“Dutton, he grows heavy, we need to rest for the night,” one of the foot soldiers called out.
“Another league and we’ll be able to rest,” Dutton responded.
“Someone else needs to carry him,” another bearer said. “My shoulder aches.”
“Do I hear complaints?” Sedgewick shouted from a slight distance.
“Nay, Sir Sedgewick,” a foot soldier said.
“You address him as a knight?” Garrick asked the man who’d spoken.
“He is a banneret,” the soldier answered.
Garrick laughed. Zotikos had granted Sedgewick the means to exact vengeance by teasing him with power and position. The simpkin likely believed he’d been knighted and became a banneret as a result.
“Sedgewick Haywood is not knighted,” Garrick stated. “He’s a master at trickery who preys on unsuspecting townships and villages for coin.”
One of the men carrying the cage scoffed and shifted his shoulder. “How can you speak of a man who’d nearly died at Castillon?” he demanded.
“I wonder how many lies you’ll hear before listening to the truth,” Garrick said.
Far ahead, Zotikos signaled his followers to halt. “Continue to address my men or your wife, Danford, and I will make you regret it.”
“How strange,” a guard murmured to the one closest.
“What’s strange?” another asked.
“The prisoner spoke quietly. How did the Baron hear?”
Garrick stayed silent. He’d sown the seeds of doubt, now he’d wait for them to grow.
Concerned for Aisley, Garrick nearly missed the distant thunder of horses. A rider alerted the line a moment later. “Riders come from the east.”
“Riders come from Welford,” someone said.
“Bloody hell!” Zotikos cursed. “What does she think she’s doing?”
Garrick scented a lady’s perfume, myrrh. Zotikos’ wife approached.
Shortly, a woman came toward them on a palfrey. Two guards rode on either side of her. He’d never seen the woman before, but he remembered her scent from the day he’d gone after Aisley.
“Halt,” Zotikos ordered. “We will rest here.”
“You are gracious, milord,” an unknown soldier exclaimed.
Finally, Garrick’s cage was lowered. The carriers, large men all, rolled their shoulders in relief.
“You’re heavy,” one man told Garrick.
“Dutton, George, set guards to watch Danford and his wife,” Zotikos said.
Willing to take time for much needed rest, Garrick lowered to the cage floor. His chance for escape was near.
Still at a slight distance, Zotikos handed Aisley down to one of the guards and vaulted from his mount. Edwina and her guardians had slowed, she in the fore.
“Edwina, what brings you from Welford?”
“I had to come, m’lord. I had to know if you caught the one responsible for stealing our child.”
“You knew I wouldn’t fail.”
“Without you near, I grew worried,” Edwina revealed, her voice trembling as the guards assisted her from the palfrey. “John, why were you holding the witch so close?”
“Are you questioning me?” Zotikos demanded.
“I question your affection for a witch!” Without warning, Edwina lunged toward Aisley.
“Aisley!” Garrick shouted.
Zotikos stepped in Edwina’s path. “Mind your place, wife,” he rebuked, backhanding her with a resounding thwack.
From the ground, Edwina cried. “You promised you’d never strike me.”
“You provoked my hand!”
“Forgive me, m’lord,” she now begged, cowering away.
“Stand up, woman. We’ll speak of this in private.” Zotikos dragged Edwina to her feet and pulled her away from the masses.
Ignoring the skirmish, Haywood walked toward a small cluster of trees and brush.
George and Dutton kept Aisley in their grips. “Hmmph,” she murmured through her gag.
“Sit, healer. I’ll find something for you to drink,” Dutton offered, pushing her to her knees and removing her gag.
“Mayhap we should bind her more thoroughly?” George suggested.
“It won’t be needed. The Countess is as helpless in her shackles as Danford is in his cage.”
“Do you not find it strange that they have an aversion to gold?”
“Nay, it is the price they pay for their sins,” Dutton remarked.
“Then I will call someone to watch over the witch,” George decided, straightening. “I need to relieve myself.”
