Rob and Lucinda jarred along in the ill-sprung wagon while their older brother Daniel rode his bay horse alongside. The early morning drizzle had faded to a fine mist that chilled the early spring air. The oilcloth covering of the wagon kept the two siblings and their servants drier than their brother's felt hat and leather cape kept him. At the outset of their journey, Daniel had insisted that his almost twenty years entitled him to ride. Now he wondered if he would have been better off, and drier, in the wagon. Along this way, the trees were clustered so thickly that it was known as the Woodland Road. Unluckily Daniel had thought that the canopy of leaves would protect him from the rain. He comforted himself with the idea that his guards thought better of him for sharing their misery. He certainly had no other reason to ride in the rain. The five guardsmen who rode with the small caravan certainly provided all the protection that they needed. He glanced back at the second wagon that held their personal baggage as well as other supplies.
Both he and the eighteen year old Rob had been summoned home for their parent's funeral. Lucinda had barely survived the fever that had carried off both father and mother during the winter. It was a blow that the oldest boy bore stoically. Being two years away from his majority meant that Daniel had inherited his father's title, but he and his brother and sister were now under the guardianship of their uncle. A decade had passed since they had last seen their father's younger brother. Daniel was the only one old enough to have a clear recollection of the man. There was nothing remarkable to remember about the man other than his resemblance to his brother, the baron. They had shared the same dark hair and green-hazel eyes. Daniel had inherited these same features, while the younger ones resembled their mother. Both had the same fine sandy blonde hair and pale blue eyes. In fact, so closely did they resemble each other that Rob and Lucinda often were mistaken to be twins.
The manor house where their uncle lived was a five day journey by wagon. Just a few miles down the road waited the village of Goosemeade. Daniel had always wondered at the unprepossessing name, but none of them had ever laid eyes on the place. The castle in which they had been born had always been the center of activity for the barony. Spring fairs and autumn fairs had filled the village square with a panorama of color and music when viewed from the battlements. Not for the first time, Daniel wondered if the fairs would continue in their absence. Then a sense of shame niggled at his conscience that he should have been concerned about a fair while he still mourned his parents. A trickle of rain found its way down the back of Daniel's neck and distracted his thoughts. The men-at-arms who rode around him maintained a glum silence. There was a distinct possibility that they would be released from service by the children's uncle and guardian. For them, these changes might mean loss of home as well as loss of their master. A beam of sunlight pierced the clouds and painted a pool of gold on the sodden roadway. For a moment this lightened the hearts of the group.
Lucinda watched Rob for a few minutes her brother who was usually full of life was silent and Lucinda knew Rob was greiving deeply for thier parents. Just as well as she knew how much Daniel must be grieving too. Even if they were going to live with thier uncle Lucinda felt it was her job to take care of them. after all they were all the family she had left.
Lucinda wondered what thier uncle would be like would he be nice or vengefull? All Lucinda could get out of Daniel was that thier uncle had looked a lot like thier father which ment he resembled Daniel.
Miles waited patiently for the small caravan to reach the ambush site. It had been a year since they had engaged in banditry, yet his men were as sharp and confident as ever. They seemed glad to be back in action. Miles was not. He had thought he was done with this life once he'd made enough to buy a holding. But the land had not been generous and barely supported himself and his men. None of them were natural farmers, nor was he himself. Nor had his father been. Except for luck, he had much in common with the youngsters he was about to disturb. He had been a motherless lordling whose dissolute father had died just as he was coming into manhood. Though a lord, his father had left him nothing but debts he could not pay and so he lost the estate. He'd had no relatives willing to take him in. His father had alienated all of them in one way or another. His only luck had been the guardsmen who had stuck by him. One had known the art of theiving from earlier in his life, and so the group had robbed nobles in various ways, most often by an ambush on this road. They had developed a reputation of stealth, speed and efficiency among the underhanded that disturbed Miles. He had always tried to excel in anything he tried but he'd never wanted to be known as a superior thief. On occasion someone had tried to hire them for some dirty deed and he had always turned them down. But this time the pay was higher and he saw the opportunity to give up this cursed land that seemed to bring him no good. His sister, Cressida, had developed the coughing sickness. This money would allow him to move to a southerly climate that he had heard was easier on consumptives. The contract was to kidnap the girl of this family and keep her unharmed until a ransom was paid. He didn't like it. He normally wouldn't have bothered such a small sad group. But the money would allow him to start a new life in a new place where he had no reputation--good or bad--and perhaps save his sister's life.
Cressida sat by the camp fire, waiting for Miles and the others to return. He did not say where he and the others were going. He did not have to. She knew by the look on their faces and the way they rode out of camp, that they there were off to another day of theiving. She did not approve of her brother's doings, and she often felt she was to blame. She knew he was trying to make enough money to take care of her. Now as she sat alone by the fire she could not help thinking if Miles would be better off if she was not alive, but then she came to her senses, and realized that Miles needed her in his life. She began to cough and shiver. The rain and dampness were not helping her cough. She pulled her cloak, and the old wool horse blanket around here and huddled against the tree, trying to keep warm.
Daniel happened to look forward just as Wat raised his hand to signal a stop. The Welshman had come into the old Baron's service a decade previously under sentence for poaching in the royal park. With no explanation given, he had remained in service even after his seven year sentence had ended. Daniel edged his horse up beside the silent man.
"You Excellency" Wat whispered "Listen and tell me what you hear."
For the briefest of moments Daniel started to look for his father before he realized that the armsman had meant him.
He whispered back to Wat "I hear nothing. What do you hear?"
The Welshman replied "I hear nothing and that is what bothers me. All day we have startled birds and small animals from our path. Here, something has already startled them."
With one smooth motion he pulled his bow from his shoulder and notched an arrow. Thoroughly alarmed, Daniel loosened his sword in the scabbard and looked around for signs of movement. The slight whistle of a passing arrow in the silent was the only warning he received before he ducked. Wat sped his arrow away and was rewarded when a man pitched headfirst from the brush. A horse screamed behind Daniel and as the rider-less beast careened past he saw the arrow embedded in its flank. An undulating scream came from the rear wagon when an arrow pierced the leather covering. Two of the other guards engaged three men who attempted to pull them from their horses. Using his horse, the Welshman tried to position Daniel behind him and against the front wagon. Daniel gritted his teeth and backed his mount away from Wat. Almost without thought he went into action as he had so many times on the training field. The shock of metal on bone went up his arm as he severed the limb of one attacker from the shoulder. A reverse and downward thrust enabled him to disembowel another. The arrows flew from Wat's bow in rapid succession. Then as suddenly as they had appeared, the attackers vanished.
Chest heaving, Daniel surveyed the carnage around him. One of their guards was down with his throat slit. It had been his mount that plunged down the road. The maids in the rear wagon had stilled their wailing. No sound came from the lead wagon. Daniel urged his horse around to the front. The driver lay across the seat, his head a bloody ruin. The sight of Rob's pale hair made Daniel's heart leap into his throat. His brother coughed and moaned when Daniel lifted his head. He had been stunned only. Then the terrible realization set in. Lucinda and her maid were missing.
Daniel whirled around and called out "Lucinda, Lucinda can you hear me?" Silence was the only answer.
Wat and another guard came up with a man between them. A trickle of blood between his eyes led from the spot on his head where he had been clubbed down.
In a voice as chill as a late winter wind Daniel demanded "Who are you and what has been done with my sister?"
The man blinked at Daniel as if he had trouble focusing. "My name is Miles" he answered "If you let me live I can help you get your sister back. I was driven to this by desperation only. I never wanted to be an outlaw".
Daniel looked the man over carefully. He glanced towards Wat, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod. As if he communed with an inner voice, Daniel sat motionless for several moments with his eyes shut.
Then with a sigh, Daniel looked again at Miles and said "you will come with us to my uncle's. We cannot mount a proper search encumbered by servants and baggage wagons. If you betray us, I will cut your throat myself. But if we get my sister back unharmed I will make sure you have your freedom and possibly more besides".
This last part made both Wat and Miles look at the boy Baron with an odd look. For the briefest second Daniel's voice had held an echo of his father's.
It was a sad caravan that reached Ruthin Manor. The dead armsman and driver had been placed in the front wagon. Seven dead bandits were left along the road in their wake. In the aftermath of the attack, Daniel had given thanks to his father that he had insisted that his armsmen and sons had always been well trained. One of the other guards had been detailed to drive the wagon. Rob, head bandage and all now rode that horse.
The noise of their arrival at the manor attracted the attention of the gate guards long before they were within shouting distance. By the time they had climbed the hill to the gate, a man on horseback flanked by four others rode out. When the two groups approached each other, Daniel saw that the lead man was a younger copy of his father.
This man dismounted and knelt in the dirt before Daniel. His companions followed suit.
"You Excellency" he said "We rejoice at your safe arrival even as I mourn my brother's passing".
Tears sprang to Daniel's eyes but he forced them back as he commanded "Uncle Thomas, do not kneel before me. I have more sad news for you. Lucinda was abducted on the road. We captured one of the bandits, but I also need your help to find her".
The shock on Thomas's face was genuine and for a moment he was at a loss for words.
"C-come inside" he stammered "I must hear this whole tale. My heart tells me that my enemies and those of the young prince seek to strike at me through my niece. But I must know more".
Daniel interrupted him at this point "We also have dead to be buried. Have you a chapel?"
"Yes there is a chapel" Thomas answered. He waved one of his men forward. "Lew" he instructed "ride with the bodies to the chapel and send for a priest from Saint Martin's".
As the man rode off trailed by one wagon, Thomas remounted his horse and lead the remainder of the group towards the three storey house.
Cressida heard the sounds of horse's hooves approaching. She arosed to greet them, and pepare some warm tea for them to drink. As the riders grew closer she counted the men on horseback like she always did. One,two, three, four, five , six...
Where were the eight others ? She hurried towards the riders as fast as her weary legs could carry her. The lead rider a man, by the name of Will, appraoch her.
" Will, where are the others ?" she asked him.
" No time to talk now Cressida," he told her," We have to break camp and get moving fast, before they come looking for us. "
Cressida could sense something had went terribly wrong. As the other riders approached she noticed two very finely dressed women bounded in ropes riding with them.
" Will, what have you done ?" she demanded.
" It was suppose to be a simple ambush," shouts Will," We had it all planned out. Hurt them, but don't kill them ."
" Killed !" exclaimed Cressida," Will, who got killed ?" She looked around for Miles.
" NO ! No ! NO ! she screamed out in horror and colapsed to the ground.
bound and gagged Lucinda and Faith sat on the back of two horses
Lucinda believed the men had made a mistake they hand tied and gagged them but they forgot to blindfold them. Lucinda's eyes were sharp and taking in everything.
she watched in horror as the girl feel to the group is sorrow and sobs whoever Miles was he ment something to the girl. Anyone with eyes could see that she was fragile and was not well.
Lucinda wondered if she talked to the girl if she might have compassion on them. Lucinda was already planning in her mind given half the oppertunity they would escape. Lucinda looked at poor Faith who looked very very frightened and pitied her friend. Faith had been with Lucinda since they both were very small children and become quiet close.
After Daniel had filled in his uncle about the ambush, the prisoner was brought in for questioning.
"What were you hoping to accomplish by raiding my deceased brother's family?" Thomas asked.
"I intended to satisfy a contract to kidnap the girl and hold her without harm until ransom was settled."
"How much ransom?"
"I was not privvy to that information. I assume you will find out shortly. I was to receive 2000 pounds upon completion of my contract."
"I can match that," Daniel blurted out, halting when his uncle raised his hand.
"I will abide by any decision you make, my lord, but I would ask you to accept my counsel and deal cautiously with brigands. Do not count much on their honor. We have this man's life in our hands. Perhaps that would be enough of a reward now for the return of Lucinda."
"It would not," stated Miles. "That money is needed to start a new life in a southern country where the climate will give my ill sister ease. You believe there is no honor among thieves but I trust my mens' loyalty to me, as they have shown me nothing but loyalty. If they assume me dead, they will carry out the contract and take my sister south as a last duty to me. I have no doubt of it."
Daniel was moved by this speech and glanced at his uncle but the older man remained stoney.
"Who is your contract with?"
"We don't give names much in this business," said Miles. "The man who dealt with us called himself Badger. I doubt it had any bearing on his real name."
"He had an accent?"
"No, he spoke as straight as you and I, though with a rougher tongue."
"There were no others?"
"We dealt with Badger only."
Thomas sensed a restlessness in his nephew and decided to adjourn the interview, nodding to the guards to take the man away. The moment the door was closed, Daniel stepped before him.
"Dear uncle, I owe you much and appreciate your wise counsel. I know you suspect this is part of some complicated plot and want to expose an enemy and traitor, but I don't care about all that. I want my sister back home as quickly as possible by whatever means is most convenient. Lucinda is barely recovered. This man's sister is so ill he wants to take her south. What if Lucinda should come in contact with her? I have lost enough of my family to sickness." Daniel paused to control his emotions. "I will not tolerate any delays. I will give this man what he wants if he can take us to Lucinda and we see her safely home. That is all I care about. Will you aid me?"
