“Well met, Mademoiselle,” he said with a frightful attempt at a smile. “Ah ‘eard you were visiting your mother and Ah thought this would be a good opportunity to serve you as your true knight.”
“Sir Hugo!” I exclaimed. “Yes, of course. I am grateful that my mother is safe. I have just been talking to her about the terrible prison where she was kept.”
“Ah understood she remembered little about ‘er ordeal,” Brun said, unable to mask a touch of ill-ease.
“She is growing better all the time. If we just have patience perhaps she can tell us all about it.”
“Per’aps Ah should question ‘er myself,” Sir Hugo suggested.
“Oh, I do not know if a sick woman’s ramblings would mean much to you,” I said hastily. Hugo Brun was entirely too clever for me. “It is just nonsense about butterflies.”
“Butterflies?” Brun snapped. “She spoke of butterflies? Ah think Ah must speak with ‘er. Come with me.” He seized me by the arm.
“Wait!” I cried. Words flooded out of me, anything to stop him from dragging me off and questioning my mother. “Sir Hugo, my mother and I both have said many men were at Colchester. It cannot be disputed that one man did not do all the damage and the killing in such a short time. How is it that none of these men have been found to confirm or deny what happened?”
“Ah ‘ave captured the knight of the black lion,” Brun smiled. “wearing the colors of the Duke of Sherbourne. The duke defends him and goes to the dungeon for his sake, Ah believe Ah may find the men you seek among his retinue. “
“Are you mad? You accuse Lord Godwin of attacking Colchester? What possible reason could he have?”
“What reason could I have?” Brun smirked. “Why would I attack a manor with a dying baron who has no living heirs?”
“You think you will get his land?” I had suspected it but could not believe he would actually admit it. Of course, he had not really admitted it yet.
Furiously I spat, “Are you so sure there is no heir? Do you not know of Richard Cloyes, the baron’s son?”
“You forget, Lady Hope, that I am the bearer of the tales of a thousand crusaders and their fates in the holy land,” Brun sneered. “He is dead.”
“But if he were not, it would be bad for you plans, would it not?” It was ironic that I was now arguing so hard for the very thing I had wanted to deny all these years. I had no real hope that Richard lived, but if I could somehow convince Brun to doubt it might make him speak less guardedly.
“Richard Cloyes of Colchester never reached the battlefield he sailed for in Alexandria,” Brun said. “His ship foundered in a storm and went down with all aboard. Many men have confirmed this. He is dead.”
My heart sank. At every turn Brun had outsmarted me. I wondered why Sir Chris had seemed to think I was clever. All at once it occurred to me that perhaps he felt for me what I had begun to feel for him. I smiled at the thought. Brun’s eyes narrowed and he stared hard at me.
“Unless, of course, you have information I do not have,” he said harshly. I looked at him blankly. His eyes widened. “Indeed, it is very clever of you.” I had no idea what he meant. “It shall not succeed. This man will not take what Ah ‘ave worked so ‘ard for. John of Colchester shall die in my arms after signing a pledge to gift me with his land in gratitude for rescuing him from his kidnappers. The king will not refuse to honor it.”
“I will never let you kill my uncle!” I cried. “Tell me where you have taken him!”
“You were clever to pretend that you received a note from your mother. Ah killed a good man trying to find out ‘oo she bribed and even let ‘er go before Ah realized you lied.”
“I will expose you as soon as I find my uncle,” I snapped. “Then I will see you flogged the way you flogged Sir Chris. I will see you dragged apart by horses and you will not live to tell the tale.”
“If all else fails, mah friend the earl will protect me,” Brun chuckled. “ ‘E must, or all is lost for ‘im, too.”
All my fury boiled to the surface. But before I could hurtle myself at him suddenly I saw the flat edge of a sword crash down on the back of his head. Robert pulled me away from Hugo Brun’s still form.
“I heard every word, Hope,” Robert said. I looked wildly around, and only then did I notice that the troop of guards who had occupied the hall outside Lady Godwin’s chambers had vanished. Tahira, Robert and I were alone with Sir Hugo Brun insensible at my feet.
