The Protector

by Madeline Hunter

  The white stallion walked forward into view. The woman riding it became visible. A breathless hush fell over the assembled soldiers. Morvan's own breathing almost stopped too.

  She looked like a gold and white goddess riding out of the mists of time. She sat on the stallion as straight-backed, dignified, and authoritative as ever. Her strength and nobility covered her like an invisible cloak, but in truth she wore little else. A golden band encircled her head, and a thin short shift, cinched at her waist with a golden cord, clung to her breasts and rode high on her thighs. The strap of her quiver crossed over her chest, outlining her body. Her loose hair was not yet long enough to cover those breasts and arms and spreading hips. Naked thighs and legs dangled down either side of the horse.

  Morvan had seen her completely unclothed many times, but even he was stunned by this confident, erotic image. This was not the same girl whom he had first kissed. This was an Anna fully aware of her desirability and willing to use its power. She frankly challenged every man to dare to want her and try for her.

  As she came closer the grooms turned to face the dais so as not to look at her. The stallions at the back of the herd began showing restless agitation.

  Her slow progress provided the distraction that they needed. Morvan was jolted out of his reverie by the cuts of Marguerite's blade on the ropes that bound his hands. From his right, he heard Louis mutter, “Holy Jesus.”

  Morvan gestured for Marguerite to cut the other men's ropes. “I think that the men loyal to me are supposed to look away, Louis.” He reached up and slipped the noose off his neck.

  “You wouldn't deny a condemned man a view of paradise, would you, my lord?” Louis asked sheepishly before he became aware of Marguerite's dagger behind him.

  The agitation of the stallions grew, spreading like a ripple in a lake. The horses around the dais became affected.

  Suddenly, the white stallion broke into a gallop. Anna charged at the stallions and then pivoted away, arching around to the left and heading directly at Gurwant. The stallions of La Roche de Roald followed her, and a herd of horses began stampeding toward the dais.

  Walter and the others held on to their mounts and rose to their saddles. Swords appeared from under flaps, and the knights allowed their horses to follow the others. Confusion broke out as the enemy tried to retain their panicking steeds. Gurwant turned, cold eyes hard with anger, and began pushing his way to the dais. And still Anna rode toward them, a bow in her hands now.

  Morvan jumped into the wagon. Gurwant ran toward him, battle-ax raised.

  An arrow thudded into the ground in front of his feet. Gurwant halted and turned in fury. Anna galloped past, turning in her saddle with another arrow aimed at her adversary's head. Morvan grabbed the sword and shield and held it aloft. She nodded and urged her horse onward, the trailing herd blocking Gurwant's movements more surely than the arrow had.

  Carlos had freed the wagon's horses. “The other one is for you,” he shouted as he swung up on one.

  “Get the child out,” Morvan yelled, but already Marguerite was jumping into Carlos's arms.

  “Louis, take the other horse. I will be better on foot,” Morvan commanded. He stood on the wagon, protecting Louis's retreat, and his other two men jumped to the ground and ran to the field north of the melee. Anna waited there, arrow ready, to cover the group scurrying to safety.

  The herd of horses caught the scent of their leader. They flowed toward him, taking some of the horses belonging to Haarold's men with them. From his perch on the wagon, Morvan could see the northern plain clearly. Anna raised her bow in salute, then turned her horse and headed toward Ascanio.

  Swords began to meet each other with ferocity. Walter and the other four were seriously outnumbered, but they were playing for time rather than fighting for their lives. There was an army nearby.

  Morvan knew that he should wait for it too. But Gurwant had found his horse and mounted and was coming toward him, battle-ax gripped in an outstretched arm. Jumping down from the wagon, Morvan faced the bulk of the destrier.

  The ax fell with a terrific force on Morvan's upraised shield, the impact bringing him to his knees beside the horse. He rolled toward the animal's rump, away from Gurwant's next blow. While his adversary strained to turn the animal, Morvan struck at thick legs with his sword. The huge weight of the destrier sagged to the ground.

