to turn around. This is madness. Take her back.”

“No.”

“You can’t possibly mean to bring her into our household?” Trey’s tone was incredulous now.

“You’re the one who’s been after me to choose a companion.”

“A skilled courtesan! Someone who could be of assistance. That girl has no education, no conversation, no experiences outside of Lady’s Giselle’s apartments, and in case you hadn’t noticed, she’s terrified of you.”

Royce turned to face him. “After eight years with Loraine, does it surprise you that I’d choose someone more biddable?”

Trey’s voice rose. “You know how isolated the de Marcos live. You’ve seen how Jean keeps Giselle away from society and neglects her at the same time. From what I could see last night and this morning, that girl is her only companion, and you…you, who could have any woman, would make claim on Giselle’s one comfort?” He paused. “This is an impulse on your part, and you’ll regret it. Take the girl back.”

His words brought me hope.

Without responding, Royce dug through a burlap sack, removed a few objects, and turned away from his father, walking toward me. My flicker of hope died. Royce was not going to take me home.

Approaching, he carried an apple and a biscuit—with a canteen on a cord draped over his wrist.

“Here,” he said, handing me the apple. “It’s not much and we have a good distance to go, but there will be a decent supper waiting for us at home.”

Home.

My home was falling farther and farther behind. But he was trying to be kind, and I was hungry, having eaten no breakfast. So, I took the apple.

“Thank you.”

My voice sounded small, and his gaze passed over my face. Then he uncorked the canteen and held it out. I took a long drink, grateful for the water.

“Can we eat while we ride, my lord?” the eldest of the guards asked. “As it is, we’re not going to make the manor before dark.”

Trey came walking back, carrying an apple of his own. He offered Royce a questioning look. “Forward or backward.”

Royce gripped my waist and lifted me onto the mare. “Forward.”

Lord Trey sighed.

We rode on. I tried to eat my apple with one hand while gripping my mount’s mane with the other, but I managed only a few bites.

The tunnel of yellow and orange trees gave way to a dense forest of evergreens. Their branches did not reach across the road, and once more, this gave me a view of the open sky. Again…I felt exposed. The same inexplicable fear began rising. I understood why I feared both Royce and the horse, but I didn’t understand why I feared the open sky. Forcing myself to focus, I noted the sun sinking in the sky to my left. Though I’d never had an opportunity to practice navigating the four directions, I made note that we were traveling south. This knowledge spurred me to pay attention. Should any opportunity arise, I must to be able to find my way home.

We stopped once at a stream to water the horses, but Royce did not dismount—and so neither did I. We pressed on.

Hours passed.

The discomfort in my right hip grew into pain. I tried shifting in the saddle several times, but nothing helped. The sun dipped low, and dusk approached.

“Another stop,” Lord Trey called.

He was riding behind us, and Royce turned with an annoyed expression, as if to argue, but his father cut him off.

“Look at the girl. She’s nearly done in.”

Royce looked at me. I must have made a pitiful sight because he pulled up his horse and swung his leg over before hopping to the ground. Then he lifted me from the saddle to stand beside him. This time, he had to hold me up for a few moments before I could stand on my own.

Trey and the guards all dismounted as well, walking around to stretch their legs. No one complained at Lord Trey having forced a halt. I was grateful for the respite and accepted the canteen from Royce when he offered it. The water was stale, but it quenched my thirst.

“Not far now,” he said.

His words brought no comfort. What was waiting for me ahead? I would be alone, without my lady, in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people—and no one who loved me. I was in no hurry to be lifted back into the saddle.

After far too short a break, the same guard who’d spoken at our lunch stop began heading for his horse. Looking over his shoulder, he spoke to Lord Trey. “We should get moving, my lord. I don’t like the idea of passing through this forest at night.”

Trey nodded and said. “Royce, perhaps the girl could ride straddle behind you for the remainder of the way? At least she could lean on you to rest.”

My name is Kara.

None of them ever used my name.

“Yes,” Royce answered him, turning to lift me once again.

His hands never reached my waist.

In that same instant, something whizzed through the air and struck the shoulder of a guard standing near us.

An arrow.

The man dropped, and Royce whirled.

More arrows flew from several directions, striking the guards’ shoulders and thighs. Most men were hit multiple times. The man up on the wagon grabbed a sword from beside him on the bench and jumped down, as if looking for someone to fight.

An arrow struck his right shoulder and then another protruded from his left arm. With a cry, he dropped the sword. An arrow hit his thigh, and his leg gave way.

This all happened so fast that I was unable to take much in. One instant, Royce had been reaching for my waist, and the next instant, our guards were all on the ground, too wounded to fight—but none were dead. Only Trey, Royce, and I remained untouched.

“Don’t move!” commanded a voice from the trees.

Four men rushed in from different directions to surround us. They had dusky skin and black hair, with long bows and quivers slung over their backs and carrying short swords. Scraps of cloth, tied around their heads, covered the lower parts of their faces.

At the sight of the masked men coming toward us, the eldest guard somehow pulled his sword and tried to stand, but the tallest of our assailants put a sword to his throat.