"Yes, of course," assured Thomas, placing his hand on his young nephew's shoulder. "Of course. I never meant to imply otherwise. And I did not mean to delay. I was merely trying to fully understand what we were dealing with--and to keep the thief off balance. But he's not easily unsettled. After we have Lucinda out of harm's way, I may see if I can strike a separate bargain with him. Though it could be he knows as little as he claims. I and my men are at your disposal whenever you're ready."
"Now then. I can't stand to linger in comfort when Lucy may be thrown in a pile of leaves somewhere bound and gagged. I feel I have already wasted too much time."
Thomas was as good as his word. He supplied Daniel with spare mounts for him and his surviving guards. For additional guards he detailed ten of his own men to go with Daniel.
The two of them spoke alone in Thomas's study the morning that Daniel meant to set out.
"I cannot in good conscience allow your brother Robert to go with you" Thomas said sternly "If the king knew that I was risking one his barons needlessly as well as his closest heir, it would be my head."
Daniel nodded solemnly and replied "I understand, though I fear that Rob will not. Please keep him safe for me." His uncle clapped him on the shoulder and replied "You may depend on that." After a pause he handed Daniel a roll of leather. As he took it, the young man's eyes opened wide in surprise at its weight. "Gold" Thomas explained "keep it close and hidden. Only use it as a last resort." Daniel nodded and tucked the roll away into his waistband. With his throat full of unsaid words, he left the room and went out the front door.
Gathered out front were the fifteen men who would accompany Daniel. There was as yet only enough light to show the distant manor walls as dark outlines. Each man, including Miles, had a spare mount that also held his share of their provisions. Daniel's horse awaited him alongside a dark reddish bay horse. Rob stood in front of the group with a downcast expression. Moved by his brother's sorrow, Daniel came and stood in front of him.
"We must ride hard and fast to find Luci" Daniel explained "You must remain safe here to be the baron if anything happens to me." Rob dropped his eyes and mumbled "I know. But I wish I were going anyway."
Daniel turned away and mounted his horse. "We will be back as soon as we can with Lucinda" he called as he spurred his horse towards the gate. The group was soon lost to sight in the early morning gloom.
Outside the manor's gates Wat motioned to Daniel. "There is a lesser used road from here that will take us about to the spot where they would have left the road and headed south." With a thoughtful look Daniel responded "If that will save us some time, then I say we take it." Wat moved into the lead to find the fork in the road that they wanted. Miles was herded into the center of the group by the other guardsmen. Daniel twisted back in his saddle spoke to him "Remember what I said earlier. Regardless of my uncle's wishes in the matter, I will reward you handsomely if we get my sister back unhurt. If she is otherwise, I will not rest until I have hunted down you and ever last one of your friends." For a moment Daniel's cold expression made him seem much older than his actual years. Rarely had Miles seen such implacable determination even in his hard life.
Not far from the ambush site, Wat picked up the first signs of the brigand's trail. The stink from the abandoned bodies made everyone's eyes water. Already the forest creatures had begun to disperse the remains until they were unrecognizable. For Miles' part, he tried not to think about the fact that the ravaged bodies had once been his companions. Kicking at the remains of a fire" Wat said "They were very rushed your Excellency. They did not even linger to hide the traces of their camp." He walked a little further and examined the marks of hooves among the leaf covered ground. Wat remounted his horse and explained "By the looks of these tracks none of the horses were double mounted. They will have made good time for at least the first day and night."
Daniel clinched his fists on the reins. "Curse the lost time; but we are equipped to travel faster for longer then they." He spurred his horse after Wat in the direction that the kidnappers had taken his sister.
A group of riders rides fast and hard thur the evning hours despite a few protests from the women with them.
" Quiet," shouts one of the lead rider," Or i will permanently silence you right now ."
" That is enough Luke," says Will," and remember with Miles gone I am in charge ."
" Who said you were in charge ?" snaps Luke.
" Enough the both of you," shouts Cressida," Miles has not even been dead for very long, and here you two are arguing.How do you think, this would make him feel ? Have you do decency in your bones ?" She begins to cough hard.
" Excuse me, Will is it ? Your woman friend is very ill," says Lucinda," This rain and dampness is doing her no good. May I suggest we find a warm place to stop for the night ."
" There is an old abandon cabin up ahead that use to belong to a fur trader," says one of the riders who was familiar with the area.
the group followed Jason to the fur trader's abandoned abode
Luke stoked a fire and brought Cresinda to it even if Miles was gone it was the least he could do was look after Cresinda. Luke also brought Lucinda and Faith to the fire and had men guard them.
Even if this had been Miles' scheme he would see it out and that ment taking care of his captives to bring full randsom the man who hired them wanted an also to ensure full payment.
Luke knew someone would need to take Cresinda southward in her brothers absence Luke figured it might as well be him he could stand for a bigger pie of the pie knowing that most of it would pay for Cresinda living contently for the rest of her life
Cresinda saw the way Luke looked at her, and it made her feel very uneasy. She never did like the man. He was very rude and had a very short temper. She tried to listen in tothe coversation that Luke was having with Will.
" If we get captured, we will all end up going to prison for kidnapping and murder. What good will that do Cresinda ? Give me my share of the money and the money meant for Cresinda and let me take her down south where she will be safe ," says Luke.
" I don't have the money," snaps Will," And if I did, what makes you think I would give it to you. Since when have you cared about Cresinda? You are always ordering her around.You have always been out for yourself and no one else. How do i know you won't take Cresinda's share of the money and dump her somewhere . "
" I said I want my money," demands Luke.
" And I'm teling you I don't have it," shouts Will back.
While the two men are arguing Cresinda takes the oppurtunity to walk over to Lucinda and talk to her. She hands her a mug of water to drink.
" I thought you might be thirsty," says Cresinda.
" Thankyou," replies Lucinda, appecting the mug of water.
" I can't talk long," whispers Cresinda," but if we wait for the others to fall asleep, I am willing to help you escape, but you must take me with you.
" What are you telling them?" shouts Luke, walking up behind Cresinda and grabbing her arm so hard that she cries out in pain.
" You are hurting me," cries Cresinda.
" What were you telling them ?" shouts Luke at her.
" Nothing," replies Cresinda," I was just offering them something to drink ."
" Are you lieing to me ?" shouts Luke
" No Luke," says Cresinda nervously
" I'll teach you to disrepect me," shouts Luke slapping her across the face. Cresinda drops to the floor sobbing. Luke goes to grab her, but Lucinda manges to stick out her rope tied legs and trips him.
" Why you !" shouts Luke, pulling himself on his feet," I'll teach you a lesson in manners too girl ."
Will had entered back into the cabin, and spotting Luke, he grabs him from behind, and slams him against the wall. He pulls out a dagger and points it at Luke's throat and says to him,
" You no good scum. Give me one reason why I don't kill you right now. If you ever lay a hand on Cresinda again I'll rip your throat out ."
He calls to a couple of the other men in the party and says," If it were up to me, I would make this snake leave our party, but i don't trust him. He would probaly turn us all in. Take him outside and tie him up to a tree out there."
" But I'll freeze out there," protests Luke.
" You should have thought of that before you threaten the ladies here ," replies Will.
Will bends down next to Cresinda who is sitting on the floor shaking.
" It's alright Cresinda, I won't let him harm you again ."
" I wish Miles was here," cries Cresinda.
" I do too," says Will holding the sobbing Cresinda in his arms . He turns towards Lucinda and Faith and asks them if they are alright.
" No, we are not alright," remarks Lucinda," We are tied up, and hungry, and being held hostage by a bunch of savages."
" Savage am I ?" laughs Will," That is kind of harsh words for the man, who just saved your life."
" Fine," replies Lucinda," If you want to prove you are not a svage, then let me and my maid go ."
" I am afraid I can't do that," replies Will.
" Then you are no better then that other man" says Lucinda
" Will, why don't you let thm go," begs Cresinda.
" You Know we can't do that," remarks Will," You know we need the money. How are we suppose to get you well gain ?"
" If it is money you need I can talk to my uncle ," says Lucinda.
" No," replies Will," We will stick to our plans."
When the light was too dim to see any their quarry's trail, Wat insisted that Daniel call a halt. "Your Excellency" the Welshman explained "It will do your sister no good if we over run their tracks in the dark" Daniel winced at the usage of what he still considered his father's title.
"It will be a cold camp here" Daniel answered in a voice filled with resignation "But you are right and we have no choice."
When he dismounted the others followed his example. With his saddle for a backrest, Daniel sat down in the shelter of budding oak. All the wood was too damp to burn, so their evening meal was cold meat and bread. The forest sounds returned to normal around them as the men settled in for the night. Dark came early under the heavily clouded skies. The temperature of the air fell across the landscape like an icy wave. It was not long before Daniel noticed that small animal sounds had fallen silent again. The snap of a twig turned his head sharply to the left. Wat crouched near his side with a finger held up for quiet.
"Something follows us in the dark." He whispered urgently to Daniel. Almost wraithlike in his movements he moved back silently. Daniel rose to follow him with slow measured steps. Both men froze at the sound of rustling in the brush. Quick as a snake Wat plunged his arm into the brush up to his shoulder. He pulled forth a flailing form in dark clothes and a dark woolen cap. In its struggle to be free, the cap came loose. Even in the darkness Daniel recognized the flash of gold from his brother's hair.
"Rob!" Daniel exclaimed "What do they devil do you mean by following us in the dark? You could have been killed any one of ten ways!"
Wat released the boy and he tumbled unceremoniously to the ground. Rob's expression turned sullen as he got to his feet. "I didn't though. I brought my own horse too. She's tied to a tree a little ways back."
" you did what? your suposed to have stayed at uncles castle?"
" And what wait like a girl or a child" spat Rob
" It's not a matter of making you sit at home like a child or a girl you need to recoperate and get well"
"I need to help find Lucinda"
Daniel was about to try to reason with Rob again when Wat intervened
" Sir might i have a word or two with you?"
" Rob stay put I'm not done with you"
Daniel followed Wat out of Rob's hearing range
"Sir i don't mean to trouble you but he's come this far on sheer determination it would disgrace him now if we sent him home and well plus you would have to send men we can't afford to lose with him. Let him ride with us if a major incident should arise I will keep a close eye on him"
" Your right He has lost both his parents and now to lose his only sister for him to sit still would be maddening. I'll go tell him now that he is to come with us."
" Very Good sir"
Daniel returned to Rob
" Get up go get the horse and be quick"
" Your not sending me home?"
" NO it would take too many men that i can't afford to give up"
before Daniel had said More Rob had up and bolted to his horse thankfull Daniel had no choice but to bring him along
Through the fog of sleep, Miles heard the crazy string of songs from a mockingbird. It was not insistent but it was annoying enough to nudge him into consciousness--and then into realizing it was Peter, one of his men, probably on his way to or from telling their intermediary that they had captured their quarry. Apparently he had found this group and investigated, finding Miles. The mockingbird was the "confusion" call, indicating one needed clarification in a situation. Miles couldn't very well whistle back. He couldn't imagine Peter could see him through the cover of trees. The call didn't sound that close. All the same, Miles shifted a bit to expose his hands to the glow of the fire and held his hands in the "change of plans" signal. His hands were tied behind his back so it was an improvised version of the signal. He had little hope that it could even be seen. But that was the last he heard of the mockingbird.
Peter rode up on his crew of fellow bandits at noon the next day as they were traveling toward the point where they would hand over their captives. He had ridden his horse to the point of exhaustion and "traded" it for another in the night. His new steed was heaving as he pulled up and jumped off. "Everyone! Cressida! Will!" he called out. "I've seen Miles! He's alive! He's being held captive by our hostages' relatives. He signaled to me a change of plans."
"What change?" asked Will.
"I didn't sit down and talk with him!" said Peter in exasperation. "He gave me the hand signal. That's all."
Wat approached the half asleep Daniel and said to him in a low voice,
" Sir, I am sorry to disturb you, but i have a feeling we were being followed ."
"How so ? " asked Daniel.
" I kept hearing what sounded like a bird, a Mockingbird to be exact. I remember hearing them one time when i visted an aunt of mind down south. Well, it seemed odd to be that a Mockingbird would be this far north."
" Your suspicions do make sense ," aggreed Daniels," Bring the man, Miles here. See if we can get him to talk ."
Wat returned a few minutes later with Miles, his hands still tied up.
" Master Miles," says Daniel," My friend here, Master Wat, has a feeling we are being followed. You would not know anything about this now would you ?"
" I know nothing of what you implie ," lies Miles," I was in a deep slumber until i was awaken by your friend sir ."
" I heard a Mockingbird call," replies Wat ," And we all know that Mockingbirds live down south, and that you have spent time down south."
