Candace C. Bowen - Knight Series 03

by A Knight of Valour

  “It appears the justice thinks of everything,” Talan seethed.

  “Indeed he does,” Chaucey admitted. “I would not be sitting here now if he did not have complete confidence in my discretion.”

  “Merde,” Leofrick swore. “The man is a fiend.”

  “Even without the men’s testimony, proof of the justice’s guilt remains in his London residence,” Talan said. “We can petition the king directly to launch an enquiry.”

  “Do not delude yourselves. The justice has the king’s ear,” Chaucey said. “I have seen for myself the comradery between them.”

  “Does their comradery extend so far the king would overlook the outright murder of his blood kin?” Talan shook his head. “I think not.”

  “The justice considers himself to be above the law. He will have an explanation for every charge laid against him,” Chaucey insisted. “I do not foresee him being held accountable for his crimes in this life. I can only pray he meets his judgment in the next.”

  “The justice has set his malevolent gaze on my sister,” Leofrick fumed. “If anything happens to her, I will be his judge, jury, and executioner. I avow it afore God.”

  “Thank you for sharing my burdens. I feel so much… better.” Swaying back and forth the drink finally caught up to Chaucey. He fell out of his seat with a resounding thud.

  “The currish knave shall not wed my Mylla.” Ignoring the clerk passed out by his feet, Talan’s look was grim. “He will have to slay me first.”

  Fisting his bloodied hand, Leofrick stood. “He will have to slay us both.

  †

  Mylla was shaken awake by Leofrick in the predawn hours. Stifling a shriek, she sat up in bed. “Leo, what is it? What is amiss?”

  Holding a tallow candle aloft, her brother sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you love Talan?”

  Mylla rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “You woke me from a sound sleep to ask such a foolish question?”

  “Answer me, La-La.”

  Leofrick’s tone had her studying his face in the flickering candle light. “Of course I love him. More than I love myself.”

  “Then pack a satchel, we do not have much time.”

  “I do not understand,” Mylla said. “Where is it we are going?”

  Mylla’s door opening startled them both.

  Leofrick’s face fell when his mother entered to softly close the door behind her. “If you two do not keep your voices down you will wake the entire household.”

  Mylla looked from one to the other. “What is happening?”

  “I would say your brother is here to assist in your fleeing with Sir Talan.” Emmaline moved further into the room. “Am I mistaken, Leo?”

  “Nay, mother.” Leofrick shook his head. “You are not.”

  “Is the justice truly as bad as all that then?”

  “He is all that, and worse.” Leofrick calmly met his mother’s worried gaze. “If Mylla weds him I fear it could very well be the end of her.”

  “I have feared as much.” Emmaline turned to her daughter. “Mylla, you heard your brother. Gather the best of your things together.”

  “Ma?” Mylla slowly rose from the bed. “I cannot go. You know what the justice will do.”

  Emmaline removed the delicate gold crucifix she always wore around her neck. Slipping it over Mylla’s head, she kissed each of her daughter’s cheeks. “You are not to worry about us. Now do as I say and pack your things. Come dawn, your father and brothers will be obligated to search for you.” Her gaze settled on Leofrick. “I assume Sir Talan is waiting close by?”

  Surprised by his mother’s assertiveness, it took Leofrick a moment to respond. “He is waiting in the street below with the horses.”

  “What about the justice’s clerk?” Emmaline asked. “Where is he?”

  “Chaucey passed out from the drink Talan and I plied on him,” Leofrick said. “Simon and Merek carried him to one of the inn’s bedchambers.”

  Gathering the smaller belongings from Mylla’s bureau, Emmaline wrapped them in a shawl. “His loyalties lay with the justice. Are you sure he will not make an appearance here afore dawn?”

  “He is not as bad as we have surmised, Ma. Tis true he has done ill in the name of the justice, only it is out of fear he has done so and not loyalty.” Leofrick smirked. “Nonetheless, I would wager that he is unlikely to make an appearance prior to the justice’s arrival.”