“Johnson, come and watch the woman,” Dutton instructed, walking off.
Immediately, a foot soldier headed toward Aisley. Passing George, Johnson bowed in respect to the much taller, larger soldier. Given George’s heavier armor and helm, he was a man of high rank in Baron Welford’s guard.
Unable to stay silent, Garrick spoke softly to his wife. “Aisley, if you can hear me speak quietly.”
“I hear you, Garrick. Are you all right?” she whispered.
“Aye, little one, but my men were killed. There will be much sadness in Danford when we return.”
“I’m so sorry. I feared something like that had happened.” Aisley spoke as Garrick directed, but wisely kept her gaze averted and her head down. Johnson stood at a slight distance from her, yet he didn’t seem to hear. “I didn’t mean to get caught, Garrick. I wanted to aid you.”
“When we’re safe, we will address your decision to come,” Garrick said. “Now tell me how weak you are.”
“As weak as you,” she admitted.
“Had you felt so before leaving Danford?”
“Aye, I didn’t let anyone know. The guards would have stopped me. As a result, I am to blame for Andrew and Burkett’s capture.”
Surprised because he’d not thought to look for anyone from Danford, Garrick fought back a grumble. “Do not blame yourself. We’ll get them back to Danford.”
“I believe we will. You should know that I chose to bring the villagers with me because I didn’t want to leave Angelica or the manor vulnerable to attack. I also ordered guards to find Brandon.”
Proud, Garrick buried a smile. “You did well, my lady.”
“There’s more,” she said, too loudly, for Johnson faced her.
“Who do you speak to, witch?”
“No one,” she answered.
“Then keep your mouth closed or I will replace the gag.”
“Johnson, speak not to the prisoner. She might place a curse on you,” a soldier warned.
“I cannot place curses,” Aisley insisted, receiving a slap for her effort.
“I will kill you for that, Johnson,” Garrick promised. No one had the right to touch her, causing her pain was unforgivable.
“George, finish your business and return to your station,” Dutton bellowed. He’d returned from his errand with a leather flask and offered it to Aisley. “Here, it’s mead.” Wearily, she sniffed at the contents and took a small sip.
Shortly after being called, George strolled around the bushes, securing laces beneath the mail covering his waist and still wearing his armor and helm. Something in the soldier’s stride had changed. At first glance, Garrick could not be certain what it was.
A scent nearly as familiar as almonds caught Garrick unawares. Nay, it wasn’t possible. Due to Lucien’s liking of incense, his son, Valiant, had taken up the habit of burning the sweet-smelling substance in his quarters.
Garrick watched as George walked by his fellow guards and stopped before Aisley. “Go,” the man ordered Johnson.
“Aye, milord,” Johnson agreed and moved away.
Johnson rejoined the men responsible for guarding the cage. “Always strutting about in his armor and helm,” he said. “George is beginning to think he’s as important to the Baron as Haywood and Dutton’s swords.”
“Haywood claims to be good with a sword?” Garrick inquired.
“I wasn’t speaking to you
,” Johnson sneered.
Garrick shrugged indifferently. “Ah, Dutton is the knight you admire.”
“He’s brilliant in battle. I watched him behead many Frenchmen.”
“Success in war is not always marked by the numbers you kill.”
“Save your speech. You’ll need it for the trial.” Johnson turned and took a seat with his fellow foot soldiers.
Garrick returned to his vigil over Aisley. Dutton had gone off, leaving Aisley alone with George. Once again, incense caught his attention. But beneath it was something else, something detectable only by another panthera Abcynian. It was the scent of a lion. Aisley was conversing with a young male lion.
Garrick hid his relief when Valiant, disguised as George, mumbled something unintelligible and patted the hilt of his sword, causing Aisley to turn away, as if in fear.
Dutton returned, eating a hunk of white bread. “George, you should have some of this bread. Since opening the kitchens to us, the Baron supplies only the finest foods. No more dark bread for us.”
“He might get white bread. We’re still getting dark bread and porridge,” Johnson complained.