“What has happened? Where are the guards?” I cried.
“Chasing a fugitive Arab,” Robert said. “The one who came with your knight. He got out the window shortly after you left to see your mother.”
I shot the bolt and opened the door of Lady Godwin’s room. Sir Chris lay on the bed and I was shocked by how pale and weak he looked. “I fainted just after you left,” he confessed. “That hacking at the door … it took its toll.”
“Aye, and when he fainted the poor Arab lad went mad,” Lady Godwin said. “He said something in his own tongue – I know it somewhat, but I could by no means make out his words, and out the window he went. Where he hath gone, or what he meaneth to do we know not. Mine own Arabs have gone to give him cover, hoping to confuse the earl’s men, and those who guarded had to pursue them. I told our English soldiers they should pretend to help chase the young man and so create more confusion. We prayed God would speed you back so that we could somehow make use of this.”
Sir Chris looked quizzically at Robert, who had not spoken since we entered the room, then rose and came close to me, seeing how agitated I was. “My lady, is all well with your lady mother?”
“Sir Chris, God has delivered our enemy into our hands,” I laughed. “Come and look.”
He and Lady Godwin followed Robert and Tahira and I out into the hall. They stared in disbelief at Hugo Brun.
“I will hang his head out the window,” Sir Chris said in a low, intense voice, picking up Brun’s sword.
“And we will never find my uncle, or get justice,” I hissed. The sword clattered to the floor. “We must confine him until Uncle John is safe.”
“Take him into that chamber across the hall,” Lady Godwin ordered. “Hurry.”
That was easier said than done. All five of us dragged at the Frenchman’s huge carcass until we were sweating and gasping, but finally he lay in a heap in the empty room. We stripped him of his armor and tied him with all the curtain-pulls and sheets we could muster. I could not believe he did not wake. His trappings and weapons we carried into Lady Godwin’s room, and then fastened the door firmly upon him from the outside.
“That will not hold him long,” Sir Chris grunted.
“I go to find my father, Hope,” Robert said. “Haply I will see you all freed from this place. He must listen now.”
“Young Earl, let me urge caution,” Sir Chris rumbled. “I do not believe the earl will relent. The earl and Hugo Brun talked freely while they had me in the dungeon. He knows at least some of what evil Hugo Brun has done, and shields him.”
“And it appears he has some other hold over the earl that forces him to do his will,” I added. “You heard Brun say as much in the hall.”
“I cannot believe my father would be a party to kidnapping Baron Colchester,” Robert said stubbornly. “I honor you, good sir knight, and do not doubt what you say, but I am sure my father does not know all.”
“You must not go to him, Robert,” I pleaded. “He will try to stop us.” Robert looked at me in confusion. “Sir Chris and Lord Godwin may be endangered. You know what happened before when you told your father about Sir Chris.”
“My lady, did you learn aught of where Baron Colchester might be?” Sir Chris asked. I repeated word for word what my mother had told me about the place of butterflies.
“Butterflies?” Sir Chris repeated. Then he started. “Aye, I do know it. God be praised, Lady Hope. I must go there at once.”
“Go where?” I cried.
“This tongue-tied Frenchman,” sn
orted Sir Chris. “It is Colchester Castle. The fields round it are at times covered in butterflies. All of us hereabouts did call it the Butterfly Palace.”
“But how will you get out of Chelmsford?” I asked. “Surely the earl’s guards will be returning from chasing Sadaquah any moment.”
“Go I must,” he growled.
“It is madness,” Lady Godwin exclaimed. “Five minutes agone thou didst lie in a dead faint, good knight. What canst thou do, an’ thou shouldst get away? Look at thy poor tortured body. I have heard all thou hast suffered before, and seen what thou didst suffer anew. Thou canst not have the strength for this journey.”
“Lady, God gives me strength when I must have it,” Sir Chris said. “Most of the time it is as you have said – I am a tottering wrack of hurts. Lady Hope has marked it and can affirm it. But I think me it is like Samson of old the Spirit of the Lord comes mightily upon me, and I can do all that needs doing.”
