by Rizzo Rosko
The ice in his eyes trickled down her body, and she shivered with fear.
He could not possibly know. His actions hinted yet denied any knowledge at the same time, confusing Eliza's perception of things. She swallowed and shook her head once more. "Perhaps 'tis merely the weather that has been making me seem out of place with ye. It has been raining quite a bit."
He released her, warmth spread through her arms as her blood flowed once more, but his stare put her blood at a standstill. "Aye, the rains seemed to have taken a permanent residency over this castle ever since those fools arrived."
She blinked at the insult. "Ye do not like them?" ‘Twas the first time he had ever outright said it.
He had sat surveying them with his arms folded at every meal, stealing glances at her and Edward whenever he thought she did not notice. "Is it because of when Edward disappeared? They did not harm him."
"Ye defend them?"
"Nay. I am merely questioning yer sanity." Loving the one moment and a man of stone the next.
Blaise chuckled and shook his head. "Milady, I need no reason to distrust, or dislike anyone. If I decide to not enjoy the company of a particular individual, whether they be gentry or peasantry, 'tis no business of yers."
Eliza despised the cold stare he gave her. She did not wish to think of it, but perhaps he grew weary of her like some husbands did with their wives. He spoke of James' and Olma's infatuation as rubbish because Olma had naught do give to James.
He said otherwise, but she needed to know for certain. "Do ye have any regrets of our marriage?"
He stared at her and said nothing. His silence was like the blow of his fists that he did not deliver earlier. She sniffed as her throat swelled, more tears threatened to deepen the tracks the previous ones had created.
"I see.” She sniffed. “If ye have grown tired of me already, then ‘tis my own fault I suppose.
His eyes widened, the tension lowered his tight shoulders.
“I still love ye," she said.
His solid arms wound around her, pulling her close. She softened against his body, finally sensing some of the compassion and love that he had been denying her for weeks. His lips touched her hair. "I am sorry, my love. I did not mean to cause ye any upset."
***
If she was lying to him, then she was the most talented at creating falsehoods than anyone he had ever met.
He at first thought she meant to confess when she claimed that his lack of attention to her was her own fault, but then she declared her love with watering eyes. ‘Twas his undoing.
God's teeth, he loved the woman, but her insistence on hiding the truth grated on his nerves and created a piercing suspicion he could not handle. Why did she not simply admit to her crime? Why did she test his patience by hiding it?
He offered her a chance at every turn to tell the truth, promising his love and her safety, yet she said naught of her schemes with those men.
Blaise could admit that he had difficulty trusting other people, but the fact that his wife, who claimed to love and cherish him above all others, seemed to have no faith in him, tested his already crumbling patience.
She snuggled him and held her arms tight around his chest, allowing him to pat her thick curls. He looked down and found her smiling against his chest in contentment.
He could not seem to find the anger that had been the cause to their argument. Indeed, now all that remained was his too soft heart. "I suspect that ye plan to fall asleep against me."
She nodded and mumbled. "I have been so exhausted. I can barely stand."
He did seem to be supporting most of her weight. Did her exhaustion stem from her lies to him? Or perhaps her efforts to avoid the three men who obviously frightened her? Both seemed as bad as the other.
Blaise decided not to push her any further today. He took her shoulders and spun her without any resisting effort, and pushed her down the corridor.
"What are ye doing?" She asked.
"Taking ye back to our chamber. If ye are not well ye are to be in bed until whatever it is that ails ye is gone."
"It shall never leave," she muttered.
We shall see about that. He thought
***
After putting Eliza to bed Blaise marched out to the courtyard. The meal in the Great Hall had finished by now and he knew his father would likely be outside.
Just beside the stables his father stood by himself. Blaise was shocked to see him without Bryce, Hugh, or even Nicholas by his side. Though, Nicholas was surely still moping in the Great Hall, trying to think of a way to have his daughter forgive him for his harsh words so that she would at least speak with him.
"Where are they?" He asked when he made it to his side.
William motioned his head towards the front of the stables. "There, my men seem keen on showing up the larger man. They will not give up until someone comes out of a fight as the victor."
Blaise looked up. Ivan wrestled with James while the men around cheered and bet their gold on who would be the winner of their contest.
While before the larger man threw around his challengers with ease, James’ quick ducking and weaving allowed him to attack with the club he held while staying out of Ivan’s long reach.
"I meant Bryce, Hugh, or Nicholas, but 'tis good knowing where they are as well." Blaise muttered just as James was finally caught and tossed aside like a child. To his credit, the man got back to his wobbling feet before charging at his unmovable opponent.
"Hugh is with Marianne, and since Edward is at an age where he does not wish to constantly be with his mother, Bryce offered to keep an eye on him should he try to disappear once more. I trust they will be protected while these men are in my castle," he muttered, sending a meaningful sidelong glance to Blaise. "Are ye any closer to getting them out?"
Blaise twisted his head to look at his father. "Tonight shall be their last night here. I grow just as weary of Eliza's lies as ye do of the presence of these men."