" I have never spent time down south sir," remarks Miles back," I only stated that I wish to go south, to take my dear sister who is very ill, to a warmer climate. Which my the way, while we are standing here arguing my sister is growing weaker."
" You forget sir, that my sister is involved too,"replies Daniels," I suggest you co-operate with us. What about then man Badger who paid you ? Could he have sent men to follow us ?"
" I don't know," says Miles growing impatient, then he stops and thinks and says.." You know, if you untie me, I could draw you a map of where his men may be hiding out."
" I am not that stupid sir," remarks Daniel," You will remain tied up until i get my sister back."
Meanwhile back at the bandit hideout, Cressida can't belive what she just heard Peter say.
" Peter, are you certain ? Is my brother really alive ?"
" I saw him with my own two eyes ?" answers Peter.
" Then we must not head south," replies Cressida," That is what Miles means by change of plans. He does not want us to head south. If i know my brother he wants us to stay put until he makes his escape and comes and finds us."
" I'm not so sure,"says Will.
" Think whatever you want to think," remarks Cressida back," All i know , is that my brother is still alive, and for that i am very grateful for, and that he is going to find us, and then everything will be alright. Miles will make sure of it. He always takes care of things. he has never let me down."
In their haste to be away from the half-ruined cabin, the outlaws bundled Luci and her maid onto horses with no breakfast. Lucinda's hand ached horribly from the strain of being tied to the saddle horn. She was sure that her maid felt the same. Luke and Will rode in front of the group. Cressida, Peter and the mute Angus trailed at the rear. The cough from Cressida that so alarmed Lucinda the previous day lessened as the morning air gradually warmed.
After they forwarded a shallow creek Will reined his horse to a stop.
"We need to circle back now" he said to Luke "If we can sneak up behind them we may be able to free Miles."
With a sneer Luke replied "You know how many men they have and you think we can take them with just the few of us here?"
Exasperated Will replied "And you should know that Miles would stand a better chance of getting our money from this Badger. Miles is the one he's had dealings with before."
Lucinda watched this argument with interest. The weak link in their plan was the loss of Miles. He had been the front man and mastermind of the whole enterprise. If she could play on their differences, she might delay them long enough for a rescue to be effected.
"You will all swing from a gallows unless you release us soon" Luci commented to Cressida "Let me speak to my family and we can work out someway for you to move south."
"Shut up you!" Luke snarled at her "We'll get our money and be long gone before anyone catches up with us."
Will moved his horse between Luke and Lucinda. "We are wasting time here arguing" he hissed angrily "Every minute those men get closer to us. We have to do something to get them off our trail or we'll never be able to meet up with Badger."
A beast like snarl revealed Luke's yellow teeth. "All right then" he finally agreed "We will do it your way Will. We need to hide the women somewhere and leave the mute with them for a guard."
With a jerk he turned his horse's head to the left and followed the creek they had crossed earlier. Will shook he head and motioned for them all to follow Luke.
Cressida had always known Miles was a natural leader, but she hadn't realized how quickly their band would deteriorate without him. She wasn't sure what to think of some of the men anymore and she knew with certainty, ill though she was, that she was going to have to reach down inside herself and find the fortitude to take action herself. It seemed at every turn things were not going as they should.
As soon as they had been stashed in a copse and the others were beyond hearing, she turned to Angus, looked him directly in the eye and asked, "Are you loyal to me?"
He gave a quick nod without hesitation, much to her relief. And now to see if he would trust her judgement.
"I want no more bloodshed. We must reach Miles and Lucinda's family before the others. Are you with me?"
Again a curt nod and a glint of understanding in Angus's eyes. He turned gather the horses. Cressida turned to Lucinda and Faith.
"I don't think this attack from the rear is at all what Miles meant when he signaled a change of plans. I'm hoping we can meet your family's guard before any more violence breaks out. Then perhaps we can all walk away and seek peace hereafter."
"I can only hope it turns out as you intend," Luci replied as Angus helped her and Faith onto their horse.
"My illness is the cause of this cursed kidnapping. Maybe I can put an end to it."
They rode off hard, guessing at the most direct line to the party they were trying to meet, praying their shorter route would bear them more quickly to their goal.
Cressida and the others rounded a bend in the road. Suddenly a man leaped out at them grabbing the reins of Cressida's horse. Cressida tried to fight him off , but he drew a sword on her.He whistled and three other men that had been hiding in the woods came running out to confront the others.
" Thought you go and sneak off did you ?" grinned Luke," You should know better then that. Why i have been following you since you left . Now , don't you even think of calling out for help. I have you surrounded ."
" Luke ! How did you get away ?" demands Cressida. She recognises the other men with Luke. " What did you do to Will and the others ?Why are you doing this ? How did you get those other two to follow you ?"
" So many questions . Now don't you be worrying your pretty little head about all that ," grins Luke.He pulls Cressida down off of her horse . With a knife pointed at her throat he leads her off into the woods. Another man stands waiting with the horses.
" Tie her hands and feet up," Luke orders the man," and gag her too."
The man fellows Luke's orders. Cressida turns to the man and says ," Why are you doing this ? Why are you taking orders from him? I thought you were better then this ."
" Quiet!" orders Luke," Soon it will be just me and you my lovely, and i will make you my wife."
" You don't love me," hisses Cressida.
" True," smiles Luke," But your dear brother does, and I am sure he would pay a nice sum of gold to get you back. "
" You know Miles does not have any money ," Cressida shouts.
Cressida tries to fight , but she is too weak, and Luke is too strong. Once she is tied up and gagged he picks her up and tosses her over the saddle of the horse. He tosses the man a small gold coin.
" You and the fellows do whatever you want to the others," he tells the man and mounts the horse . He keeps one hand on Cressida and taking the reins in the other hand goes galloping off
Daniel left the man called Miles to the watchful eyes of the armsmen, along with his brother Rob. Miles took it in better humor than Rob did. Wat rode next to him as they continued to follow the trail left by their quarry. The small sounds of animals that scurried through the bush followed them through the gray, dew soaked dawn. From the marks in the damp sod Daniel could tell that the bandits had made no effort to hide their numbers. Unless they scorned the size of the search party, these outlaws were not the brightest men by all appearances. It occurred to Daniel that Miles was the more intelligent of the bandits. Capturing him at the outset could prove to have been a bit of luck. Daniel reined in his horse when the ever present chirping of birds fell silent around them. Barely a heartbeat later Wat held up his hand to halt the others. The slender Welshman slid from his saddle and crept silently ahead until he was barely visible through the foliage. The armsmen spread out around Daniel as tense seconds crept by. Even Rob slipped up beside his brother without drawing his censure. Just when Daniel decided to go after Wat, his tall form reappeared. As he walked up to Daniel his face was hard and closed.
"You should see this" he told Daniel as he remounted and led the way.
The rest fell in behind as the guided their horses through the brush. The smell of iron and manure made the young Baron wrinkle his nose unexpectedly. A pair of brown clad legs was Daniel's next warning of the sight that awaited him. Sprawled behind a tree was the body of a dark haired man. His faded yellow shirt was graced by a rust brown bib. Then Daniel's stomach lurched when he saw that the bib was actually blood that had soaked into the shirt from the man's ravaged throat. A retching sound made Daniel look away from the horrific sight. His brother Rob and Miles had both voided their breakfast onto the ground.
Wat's voice broke over the noise of the pair's illness. "Did you know this man?" he asked in an icy voice.
Miles took a drink from his water bag and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Yes I knew him" he choked out "His name was Peter."
"Wat" Daniel called out urgently "We have to hurry. If these brigands continue to fall out among themselves; my sister's life will be in greater danger."
His eyes locked onto the corpse before he turned away with a shudder. "We cannot spare the time to bury this man now" Daniel ordered "We leave him as he lies." Rob looked in shock from Wat to his brother and back again. Only Wat's eyes showed his dismay that Daniel's heart should have become so hardened. When the riders pushed on, only Miles turned back for a last salute to his late friend.
Angus refrained from interfering with Cressida's abduction because he didn't think he could take on 4 men, especially when galvanized by Luke's leadership, and he was fearful of Cressida getting wounded. But 3 men who had little sense of purpose he had no doubt he could defeat or evade. He had grown up being the target of bullies so 3-1 was not unfamiliar odds for him. He was clear on his priorities: set Lucinda and her maid free to ride on, as Cressida would wish, and then ride on himself to free Cressida from the degenerate Luke, as Miles would wish and as his own heart bid him do.
In the lull of indecision at Luke's retreat, Angus gave a quick nod to Lucinda without looking at her and lunged at the man nearest him.
Lucinda felt Faith lunge from behind her and saw a knitting needle sink into the shouldher of the man holding the reins of their horse. As he gasped and spun to defend himself from further assault, Lucinda gave their steed a fierce kick. It lunged and wheeled, throwing the man off balance and as he fell, the reins were released. They were free and she set the horse to running into the woods though she didn't know which way led to safety.
Angus had one man down before the girls made their escape. The second he was able to close in swordplay and then punch hard enough to put him out. When he turned to Bailey, the man who'd been holding the girls' horse, the man held up his hands in surrender. So Angus cast his gaze quickly over the available horse, chose the one that looked least worn out, leapt up and was off on the trail of Luke and Cressida.
In the hands of such a savage of Luke, Cressida gave in to despair. Miles had no money to ransom her and he was a captive himself so he could not rescue her. She was not strong enough to defend herself. She gave no thought to preserving her life but would give it up to escape the fate Luke had planned for her. Her perch on the saddle was tenuous. Luke was counting on her fear of falling from a running horse to keep her in place. Instead, she decided to topple herself over the side. She flung her legs up; Luke attempted to catch her; the weight being flung around on the exhausted horse's back caused it to stumble, trip, and go down. When it arose, heaving, legs shaking, the two humans lay prone and still on the forest floor.
Lucinda suddenly reined in the horse, and started heading back in the direction they had come from.
" What are you doing ?" shouts Faith at her," You are heading back towards those men that held us captive. We nedd to go the other direction."
" I know," replies Lucinda," but i can't stop thinking about the girl called Cressida. She was so weak and ill and defenseless. I can't continue on without knowing what happn to her. We have to go back and help her ."
" They are probably far ahead of us by now," says Faith," We are better off trying to find your brother."
" I don't even know where my uncle's home is ,"responds Lucinda,"No we are most likely closer to Cressida then my uncle's home. If we ride fast we maybe able to find them."
" We don't even know what direction they went," protests Faith," iT will be getting dark and we are two women out in the woods with no weapons on us. What if someone approaches us ?"
" My mind is made up," says Lucinda," I keep seeing that poor woman's face in my mind. I have to help her."
" You always were stubborn," sighs Faith.
**********************************************************************************
Angus sees a riderless horse standing in the road. He dismounts his own horse , leading it by the reins and approaches the riderless horse. The horse has been ridden hard and is covered in sweat and a thin white lather. He pets the horse on the neck, calming it down and then grabs the reins.
He leads both horse's down the road aways when he spots two figures laying motionless in the grass.He ties the horses up to a nearby tree and approaches the figures. He approaches the first figure. A woman layng face down. He recognises the hair color and the clothing she is wearing.
He rolls the woman over . She moans and lets out a gasp. she tries to sit up, but is in a great deal of pain. It hurts to breath.
" Angus," Cressida says to him," I need your help."
She looks over at the the motionless figure of Luke next to her.
" Angus is he dead?" she asks. No, she could not be that lucky.
" Angus grab his weapons," Cressida instructs him.
Angus approaches Luke. He grabs Lukes dagger and sword,then he feels a firm grip on his wrist.
" Just what do you think you are doing?" growls Luke.
Angus points the sword at Luke.
" Like you know how to us that," laughs Luke. He tries to move,but the pain in his leg overcomes him.He can seea bone jutting out.
" I broke my leg !" He looks over at Cressida and snarls," You! This all your fault. That foolish stunt you pulled on the horse, you could have killed us.If only i could stand up, i would throw you back on a horse and get out of here."He tries to stand, but the pain in his leg is too strong.
" Darn you woman, you will pay for this."
Cressida tries to sit up. Her ribs hurt and she gasps in pain.
" Angus," she cries out," You need to go find help."
Angus shakes his head, refusing to leave Cressida with Luke.
" Angus, please, ," gasps Cressida in pain.
Angus heads for one of the tied up horses, unties it , mounts and rides off. He rides for several miles when he sees a horse appraoching fast .Two women are mounted on it. He recognises the women and signals to them.
" It is Cressida's friend Angus," cries out Faith. The women approach Angus. Lucinda tells him they are looking for Cressida and Luke. Angus points down the road beckoning them to follow him.
Lucinda and Faith follow behind him, and he leads them to where Cressida and Luke lay.
" Cressida," cries Lucinda dismounting her horse and running towards Cressida.
" I can't breath," says Cressida," It hurts too bad."
