Free Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 01 by A Knight of Silence Page A

the
steps.   Hearing the click of a door
latch, it was Talan who broke the quiet. Raising his tankard, he called, “God’s
blessing be on you both, my liege.”
    Albin stood with tankard held high, beaming his whole-hearted approval.
“Aye. May the future hold joy for you both,” he seconded.
    His arm around a dejected Gervase, Guy nodded in half-hearted agreement.  
    Fulke grinned at the two lovelorn knights. “Cheer up lads. If Mistress
Reina accepts me, she will still be your lady.”
    Exchanging a resigned glance, Guy spoke as Gervase joined Osbert in
raising their tankards. “To our liege and lady. May sons bless your lives and
fill your home.”
    Accepting their well wishes with a dip of his head, Fulke noticed Warin
still standing quietly off to the side.
    While the men began to bandy jokes back about life at Castell Maen with
a lady about to keep them in order, he joined him.
    “I shall protect her with my life, if she will have me Warin,” he said
softly.
    Warin grinned. “It will be a great honor to call you brother, my
liege.”
    Fulke gripped his shoulder as a commotion drew their attention to the
steps.
    All heads turned as Hylda came into sight dragging a heavy ironbound
chest behind her. Bouncing her burden from step to step, the screech of metal
on stone pierced the ears as she slowly descended.
    Reaching the rush-strewn floor, she abandoned the chest.   Rushing over to Fulke, she dipped into a
curtsey. “I have prepared myself, your lordship.”
    “So I have heard.” He grinned at her puzzled expression.
    “I shall gather us food for the journey.” Bobbing her head, she rushed
back up the steps.
    Fulke belatedly released Warin’s shoulder. “How long do you need to
prepare yourself, lad?”
    Running to the steps, he called over his shoulder. “I shall be prepared
before the horses are saddled, my liege.”

FOUR

 
    By the time they stopped to make camp in a small glade for the night,
Reina felt exhausted.   For once, the
sunset held no joy for her as she numbly dropped to the ground before the fire.
She did not feel the damp grass seeping through her kirtle or the warmth of the
flames as the fire was stoked into a blazing brilliance.   Staring unseen into the distance, she felt
nothing.
    Clearing a space in the back of the wagon, Father Godfrey happily set
about making a pallet for her.   Plumping
the last of the blankets, he climbed down.
    Out of breath from his exertions, he settled himself on the ground
beside her. Taking in her drawn features, he patted her hand to get her
attention.   “Feeling a touch melancholy
at leaving home, lass?” Without waiting for a response, he rambled on, “Fear
not, the Lord is always a step ahead of us to keep the stones from our path.”
Struggling to his feet, he left to feed his mules.
    She watched him go, grateful for his reassuring presence.
    He returned a short time later with a bundle of cheese and flat bread.
Passing out the food, she refused his offer with a shake of her head.  
    After the meal, he joined her to recite the evening prayer.   Smothering a yawn, he stood. Bidding her to
get some rest, he retreated to his pallet.
    Lost to her own misery, it was some time before she felt the gazes of the
two men her father sent with them.   Glancing across the fire, she felt a tremor of fear to find them both
leering boldly at her.
    One smiled, exposing a mouth full of blackened or missing teeth. The
other slowly licked his lips, crudely running his eyes down the length of her.
    She stood to retrieve the bundle Hylda had given her.   Keeping a watchful eye on the men, she
retreated to her pallet in the back of the wagon.
    With a sad sigh, she untied the twine to withdraw a blanket of soft
lavender wool. Holding it close against her, she felt hot tears slip from her
eyes. It must have taken Hylda longer than a moon to stitch the detailed border
of light blue wildflowers.
    Wrapping up in the blanket’s warmth, she settled down on her