“At least you’re fed. My wife was offered a sip of mead, but we’re both weak. Can’t we have something to eat?” Garrick asked.
“The condemned don’t need to eat.”
“Aye, food will be wasted,” another man said.
“Welford is two days away. Surely you wouldn’t be so cruel as to starve us?”
“You’re a werewolf. You’ve likely hunted for your meal before leaving Danford.”
Feigning frustration, Garrick grumbled aloud. “I am not a werewolf!”
“Your freckled wife is witch,” Johnson accused. “We know she lured you into marriage and cursed you into becoming a beast.”
“Ah, I see. The Baron has fed you too many lies. You believe us to be practicing all manner of evil, yet we’ve done nothing to harm anyone.”
“The Baroness claims you stole her child.”
“Lady Danford and I rescued an unfortunate girl from a cage much like this one. Haywood was using her misfortune to earn coin, painting her as the child of a werewolf. I tell you, if the Baroness was so worried about her child, why did she sell her to Sedgewick Haywood?” Continuing to feed the soldiers’ doubts, Garrick spied his efforts taking root. “Edwina couldn’t be the girl’s mother. I doubt she remembers her name.”
“Edwina?” one man repeated. “There was an Edwina working in the local tavern. She was a kitchen maid, I think.”
“Couldn’t be her,” Johnson insisted.
“You men, cease talking to the prisoner,” Sedgewick warned, having returned to the makeshift encampment. “He’ll feed you lies.”
“Sedgewick, with all the men scurrying about to relieve themselves, I am in need myself,” Aisley said.
“George, escort her to the trees,” Haywood granted.
Aisley offered her elbow to her guard. “I can barely stand, George. Can you remove these shackles temporarily?”
“Nay, she’ll flee if she has the chance,” Dutton answered for Haywood.
“You have my word, I’ll never leave my husband while he’s caged like that,” Aisley promised.
“All right,” Sedgewick granted. “George, here are the keys.” Tossing them to the armored man, he turned away.
Aisley’s wrists were freed. Garrick knew her weakness remained.
“George, lift her if you must.”
“Aye, George, carry her to the trees. Remind her of what a man can do,” Johnson provoked.
Instinctively, Garrick roared, not caring if he was heard. Johnson was fast becoming prey.
“The beast is angry,” a foot soldier warned.
“Silence!” Sedgewick ordered.
Momentarily, the men quieted as Aisley was carried out of sight.
Far enough from camp, she spoke in a tone only his leopard’s ears could hear. “Garrick, your instincts are right. My escort is who you think.”
Garrick answered in the same tone. “I know.”
“How is it I can use the senses of the leopard, but feel so weak?”
“The gold hinders our Abcynian gifts and renders us weak. It has little effect on the panthera. That is why you became weak before the shackles were placed on your wrists. Your leopard’s senses enabled you to feel what was happening to me.”
“I see,” Aisley said. “As much as I hate being weak, at least I know we’re in this thing together. When I return, I’ll create a distraction. Mayhap I should scare the horses?”
“Haywood and Zotikos know the trick. They’re prepared,” he said.
“Then I’ll think of something else.”
“You should quit talking, milady, even softly,” he heard Valiant warn.
Aisley fell silent, rightly obeying the squire’s warning.
Garrick stayed calm as he waited for Valiant and Aisley to return. When they reappeared, Aisley was being carried once again. Closer to the campsite, Valiant lowered her to the ground and aided her to walk.
A feminine plea pulled the soldiers eyes from Aisley. “I vow I shall never question you again, m’lord.”
“You’d better not, wife, or you’ll answer to my hand.”
Edwina and Zotikos’ return lured Garrick’s guards away, allowing Valiant to lead Aisley by the cage. The foot soldiers nearby scattered a bit, clearly afraid of her even though she’d done nothing to deserve their fear.
Finding her chance, Aisley kicked out at Valiant and he loosened his grip long enough to make it look as if she’d freed herself. “Garrick, what’s to happen to us?” she cried out, letting her weakened body fall toward the cage.
