Free Fire Dance by Delle Jacobs Page B

Cheviot Hills."
    "Does he not covet Scotland?"
    "Every monarch covets all of the Isle. But Rufus is prudent. Mayhap, Scotland tomorrow. Why do you laugh, Chrétien?"
    "I have never heard Rufus described as prudent."
    "In this respect, only."
    "And what will Malcolm do?" asked Gerard. "He is not prudent. In this respect or any."
    Thomas nodded his agreement. "He will certainly do something, lord. Mayhap he would counter Rufus at Carlisle. But he would more likely come south through Durham and swing west to cut off Rufus from the rear."
    "Little impedes Rufus before Carlisle," said Hugh. "Mayhap he should hold back men to close like pincers upon Malcolm."
    "Aye, 'tis a good thought," said Robert. "Mayhap we'll let them pass, come in behind, let Rufus turn on them."
    "Nay, but you are not far off," Alain replied. "We will do as much, but hold them here. Then Rufus will turn on them and catch them between us."
    "I like it," said Thomas.
    "As do I," Gerard agreed.
    Edyt watched the Saxon knights closely. "You have no love for Strathclyde, then?"
    To this, Thomas grinned. "We are not Strathclyde. It is long defunct, and naught more than a buffer for Malcolm's Scotland. He does naught to stop Scottish raids."
    "Aye," agreed Wallis. "We have been Saxon too long for the Scots to change us."
    Alain was not satisfied. There was still that last concern. "And what of the Lady Melisande? Does she wait in ambush?"
    "Nay." Thomas shook his head along with his denial.
    "And you, Gerard?"
    "She will not fight you. Lady Melisande is not your enemy."
    "Mayhap. Will she also learn that I am not hers?"
    Thomas and Gerard looked at each other, but made no reply.
    Alain gave out an impatient sigh. "Well, then, we ride."
    Chrétien held back as the Saxons and other Normans left the chamber, and stood aside while Alain's squire worked the hauberk over Alain's head and shoulders.
    "I like it not, Alain. Too much depends on your trust of these Saxons."
    "Gerard is not Saxon, but Norman."
    "His skin, only."
    "Mayhap. But if he chose to deceive us, he would not show his loyalty for his lady so openly. We have naught without them, and they have naught without us, so what do we risk?"
    * * *
    The way north led through the Eden River's valley that was a lush green, with the eagerness of early spring forcing up through the still cold earth even before the mountains gave up their caps of snow.
    The horses breathed great frosty plumes in the cold air as they trod along a road that was hardly worth the name. Mud oozed wherever it ran too low or spanned some tiny rill. Only where it crossed over hard stone was the footing sound.
    Gerard rode at the lead, for he knew the land ahead. Wearing his heavy helm and Norman mail, Alain could tell little difference between Gerard and the men who had been under his command through the Normandy and Brittany campaigns. Gerard was Norman, Norman in his battle gear, Norman in the way he sat a horse, forward and straight-legged. Yet, Chrétien was right. Norman in skin only.
    Like Chrétien, he pondered the limits of the man's trustworthiness. Yet he gave the man authority. He could not defend his decision with reason, for it was but instinct. The sort of decision he was likely to make, unlike Chrétien, who would never make such a gamble.
    If he was wrong, Rufus would fail.
    Before the sun reached its zenith, they rounded the curve of a steep hill that led them from one wide dale into an even wider one.
    "There, lord," said Gerard. "There lies Anwealda's holding, against the slope, close by the beck."
    "Not an imposing one," replied Alain. Hardly what he had expected.
    "It is not. But if any thinks to take Fyren's place, it would be Anwealda. His holdings are spread out, but large. It is not the same here as in the south. Here, the folk live scattered about on their lands. Villages are not so common, and manors tend to be small and isolated."
    "Aye, I had noticed that. Mayhap folk will consider castles to be more to their liking