" We are going to help you," comforts Lucinda.
" What about me," snaps Luke," I could use some attention here."
" You sir, can lay there and suffer for what you have done to Cressida as far as I am concern," replies Lucinda.
" What I did to her," snarls Luke," It is thanks to her, that we are both laying like this ."
" I know better then to belive one word you say sir ," replies Lucinda turning her attention back to Cressida. Cressida lets out a moan.
" We are going to have to make some type of litter to transport her in," says Faith. She walks over to Angus and tries to explain to him what she needs him to do. Angus nods his head and sets off gathering branches to make a litter.
Cressida starts to cough real hard and has ahard time stopping.
" I wish I had some water," she gasps.
"I have a small flask of whiskey in my pocket she can have a sip of," says Luke. Luke pulls out the flask.
" Here take it ," he instructs Lucinda. Lucinda reaches out for it. Luke grabs Lucinda arm and pulls her ontop of him. She struggles to get back up, but Luke grabs her around the neck and puts a choke hold on her.
" Let her go," demands Faith.
" I'lll give the orders around here," shouts Luke ," Get my horse and my sword and dagger otherwise your friend here has breathed her last breath."
Very slowly Lucinda tenses up every muscle in her body as she felt her consciousness fading. Then as hard as she could she kicked blindly at Luke's broken leg. His inhuman howl of pain pierced her eardrums, but she retained enough of her senses to quickly roll away from him.
"You bloody harridan" Luke hissed at Lucinda through his sobs of pain.
Lucinda got up from her hands and knees with Faith's help. She got a clear view of Luke's leg and felt sick when she saw that his limb was now barely held together by the torn skin. She turned her head from the bloody sight to see Angus gesturing wildly towards Cressida. Lucinda knelt beside the ill woman and saw that she had lost consciousness.
Lucinda's voice held only a slight quaver when she said "Angus, we have to get her on a litter and look for a road right now."
Luke continued his tirade of curses and shouts ignored by the rest. As Cressida was moved onto the makeshift litter his curses gradually turned to pleas.
"I'll die if you leave me here!" he screeched at his former captives.
The horse that the litter was tied to shied at the unfamiliar conveyance, but Angus held tight to the reins. Using only his hand he had insisted that Luci and Faith mount the other two horses.
Lucinda pointed to a river that was just visible downhill from where they were.
"If we follow that river it's likely that we will come to a road soon enough" she stated flatly. Her tone brooked no disagreement. Not that either of her companions had a better idea to put forward. So with Angus walking beside the impromptu draft animal, they started towards the river. Luke's broken pleas soon fell behind them and out of hearing range.
As Miles turned from his salute to poor Peter, he noticed a bit of cloth wagging in the bushes. "Hold!" he called out. "Another! Alive!"
Both the commanding tone and curiosity caused the rear of the companyto come to a halt.
"I see nothing," said the man nearest Miles, following his gaze.
"There above the hedge," said Miles, unable to gesture.
"I see it!" cried out Rob from midway in the group. "A grey cloth bobbing." He pointed and moved to dismount.
"Everyone!" bellowed Daniel, "on your guard! This could be a trap!"
"M'lord, my instincts tell me he called it true," said Wat. "Let me go to the man to see if he can tell us anything."
"As you wish, Wat, but I'll have no useless delays."
Daniel and the others stayed mounted while Wat and two of his choice helped Miles from his mount and walked cautiously through the thicket to find a pale man lying prone, his clothes saturated with blood.
"Thank the gods," the man whispered when he saw Miles.
At Wat's inquiring glance, Miles said, "My second." Miles dropped to his knees to better hear Will and save him the effort of speaking any louder than he had to. "What happened, Will?"
"Luke. He wants Cressida to wife."
"What?!" exclaimed Miles, turning pale himself.
"We left the women at Bright Spot along Willow Brook."
"Alone?"
"With Angus."
Miles felt a shade of relief.
"Luke went back with 3 men for Cressida."
"And the girls?"
"He had no thought for them. Off his rocker, Miles. Totally gone."
"And you?"
"Ride on. But if I've got any juice in me when you pass back, I'd appreciate you corking a few holes."
"No others?" asked Wat, "just this Luke and 3 men?"
"As I know," said Will.
"Time!" came Daniel's impatient call behind them.
"Peace to you," said Miles. "I'll return if I can." The guards were lifting him.
"You can lead us to the place? This Bright Spot?"
"Yes, it's not far from here and I'm as interested in speed as your young Baron."
Both Wat and Miles were experienced trackers. It was but a couple of hours later that they came upon the prone, unconscious body of Luke. It was a huge relief to Miles to see Luke broken and alone. He assumed that if Cressida was not with him that she must have gotten away on her own power. Luke had dragged himself a short distance before passing out to no obvious end. Daniel ordered Luke's hands bound and roused him for questioning. Though clearly in a weakened state, he was determined to be vile so long as he could draw breath.
"What happened here?" demanded Daniel.
But Luke's eyes were drawn to Miles standing nearby. "Cressida's a soiled woman now," he said with a sneer.
Miles felt his pulse quicken, but calmed himself. Nothing that they'd seen led him to believe that. All had been battle and haste. "Answer the man," was all he said.
"Bandits have taken all the pretties away--broke in on my pleasure." He fixed his eyes on Daniel. "Yours was a little fiesty but--"
He never finished his sentence as Daniel's sword came down on his throat. He raised his sword again.
"Stay your passions, man," said Miles. "He's a liar."
Wat appeared out of nowhere and placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "He's dead and the world a better place for it, m'lord, but no need to go further. Come see what we've found."
Daniel lowered his sword but as he turned he grabbed Miles by the throat. "I should kill you, too."
"The ransom was to help my own sister," rasped out Miles.
"And the women await our help," coaxed Wat.
Still glaring at Miles, Daniel growled, "mind how you address me in the future," before releasing him and following Wat.
Lucinda,and Faith on horseback , and Angus head down the road with the draft horse dragging the litter carrying Cressida. They are several miles down the road when they see a figure laying by the side of the road. He calls to them.
" It is the man they called Will," shouts Lucinda , dismounting her horse and running towards him.
" Thankyou for stopping," replies Will in a weak voice," I thought I would be left to die alone out here."
" What happen ?" asks Lucinda.
" It is a long story, " gasps Will. He sees a figure in the litter and asks about it.
" It's Cressida," replies Lucinda," She tried to escape from Luke."
" If he did anything to hurt her," gasps Will, anger in his voice.
" Easy Will," says Lucinda," You need your strength ."
" Will, is that Will ?" coughs Cressida.
" Yes dear," replies Faith.
" Did you see Miles and your brother Daniel?" Will asks Lucinda," They were just here a short time ago."
" And they left you here," coughs Cressida in pain.
" I would only slow them down ," says Will," They were determined to find all you women ."
" Daniel was here !" exclaims Lucinda," How did we miss them ? "
" They must have taken a different road ," replies Will.
" We were so close ," sighs Lucinda in dismay. She looks at Angus and then says to him, " Angus , you nedd to ride ahead and see if you can find the man called Miles and my brother Daniel ."
Angus nods his head. He mounts the horse Lucinda had been riding and heads down the road.
Lucinda starts to rip one of the underskirts she is wearing.
" We will use these strips to try and stop your bleeding," she says to Will," I don't know what else i can do."
Cressida starts coughing harder.
" Take care of her," says Will," That is all I ask."
" I will," assures Lucinda," But let me try to help you too."
The sound of pounding hoof beats caused Daniel to draw his sword almost before he realized it. His brother Rob reined his horse around drew out his small dagger. Daniel had but a heartbeat to spare for the sight of his brother's white, determined face before a rider burst through the trees. The pale haired rider hauled his horse to a skidding stop. An aborted movement by Miles drew a flicker of attention from Daniel. While his horse stood blowing, the newcomer gestured frantically at the men.
Miles cleared his throat and nervously ventured "Your Excellency, I know this man, his name is Angus. And I think he should be paid attention to."
Daniel tensed at these words but did not lower his sword. Several of the guardsmen moved around behind the man so that he was completely encircled.
"Well, what do you have to tell us?" Daniel spat out.
Miles broke in "I am afraid he is a mute, milord."
Daniel shot a glance down at his brother before he responded "Very well, do you know where my sister is?"
Angus nodded vigorously and pointed in the direction from which he had come.
"Can you lead us to her?" Daniel asked in a voice that was like the slow melting of snow.
After Angus nodded again, Daniel waved away the guardsmen and urged his horse forward. Miles nodded to Angus as Wat led his horse forward.
The hour it took for them to find the women seemed to stretch out into eternity for Daniel and Rob. The sight of their sister's golden hair sent relief though them in a flood. Then he noticed her bloody hands as she knelt between two prone figures.
In alarm, Daniel leapt from his horse and ran to his sister where she stood next to Will. "Are you hurt?!"
"No, I'm fine," she said with a weary smile.
Taking that as affirmation that he could do her no harm, Daniel gave Lucinda a strong but brief hug. Rob, who had been beside his brother, then stepped in with a longer embrace, which Luci returned.
"We're so glad to see you," Rob said. "And Faith, too," he said with a nod and smile to the maid standing on the other side of the prone Will looking relieved.
"But what are you doing?" asked Daniel spreading his arms to encompass the scene they'd rode up on.
"I'm unharmed but others were not so fortunate. I was trying to help as best I could."
"So these were other captives? I thought this man was one of the bandits."
"He was," said Luci, "and Cressida was an ill woman among them."
"So we've been tearing all over this wood searching for you while you've been nurse-maiding the very people who kidnapped you and killed a number of our guard?!" he asked in annoyance.
Luci drew herself up and bristled back at him. "There's more to this than what appears on the surface."
"Can we just go home," broke in Rob, "or to Uncle Thomas's," he corrected, "and sort it all out there?"
When the riders had pulled up Miles was both relieved and dismayed to see a pale Cressida laid out on a primitive cot. Managing to dismount without aid, he strode over to her as quickly as he could without causing alarm and knelt beside her.
"Miles," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
"I'm here." He noted her short fast breaths. "What's wrong?"
"My ribs."
"Broken?"
She nodded.
He immediately understood the implications for her. Coughing would be excruciating. He felt men fumbling with the knots binding his hands. "Do any among you carry laudanum?" he asked.
"I expect," came the answer. "Finney, go ask Wat about some laudanum for the woman." The man cursed then and pulled a knife to saw at Miles' bonds. Shortly, they fell away.
Miles took one of Cressida's hands and caressed her hair. "We'll have some comfort for you soon."
Tears were streaming down Cressida's face. "It's all gone bad, Miles."
"Shh," he said. "There's still hope. Who brought you here?"
"Angus and Luci. The girl came back for me, Miles, when she was free. She thought I was in danger and came to help." It was too much talking for her. She began to cough with the last word and moaned in pain.
"Shh," said Miles, trying to soothe. "I'm sorry. I'll ask no more questions."
The laudanum arrived. Miles watched with relief as Cressida closed her eyes and her face relaxed.
"So this is the beloved sister for whose benefit so much chaos has been wrought?" came Daniel's sarcastic voice from above.
Miles clenched his jaw and mastered his desire to lash out at the lordling before he rose and turned to face him.
"Yes, m'lord," he said simply and then noticed the young lady standing beside Rob looking down at Cressida with concern. "But may the poor judgement of brothers never tarnish the virtue of their sisters," he said to Daniel before turning to Lucinda with a bow. "M'lady, would you be the kind soul who looked after my sister when you yourself were in danger?"
"Yes, I guess I am," said Lucinda, "though I never seemed in quite as much danger as she." Faith gave a contrary huff behind her.
Miles went down on his knee before Lucinda with a bowed head. "Then I pledge to you my sword, should I ever hold one again, and my services so long as I am able-bodied. My loyalty to you shall be second only to my loyalty to Cressida."
"This is outrageous!" burst out Daniel. "Lucinda, you can't possibly accept the pledge of a scoundrel, a bandit for godssake!"
Lucinda had been flabbergasted by Miles' actions and words. The thought that someone would ever do such a thing had never entered her mind and she didn't know what to make of it or how to respond. But her anger at Daniel bossing her around, as he so often did, brought back her resolve to act independently as she thought right.
"Look at me," she commanded Miles. His dark eyes met hers earnestly and then she saw his great sadness, that he believed he would lose Cressida and needed a second purpose to cling to. "I accept your pledge," she said quietly, "but I hope your first duty will yet be a long one."
"This is ridiculous," insisted Daniel in disgust. "You're not of legal age to accept such pledges."
"Is such a pledge ever legal?" speculated Rob, innocently trying to grasp the consequences of what had just occurred. "Isn't it just between two people?"
"It matters not, my young lords," said Wat behind them in an effort to defuse the tension. "His first duty is still to his sister who is in need of his aid while Lucinda is currently guarded by many, so his pledge is of no import at the moment. May we prepare to move on, my lord Daniel?"