“Drop it,” he ordered.

Another wave of fear rose up, and I was not sure how much more I could bear.

Royce’s head moved back and forth, taking in the sight of all four of our attackers, but Lord Trey stepped forward.

“Take whatever you want,” he said.

My breaths came in short gasps as the leader strode toward us. He was even taller than Royce. His hair was cut very short, and his eyes were black. Like the rest of his men, even in the cool evening, he wore an open, sleeveless vest with no shirt beneath, exposing long, defined muscles in his arms. Looking to Trey, he began to say something and then saw me.

The words never left his mouth. He stared, and I drew back against the side of my horse. He looked at me with the same startled quality of most men, but then his expression shifted to something else. Even amid my fear, I could see it: a searching recognition.

I did not know him.

Royce stepped in front of me.

Another of the masked men came striding toward us. This one was of average height for a man, perhaps a head taller than me. His build was solid, and his hair hung halfway down his back.

He gripped the hilt of his sword. “Everyone stay where you are,” he called to our guards. “We won’t be long. I’d rather not kill anyone, but I will if I must.” Turning his head, he said to the other two men who’d attacked us. “Get the wagon and horses.”

As of yet, Royce hadn’t said a word. His body was rigid. The man with the long hair moved to one side to take a quick of view of me, but he merely nodded to me once, and I swear I saw humor in his eyes.

“My lady,” he said lightly.

“Just take the horses and wagon and go,” said Lord Trey.

“We intend to,” the man answered. “Along with that silver ring you’re wearing.”

At first, I’d thought the tall man was the leader, but now I wondered. The longhaired man appeared to be giving the orders.

Without hesitation, Lord Trey removed his ring and handed it over.

The tall man moved to the left to continue studying me.

“Do you know who we are?” Royce asked quietly, and the rage in his voice made me shiver. I hoped he would not take some foolish action. “I am Lord Royce Capello, and this is my father.”

“I don’t care who you are,” answered the longhaired man. “Just another rich noble.” He watched his other two comrades as one gathered our horses and the other climbed up in the wagon to take the reins. Then he turned back to us.

“Any other jewels or metal trinkets?” he asked as if we were conducting a business transaction.

But when he took a step closer to inspect my neck and ears, Royce moved between us. “Keep away from her!”

“The girl has no jewelry,” Trey said, his voice calm.

The longhaired man gripped his sword tighter and studied Royce but then stepped back. Though I couldn’t see his mouth, I sensed he was smiling.

“All right, then,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure.” He turned away, walking toward our gathered horses. “We’re done here.”

Although I was still frightened, I was beginning to understand these men were thieves—who’d taken pains not to kill our guards. They would take anything of value and leave.

After a brief hesitation, the tall man began to walk away as well, but suddenly, his head swiveled back toward me.

“We take the girl,” he said.

His companion spun around, and all traces of joviality vanished. “What?”

“Lay a hand on her, and I’ll have the king’s army hunt you down,” Royce said.

Pointing his sword at Royce’s chest, the tall man ordered, “Step away.”

My fear turned to terror as a roaring began in my ears, and I heard an echo of Royce’s voice back at the manor.

I want the girl.

Again, the man motioned with his sword, but instead of stepping aside, Royce rushed inside his guard, shoving him with one hand and grabbing his sword arm with the other.

I had never seen men fighting, and I could not seem to breathe.

But the struggle didn’t last long. The tall man used one foot to sweep Royce’s leg, and Royce went down. The man kicked him in the head twice. Both times, as his foot connected, I heard a thud.

“What are you doing?” his longhaired companion nearly shouted.

“Get back,” the tall man ordered Trey.

Royce’s eyes were closed, and for the first time, Lord Trey looked alarmed as he stepped away. His alarm grew when the man reached out and grasped my wrist.

“No!” I cried.

His longhaired companion stood in shock. But I was dragged forward, and the roaring in my ears grew louder. Before I understood what was happening, my wrist was free and two strong hands grasped my waist, lifting me onto a horse. Then the tall man was up behind, reaching around and taking the reins with one hand. His other arm encircled me.

“Go!” he called.

A clatter of hooves and the rolling of wheels sounded. Darkness was falling, and I was aware of nothing but the movement of the horse, the arm around my waist, and the roaring in my ears.

Then I lost awareness of anything at all.

* * * *

I remember hearing the sound of an angry voice.

“Stop.”

I could still feel the arm encircling my waist. Our horse slowed. Full darkness had fallen, but I had no idea how much time had passed as I tried to take in my surroundings. The longhaired man was on Royce’s horse. He nudged the animal so that it blocked ours from moving forward.

“Caine, what are you doing?” he demanded.

Caine.

That was my captor’s name.

“Raven, we don’t have time for this,” Caine answered.

“No one can follow us…yet. Get down. Right now.”

The arm around my waist tightened as Caine swung his leg over, and a moment later, I was on the ground. We were in the forest, but the moon shone through the trees, and I had my first clear look at both men, as their cloth wraps were gone. They appeared in their late twenties or early thirties. Caine’s features were narrow and his cheekbones were high.