“Get her away from him,” Sedgewick commanded.
“It’s all right, Aisley. All will be fine,” Garrick soothed so all could hear, shifting to catch her hands when she grasped the cage. A sword blocked his chance to touch her, coming close to nicking his hand.
“Nay, do not harm him,” Aisley begged of Valiant in disguise. Garrick swallowed a roar when he saw it was his squire who wielded the sword.
“Bring her here,” Zotikos directed.
“Sorry, milord,” Valiant grumbled, hiding his baritone voice.
A little too roughly, Valiant returned Aisley to the center of the encampment. While she’d been gone, a fire had been built and soldiers were consuming white or dark bread and mead. They were oblivious to the danger that resided right in their midst and Garrick prayed that Valiant would have the patience to wait before revealing his identity.
“Do that again, healer, and I shall order your guards to their death,” Zotikos warned. Garrick looked over at two men who’d been gagged and bound, recognizing them as Andrew White and Daniel Burkett.
“I’ll behave. Here,” she said.
Boldly, she lifted her hands for Valiant to clamp the gold manacles about her wrists and lock them with a key. It took several tries, as Valiant would be as hindered by the gold bindings as Aisley, but Garrick was pleased by Valiant’s tenacity in performing the task without drawing further attention to himself.
“Won’t you grant my men something to eat or drink, please?” Aisley requested.
“For aiding a witch, I think not,” Haywood denied.
“Do not mistreat them. They have done nothing but act as my escort.”
“Bring the Countess’ guards to the circle and give them some dark bread,” Zotikos agreed, surprising all.
The four foot soldiers hurried to do their master’s bidding. No one noticed Garrick reaching for the remaining keys lying next to the cage.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Aisley knew the moment Garrick found the key ring.
Praying she could continue to distract the men, she played on Zotikos’ willingness to care for Andrew and Daniel. Looking at her nemesis, she inclined her head.
“It was good of you to see to my men,” she said, silently pleased that the foot soldiers seemed more concerned with her than Garrick’s cage.
&n
bsp; “Don’t expect too many liberties. At the moment, I’m willing to promise your guards will be returned to Danford upon the conclusion of your trial.”
“Only because you want them to relay what’s happened to the Earl and Countess,” Sedgewick supplied.
“You speak rightly, Sir Sedgewick.”
“Sir Sedgewick?” Aisley repeated, staring at him.
Aye, he’d donned mail, sword and braes, but his lack of a true knight’s armor went unnoticed. Most of the trained or higher ranking soldiers donned full body armor. Only the foot soldiers wore the basics of defense.
“A banneret,” Sedgewick said.
“Do you not have a coat of arms?” she questioned.
The soldier she knew as Johnson stalked toward her. “Is your sight impaired? He wears achievements granted to him by Baron Welford.”
“He does?” She looked again. As she did, Zotikos murmured something in Sedgewick’s direction. “I see nothing but mail and braes.”
Zotikos scoffed aloud. “Dear lady, look again. Can you not see the verde background and sable chevron on his coat?”
Puzzled, Aisley stared at Sedgewick, seeing nothing of the kind, yet the soldiers believed he was armed.
Before long, however, most of the higher ranking guards had removed their armor and sported only tunics, mail and braes. Valiant remained covered. She worried over how long it would take for the men to question him and prayed he would continue the ruse long enough for Garrick to do what he needed to do to save them all.
“I suppose I have much to learn about knighthood,” Aisley admitted, looking over at Edwina.
Silent since returning, Edwina sat facing away from the men. She was hunched over, trembling and afraid.
“Lady Welford, I’m hungry. Bring me some bread and mead,” her husband directed.
“Aye, m’lord,” Edwina said, standing.
As Edwina walked, Aisley ignored her own weakness and studied the other woman. Edwina moved with a slight limp. She’d turned to the fire and the light reflected the nasty swelling upon her cheek.
Edwina returned with bread and mead, handed it to Zotikos and cowered away. None of the men noticed her fear and Aisley felt a twinge of pity.
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