  Cursing, Gurwant disentangled himself from the saddle and rose. He faced Morvan over the length of the fallen horse.

  Shouts went up and men began streaming away from the dais. Morvan did not take his eyes off Gurwant to look behind him, but he knew what he would see. The army had arrived.

  Morvan stepped away from the horse, and Gurwant did likewise. They faced each other in the open space in front of the scaffold. An eerie silence fell upon the plain, and Morvan glanced to the western hills. Strung out along its crest stood Anna's army, and at one end Anna herself, her body cloaked now, beside Ascanio and the stranger.

  Walter and the others circled around behind Gurwant. Morvan gestured for them to stay back.

  Gurwant glanced toward Anna and grinned. “She is one hell of a woman, isn't she?”

  “Aye, she is that,” Morvan said.

  “Brittany will ever regret that she didn't marry me and bear my sons.”

  “Brittany does not need such as you.”

  Gurwant made a taunting gesture with his ax. “Will you kill all the men who looked at her?”

  “Only the one who brought it on her.”

  “Perhaps not, Englishman. Your wife is not here to save you this time.”

  “Hope that I don't fail, Gurwant. If I do she will claim you for herself. Future generations will know you as the only Beaumanoir killed by a woman in battle.” He gestured for Walter. “Help him remove his armor.”

  “You are not so sure of your skill then?” Gurwant taunted.

  “I am sure. I just don't want to waste all morning killing you.”

  A horse approached while Walter helped Gurwant remove the plate. A man Morvan had never seen stopped his horse between them.

  Gurwant glanced up. “Greetings, cousin.”

  The stranger looked over the small assembly, pausing a moment to take Morvan's measure. “I am Robert de Beaumanoir. This is my kinsman.”

  “You brought the ransom, then. You will not leave empty-handed. He is yours, after we are done here. You can bring his body home,” Morvan said.

  Robert smirked sourly. “You are fortunate, Gurwant, that Sir Morvan fights you with honor. If this man hanged you on the gallows that you prepared for him, I would be hard pressed to object.”

  Gurwant shrugged. “It was a good plan. Who expected a woman and a girl to thwart it?”

  “Anyone who learned, as I have, what the woman and girl held against you.” He looked down at his kinsman. “Die well, cousin.”

  “I don't plan to die.”

  Robert glanced at Walter and the other mounted men, and then at the waiting army. “The how and when may not yet be written, but it is safe to say that you die this day.” He stepped his horse back.

  Morvan faced the western horizon, and fixed his gaze on Anna. He sent his heart and soul out to her and let himself bask in the warmth of their living bond. After a moment, she raised her arm, turned her horse, and disappeared down the back of the hill.

  He turned around and faced Gurwant.

  CHAPTER 25

  ANNA SAT AT A TABLE in the hall watching the closed solar door. By the time she arrived in the castle, Morvan and the vassals had already sequestered themselves inside that chamber with Haarold and Paul. She knew what was happening, just as she knew how it would end.

  She glanced down at her blue gown. Underneath she still wore the scandalous costume that had been part of her plan. She wondered what Morvan would say to her about that particular detail of his rescue. Actually, she wondered what he would say about all of it.

  He was alive and Gurwant was dead and nothing else should really matter,
she told herself. Eventually, however, he would begin assessing the risks and realize that she had taken tremendous chances. After the initial exhilaration of not dying wore off, how would he react?

  She was not surprised that he had not come for her immediately after dealing with Gurwant. She knew that his mind had been filled with what was occurring in the solar right now. An unpleasant judgment awaited him there, and she couldn't blame him for wanting to be done with it before any celebration or reunion took place.

  The mood in the crowded hall was very sober and the noise at a minimum. Everyone within the walls, victors and vanquished alike, waited in morbid fascination for the news that they all expected. Haarold had broken the most sacred oath a knight could give, the only one that most men really honored. In the world in which they lived, there was only one punishment to be expected, and the continued order of their world depended on its being meted out. The rule was very simple. If a man violated his fealty to his lord by bearing arms against him, he died.

