Free The Wild Hunt by Elizabeth Chadwick Page A

can see that. I am only repeating what the beater said, and he had it from your uncle's squire.'
    'They were both right,' said Guyon.
    The women stared at him. After her first startled declaration, Judith's wits quickened. Plainly Guyon was not disclaiming this tear as a mere scratch just to be manly. He wanted the wound kept a secret, or at least reduced to nothing.
    'Boar spears do not just snap,' she said. 'My father was always very strict about the state of the hunting equipment, particularly when it came to boar. He had the spears checked regularly.'
    'By your senior huntsman?'
    Alicia reached for a roll of bandage while Judith threaded a needle. 'Maurice never made any complaints against Rannulf's efficiency,' she said carefully. 'I cannot say that I know him well myself.
    He came to us from Belleme on Robert's recommendation.'
    'Would he be willing to commit murder for the right amount of silver?'
    'Truly I do not know, my lord. Anything is possible if my brother-in-law has his hand in the pie.'
    'Has someone then offered Rannulf silver to give you a weakened spear?' Judith asked to the point.
    'Probably. De Lacey was talking to him most earnestly in the hall last night and he's not the kind to mingle with servants unless it be for a specific purpose. I will know more when I have had an opportunity to question Rannulf and ... ouch!'
    'Hold still , my lord, and it will not hurt as much.'
    'I think you are enjoying this,' he grumbled.
     
    Judith wrinkled her nose at him. 'Tush, my lord.
    So much complaint for such a "little scratch".'
    'Insolent wench,' he growled, eyes laughing.
    Baffled, Alicia watched the two of them as she prepared the poultice of mouldy bread. Here was no frightened child flickering nervous glances at the world through a haze of tears and, despite Guyon's obvious pain and preoccupation, he was handling Judith with the ease of a man accustomed to women, not one who would deflower her savagely in a fit of unbridled lust.
    Guyon clenched his teeth and endured in stoical silence until Judith and Alicia had finished with him. Judith wiped her hands and brought him a cup. He sniffed the contents suspiciously.
    'Valerian, yarrow and poppy in wine,' she told him. Guyon tasted, grimaced, put down the cup and began to ease his sleeve over the bandage.
    'It will relieve the pain.'
    'And dull my wits,' he retorted.
    Judith sighed and went to find him a fresh pair of chausses and some salve for his grazed cheek and thigh.
    'It seems that I have misjudged you,' Alicia said to him softly.
    Guyon finished arranging his sleeve. 'I hope I have enough common sense to realise that rape is not the best way to begin a marriage. I haven't touched her and I won't until she's ready ...' He stopped and looked round as his father swept aside the curtain and strode into the room.
    'Your huntsman's bolted,' he announced starkly.
    'Snatched de Lacey's courser from a groom and was out over the drawbridge before anyone could stop him.'
    Guyon's eyes darkened. 'God's teeth!'
    'That is not the worst of it. De Lacey's gone after him and with every right to kill . Pembroke's with him and de Serigny. Chester's taken de Bec and some of the garrison and ridden after them.'
    Guyon swore again and reached for his swordbelt.
     
    'I'll meet you in the bailey,' Miles said.
    Guyon struggled to tighten the belt with his injured left arm. Judith hastened to help him.
    'Have a care, my lord,'
    she said anxiously. 'I fear that Rannulf may not be the only quarry.'
    He looked down at her upturned face and with a humourless smile, tugged her braid. 'Forewarned is forearmed, so they say,' he replied. 'I promise you I'll do my best to stay alive.'
    Riding hard they caught up with de Bec and Chester a little beyond the village and de Lacey upon the track that led eventually across the border into Wales.
    'I thought I had him!' de Lacey growled, 'but the bastard's doubled back on me. Bones of Christ, when I catch him I'll string him up by the ball s. Do