" Very well," replies Daniel to Wat. He turns and points to Will, Miles ,Luke and Cressida and says " But I want those four placed under arrest. You are to ride ahead and fetch the local sheriff ."
" You can't do that ," protests Lucinda," Luke, yes, he is evil, but those two other men saved my life and the woman is gravely ill. She will die if you have her arrested ."
" I'm sorry," snaps Daniel ," But the law is the law. "
" What happen to you ?" Lucinda shouts angerly at him," What happen to the loving and caring older brother I knew? "
" Enough sister!" Daniel growls back starting to walk away.
" Don't you walk away from me !" Lucinda yells back," Look at you Daniel. You make me right now ashamed to call you my brother. I thank the Lord our dead mother and father are not alive to see this. It would break mother's heart to see you act like this. This people are no diiferent then the rest of us. Sure they may not be rich, and wear fancy clothes, and have a fancy title before their name, but they are human beings just like the rest of us and deserve to be treated like human beings ."
" Mount up," shouts Daniel to the others.
" Daniel," pleads Lucinda. Rob walks up to her and says to her," Leave him be Lucinda . Now is not the time or the place . Lets help the others."
Daniel spurred his horse viciously towards the road. He had spent the last few days in a fog of terror that he would lose his only sister. Now he had her back but he did not know how to let go of his anger at anyone involved in her abduction. From the look on her face, as well as Rob's, he knew he had hurt his siblings deeply. Half the guards had followed him automatically without waiting for their prisoners. Once his horse climbed the embankment, Daniel reined in his horse in the middle of the road. The guards held back as their master paced his horse back and forth across the lane.
Lucinda held her mount to the same pace as the litter, so it was some time before she joined her brother on the road. She sidled her horse beside his as the others made their way laboriously up the slope and onto the road. Without warning she swung her gloves and struck Daniel full in the face. The force of the blow was not painful in itself but the shock of Luci's action shook him to the core. Daniel grasped her wrist before she could repeat the blow. The inferno of rage that had burned through him earlier threatened to return. Then he saw the tear tracks through the dirt on her face. The expression on her face was exactly the same as it had been the morning of their mother's death. For long moments Daniel maintained his bone-crushing grip on her wrist. His whole body shook with the effort he spent in controlling his emotions. His eyes closed when he heard a soft whimper from her lips. Ever so slowly he relaxed his fingers.
"Master Wat" he called with his eyes still closed.
"I am here your Excellency" the Welshman answered.
With only the slightest hold on his sister's arm Daniel continued "Is there not a monastery on the river near here?"
"There was the last time that I was through here milord" was Wat's answer.
Daniel opened his eyes and looked directly at Luci. Brown eyes locked with blue as he said "Then that is the place we will take the wounded. After they are seen to; we will unravel the mystery that surrounds the architect of this fiasco."
Bright tears welled up in Luci's eyes that threatened to overwhelm her trembling smile.
"Thank you brother" Lucinda whispered through her tears "I knew you were a better man."
She turned then and smiled at Miles who rode beside Cressida's litter. It was as if the sun shone a bright ray upon him. The former outlaw's heart raced and almost caused him to lose his balance as he considered the multiple meanings behind that smile.
Under Wat's direction, the odd cavalcade turned towards the monastery and village that was a few miles away. The bells that tolled the noon hour were audible long before the walls came into sight. Built on a knoll amidst tilled fields, the warm golden stone of the buildings were a welcome sight to them all.
Rob was the first to reach the gate and he rang the bell vigorously until one of he monks pulled open the ponderous wooden gate. The sight of the two litters caused him to motion the party forward without a word being spoken.
As the weary troup gathered in the tidy courtyard, two robed figures swept out of a side gallery and headed for the wounded. A lean, brisk man in his sixties bowed to no on in particular and introduced himself. "Father Randall. And this is Brother Jeremy," he indicated his younger companion, a man of barely 30 with a kind expression. "We are healers and pleased to be of service."
"I'm grateful for any help you can lend," said Miles. "Will here has suffered several stab wounds and lost much blood. Cressida, my sister, has fallen from a horse and broken her ribs."
Father Randall knelt beside Will, while Brother Jeremy laid a hand on Cressida's forehead. "It's more than the ribs that ails her, isn't it?" he asked with calm concentration.
"She suffers from consumption," replied Miles. "We've given her laudanum to stave off the cough."
Brother Jeremy nodded. "Poor thing," he said softly. "We'll keep her as quiet as possible."
The words and the monk's gentle manner touched Miles so that he struggled with his emotions. He knew she would survive her present injuries but he feared the consumption would gain a stronger hold in the meantime. He had hoped to give her one more taste of a life without care as in their younger days but he never seemed able to provide that respite.
A hand squeezed his arm. "She'll have a good rest here," said Lucinda as though reading his thoughts.
Suddenly Father Randall began barking orders, calling others out of the buildings to carry litters, ordering Brother Jeremy to prepare needles and sutures, ordering still others to bring boiled water and towels to the infirmery.
This burst of commands and activity jarred Miles out of his thoughts. Looking around, he saw that most of the men had dismounted and that Daniel was engaged in conversation with a portly, jowly man of middle age with an officious manner.
The portly,jowly middle aged man that Daniel was talking to, just happened to be the town's sheriff. Daniel points to Miles, Will and shouts,
" Those are the two right there sheriff. I want them arrested ."
Miles hears him say this and turns around in anger at Daniel and says," Why you no good
b a s--rd ! (edited for younger viewers ) . You promised you would not have us arrested. You gave your word to your sister ."
" I promised no such thing sir ," replies Daniel , raising his voice back at Miles ," I only said that i would see that the injured were cared for. You are still going to prison ."
" No you can't do this !" shouts Lucinda. She turns to Father Randall and says," Is this not a place of God? Then these men, with the exception of maybe one , have the right to sanctuary here ."
" Stay out of this sister ," orders Daniel," you do not understand the law ."
" No maybe i don't understand ," says Lucinda, feelings of hurt and anger ringing out in her voice ," But i do know I hate you. I will never speak to you again."
She storms off.
Daniel starts to go after her, but Rob stops him and says to him," Have you not hurt her enough for one day ?"
" Out of my way Robert," shouts Daniel," I need to talk to her .I need to explain to her why."
" No !" replies Rob , bluntly," You will have to get pass me first ."
Daniel swings a fist at Robert, and the two get into a big brawl.
" Break it up you two," orders Wat pulling the two apart.
" I'm sorry Robert ," Daniel says to him," I don't know what is wrong with me lately. I can't think straight. I'm letting my emotions get the best of me. First mother and father dying suddenly, and now this whole situation, almost losing Lucinda. I was out of line. I appologise ."
" I'm not the one you need to appologise to," says Robert.
" I know," sighs Daniel," Hopefully she will speak to me , and let me explain."
Daniel turns to the sheriff and says," Sir, i was letting my emotions get the best of me. I did keep a promise to my sister. A promise I will not go back on. Release those two men ."
Daniel walks over to Miles and says ,
" I know you did what you had to do for the well being of your sister," replies Daniel," I too have a sister I care deeply for. Hopefully she will forgive me for my outburst here ."
" I think she will," smiles Miles," She is a good woman ."
" Sir, do you have an interest in my sister ?' asks Daniel.
" If i did , would it meet you approval ?' asks Miles.
" Your a good man sir ," says Daniel walking off to find his sister.
" You did not answer my question ," Miles shouts after him.
" I know," Daniel shouts back with a smile. Daniel finds his Lucinda sitting by a fountain crying.
" Lucinda," he says to her, his heart breaking at the sight of his sister in tears, knowing that he was the cause of her dismay.
" I don't want to speak to you Daniel," she informs him.
" I know you are upset with me," replies Daniel.
" I am not a child anymore Daniel," says Lucinda," I know what it means to make a promise and to keep it. You made a promise, you gave us your word. Those people not only save my life , they are my friends. "
" I know ," Daniel says to her sitting down beside her.
" Then why did you have them arrested?" she cries.
" I was not thinking straight," explains Daniel," First we lost mother and father then we almost lost you. Not only that, but i saw that poor woman Cressida suffering in pain. I just felt angry. I wanted justice. I wanted to protect you and make evrything right again. I wanted to bring mother and father back."
" Daniel," says Lucinda reaching out for her brothers hand ," I miss mother and father too, but Miles and Will arrested is not going to help anything ."
" I know," answers Daniel," That is why I told the sheriff to release them ."
" Oh Daniel, thankyou ," cries Lucinda. Her tears change from tears of sadness to tears of joy. She hugs her brother.
" You are not angry with me anymore then ?' asks Daniel.
" No," assures Lucinda," I understand now . Thankyou for telling me how you feel. You know Daniel , we are family. You can talk to me any time."
" When did you go from being a liitle girl to a grown woman ?" laughs Daniel giving his sister another hug.
The Monastery had lavish accommodations for visitors. This came as a surprise to Daniel until the Abbott informed him that the queen stayed there regularly on the way to her favorite shrine. Since the Royal Lady was not expected for another half-year, Luci and her maid were housed in grand style. Will and the ailing Cressida were sequestered in the infirmary. The King's chambers were given over to Daniel and Rob, while the rest of the men were housed with the monks. The young baron knew that only hope of a large reward held Miles to their cause. But his devotion to his sister was apparent. In order to impose on the Abbott's hospitality as little as possible, Daniel had instructed Wat to prepare for an early departure. But tonight, they would dine at the monastery's table.
It seemed as if as much effort went into this meal as it would have for the queen herself.
The three siblings were seated at the high table with the Abbott and his Chancellor. The first course was hundreds of tiny quail eggs boiled in their shells. This was followed by suckling pig roasted in goat's milk. Twice Lucinda tried to engage the good Abbott in conversation, but soon gave it up as wasted effort. The worthy gentleman politely answered each of her questions, though it was his dinner that truly held his attention. By the time the last course of apples baked with almonds was served, all of those present were filled to bursting.
Daniel stood up from the table and picked up a bottle of the monastery's excellent wine. A small gesture of his hand alerted Wat to his intentions.
"Good Abbott Waller" Daniel started "I wish to express my thanks for this excellent repast. You have shown my family much honor by your generosity and the efforts of your monks. I hope I have done justice to the magnificence of your table. I will excuse myself now for a bit of a rest." He hated this kind of flowery language but he knew it would please the older man. The bag of silver pennies had also helped sweeten the monks' demeanor towards their unplanned guests.
By the time Daniel made it to the front door Wat and Miles were already waiting with four of the men-at-arms. The gravel walks of the monastery garden were a welcome change from the stifling heat of the dining chamber. Holding his silver cup aloft, Daniel poured himself a generous measure of wine before he passed the bottle to Miles.
"Since we appear to be allies for the nonce" he said to the erstwhile outlaw "it seemed appropriate that we drink to the success of our venture."
With a wry grin, Miles filled his cup and passed the bottle along. While the wine made the rounds of the men Daniel held up his cup once more and examined it closely.
He chuckled before he commented "Milord Abbott has the service of an excellent silversmith. My father owned no plate this fine."
He turned to face Miles where he stood next to the faithful Welshman. "The path ahead will be difficult and dangerous. But I swear that if you hold faith with me, I will hold faith with you." With his eyes fixed on Miles he tipped a drop of wine to the ground before he drained his glass. The older man swallowed hard before he mumbled "I also so swear." After all the men had drained their glasses, Miles turned to go back inside.
In the hallway he almost ran into Lucinda as she came from the dining room.
"Your pardon my lady" he said in surprise. His eyes flickered briefly as Faith came up behind her mistress. "I was wondering" he began in a choked voice "If you would do me the honor of a walk in the garden before you retire?"
A smile brightened Lucinda's face briefly before Faith nudged her arm. For long moments she looked at Miles as her smile slowly faded. His heart sank deeper with each passing moment. Then she said quietly "I would be happy to walk in the garden. But I think you should know that I have been betrothed to another man since I was seven years old. My marriage was only delayed by my parents' deaths. Once my year of mourning is finished, I will go south to be wed."
Miles faked a jaunty smile that he did not really feel. Inwardly he chastised himself for the delusion he had allowed. The girl's beauty had struck him through and he had let himself forget that she was a noblewoman.
"Well then" he managed to say "A walk in the garden after dinner is a simple thing after all."
Daniel saw them as they turned towards a torch lit path. He couldn't quite decide what he thought about seeing the two of them together and followed by Faith. He made his way to the bedchamber where Rob was already asleep. The long day and longer dinner had been too much for the boy. Briefly Daniel envied his brother the peaceful sleep that he enjoyed. The boots were hefted into the corner before the young baron collapsed onto the bed himself.
Dusk was falling so the threesome did not venture far into the gardens, whose plantings had turned into dark, textured shapes, some neatly defined, some with ragged edges. Bright flowers were reduced to lighter shades of grey holding out as night descended.