  Her leather satchel packed, Mylla stilled in the process of removing a russet woolen kirtle from her chest. “I cannot do this. The justice is sure to find us. He will slay Talan and accuse the rest of the family of aiding in our escape. Do you recall what he did to Lecie? I fear he will do the same to us all, only this time he will not fail.”

  Emmaline hastily pulled the kirtle from the chest and held it out to her daughter. “You must find the courage to do what your heart is telling you to do.”

  Reluctantly accepting the kirtle, Mylla brushed at the tears on her cheeks. “I could not live with myself knowing I could be the cause of your deaths.”

  “Only God controls what happens to us,” Emmaline said. “Wherever our path leads after this day, the rest of us will face it together as a family. Talan is your family now, and your future. Do not keep him waiting.”

  “Mylla,” Leofrick said. “You must not tarry lest you lose the only chance you are likely to have.”

  “Do not ask us to send you to an early death,” Emmaline added. “For in truth, being married to such a man will surely break your spirit which amounts to the same thing. Your father and brothers are intelligent men. I am sure they will come up with something to assuage the justice.”

  “Is it true?” Mylla looked from Leofrick to Emmaline. “Do you truly believe he can be assuaged?”

  “Give us a little credit.” Leofrick nudged her. “Even Edmund will have to go along with any plan we devise now that mother is involved.”

  “What could you possibly say that the justice will believe?”

  “Have faith in us.” Leofrick picked up the satchel. “Talan awaits you.”

  “Your brother is right, you must go now,” Emmaline said.

  Resolved, Mylla inhaled a steadying breath. “All I have to do is dress.”

  “I shall await you below,” Leofrick said. “Have a care of the noise you make on the steps lest you wake Edmund.” His look was tender when he turned to his mother. “I would return to father lest your absence wakes him.”

  “After I bid adieu to my daughter,” Emmaline’s voice wavered slightly. “Once she and Talan are on their way, return to the inn. The staff is loyal to Lecie. They will attest to the fact that you never left. Inform Winifred of our plan and she will handle the rest.”

  “When do we tell father?”

  “I shall confide all when he wakes, and shortly thereafter you will tell him why you found this drastic course of action necessary.”

  After Leofrick left them, Mylla quickly dressed. Managing to bind her hair into a loose braid, she inhaled a steadying breath. “I am ready, Ma.”

  “Do you intend to wander the countryside bare of foot?” Emmaline pulled Mylla’s heavy brown cloak and soft leather riding boots from the wardrobe. Passing the boots to her daughter, she listened by the door for any sign of disturbance.

  Mylla’s voice shook when she finished and stood to draw her mother into a final embrace. “I am so afraid for us all.”

  “You must have faith that all will be well.” Holding her daughter tight for a long moment, Emmaline released her. “God go with you always. If we do not meet again in this life, we shall surely meet in the next.”

  “I love you.” Hot tears slipped down Mylla’s ashen cheeks.

  “And I love you, so very much.” Emmaline stepped back with glistening eyes. “Go now.” She waited for Mylla to make it down the steps before returning to the chamber where her husband lay sleeping. Slipping off her robe, she slid beneath the cold sheets to curl on her side away from Richard. A soft gasp escaped her wh
en he lightly touched her shoulder.

  “Has she departed then?”

  Emmaline rolled to face her husband. “Are you vexed with me for going behind your back?”

  “Nay, Em.” Richard lightly caressed his wife’s cheek. “Truth to tell, I should be thanking you and Leofrick for doing what I failed to do. My only regret is that I could not bring myself to bid my daughter a final farewell.”

  “Leo spoke of a plan, yet I am worried for our family. What is to happen to us, Richard?”

  “Do not distress yourself. We will plot something with our sons in the morning.” Kissing his wife’s cheek, Richard’s gaze moved to the window. “Get some rest. I have a feeling it is going to be a long day.”

  Chapter Six

  Mylla hazarded one last look around the only home she had ever known. She paused with her hand on the latch worrying once again what her actions would mean for her family. Hearing the soft neigh of a horse, she pulled the door open to quietly slip outside.