William nodded and went back to watching the fight. James swung his elbow, hitting his mark which was the nose of the giant he fought. The men in the circle surrounding them jumped and cheered.
Blaise caught sight of Albin and Colin, both of whom were frowning, as though they hadn't expected James to get such a hit in. The frowns on their faces spoke of worry, and Blaise wondered how much gold they would lose should James win the battle.
He inwardly cheered for the man.
Ivan threw out his boulder fist, catching James in the face and sending him flying backwards.
He did not rise to his feet this time.
The other knights left their cheering positions and swarmed around their fallen comrade. Blaise ran through the crowd, shoving until he knelt at the center. James’ eyes were shut and face swollen with the beating he'd taken.
"He'll be fine."
Blaise had not heard his father following him. He searched for whatever had given the man a clue towards James' condition and found it in the rise and fall of his chest.
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Get him inside." He ordered.
Two men came forward, one grabbed James by his shoulders, the other by his legs. They lifted him and took him away from the fighting circle.
Blaise stood. Ivan righted his giant nose with a sickening crack using his thumbs, while Colin's pockmarked face twisted with joy as he collected the coins from their victory.
Blaise's blood boiled. He’d had enough. He'd given Eliza plenty of time to confess and she hadn't, and all the while these men lived and made profits where they were not welcome!
"Blaise! What are ye doing?"
Blaise ignored the call of his father and continued his march towards the men who laughed while counting their coins. "Ye there! Giant! I challenge ye!"
Ivan stared up at him in astonishment. His head turned towards Albin, as though searching for the proper answer.
His leader stood up and bowed before addressing Blaise. "Milord, I know a victory seems within yer
reach now that Ivan has been tired out by yer other man, but I assure ye that challenging him will only lead to defeat. Please, turn back and reconsider."
Blaise recognised the poorly concealed insult and then considered having the man beaten for it, but no, it would wait until the right moment.
"And let me assure ye, that I am not making this challenge because I believe I will win solely on the grounds that yer man has just fought. I have seen him fight five of my own men one after another and still come out the victor. I know he is up for the challenge, and since 'tis only possible that a coward who sneaks up from behind may win against me, I am certain that I shall be the victor of this match."
Albin's eyes turned into round orbs at Blaise's words, clearly recognising what Blaise had not come out and said. Colin sputtered, and the little man's legs shook as though he were fighting to keep from pissing himself. The coins dropped from his hands but he did not bend to retrieve them.
Albin's mouth opened, presumably to deny what Blaise had just implied. He must have thought better of it since he closed his mouth again.
Blaise did not blame him. To deny anything would be admitting to knowing what Blaise spoke of, and to say naught at all was also admitting to having some part in Blaise's attack. There was no way the three men could answer without convicting themselves.
Albin jerked his head towards Ivan, his soft voice became as harsh as rocks grating against each other. "Get up and show his lordship yer skills."
The crowd re-gathered in a circle around them to witness the new fight, though they seemed far more eager than before now that the young lord of the castle rose to the challenge.
Blaise hardly noticed them, however, as Ivan rose to his feet, standing a good head and a half taller than Blaise, and at least twice as thick.
Blaise's arm was jerked back, and he found himself facing the angry stare of his father. "Are ye looking to make a fool of yerself?"
Blaise carefuly extracted his arm from William's grip. He smiled easily. "I shall win this, and have them gone immediately after. I won't have them taking the money of the men who rightly belong."
"And, should ye be carried out like James?"
"That will not happen."
A war cry thundered behind him like a storm as Ivan charged. Blaise ducked out of the way, feeling the air swoosh behind him where those huge arms soared passed in an attempt to grab him.
The crowd of men and knights cheered with renewed excitement and cried out. Certainly bets being made once more, only Blaise didn't mind this time because he would be the one who came out on top.
He crouched low, bending his knees and launched himself out of the way when the giant man charged at him again like a wild horse.
"Be still!" Ivan growled.
"'Tis no fault of mine ye are slow!" No, no fault at all now that Blaise had seen, thanks to James, that the giant was weak against quick feet.
Ivan charged again. Blaise saw the red in his eyes and used his rage against him. He jumped out of the way again, but did not put as much force into his leap as before, leaving his legs in the path of the raging animal.
Ivan stumbled over Blaise's feet. For a falcon’s breath of a second, Blaise feared the small attack would not be enough to bring down the man. Finally, he fell over like a cut tree.
Blaise scrambled quickly, jumping on top of Ivan's back before the ogre of a man could rise to his feet and charge again.
He twisted his arm around the thick neck beneath him, and locked his hands together so that they would not come apart.
The neck beneath him tightened as Ivan struggled for air. Blaise braced himself as the hulking man beneath him panicked and flew onto his back, pounding his weight into the ground beneath him in an attempt to jar Blaise loose.
He was being attacked from both sides. The pounding of the earth on his back and the weight of the man smashing down against his chest. The air was sucked from Blaise’s lungs and he grit his teeth.
Blaise refused to release his hold despite the jolting pain in his back as Ivan slammed himself again and again in the dirt, attempting to knock Blaise off. Blaise’s mending knuckles burst, but they remained strong and tight under his command. He refused to release the man above him.