“Then I have the means to do it,” I said firmly, picking up Sir Hugo Brun’s helmet and reaching up to drop it on Sir Chris’s head. I could not reach so high, though. Sir Chris took the thing from me and held it, looking as if it were some filthy vermin. Then he nodded and clapped it on his head.
“By my life, I would not have a thing touch me that he has worn,” Sir Chris grunted, pulling on Hugo Brun’s armor. “But for the Baron of Colchester…”
We all helped him to dress, and shivered with amazement at the likeness in size and form when we were finished.
“Aye, ‘tis perfect,” Lady Godwin marveled. “Go then, good knight, in thy borrowed trappings, and bring the good Baron of Colchester safe out of his prison. Haply thou shalt need to fight no one, and when thou dost return all will be made right here. Come speedily back to us, I pray thee.”
“That will I, good lady, God being willing,” Sir Chris nodded. “You ladies will not be safe here when the Frenchman awakens. Get you to another place.”
“We will go with you,” I said sharply. “No place in this castle will be safe for us an’ he awakes, or the earl knows what has happened.”
“Take these two with you, Sir Chris,” Lady Godwin ordered. “We must get Tahira far away from the Frenchman, and she may be able to help thee nurse the Baron of Colchester if he is much hurt. Lady Hope also must go, for he will surely kill her after what she hath done.”
“God bless you, gracious lady,” Sir Chris said fervently, kneeling and kissing her hand. “Each moment I am more smitten in my unworthy heart that your husband is chained for my sake. We will go, and come back and see him freed.”
“God in heaven grant it,” Lady Godwin murmured.
“Go to my mother’s room,” I said. “There is a guard there who has no love for the Frenchman. He will help you and her.” She nodded and vanished.
“I will go with you also, Hope,” Robert said suddenly. “I am not a knight but I can use a sword and perhaps lift some of your burden, sir knight.”
“Yes, thank you, Robert.” I said firmly. “I have no doubt it will be a help to us to have you by our side when we go out. Now you must play the part, Sir Chris. Take us out, and know that we are lost if they discern you are not the Frenchman.”
Sir Chris hesitated only a moment. He took Tahira and me each by an arm and herded us downstairs to the courtyard. In a guttural, heavily-accented voice he demanded of the grooms that horses be saddled and brought. He cursed and bade the men hurry. Robert added his authority and the guards were fooled completely. I thought Sir Chris did the Frenchman passing well. We were mounted and out of the castle in minutes.
Chapter Fourteen: A Daring Declaration, A Rich Discovery, A Deliverance
I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
Exodus 15:1-3
Sir Chris breathed a great sigh of relief when we had cleared the gates. “At least I do not have to ride the Frenchman’s horse,” he muttered. He had demanded that the dappled stallion he called Ariel be brought to him instead of Hugo Brun’s bay warhorse. No one had questioned it, since all the earl’s men believed the owner of that horse would soon be dead. I rode upon my own pony, Cairn, and Tahira had a beautiful Arabian palanquin she called Tirzah. Robert rode at the rear on his stallion Scabbard.
We made good time and soon the ruins of the Norman haunt appeared before us in the distance. A cloud of butterflies rose into the air as we approached. In spite of my late fear and the uncertainty of what lay before us, I thanked God for this beautiful sight. It gave me hope. I smiled to think how often lately I was punning my own name and how I no longer minded it. When had this come about? I wondered. Then I looked up at the giant man riding a little in front of me, carrying Hugo Brun’s helmet on his knee, and I knew. It was the first time Sir Chris had spoken of hope, and had smiled that scar-crooked smile when the significance of the word had struck him. Then I knew I would never hate to hear anyone speak of hope and smile at me again.
He looked over at me as if he felt my gaze upon him. “Lematha -- Why – do you smile, lady?” he asked, smiling in his turn. “We are not done with fear and trouble yet, but you smile. Is it proper?”