  She could make out Talan’s outline where he waited beside a small brown mare with a sidesaddle cinched to it. Mylla’s misgivings warred with her delight at seeing him again. Rushing into his arms she held onto him until he gently applied pressure to break her hold. “I shall explain everything once we are safely away.”

  Fingering his smooth shaven jaw, her hand trembled. “If I go with you the justice will have you slain.”

  “He will have to catch me first.”

  “Us,” she said. “He will have to catch us.”

  “There will be plenty of time to talk through such things later,” Leofrick softly interrupted. “You can tarry here no longer.” Lifting Mylla into a tight embrace, he released her to kiss both of her cheeks. “Talan knows how to get word to us. Be happy, La-La.”

  Mylla could only nod through her tears.

  Leofrick lifted her into the mare’s sidesaddle. “Hook your knee around the pommel and grip the reins firmly. Go with the motion of the horse until you are comfortable in the seat.”

  “Thank you, Leofrick.” Talan effortlessly vaulted into the saddle of his black destrier. “I will send word to you once we reach the abbey. After that, whenever I can.”

  “I leave her in your able hands,” Leofrick said. “God be with you both.”

  With a worried glance back at Mylla, Talan reined his horse around to await her.

  Mylla’s gaze was drawn to the upper floor when a shutter swung outward. Richard leaned out to toss something heavy at Leofrick’s feet. Briefly locking on his daughter’s silhouette, he raised a hand to cover his heart. Without a word, he retreated back inside to pull the shutter closed.

  Leofrick searched out the large velvet pouch of coins to pass it up to Talan. “I assume it is my sister’s dowaire.”

  Talan accepted the pouch so as not to offer insult. “Tell your father I will protect her with my life.”

  “If he did not already know that, we would not now be here.” Leofrick slapped the horse’s rump. “Go now. You are losing the safety of darkness.”

  “Farewell, Leo,” Mylla whispered. “I have faith in you.” With a kick of her heel, she followed in Talan’s wake.

  The thick stands of trees lining the river gradually switched to the saplings and offshoots created by coppicing. With so many trees being used for building and fuel the method was created by the village to replace what had been taken.

  Consumed with worry, Mylla heeled her horse into a reckless gallop briefly passing Talan. No match for the longer stride of his destrier, he easily caught up to her. He expertly guided his battle-trained destrier closer to the mare’s flank. In one swift motion, he stood in his stirrups to lift Mylla clear off her sidesaddle to sit between his thighs. Tying the mare’s reins to the back of his saddle, he slowed his horse to a more leisurely gait. “You are overwhelmed by recent events,” he said holding her close against his chest. “Take deep breaths to calm yourself.”

  Safe in his protective embrace, Mylla wrapped her arms around Talan’s waist. “I cannot bear the thought of losing you.”

  “Do you trust me?” Talan asked softly.

  “With all that I am.”

  “Then fear not,” he said. “Leofrick and I have worked out a route which will lead us well away from the justice’s reach.”

  The sky gradually lightened as they rode west along the curve of the river Medway. Rochester was well behind them when the sun began to make its appearance on the horizon with varying shades of bright orange, red, and magenta.

  Riding in silence for some time, Mylla reached up to touch Talan’s cheek. “Will you share the plan with me?”

  “I will share everything with you, Mylla.”

  “You will?”

  “Why would I not?” Talan smiled at her look of surprise. “From this moment forward, everything I do will involve you.”

  “Thank you.” Relaxing against him, Mylla rested her cheek against his shoulder. “I did not expect to be treated like your equal.”

  “You are my equal in every way, mon coeur.” Gently kissing the top of her head, he inhaled the rose scent of her flaxen hair. “Would you like to know where we are going?”

  “Aye, I would,” she said. “All I know is that we are heading south.”

  “We will continue to ride south until we reach the town of Chertsey. There we will take time to refresh ourselves. We will then ride until nightfall to an abbey currently under construction in the village of Reading. King Henry had it commissioned not so long ago. The master builder overseeing the construction on the tower often spoke of it when he visited Rochester. We will blend with the itinerant workers encamped there so we can rest and send work back to your family.”

