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

side
facing the men.
    Eventually, they grew bored with their vigil. Pulling their woolen
cloaks around themselves, they settled back to sleep.   
    Lowering her guard, she focused on the meager light of the fire. She
found herself dreaming of Fulke, Warin, and the knights.
    As if awake, she watched her dream play out as Fulke materialized by
the edge of the fire. She held her breath as he searched the sleeping figures,
until his eyes locked on her.
    Afraid he would disappear if she looked away, she lost herself to his
gaze as Warin stepped into the flickering light with the knights following
behind.   Fulke spoke to them, before
bending by Father Godfrey to wake him.
    Sir Albin crossed the camp to stoke the dying fire, and she would have
sworn she could feel the sudden flaring heat of its flames. He glanced her way
as he moved past to step back into the darkness. Returning with his saddle, he
set it beside the fire as the rest of the men followed suit.
    The men cast worried glances her way as they began to settle
themselves. Stretching out, they wrapped up in their cloaks, before closing
their eyes.
    Curled up on his side, Warin pillowed his cheek with his hands the way
he did as a child making the dream seem so real she felt the wetness of tears
slide down her face.
    She smiled as Fulke settled down across the fire from her. Fighting to
hold onto the illusion, she found herself drowning in the fathomless blue
depths of his eyes, content to stay in the dream forever.

 
    * * * *

 
    Guided by the moon, Fulke rode his men hard towards Rotheram.   Their horses’ hooves digging up large clumps
of the sodden earth as they galloped forward.   Digging his heels in, he fully intended to catch Reina before dawn.
    His eyes scanning the distance, he grinned as he thought of Osbert
following behind in the cart.   Certain
Hylda’s nervous disposition would have driven him to distraction by now.
    The flickering light of a small fire appeared on a distant rise.
Spurring his horse, the animal surged forward, the men following hard on his
heels.
    Dismounting at the edge of the camp, he scanned the sleeping figures,
before locking on the one he sought.
    Reina was lying on her side staring at him, yet not seeing him. He felt
a moment of fear as he took in the dark circles beneath her sorrowful eyes. He
had seen it many times on the battlefield. The emotional stress she had been
under had pushed her beyond the point of exhaustion. She was sleeping with her
eyes open.
    He turned to block Warin’s approach. “I am afraid your meeting will
have to wait, lad.”
    Warin stared at Reina, concern clouding his eyes. “Is she ill, my
liege?”
    Fulke gripped his shoulder. “She just needs rest.   I am sure she will be fine come the morn.
Rest yourself after seeing to the horses.”
    “Aye, my liege.” With another worried glance at Reina, he stepped into
the darkness.
    Bending down, Fulke gently shook Father Godfrey to wake him.
    Surprise entered the priest’s gaze as he blinked tiredly up at him.
“Baron Erlegh?”
    Fulke held up a hand to keep him from rising. “Rest at ease,
Father.   All is well.   Plans for the mistress have changed. I intend
to marry her on the morrow, if she will have me.”
    Father Godfrey beamed. “It appears the Lord continues to work in
mysterious ways, your lordship. What is meant to be shall be.”
    “Thank you, Father.   Upon rising,
please inform Sir Everard’s men the mistress no longer requires their escort.”
    Glancing at the hulking knights settling themselves around the fire,
his eyes widened. “Consider it done, your lordship.”   With a smile, he rolled back over.  
    Fulke kept his gaze on Reina as he set his saddle across from her.   Sinking down on the hard earth, he gathered
his cloak about him.  
    Every so often her eyes would drift closed, only to snap open.  
    “Rest now, Reina,” he mouthed to her.
    Seeing her ease into sleep, he continued his vigil for the remainder