“You smile, too,” I chided him good-naturedly. I paused and glanced backward at Robert. He did not seem close enough to hear. “As to why I do it, Sir Chris, it is because I love you.”
His face registered the shock for only a moment. Then he merely looked sober. “And what of the young earl?”
“I wish he had been to me before what he has become now,” I said sadly. “But I did not ever love him, and do not love him now.”
“E’en so?” Sir Chris murmured. “There is also Lord Richard, your betrothed, to consider.”
“Hugo Brun said many witnesses confirmed that he is dead. My uncle will understand,” I said. “He will know all your courage, and what you have done for him and his, and he will not deny me.”
“Your uncle…” Sir Chris breathed deeply. “Oatherni. I did clean forget where we go and what we do. Your declaration almost unhorsed me, lady. I did not expect it.”
“Does it displease you?” I was uneasy suddenly. “Say it does not, Sir Chris. I fancied .…” I blushed and stammered. “Perhaps it was fancy,” I muttered, seeing how grave he looked.
“Lady, I…” He broke off, for we had actually come through the castle’s outer wall and there was no more time for talking. A guard came out and, though Sir Chris hastily clapped Hugo Brun’s helmet on his head, the man saw his face and shouted, drawing his sword.
Tahira and I pulled our horses back. Full six soldiers came running and Sir Chris slid off his horse and freed his own blade, so slowly, so clumsily I felt a stab of fear. Robert spurted forward and slipped off to stand beside him. The soldiers hesitated at this unexpected complication but Robert dove at them and they were forced to fight. Robert seemed intent upon engaging all of them at once.
And then we watched the Spirit of God wash over Sir Chris, just as he had described it. With Robert at his side he tore into the soldiers with skill and power hardly human. They were no match for him. Some ran off, but others lay at their feet, and the whole fight seemed to take only a moment. Tahira and I hastened to him as Sir Chris laid his hand on the horse’s saddle and blew like a spent racehorse. It seemed as if he had no strength left in him. I left Tahira beside him and Robert and I ran into the castle, crying out my uncle’s name.
We separated and I could hear Robert’s voice echoing my own. None answered. But I knew there would be no guard of six over a dead body. I ran from room to room. Robert and I nearly ran into each other once as we came to a door at the same time. We threw it open and were shocked to find it almost full with treasure – Gold, silver, precious articles of every kind, many of them Romanist objects of
devotion. Here, then, was the hoard that Hugo Brun had amassed on his “holy quest,” hidden in the depths of Colchester castle. Robert seized my arm.
“Hope, I know now why my father helped Brun in this foul deed,” he breathed. “We were greatly in debt when I met you last fall. Suddenly Hugo Brun came and money flowed. I have seen things like these in my father’s hands, things people consecrated to God and foolishly gave to Brun. He has used these treasures to pay for his extravagances.” Robert faltered and he seemed to listen to the angry peals of thunder outside. “Tell Lord Godwin where my father’s sudden-found wealth came from. He is as guilty as the Frenchman. And I suspected something was wrong, but did nothing because I enjoyed the wealth, too. I am also guilty.”
“Robert, you can tell him yourself,” I exclaimed. Robert shut his lips and pulled me out of the room. We went on searching and at last opened a door where a man lay facedown on the floor, in chains and terribly beaten. I knelt beside him and touched his matted gray hair. Robert halted in the doorway, frozen in horror.
“Good my lord,” I whispered. “We have come to take you home. Uncle John, it is your Hope.” He turned his head so slowly I wept to see it. His eyes opened and he looked up at me.
“Hope,” he croaked. “My Hope. God be thanked.”
“I will come back, my lord,” I promised. “I only go for those I have brought to help.”
I brought Robert to my uncle. Then I ran out to where Tahira and Sir Chris stood still by the horses. Rain had begun to spatter the old stones of the castle wall. Tahira seemed to be trying to help him but he could hardly draw breath.
“I have found the Baron of Colchester,” I told them. “Sir Chris, are you…”
Hope and the Knight of the Black Lion Page 15