Free Autumn Lord by Susan Sizemore Page A

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    geste.
    "How intriguing," he said as the song finished. "Jacques is right in his claim that this Diane is anything
    but boring."
    His words earned him a vicious look from Alys. So he clapped loudly to show Diane even more
    approval. His knights and gentlewomen had to clap along with him whether they enjoyed the
    performance or not. Alys wasn't happy, but the applause drew a smile from Diane. Simon thought
    bringing the girl a bit of joy was worth rousing the displeasure of the pampered beauty beside him.
    He wondered if he should ask her to sing the rest of this song cycle, but before he could make a
    request, her smile widened, she bowed to him, and began the Casablanca tale he'd already asked for.
    "Ah, good."
    He took a seat beside Alys, and leaned forward, eager to finally hear out the story of Rick, Lady Ilsaf
    and the valiant Victor of Laslo.
    Diane had barely reached the part where the marshal Louis has sent his guardsmen out to round up the
    usual suspects when Simon's own marshal rushed into the room.
    Simon bolted to his feet, all thought of pleasure banished. "What?"
    "Lord Simon, a messenger has just brought word of raiders attacking Domiere!"
    Anger surged through Simon at the raiders daring to attack an abbey of holy sisters. "That's not ten
    miles from Marbeau. It looks like we ride now instead of waiting for the dawn." He gathered his men
    with a grim look.
    Diane scampered to the side as the group of men headed for the door. She definitely wanted to stay
    out of their way. She'd seen an instant change come over them the moment they'd heard of the attack. It
    was like this massive surge of testosterone had washed over every last man in the room. Even Simon, no,
    especially Simon, who she sometimes suspected of being civilized but really wasn't. She could practically
    taste the urge for battle in the air. Or, maybe, it was just an overpowering stench of sweat as Simon's
    warriors hurried past her.
    With war on their minds they left the womenfolk without a backward glance or a word of farewell. It
    worried Diane that the women didn't seem to notice that they were being abandoned, but then, the
    women carried knives, too. Maybe they found warfare normal.
    All Diane knew was that she didn't find anybody's behavior normal, and she was once again
    completely disoriented by this strange place. Once the men were gone, the women gathered around Al
    ys. They talked among themselves and ignored Diane. All except Alys, who gave her a look full of anger
    and calculation. Diane didn't wait for Bimbo Alys to tell her to get out. She hurried back to the relative
    shelter of Jacques's tower without any urging.

    ******************
"Come along to the hall if you want dinner."
    Diane sighed, but she followed the old man out of his chamber.
    It looked like Jacques wasn't going to let her hide any more than Simon had. She decided to pretend
    she was brave and go along with it. She'd retreated yesterday, then she'd spent the night thinking over
    what Simon had said about dealing with this place. She was ashamed of her own reaction. She had to go
    forward, not withdraw into childish terror.
    Besides, she was hungry, and dinner, such as it was, was downstairs.
    The hall was just as dark and smoky as she remembered from her first excursion. Servants moved
    around, and there were guards standing at the main door, but with Simon and most of the soldiers gone
    the place was subdued. People still stared at her like she was a freak, and muttered and made signs as
    she passed by. Diane pretended not to notice.
    She did take Jacques's hand as they made their way between tables to the platform where Lady Alys
    and a few men sat facing the room while they ate their dinner. The old man's skin felt dry and fragile as
    paper, but his grip was strong and reassuring just the same. She liked Jacques. Despite the fact that he
    was responsible for her being here, he was so well-meaning that it was impossible not to like him.
    Not everyone liked