It had been a long, trying day even for the young and hardy. Miles felt it himself and saw it in Lucinda despite her proper bearing.
"Under other circumstances, I would enjoy a long stroll to learn more about the young woman who would go to such lengthes to help my sister. But I will defer that conversation to another day as I expect sleep is the best medicine for all of us tonight," began Miles.
"I just wanted you to know, though my earlier oath may have seemed rash, I meant it. Should any threat of harm come to you or should there come a time when your brothers cannot intervene on your behalf, I will gladly come to your aid as you did for Cressida. I hope you will feel free to call on me should need arise."
Lucinda wasn't sure how to respond. His attention was both flattering and embarrassing. "I am honored, but truly, it was nothing. I don't need anything in return."
"I may not seem so now, behind the heavy walls of the monastery, but know that you can call on me."
"Soon enough she will be married with an entire household looking after her," Faith interrupted indignantly.
"And what is the temperament of your betrothed, if I may be so bold?" Miles asked Lucinda.
"He seems pleasant enough," reflected Lucinda. "His father is a little scary--gruff--but Colin does not seem to take after him."
Miles nodded. "I'm glad to hear it. Perhaps you'll never need my service. Just know I have your welfare in mind and will do what I can for you."
"Your concern is appreciated," said Lucinda, "and I won't forget you--or Cressida."
"And now it is best if we retire indoors," asserted Faith.
Miles got the distinct impression that Faith did not approve of him and wondered how he might reassure her.
"You are right," he conceded and turned back for the halls. "It's a good thing Lucinda has you looking out for her."
"Indeed," said Lucinda with a touch of mirth, "she is quite handy with knitting needles in close quarters."
"Oh?" prompted Miles, genuinely curious. Luci held forth with evident pride on Faith's stabbing one of the bandits with a needle at a critical moment.
"And do you carry your concealed weapons on you now, Mistress Faith?" inquired Miles.
"None of your business," snapped Faith.
"Oh, Faith, don't be so prickly," chided Lucinda and then giggled at her pun.
"No, it's an excellent answer," said Miles, "One should never reveal such things and you should beware telling the tale too often. You may need that surprise another day.
"We have reached our parting. Thank you for sharing your company with me this evening." Miles bowed. "I hope you will grant me the pleasure again soon."
"The pleasure has been mine," replied Luci with a curtsy and a blush. "I look forward to walking with you again soon."
Faith, Miles noticed, remained on her guard, giving only the barest dip of a curtsy and not lowering her eyes. Giving Faith a little training, he though to himself as he headed for his pallet, might be the best way to discharge his vow of protection.
Daniel layed in his bed, unable to sleep. He decided to get up and walk around for a bit. As he headed downstairs to the courtyard he passed by the infirmary.He could hear someone coughing and crying out for help. He entered the room, to find that he, Will, who was sound asleep, and Cressida were the only ones there. Daniel walked over to the table next to Cressida's bed and grabbing the pitcher and mug pours her some water to drink.
" Thankyou," replies Cressida, sipping the glass of water.
" Where is everyone ?' inquires Daniel," You should not be left alone ."
" Faith and Lucinda were here earlier but then they went to bed," Cressida answers," There was a monk in here earlier sitting with us, but I do not know where he went off to ."
" This room is very stuffy ," Daniel says to her," We should open some of these windows. My mother use to say fresh air was good for what ails you ." He wipes away a tear as he thinks of his mother and walks over to the windows . He spots a small garden just outside with a bench .
" I have a better idea," says Daniel," It is a warm night out. Come let me help you up." Daniel holds his hands out to Cressida and helps her stand up. He grabs a blanket and wraps it around her, and then taking her in his arms he picks her up and carries her outside to the garden.
" Should we be doing this ?" asks Cressida," I am sick. Will, you not get in trouble for taking me outside ?"
" Let me worry about that," Daniel replies," Besides like I already said, the warm air will be good for you." He helps Cressida sit down on a bench. The moon and stars are out and they reflect in the small garden pond next to the bench.Cressida looks like a delicate angel sitting on the bench. Daniel finds himself awestruck.
" Oh Daniel, thankyou for bringing me out here," cries Cressida," It is breathtaking. Like a small fairy land. It reminds me of the small garden my mother had when i was a child. she use to sit and read to me in the garden."
" I don't have a book to read to you," says Daniel,'but i could tell you a story my mother use to tell me."
" I would like that," answers Cressida smiling at him. Daniel sits down next to her and begin to recite to her the story his mother use to tell him when he was a child.
" What are you doing ?" shouts a voice.
Daniel turns to see Miles standing there looking angry.
" What is my sister doing out of bed ?" shouts MIles.
" I found her in her bed coughing like crazy and no one there to help here," Daniel snaps back at Miles.
" Please Miles," begs Cressida ," Daniel was only trying to help me."
" By taking you out of bed where you belong ," growls Miles.
" If you would stop shouting for a minute and look at your sister," Daniel tells Miles," you would notice that she is not coughing at all right now. The warm moist air tonight is doing her some good , as i knew it would ."
" It is true Miles," Cressida tells me," I have barely coughed since i came out here. Please let me stay out here a bit longer. It is so beautiful out here, and it reminds me of the garden mother had. "
" Yes, you can stay," smiles Miles. He pulls Daniel aside and says to him," I'm not sure what you did, but thankyou. This is the first time i have seen Cressida happy in a long time."
The dawn came much too early for Lucinda. In spite of, or perhaps because of her exhaustion she had not slept well. Even the luxuriously appointed bed in the Queen's chamber had not kept her from tossing and turning through the night. She yawned her way through the early Mass, and earned herself some reproachful looks from Faith. Daniel and Rob had fidgeted through the entire sermon, though not from the same reasons as Lucinda had. Rob's normal demeanor was to fidget, while Daniel's problem seemed to be simple impatience. After Mass was over, the only benefit that Lucinda realized from Daniel's hurry was a short breakfast.
The poor Abbott had looked forward to providing his guests with a breakfast as lavish and the previous night's dinner. When the young nobleman had insisted on a simple meal of breads and cold meats, the Abbott's crestfallen expression almost made Lucinda laugh. But he had recovered his good humor while the horses were prepared. The young woman suspected that the Abbott and his Chancellor would enjoy the extravagant breakfast in spite of his guests' absence. As the final preparations were finished, Cressida was brought out into the courtyard and seated on a cushioned chair. Will followed her out of the infirmary and surprised Luci when he mounted a horse, irregardless of the sling holding his right arm. Then her attention turned to Miles, who walked over and looked down at Cressida.
"We won't be apart for long, sister" he said to her. With a jerk of his head towards Daniel he continued "The Baron there has promised that as soon as you are well enough to travel, the monks will send you to his uncle's manor house, someplace called 'the Vyneyards'. He said he paid the Abbott a goodly amount of silver for your care and the expenses of your journey."
A fat clear drop rolled down Cressida's cheek. In a choked voice she responded "I am sorry that I have been such a burden to you my whole life. Now we are doubly in debt to these people only because you have tried to take care of me. I would rather that you were free to go and seek your own life unburdened by my troubles."
Swiftly Miles dropped to his knee beside the bench. "Never say something like that" he told her in a low and urgent voice "We are the only family that either of us has left. I will serve these people and repay my debt. The girl at least has promised to help us find a better life. She is yet young with a soft heart and I do not think she will let her brother renege on that promise."
Cressida nodded and wiped away her tear. "Then I will be happy for your sake and hope that we can be reunited soon."
Luci ducked behind her horse's neck as her heart pounded in her chest at what she had accidently overheard. The man was undeniably loyal to his sister, and for the sister's sake would remain loyal to Daniel and herself. His handsome face had seemed so pleasant and honest to Lucinda. But in spite of her instinctive liking, she now wondered if he would turn against her if he saw an advantage for his sister. She looked over to see Faith as she was helped onto a horse. There was no help there. If Lucinda tried to discuss her confused feeling about Miles, Faith was sure to bring up Lord Colin. That was a subject she hadn't thought about consciously in years. Growing up it had simply been one of the facts of her world that one day she would be married to Baron Worley's heir, much the same way she had grown up knowing she had blue eyes. She had not connected Miles's overtures with anything other than friendship until Faith had nudged her. Since then she had not been able to think of much else. Colin had been a quiet boy the few times that they had seen each other. But now the young woman wondered if that had only been in contrast to his large boisterous father.
Her thoughts were momentarily broken when one of the guardsmen helped her onto her horse. If Faith wondered at Luci's silence she made no comment. As soon as the riders passed outside the monastery's gates, Lucinda returned to her introspection. A memory of one autumn rose in her mind. Her parents had taken her and Rob to visit Baron Worley and renew their acquaintance. The baron and his son had been out hunting when they had arrived, but the servants had made them comfortable with warm drinks in the great hall. A thunderous crash had heralded the return of the good baron, though he was preceded by a pack of riotous greyhounds. Between his shouts and the barking dogs, it seemed the hall was barely able to contain him. Lord Colin who came in last had been almost silent in comparison. There was really nothing else about the visit had been memorable to Lucinda.
While she tried to remember anything else about her betrothed she heard someone call her name. She surfaced from her thoughts as if from deep water and looked around quizzically.
"You seem a bit distracted, sister," said Rob as he moved his horse up beside hers. He looked a bit dreamy himself--and fresher than anyone else in the party. He seemed to have been the only one to get a solid night's sleep.
"Yes, I guess I am," said Luci, dodging revealing her exact thoughts. "The last week seems more like a month in length--or maybe two months. So much has changed in so few days."
Rob nodded. "You know, I was thinking, it might be nice to take a visit to see that fellow you're betrothed to once this kidnapping business is settled."
Luci started and hissed to her brother, "How did you know I was considering that?"
Rob smiled. "I didn't. I only knew I was thinking about it."
They both chuckled. They were close and such synchronicity of thought was not uncommon between them.
Then Luci knit her brows. "But isn't this kidnapping business already settled?"
"No," said Rob. "Daniel is determined to expose the person who wanted you kidnapped and I doubt he'll let you out of Uncle Thomas's manor until the blackguard is brought to justice."
Lucinda sat back in the saddle and looked ahead at her two brothers who were riding ahead of her. Two very fine handsome, and kind hearted gentlemen they were, but yet they were as different as night and day. Even though they were brother and sister she felt there was a slight distance between Daniel and her. Daniel was the quiet type and had a hard time expressing his feelings, which made it hard to sometimes read her brother. The bursts of emotion he showed the last few days were a part of Daniel she had never seen before.
" The recent deaths of our mother and father have changed Daniel," Lucinda thought to herself," then again they have changed all of us siblings."
Lucinda looked at her brother Robert. Robert the adventurer. He was the dreamer of the family. He had inherited his mother's gift of song and story telling. She and Robert were very close.
" Robert would you sing for me ?" he asked him.
Robert glanced back at his sister and smiled and began to sing a song that his mother use to sing.
Daniel heard his brother singing. His voice was so much like mother's except in a more masculine way. Daniel's heart started to ache as he heard the words of the song his mother use to sing. He decided to ride up ahead of the others.
Daniel thought he saw movement in the woods. He stopped his horse for a mooment and looked around. He saw nothing. He shrugged his shoulders and urged his horse on.
Lucinda was too focused on her brother Robert's singing. She did not notice until the last second the arrow come flying thru the air towards her , just missing her.
" Ambush," shouted Miles," Get the women and horses off the road quickly." Lucinda tried to urge her horse forward, but he was too frighten. Miles took notice and galloped towards her grabbing the bridle of her horse and leading into the woods. Faith followed behind them.
" Stay here,out of sight," he instructed Lucinda and Faith.
" You have come to my rescue once again sir," Lucinda says to him, " I am much obliged ."
" I am just returning kindness with kindness," replies Miles," plus i would not wish to see either ofyou fall into harms way. Now please stay here and keep low."
Lucinda smiles at him and nods her head as he rides off.
" Do i have to remind you that you are betrothed to another man ?" says Faith shaking her head in disapproval.
" The man just saved our lives Faith," Lucinda protests.
" Yes, he has a strange way of showing up whenever there is trouble ," Faith comments back.
" Faith, what are you implying ?" Lucinda demands.
" I just don't tust the man," mutters Faith.
Lucinda urges her horse forward a hair.
" Where do you think you are going ?" Faith questions her.
" I just want to get a better look thru the trees," says Lucinda," so i can see what is happening to the others. All i can hear is alot of shouting and horse hooves ."
" You stay right where you are young lady," orders Faith," I'm not going to be the one to answer to your brothers if anything happens to you again."
Lucinda peered thru the bushes and watched as her brothers and the rest of the men in their party skirmished with the small mob of men on horseback ,who were armed with bows and arrows and swords
Daniel held a sword up to the neck of one of the ambushers.
" Please sir," begged the man," I am just a poor farmer. My wife and kids go hungry. You and your party looked like people of wealth, so my friends and I here decided that we would stage this ambush and rob you. We meant you no harm."