Raven—as Caine had called him—had a broader face with a solid jaw.

The other two men in the group were now off their horses and came to join us. These men appeared in their late thirties with weatherworn skin. Their black hair hung to their shoulders.

“What are you doing?” Raven asked again.

“She’s coming with us,” Caine answered.

“Do you want the king’s army hunting us down?” When no answer came, Raven pointed at me. “Look at her! Have you ever seen anything like that?”

Anything.

They spoke as if I were not a person.

“No,” Caine answered slowly. “I have not.”

Raven turned to me. “Who are you?”

I dropped my eyes to the ground, not knowing how to answer. Who was I?

Reaching out, he lifted my chin with his finger. “Look at me. Who are you to those two nobles back there? A wife? Sister?”

This was an easier question, and I shook my head.

“Then who?” he demanded.

“I…belong to Royce,” I whispered.

“Belong?”

“My own lord traded me for a piece of land.”

He breathed out through his teeth.

But Caine nodded to him. “You see? She’s property. I could have told you that without asking her. No one is coming after us.”

“Logan won’t like it. Neither will Grandfather.”

Caine gave him a level stare. “She comes with us.”

Sighing, Raven looked back to me. “What’s your name?”

My throat felt as if it was closing, but I managed to answer. “Kara.”

He motioned to the two older men. “This is Tannen, and that’s Badger. You’re safe with us.” His following glance at Caine made me wonder about this assurance.

Then, I was forgotten.

“We need to get back to our own horses before making camp,” the man called Badger said. “And tomorrow, we’ll need to get to a road or this wagon isn’t going much farther.”

Casting around, I saw that we were deep in the forest, and these men had been driving the wagon around the trees and through the brush. Though their swords had long been sheathed, all the men but Badger still wore bows and quivers slung over their backs. Now, they took these off and tied them to their saddles.

I dreaded the thought of getting back on a horse.

Thankfully, instead of lifting me, Caine laced his hands.

“Up,” he said.

I’d never mounted a horse on my own, but I knew what he wanted. Stepping into his hand, I swung my over leg over and settled my skirt to ride astride. He came up behind me again, reached around, and took the reins.

There were eight saddled horses plus two harnessed to the wagon. Caine and I rode one horse. Raven rode another, and Tannen rode a third, but he had the other five connected on a long lead. Badger drove the wagon. Raven led the way, and within moments, I could hear Badger swearing as he tried to maneuver through the dense brush.

I felt numb and lost. I kept thinking of my lady and how alone she must be feeling.

Perhaps an hour later, we rode into a clearing where four other saddled horses walked about, eating grass and brush. They were on long ropes tied to stakes in the ground. But our arrival caused some excitement as the new horses entered. An abundance of sniffing and snorting sounded, and the space felt smaller with so many horses gathered inside.

Badger drove the wagon into the clearing, and it moved more easily over the open ground.

“Thank the gods,” he said in relief. “Raven, you’d better get us to a road tomorrow.”

Caine hopped down and lifted me off the horse, allowing me to become steady on my feet. Then all four men set to work tying off the horses to settle them for the night.

A few moments later, Raven walked to the wagon and jumped up into the back, opening trunks and rifling through burlap sacks. “There’s a pouch of silver,” he called. “But the rest is mainly men’s clothing. The tunics are silk, and there are a few cloaks worth selling.”

He hadn’t opened my trunk yet.

“Those trunks are worth keeping,” Tannen said.

Raven hopped back to the ground, holding up a burlap sack. “You hungry?” he asked me.

It was still hard for me to speak, but of the four men, he frightened me the least.

“Thirsty,” I whispered.

At my single word, his expression turned abashed, and he strode over to a saddle lying on the ground. After unlashing a canteen, he walked back, holding it out.

“Here.”

I drank the water gratefully as the four of them passed around apples and biscuits from the Capellos’ food stores. Caine offered me a biscuit, but I shook my head. I didn’t think I could swallow more than water.

Still eating an apple, Raven jumped back up onto the wagon’s bed. I wasn’t paying attention, but I could hear him moving things around.

“Kara,” he called. “Come up here.”

He’d used my name.

Without thinking, I crawled up onto the wagon’s bed and saw that he’d arranged several trunks with a space in the middle, where he’d laid down a cloak.

“We can’t risk a fire,” he said. “But this should shield you from the wind. It’s the best I can do tonight.” He paused and added, “The rest of us are fine on the ground.”

He’d gone to the trouble to make me a bed up here, and then he’d assured me it was a private space. His kindness left me undone, and everything that had happened to me from that morning to this moment came crashing down. I could feel my exhausted body begin to shake and unwanted tears sprang to my eyes.

This reaction was not lost on him. Startled, he reached out and drew me over. “Lie down and use your own cloak as a blanket.”

Like a child, I obeyed him and even let him arrange my cloak to cover me.

“Go to sleep,” he said.

My body and mind were so weary that I closed my eyes.