  “Would not the justice expect us to send messages to our families?”

  “It has been arranged for me to send messages to Winifred at The Wounded Stag,” Talan said. “She will deliver word to Leofrick when it is safe to do so.”

  “What about your family?” Mylla asked.

  “Tis best for everyone involved if I cut all ties with them,” he said after a long silence.

  “Talan.” Tears filled Mylla’s eyes. “Is there no other way?”

  “I will not be used as a weapon by de Glanville to hurt my family, Mylla.” Tracing the line of her jaw, he lightly kissed her. “Please do not be sad. I am where I most wish to be and they will understand.”

  “It appears you have thought of everything.” Mylla once again rested against him.

  “Your brother and I have worked out the entire journey.”

  “Where do we go once we depart the abbey?”

  “We will make stops in Avebury, and Aust where we will hire a ferry to cross the Severn into Wales,” Talan said. “Our final destination is to the west in Aberdovey on Cardigan Bay.”

  “Wales,” Mylla said softly. “It is so far from our home. Do you know anyone there?”

  “Nay, I do not. It is isolated which is why I chose it.”

  “You believe we will be safe there?”

  “If I thought otherwise, I would take you elsewhere,” Talan said. “It will be rough going until I can build us a suitable shelter but there is game in the woods, and fish in the sea. We shall not go hungry.”

  “I would dwell with you in a cave so long as we are safe and together.” Cupping Talan’s cheek, Mylla kissed the day old stubble on his cheek. “Did you shave it to disguise yourself?”

  “Do you favor me with or without it?” Capturing her hand, he brought it to his lips.

  “It makes no difference to me,” she said. “I love you.”

  Pulling her tight against his chest he kissed her, his hand snaking up to cradle the back of her head to lay claim to her body and soul.

  Afraid to surpass the limits of his control, Talan broke the kiss when she molded her body against his instinctively seeking more. Halting his horse, he slid from its back to lift Mylla down. “I think it best if you were to ride on your own for a while.” He kept his gaze averted by busying himself with
untethering her horse. “We need to quicken our pace.”

  Still reeling from the kiss, Mylla touched her lips with a look of wonder.

  “Come,” he said, extending his hand to her. “I shall assist you.”

  Lightly placing her hand in his, she stepped up to her mare. “How come you have never afore kissed me like that?”

  Talan dropped his hand searching for something to say. In the past, it was his honor that held him back. He wanted to wait until they were wed. After the justice had asserted his will and laid claim to her hand, he could not dishonor her in such a way. “I suppose I am more of the old ways than I thought,” he finally said.

  “You mean you are hesitant because we are not wed?”

  “Aye,” Talan said, “contrary to what Edmund thinks, I would make you my wife afore taking such liberties.”

  “It is not necessary,” Mylla said. “A priest’s blessing will not change how I feel about you.”

  Kissing her tenderly on the lips, Talan released her with an agonized look. “Please do not tempt me. I have reached the limit of my restraint.”

  “You are so honorable.” Reaching for the mare’s reins, she peered at Talan over her shoulder with a mischievous smile. “We shall revisit the matter another time.”

  The sun had fully risen when they stopped by a stream to rest the horses. Hours outside of Rochester, the rutted earthen road became lined by thick forests of yew, ash, beech, oak, and elm trees.

  Mylla unclasped her cloak to pack it in her satchel. “I believe the day is going to be tepid for a change.”

  Talan skimmed the blue sky dotted with cumulus clouds. “God has indeed blessed us with a fine day. It is a good omen.”

  “Do you believe in signs?” Mylla asked.

  “I have always believed what we put into the world has a way of coming back to us.” Talan’s look was solemn. “I knew it was wrong, yet even had you not chosen to be with me, I could not have allowed the justice to have you.”

  “Then put your mind at ease,” Mylla said. “I would say the heavens have agreed with your decision.”