" Do you think me a fool sir ?" Daniel replied ," Look at the way you and your friends are dressed and the weapons you carry, and the horses you ride. You are not poor farmers. You are theives , highwaymen who prey upon the wealthy and innoccent travelers. I will spare you and your men lives this time, but if you ever try to harm any of my family again you will not be so lucky."
The theives gather their weapons and wounded and ride off.
" You let them go !" exclaimed Miles walking up to Daniel," Do you think that was a smart move ?"
" Strange question coming from someone who is also a theif ," replies Daniel," Perhaps you would like to go join them. Or maybe you knew about this ambush ."
" How would I have known about the ambush?" retorts Daniel ," I have had no contact with anyone other then the people you see around us . I would not put your family in harm's way ."
" Need I remind you that you kidnapped my sister ?" Daniel growls at him.
" Will you two stop arguing ," says Robert walking up to the two of them.
" I'm sorry," says Daniel turning to Miles," It is just that once again,my sister and brother were put in harms way. They are all i have left, and I will do anything to protect them. "
" I understand," replies Miles patting Daniel on the shoulder," Come lets us check on the women and getting moving before darkness sets in on us. "
Will walks upto Miles after Daniel walks away and says to him ," You know one of the theives was Luke's brother Jed . How come you did not mention this to Daniel ?"
" Because the poor lad ha enough to deal with right now," replies Miles," He is still dealing with the pain of losing his parents and he is also trying to protect the only family he has left, plus get use to his new role as lord of the manor. I feel sorry for him, he has a lot of weight on his shoulders right now."
" Aye," agrees Will," Why do you think Jed and his gang were around here? There is no way they could have known about Luke's death this soon ."
" I think," answers Miles," that Luke told his brother about the ransom and kidnapping plans. While Luke may have planned to steal the ransom and make off with Cressida, I think Jed also had plans of his own for the ransom. I think Jed has had men staked out on some of the roads around here just waiting for us to come by ."
"And by the look on your face," replies Will," You do not think we have seen the last of them do you ?"
" I don't know ," sighs Miles," so keep close to the women ."
The outer gatehouse of the Vyneyards was an unexpectedly welcome sight for Robert. When he had been on the spot previously, he had been worried sick about his sister as well as nervous about going to live with an uncle he barely knew. But after the past several days he was pleasantly surprised to find, that for now at least, his Uncle Thomas's manor house meant safety. Rob was no coward by any means, but he felt as if his world had taken an insane turn lately. If he had his way, he would be going back east to finish his squire's training. He missed the friends he had made among the other boy's in the Earl's household.
He reined in his horse until his sister caught up with him. "Luci!" he called out to her "Are you daydreaming again?" Her obvious distraction struck him as funny so he laughed in spite of the thunderous look that she gave him.
"I suppose I am a little tired" she answered him "So my thoughts were wandering a bit. Did you ask me something that I missed?"
Robert moved his horse a little closer as they continued to walk along. "Not in truth. I was thinking about going back to the Earl's when I realized that you were very quiet. You haven't been your usual self since we left the monastery."
Lucinda looked as if she would reply when they were interrupted by the watchmen on the gate.
"Hallo your Excellency!" one man called down "Your number has grown since you left us. Is that your good lady sister who returns with you?"
"Yes this is she" Daniel shouted back at him "As well as a wayward brother. Send word to my uncle that we've returned."
"I am sorry Sir" the guard replied "But the master has been recalled to Court. He is not here but a messenger will be sent to him straightaway."
As the gates were opened Rob moved closer to Daniel. "Who is this wayward brother you mentioned. As far as I know, I am the only brother you have."
In response Daniel turned a strange look on his younger sibling. Then he suddenly burst out in laughter when the wry humor finally registered. The playful slap to the back on the head that he gave Robert was returned by a mock blow to the shoulder. Both of them still laughed when they spurred their horses into a trot towards the house.
In his heart Rob was glad that they would have a day or two before their uncle returned and Daniel would be intent on planning his vengeance.
The mystery of Luke's brother Jed's attac on their group plagues Miles so that he could not rest even within safe comfortable surroundings. He and will shared a simple room. Miles lay on his back staring at the ceiling and listening to Will's shifting and grunting as the older man vainly attempted to find a resful position that didn't irritate one injury or another.
Miles didn't consider Jed particularly dangerous but his attack had Miles wondering if there was more afoot that would make finding the identity of the original contractor for the kidnapping more difficult, if not impossible. He had assumed their contract for the kidnapping was singular, not one in a line-up. This was one of few contract jobs he had ever done and he had never failed so he didn't know what sort of back-up plans contractors engaged in. By all accounts, Luke had not been connected with their contact, Badger, or he wouldn't have let Lucinda free and tried to get the money from Miles himself by abducting Cressida. Luke and his brother had always been rivals. Though he may well have bragged to Jed about the job, he wouldn't have partnered up with him. But for all Miles knew, Jed may have been hired to take up the job after someone reported to their contractor that Miles' gang had fallen apart and Lucinda rescued. And even if Jed had found Luke's body, there was little likelihood of the attack being revenge. Jed would more likely have seen it as a victory to have outlasted his brother or an opportunity to fill his shoes. Suddenly it occurred to Miles that perhaps Jed was trying to free Miles and Will so they could join forces. But then he dismissed it. That did not seem the nature of the ambush. It was aimed at the nobles. So was it random or were they backup kidnappers? Had the disintegration of their band and the rescue of Lucinda gotten out so quickly? Peter had most likely been on his return journey informing Badger of the successful kidnapping when he stopped to question Miles with the mocking bird call. According to the contract, it would be assumed they were keeping Lucinda safe while a note for ransom was delivered, which should have arrived either yesterday or this very day. If the letter arrived, it may not indicate anything since the contractor may have learned of Lucinda's rescue after it was sent. But if the letter never arrived, then they would know for certain that the contractor knew the plan had failed. And there was no way to know whether he would give up the endeavor entirely or hire someone else.
Lucinda rose early the next morning, dressed and made her way to the kitchen, where she asked one of the cooks to prepare a picnic basket for three. She then had notes sent to both Daniel and Robert asking them to meet her in the stables. She then asked one of the servants to go out to the stables and tell the groomsmen that she wished for three of the best riding horses to be saddled up.
Faith entered the kitchen, a mixed look of disapproval and relief on her face. " There you are," she said to Lucinda," I have been looking all over for you. Scared me half to death , you did, when I woke and did not find you in your bed.What are you doing up so early ?"
" I thought i would spend the day with my brothers before uncle arrives back.. Just the Daniel, Robert and I, riding, and having a picnic, just like we use to do, before..before..... " Lucinda fought to hide back the tears. Faith took her, in her arms and hugged her.
" Oh Faith, I do miss them so. The stories father use to tell, the songs mother use to sing. The smell of the perfume she use to wear. I........ " She heard Daniel's and Robert's voices in the distance, and grabbing a handkerchief from her pocket she quickly dabbed away her tears .She could not let her brothers see her crying.
" Look at me, carrying on like this," she said forcing a laugh out of her," I best get to the stables."
A Court page handed his message to Lord Thomas, but did not wait for a reply as his instructions had not included that bit. The puzzled expression that the nobleman wore quickly turned into surprise, though it was followed quickly by a more worried mien.
He had not expected his nephew to actually find the kidnapped girl; much less rescue her and get her to the Vyneyards safely. He spared a brief moment of regret for the gold he had expended in his quest for information about the abduction. But he shrugged off the expense with the hope that it might still bear fruit.
Regardless of his friendship with the young prince, Lord Thomas standing at Court only entitled him to two attendants. After a thoughtful moment, he turned to the one on duty and ordered "Go find Rupert and tell him to make preparations for us to leave, probably not before morning." He waved the scrap of parchment in front of the man and continued "I will have to explain to his Highness that I have yet another family crisis to manage. Be sure to tell Rupert that everyone at the town house needs to be brought along."
The man bowed curtly and started off before Thomas shouted at his retreating back "Wait Richard! On second thought, we'll leave two or three behind in the event of further messages. Between the two of you, you should be able to decide whom we shall bring along and whom we shall leave." Richard nodded in acknowledgement of his new instructions and walked quickly away.
Thomas sighed as he watched his man vanish down the long corridor. The prince would be unhappy if he missed the hunt planned for tomorrow. Perhaps a way could be found to sweeten his mood later. As he walked towards the Prince's public chambers, Thomas considered the possibility of inviting his Royal master and friend north. The forests around his late brother's castle had always boasted fine boar hunting. The prospect of a plan lightened the nobleman's mood by the time he reached the outer receiving room.
Meanwhile at the Vyneyards manor house, Daniel was making good use of his uncle's master at arms. Miles had thought that he was pretty good with most weapons until coming up against this man. The short wiry man who everyone referred to as Master Den was quick as a snake. Three times in a row he had disarmed Miles before it was Daniel's turn to spar. He should have known something was up when the wily Welshman who followed Daniel everywhere had declined a bout with Master Den. That day had seen all of them drilling with swords, knives and bows. Miles had even been surprised at Daniel's level of skill. That the younger man had some extensive training was apparent, but his natural skill with a sword made Miles give him a second and a third consideration. Time and more training might turn the young baron into a formidable weapon.
By the time Master Den called a halt, every man on the training ground was tired sweaty and dirty. The manor house boasted a cold pool and a steam room. Miles still viewed the nobility with a jaundiced eye, but as they headed for a bath, Miles was in complete agreement with Daniel.
While Daniel, Miles, and Robert were off practicing their skills with the sword, Lucinda sat in her room moping about.
" What are you sulking about ?" Faith asks her," Why yesterday you were up early planning a picnic, and now you are sulking. What has happen to change your mood ?"
" I'm bored to tears !" exclaims Lucinda,"This may be a grand manor house, but other then the serving maids there are no other women here to talk to besides you ."
" I'm not sure how to interpret that comment," replies Faith feeling slightly hurt.
" Oh, Faith, I mean you no resentment, I just mean , this house seems dull and stuffy. The majority of the maids and servants are elders, and they hardly speak to me, unless i speak to them first. I wonder when is the last time anyone had any fun in this place. "
Lucinda pauses for a few minutes, then a smile comes onto her face and she turns to Faith and exclaims " That's It !"
" What are you talking about ?' inquires Faith.
"we shall throw a party here at the manor, no not a party a grand ball, yes, a grand ball, and invite all the local neighbors. that way i can meet some of the local women who live around here."
"You are forgetting this is your uncle's home and you are a guest here," implies Faith.
" But dear Faith," replies Lucinda, If i am to live here, then surely I should not be denied one small ball, should I ?"
Faith lets out a sigh and shakes her head, knowing that there will be no arguing with Lucinda, forshe knows that when Lucinda makes up her mind to do something there is no stopping her.
Lord Thomas was tired, sore and irritable when he finally reached the gates of his home. The last two days had been spent in the saddle from dawn to dusk in order to arrive as quickly as possible. This whole issue of his niece and nephews seemed to be spiraling out of control.
As he painfully slid down from the saddle he noticed and inordinate amount of activity in the great hall. He stopped the first servant who passed and asked "Where are my nephews?" Wide-eyed, the girl curtsied and replied "My Lord, I believe they are both in the armory yard with Master Den."
Lord Thomas swore and stalked into the house. It seemed to him that the successful conclusion of his adventure had given his young baron an inflated opinion of his abilities. He hoped without hope that Daniel had been satisfied with the return of his sister. Anything like an attempt at vengeance was likely to end in disaster.
True enough, Thomas found both his nephews at the practice ring. Though the man who he saw sparring with Master Den was the one that Thomas vaguely remembered as the captured outlaw. This certainly needed to be explained. Every man present went still as Lord Thomas stalked up to the ring.
"Your Excellency" he addressed Daniel formally "Would you mind telling me why you are training a known outlaw in armed combat?"
Daniel replied just as formally "My Lord Uncle, I have taken these three men into my service in reward for their assistance in liberating my sister. I admit that I took liberties in employing your arms master, and I ask pardon for that. Angus is the man in the ring now, Miles and Will stand over there next to Robert."
"I see" Thomas acquiesced "And what exactly is going on in my house?"
This time Daniel blushed and exposed his youth. "Again my lord, I ask pardon" he said in a quieter voice "Lucinda wanted a ball and would not be gainsaid."
At this, Thomas allowed himself a small smile. "A ball may be just the right move" he told his nephew "As long as you can keep those three ruffians out of sight, and we act as if this little adventure never happened. It pays to keep your opponents guessing."
Lord Thomas headed back to the house savoring the prospect of a long hot bath. Daniel jumped and ran after him. "Are we not going to seek out the man behind my sister's abduction?" the young baron asked angrily. Thomas stopped and made sure no one was in earshot. "My dear nephew" he replied "All in good time. I have spent a goodly amount of coin in the hopes of gathering information. Let us give those seeds time to sprout." The nobleman continued on his way leaving Daniel dumbstruck behind him.