  The door opened and Paul came out. Anna caught a glimpse of Morvan sitting in a chair, looking stern and resolute, before the door closed. Paul walked to a chamber off the long wall of the hall and entered it.

  A woman's wail pierced the quiet. The chamber door flew open and Gervaise rushed out, pushing aside her son's restraining arms, fighting to be released from his hold. She broke free and ran to the solar. Anna jumped up to try and catch her, but Gervaise plunged in, leaving Paul and Anna grabbing at air from the threshold.

  Gervaise ran to Morvan and threw herself on the floor, grabbing his legs and whispering entreaties. Anna could not hear what he said in return as he bent over her. Finally Haarold lifted her up and brought her over to the door. He kissed her gently, and handed her into Anna's arms.

  The door closed again, but it would not be long now.

  Gervaise insisted on sitting in the hall where she could see her husband emerge. She grabbed Anna's hands in her own, twisting them all together on her lap. “He has disseized the estate,” she whispered hoarsely. “We have been here almost as long as your family has held La Roche de Roald.”

  It was the least that they should have expected. A traitorous vassal does not keep his lands.

  “Your son will not be harmed, though,” Anna tried to console her. It had been the offer to spare the son that had gotten Haarold to surrender.

  “He must leave by nightfall. Your husband said he could take only his weapons, armor, and horse.”

  Anna thought that was generous. It left Paul ready to take service at least, and not impoverished. Still, for Gervaise's sake, she would find a way to slip Paul a few coins.

  “They are going to execute him. A sword to the neck. He doesn't even get to meet someone in combat and die honorably.”

  Anna didn't know what to say. Gervaise gripped her hands harder. “Morvan would listen to you,” she pleaded. “Haarold was seduced by Gurwant into this. As soon as they took Morvan he began regretting it, but he said that it was too late. Please, Anna. He was your father's friend, and loyal for years. He came to you when you called in November.”

  Anna pulled the weeping woman into her arms.

  Her heart went out to Gervaise, but also to Morvan. She could feel his mood. No matter what the justice of it, he had no stomach for this, and a cold-blooded execution of a vassal was one lordly duty he would have preferred to avoid.

  Perhaps if he had been lord for a number of years he could show mercy, but his authority was still not secure. What message would it send to Baldwin and Gaultier if he let Haarold live?

  The solar door opened and the four vassals emerged. Gervaise walked over to her husband. He drew her aside and spoke quietly to her. It occurred to Anna that this man had probably not shown so much gentleness to his wife in the last twenty years combined.

  He pulled away and glanced at Anna meaningfully, silently requesting her help in keeping Gervaise away from the bailey. Then, with clenched-teeth resolve, he joined the other vassals and left the hall.

  Anna looked into the solar. Morvan stood there, his back to her. A bandage bound one upper arm.

  She had played their reunion out many times in her mind. Her imagination had usually filled it with joy, but sometimes with anger. Never had she expected it to occur in this shadow.

  She had only to leave and take refuge in one of the chambers and her happiest fantasies might unfold later this day.

  She went over to Gervaise and spoke quietly. Gervaise retreated to her chamber.

  Anna walked into the solar and closed the door behind her. Gliding up to Morvan, she placed a hand on his back. He turned, startled out of his thoughts, and a smile wiped away the frown that had creased his brow. He pulled her into an embrace.

  “I am sorry that I did not come to you right away,” he said, burying his face in her hair.

  “I understand why.” His hold created a timeless spell. She gave herself over to his assault on her senses, letting his presence fill voids in her soul and renew memories too quickly half forgotten.

  He touched all that was alive in her. She did not want even a just death intruding on this bliss.

  “You don't have to do this,” she said softly, sorry to break the mood.

  “Nay, but it was decided that even with my wound my sword arm is the strongest. No one wants him to suffer.”

  “That isn't what I mean. It doesn't have to happen at all. I know that his crime is great, but a lord can be magnanimous if he chooses, can't he?”

  “Is that why you came here? To ask for his life?”

