Free Alinor by Roberta Gellis Page B

thoughts had already left the jest. "Alinor, do you know what Beorn's trouble is? I mean, is it somewhat to do with his duties or is it some personal matter?"
    "I am sure it has to do with the outlaws that infest the roads. A private matter he would have brought to me. They have been eluding him more and more easily, and he does not know why or how to lay them by the heels. He is not accustomed to watching what men do and judging from that what next they will do. All his life he followed orders—my grandfather's, Sir Andre's, Simon's. They planned; he obeyed. He does not know how to change, and I cannot explain."
    "That was what I feared. I saw a burned village, and I saw the serfs hide when they heard my horse. I will go out with him today and see what I can discover. Peste!" he exclaimed, "you will have to take those bandages off. My hauberk will not go over them."
    "I will not, nor will you. Those sores are healing at last. I will not have my work undone. You can wear Simon's." There was a momentary tight silence. This was far different from giving Ian Simon's clothing. It was customary for clothing to be lent to any noble visitor to a castle, but not a precious chain-mail hauberk. Then Alinor went on smoothly, "And do not dare wear your shield and rub that whole side raw again. Let one of the squires carry it."
    Ian shook his head and then suddenly smiled. "Let me take Adam. He is strong enough to wear it, I think. I will tell Beorn to bring along an extra ten men who can guard him, and anyway, I doubt we will meet any resistance."
    Alinor smiled quick permission. "How kind you are. He will be in heaven. Are you sure he will be no trouble to you, Ian?"
    That made him laugh aloud. "Of course he will be a trouble. If Adam was no trouble, I would call a physician to see to him at once." Then he said soberly, "Do not worry. I will not permit any harm to come to him, and it is time for him to ride out and to learn that in the field orders must be obeyed."
    There was a faint tone of question under the statement. Ian knew Alinor to be a very sensible woman, not one who ordinarily would wish to keep her son under her tutelage. However, her situation had not been normal. With her husband dying by inches under her eyes, it was possible she could not bear the thought of any danger, no matter how remote, threatening her only son.
    "You do not need to tell me. It is more than time. Beorn would not take him. I spoke of it, but Beorn was so distressed that I did not press the point. Too much responsibility has been thrust upon him. I could not add more."
    "I should have come sooner," Ian said guiltily, "but—" He cut that off. It would never do to say why he had delayed.
    "I understand," Alinor soothed.
    Ian did not contradict her mistaken impression. She assumed the king had kept him out of spite or capriciousness. If this once John was innocent, Ian was not troubled at heaping the blame upon him. He was guilty often enough, and in this case a thread more or less would not overburden the ass.
    "Oh, heavens!" Alinor exclaimed as a bar of sunlight touched the doorframe of Ian's bedchamber. "Look at the hour. We have both missed first Mass. I must run and dress. I will send your squires in to you."
    "Wait, Alinor. Have you told Adam and Joanna? How— How do you desire that I address them? That they address me?"
    She did not come back nor even turn around to face him. "I have told them nothing."
    "Do you want me to tell them? What would you have me say? Will they be distressed? Angry?"
    Alinor turned slowly, leaning back against the doorframe so that Ian would not see she was clutching it "To every question I can only say, I do not know."
    "For Jesus' sake, Alinor, you must believe I do not wish to wrest Simon's children from him."
    "You cannot help it," she whispered. "In a very little while Adam will not remember him at all—except as a name in your mouth or mine. He Was only a little more than five when" Simon fell ill. He will wish