Miles approached Daniel and said to him," Did I overhear you and Lord Thomas correctly? Did he agree to the ball your sister is planning?"
"You sir should not listen in to a private coversation," replied Daniel,"but yes, you did hear correctly. He did agree to the ball."
" I have to be honest ," Miles tells Daniel," I feel abit uneasy about this ball ."
" Afraid, you will embarrass yourself because you can't dance ," teases Daniel," Well you don't have to worry about that, because Lord Thoma does not want you anywhere near him."
" Oh, i know how to dance my friend," replies Miles," No, I am concern about everyone's safety, especially your sister's. Her abducter is still out there, and could use the ball as an oppurtunity to strike again."
The evening of the Ball arrived and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Even Prince Edward had decided to attend. Of course that meant evryone within a hundred miles found an excuse to attend, whether they were invited or not.
Lucinda was rapturously happy to see some many guests. Most of the unmarried men assumed that this Ball was a chance for Lord Thomas to show off his niece, and possibly arrange a more advantageous marriage. For exactly that reason Baron Worley and his eldest son Colin were also in attendance.
Colin approached Luci as soon as they arrived "I assume you will save the first and last dance for me."
His manner bother pleased and flustered Lucinda. She liked the idea that he might be jealous, but she did not like his possesive manner. Perhaps Colin resembled his father more than she had thought.
Judging that she had hesitated just long enough, she replied "Of course, we are still officially engaged. It would be poor manners for me to dance the last dance with anyone else."
Robert over heard this exchange from the seat he had found in a corner. He knew how to dance well, but at his age he was unlikely to dance with anyone besides his sister. He had heard the tension in Colin's voice, perhaps more than Luci had. When Luci turned to greet more of the arriving guests, Colin went on into the ballroom. Something made Robert get up and follow him. When Colin crossed the room, Rob almost lost him in the crowd. Light reflected off something to the left and drew his eye. Rob turned towards it and saw that one of the tall mullioned windows opened; then Colin stepped out through it.
Rob peered through to make sure no one was watching, then stepped through himself. He saw Colin and another tall man standing under the trees not far off. As he froze in place he caught the tail end of a conversation.
"I didn't have a choice. If my father says I'm going with him, then I go with him." Colin's voice said.
"It would be better if you kept your distance from this business." the unknown man commented.
"Do you think I don't know that?" Colin asked angrily "I'll just act normally and we'll get through this ball and then go home."
The silhouette of the other man nodded before he pulled a hood up on his head.
"There will be a message at the usual place within two days" was the last thing he said before he disappeared into the trees.
Rob knew he had to tell Daniel about this, but he also knew that he couldn't let Colin see him. As Luci's betrothed walked back towards the open window, Rob shrank back into the hedge. The older man passed by without seeing Robert.
When the window closed, Rob let out a ragged breath and went to find Daniel.
Daniel was preoccupied dancing with a pretty burnette when Robert came rushing in and nearly bumped right into them.
" You will excuse my brother mi lady," said Daniel to the his female danc e partner," But I am afraid we found him living under a rock and even though, we tried to turn him inot a civilize human being, as you can see our efforts have failed ."
" Very funny !" remarks Robert," I will get you back dear brother. But enough with the jokes, i need to talk to you right away. "
" Women problems little brother?" teases Daniel.
" This is serious," replies Robert," It has to do with a certain recent incident ."
" Well you excuse please mi lady," Daniel says to the pretty burnette, and walks out of the room with Robert. They go down the hall and into the libary. Daniel closes the door behind them.
" This better me important dear brother," daniel informs Robert.
" It is," replies Robert and he tells Daniel what he witnessed outside.
" Are you sure it was Colin ?" aks Daniel.
" Yes," answers Robert," I got a good look at his face ?"
" Did he see you ?"
" No ."
" Did you get a look at the other man ?' asks Daniel.
" Yes,"answers Robert," I did not recognise the man though a s anyone we know or have met, but if i was to see him again, i know i would recognise him in a minute. He had two long scars on the left side of his face."
" Did you say two long scars ?" asks Daniel.
" Yes, why ?" asks Robert.
" I remember once when i was just a small boy I walked into the libary of our home to find father talking to a strange man who had came to call upon father. Father and the man were arguing. I started to walk back out of the room when i bumped into a table. I remeber the amn turning around and looking at me. There was a sinister look in his eyes and he had two very long nasty scars on his face. It gave me nightmares for a long time after that ."
" Could it be the same man ?' asks Robert.
" I don't know," replies Daniel.
" What did he want with father ?" aks Robert.
" I don't know. Our father was an important man, i am sure he made a few enemies along the way. I do know though, is that we are not to leave Colin alone with Lucinda until we investigate this more."
" Then we best get back to the ball and find our sister," suggests Robert.
Not content to hide in the servant's quarters, Miles spent his evening stalking the manor grounds. Upon seeing one of the guests step out of the ballroom, he faded back into an ornamental hedge. His heart gave a leap when he saw young Rob follow the man out. But when Rob hid himself, the former outlaw relaxed slightly. Only to become tense once more when he learned the young man was Lucinda's fiancé.
In horror he listened to Colin's conversation with the shadowy figure. A man with two long scars down his face out to be pretty memorable, but he was no one that Miles had ever seen. As furtively as he had ever managed in his life, he followed the cloaked figure. Colin had returned to the ballroom, but the other man was an unknown link that he felt impelled to discover. Another man with two horses waited at a side gate in the manor wall.
When the cloaked man approached him, Miles was just close enough that he heard "Did he tell you why he was here? Will he keep quiet?" The other who had spoken to Colin answered "It was his father's idea to come to the ball. But he'll keep quiet. He knows that if the master ever called in his gambling debts that he and his father would be ruined."
If they said anything more as they rode away, Miles was too far away to hear. Knowing he had to talk to someone about this, he made straight for the room where Wat was sleeping.
A pale light under the door told Miles that the Welshman was still awake. His soft knock was answered quickly. Speaking softly he related everything that he had heard in the garden. "Young Robert was also hidden in the garden" Miles explained "But I don't think he heard all of this." Wat pulled on his boots and jacket before he replied "Unless I miss my guess, Lord Robert is telling his brother every thing he heard at this very minute." He pulled the door open but then stopped abruptly and turned back to Miles. "We have to keep this from Lady Lucinda" Wat said tersely "If her betrothed is involved, she might go right to him and demand an explanation." Nodding soberly Miles voiced the other man's fears "And then we would lose our best chance of discovering the kidnapper and his real motives."
Colin found his father , and the two of them stepped outside to talk. Colin looked around to make sure no one had followed them. Then he informed his father about his encounter in the garden earlier.
" We must move up your marriage to Lady Lucinda right away," Colin's father responded," The sooner you two are married, and she is carrying you child the better. Then we can lay claim to her inheritence ."
" But i do not love her father," protests Colin," I am in love with Isabella ."
" The laundry wench ," exclaims his father," You must forget her ."
" I cannot father," replies Colin," she is carrying my child ."
" Leave matters to me," Replied the older man,"
the child may not be yours ."
The old man did not wish to tell his son, that the laundry maid had a fondess for men, and that he, himself had bedded her several times, and that it could be very well his child she was carrying. Yes, he would take care of matters himself, for he would not have any brats running a round, especially when he and his son would soon be rubbing elbows with nobility again.
"You must marry Lucinda. We must seek claim to her title and money. Besides she is afine looking woman. What man would not want to take her to his bed. Why i have amind to marry her myself just so i can bed..." the old man started to say but was interrupted by a woman who came walking up towrds them.
"There you are" the woman said to the older man witha smile," I have been waiting for you inside. "
The older man pulled her closed and kissed her passionately infront of his son, and then patted her on the behind, and informed her that he would be inside shortly. She blushed and hurried away.
Miles saw the young woman hurry back inside. No it can.t be, but yes, it is her. He walked up to the young woman and said," Faith, tell me what your connections are to the man outside."
"Why sir" Faith said blushing," I am a woman, and i have my needs
. I am not as young as some of the other girls here.The gentleman finds me attractive and he satifies me , and i satisfy him."
"or is he just using you Faith to get close to Lucinda" Miles thought to himself.
" How long have you two been seeing each other ?" asks Miles," Does Lucinda know.?"
"We meta few years back before Lucinda was betrothed to Colin. Matter of fact, it was thru me, that she met Colin," replies Faith," Yes, Lucinda knows. She can't understand what i see in him, but then gain Lucinda is still young and innoccent , need i say anymore sir. Besides I have always been loyal to Lucinda and would never hurt her in any way. I would stake my own life for hers."
"Oh Faith, if only you knew what you have gotten yourself and Lucinda maybe into," Miles sighed to himself.
Something about Colin's manner made a warning bell go off in Daniel's head. He retreated to the punch table to keep an eye on his sister's betrothed. Soon enough Rob found him there.
"Daniel" He pleaded with his brother "You've got to come outside for a moment so I can tell you something."
Reluctantly, Daniel followed his brother outside through the main doors. He would rather have kept an eye on Colin, but the urgency in Rob's voice was real. The two brothers walked out of hearing range of the house. But before Rob could say anything Wat appeared out of the shadows.
"Your excellency" he greeted the younger man "Miles and I need to talk to the two of you alone. Whatever Master Rob may have told you is not the complete story."
With a raised eyebrow, Daniel replied "My brother has not actually had the chance to tell me anything."
Miles Materialized at the welshman's elbow. Almost in a whisper he said "Your sister's fiance provided information to her kidnappers."
Daniel blinked in surprise at this revelation. "Whatever for?" he asked in exasperation "Her dowry portion is larger than he could hope for from any other eligible girls."
"Milord" Miles answered "It appears that his gambling debts have grown large enough that his father might consider disowning them. I daresay he saw no harm in passing a little information in return for some debt forgiveness."
"God's blood" Daniel swore "What are we going to do?"
After a quick look towards the house, Wat suggested "Milord, I suggest that we track Lord Colin's movements as well as the man who he talked with here tonight."
"How do you mean to accomplish that?" Daniel asked dubiously.
The welshman looked over at the youngest of them. "Master Rob will have to stay here and keep Lucinda from becoming suspicious, which will be no easy task."
These last words were spoken as Rob started to fidget in protest.
"We'll leave before light to go hunting" Wat continued "Angus and Will can follow Lord Colin easily enough and he won't know them by sight. You, Miles and I will take as few guards with us as possible and follow the other. The damp ground will give us tracks to follow for some distance."
Licking his dry lips, Daniel ordered "Master Wat, you give the orders and I will be ready before dawn."
Last of all he turned to his brother and added "Rob, I have to leave you to take care of Lucinda and keep her from getting suspicious. You know how impulsive she can be. She'll run right to Colin and demand an explanation."
"Alright" Rob agreed "I hate to be the one left at home all the time. But I'll do it this time."
Faith enterd Lucinda's bedchamber and said to her," You owe me dear friend. What i had to put up with, with that foul, sinister man."
" faith," replies Lucinda," remember he is Colin's father. Please watch what you say about him."
" I don't care," retorts Faith," He is a horrible excuse for a man."
" Well," replies Lucinda," tell me, did you find out anything ? Why are he and Colin acting so strange around me ?"
" Unfortunately, i found out nothing," sighs Faith," But we may have a small problem."
" What is that ?' Lucinda asks.
" The man that is called Miles," replies Faith," he caught me being friendly with Colin's father. he question me about it. I told him , that colin's father and I were lovers, and that i was responsible for introducing you to Colin."
" You told him what !" shrieks Lucinda at Faith.
" I can't help it," Faith replied," The man got the best of me. He caught me with my guard down. I had to think quick, and that was the best i could come up with."
" Do you think he belived you ?" I ask her.
" I'm not sure," sighs Faith.
" Oh Faith, if he went to Daniel and told him."
" It could explain why Daniel, Miles, and a few other men rode off this morning before dawn.Your brother Robert was left behind to watch over things here."
" There is something going on here behind our backs Faith," says Lucinda," That Daniel and the others are not telling us about. I think it is time I had a talk with my brother Robert. He was never able to lie to me, so i should be able to get the answers we are looking for."
Daniel tried to emulate Wat's silence as they followed the tril left by the two men's horses. Only a short distance from the outer wall, the pair had left the woods and returned to the road. Luckily for Wat, the damp weather had left the road soft. The recent hoofprints stood out fresh and sharp. "Look here" Wat pointed out to Miles and Daniel "One of the horses has a broken hoof and has been fitted with a barred shoe. That will make at least one of them very easy to follow." Daniel filed away this little tidbit of information gladly. Anyhting that made his task easier was welcome.
By the time dawn came creeping through the thick forest canopy, Wat had followed their quarry to a ramshackle inn with an equally ramshackle stable. While Daniel and Miles kept out of sight inside the treeline, Wat crept into the stable to see if the horse with the broken hoof was inside.