The cheering of the knights around him turned into ringing as his ears ceased to work. A cracking in his ribs brought an explosion of pain that blinded his eyes with white.
He tightened his arms around the meaty neck. He would not be had by these men. He would not allow them to make a fool of him any longer!
Finally the heavy body on top of him slowed its thrashing before it ceased altogether and began to twitch instead.
Blaise would not allow himself to be tricked. He waited until the twitching ceased, then waited a moment more before thrusting the heavy rock-like body off of him with an anguished gasp of relief. Blaise sucked in air as though ‘twas the first time he ever breathed.
The moment he was relieved of the weight, another knocked the wind from him and blinded him with pain from the pressure against his assaulted ribs.
"Ye fool! Utter fool!"
'Twas Eliza who put pressure on his cracked ribs. What was she doing here?
She grabbed him by his tunic and shook. "He could have killed ye!"
With the last of his strength in his aching arms, he thrust her off of himself and fought his burning muscles to sit up. "He needed to be taught a lesson. I thought I left ye in our chambers."
"I heard the men. They ran up and down the castle screaming that ye were fighting the giant!"
He stared at her incredulously. "Ye worried for my life, and yet it never caused ye any loss of sleep that my men were fighting him."
Her face darkened and she turned away. He growled.
"She is correct. 'Twas foolish of ye to challenge him." William stated, kneeling down to inspect the damage. Blaise grimaced when William touched his chest. "Are ye injured?"
"My sides will heal once they are allowed to rest. Help me to stand, Eliza."
She rushed to pull him to his feet, allowing him to lean against her.
"Is he dead?" She asked, staring in awe at the giant form on the ground. Albin and Colin were kneeling with him, attempting to revive their comrade my slapping his face and pouring ale down his throat.
"He is lucky he is not dead, but he shall soon wish he was." Blaise said through clenched teeth.
Eliza stared at him in fearful curiosity. Albin and Colin raised themselves from their task to give him a similar stare.
"What do ye mean?" Eliza asked.
Blaise stared her in the eyes, his voice becoming hard. "My love, these are the men who attacked me and left me for dead." His eyes hardened. “Do ye not know that?”
Answer. Answer, damn ye!
"Take them away!" William's voice boomed. Immediately a herd of men swarmed around the three minstrels, grabbing them and hauling them out of the courtyard with ease since Ivan was unable to defend his friends.
While Albin did fight to escape the men who dragged him towards the castle, he was no match for the three men who had him. Colin put up no fight. He wept like a small child. Ivan had to be carried away by four men.
Eliza stared at Blaise with panicking horror, as though she expected him to send her away as well.
Blaise looked to his father, waiting for the man to say something.
William said nothing, and Blaise knew that his father spoke the truth when he said he would leave Eliza's fate to Blaise. She had one last chance.
Blaise smiled at her. "Come, my love, we have much to discuss."
Chapter Fourteen
Eliza eased Blaise into bed, pulling the covers back and positioning his pillows just so to be sure that his comfort was obtained. She ran to the pitcher of water and poured it into the basin. Wetting a rag, she approached him and gently lifted his tunic.
She hissed at the bruise she saw there.
"Does it pain ye?" She asked.
"Does it pain ye?" He replied.
> She stared at him, laughed nervously, then applied the damp cloth to the swelling area. He flinched once, then allowed her to continue soothing the heated muscles with the cool rag.
He stared at her as she worked. She wished he wouldn't do so. It put her on edge. Eliza cleared her throat.
"To think that those men were responsible for yer attack, and all the while they lived here."
"Aye, on yer insistence." His voice rang strong, and angry.
She could not bring herself to look him in the eyes. If he did not know then he certainly suspected. The suspicion angered him. "I apologize for that. It pains me to see ye in such a way over me."
"I am most certain that it does," he muttered.
Her hand clenched around the cool rag and trembled as she washed his deep bruise. She managed to bring her head up to look at him. The cold manner in which he spoke to her, his eyes glaring as though she were guilty, and yet he continued to say nothing of her guilt.
She rose from her place beside him. "Perhaps I should not be here, not until someone who has been trained properly has seen ye and ye are in better spirits."
Despite his weak appearance his hand snatched out to grab her, like a vicious animal trapping its prey. "Stay."
The chilled command halted every muscle, every movement she could have made. She could not leave his side, nor turn her head while her guilt hung thickly in the air. 'Twas as if he could smell it, and was savouring the scent as he drank in her discomfort.
"Sit down."
Her body obeyed. She bent her knees to sit on the bed, hot under his scrutiny. He snatched her hand into his uninjured one, his fingers curling about hers and holding it as though not to reassure, but to imprison.
She would go nowhere without his decision to release her.
Eliza could no longer deny that he knew. Not with his strange words and heated gaze. She forced her eyes to his and swam...nay, drowned in the fury she saw there. It lay just over top of the knowledge she pretended to not see for so long. “Ye know.”
He cocked his head. No shock widened his eyes or touched his mouth. “Know what, my love? Do tell me of this secret that ye keep.”