  “He was one of my father's closest friends, Morvan. And a loyal vassal for many years.”

  “But not loyal to me, Anna.”

  She didn't know what to say to that. Haarold had handed Morvan over to be killed. It was too much to expect mercy.

  He took her face in his hands and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. “If it had just been me, it would be one thing. But he was ready to give you to that madman.”

  “Did none of the others speak for him?”

  “Nay. Not even Fouke. Not even his son Paul. You are the only one to have done so except his wife.”

  She knew she should hate Haarold for the role he had played in Gurwant's scheme. Morvan might be dead if her plan hadn't worked, and Haarold would be responsible. But her plan had worked, and Morvan was alive, and the man she really held responsible had already been killed. She wanted Morvan to stay in her arms, and not walk away now to wield his sword again today.

  “You said that I never asked you for anything. Well, I am asking you for this.”

  His eyes flashed with annoyance. “Do not do this, Anna.”

  “I am doing it.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “The one time that you want something from me, and it is the life of the man who would have destroyed us?”

  She held on to him tightly and forced his gaze to meet hers. “I do not ask for myself, or for Gervaise, and especially not for Haarold. Someday the child that I carry will hear of this day. I want him to be told of his father's generosity and not of his wrath.”

  He went utterly still. She watched her words sink in. His dark eyes brightened and a slow smile formed. Briefly, for no longer than a blink, another expression and realization flashed, but the pleasure won out for now.

  “You are sure?”

  “I consulted Catherine and Ruth. I am as sure as a woman can be.”

  He caressed her cheek. “You did not want this.”

  “You said that your ancestor hailed from Brittany. Surely at least one drop of his blood still flows in you. I will have my Breton heir, Morvan.”

  He gave her a sweet, grateful kiss. She reveled in the comfort of his warmth.

  He smiled. “I suppose that it would be churlish for a man to be ungenerous on the day that he got such news.”

  “I suppose so.”

  They walked into the hall arm in arm. With each step Morvan's elation grew. By the time they reached the bailey stairs he was grinning and
holding her so close that he was practically carrying her under his arm.

  At the bottom of the steps he gave her an encompassing embrace and a deep long kiss, and afterwards let his gaze and hand drift curiously to her belly. “There is no sign yet,” she whispered, aware of the eyes watching them.

  In the middle of the bailey the four vassals waited in morbid silence. Ascanio had joined them, and Fouke held a heavy two-handed sword. Every face wore the hard lines of control and duty.

  Anna and Morvan walked over laughing. Everyone exchanged appalled looks. Haarold's face held an expression that said he found it in very bad taste for Morvan to interrupt an execution in order to fondle and kiss his wife. That it was Haarold's own execution that had been delayed didn't seem to matter.

  Fouke began to unsheathe the judgmental sword. Morvan held up a hand and shook his head.

  “My wife has just given me good news. For nothing less would I pardon you, Haarold, but to honor Anna and the child that she carries I will do so. You must leave at once, though.”

  A tremor of relief passed over the bailey. Fouke slapped a hand down on his old friend's shoulder.

  Morvan looked past the group to the far end of the yard. “It would seem that a squire is bringing your mount already, Haarold.”

  Haarold and the others pivoted to watch the slow approach of two horses. On one sat a skinny youth in a baggy cotte and high boots, a broad-brimmed hat almost obscuring his face.

  “What the hell … See here, woman,” Haarold sputtered.

  “Don't ‘see here’ to me, husband,” Gervaise snapped, handing him the reins as she looked down from beneath her hat.

  “Go and dress decently at once. I'll not be seen riding over the country with you like that.”

  “And I'll not ride saints know how long and how far in clumsy skirts. This is very practical. It is even safer for a woman. Lady Anna says so.”

  Haarold glanced furiously at Anna.

  “You want to say something, Haarold?” Morvan asked. “Perhaps you want to announce that you would rather die than be seen with a woman in man's garments? The sword awaits. We can still accommodate you.” He turned to Gervaise. “My lady, if you prefer you can stay with us. We will see that you get to your kinsmen.”