Page 86 of The Robber Knight
The door was opened and he pressed his eyesshut more tightly, not sure he had the strength to look at her yet.He heard feet shuffling as they carried something into the room.His nostrils flared as he caught the metallic scent of blood. No,they weren't carrying something into the room. It was someone.Someone bleeding.
“Where should we put him?” a man asked.“There's no space. And we need space for two people, if possible.We still have to put the fellow with the head wound somewhere, andall the other rooms are full.”
“Burchard, can you help me drag Reuben's bedover to the window?” she asked. “That will give us enoughspace.”
So it wasn't the steward who was hurt. Thatmade sense. Though a beast of a man, he didn't look like a trainedfighter. But who then? Reuben could clearly hear the anguish inAyla's voice. He felt a sudden stab of envy for whoever couldexcite such feelings in her. He longed to look, but he also wantedto listen. So he kept his eyes closed for now.
Strong arms gripped the posts of his bedsteadand shoved. Soon he was beside the window and could feel a coolbreeze on his face. It was quite comforting, reminiscent of Ayla'scool, soothing touch—though nowhere near as exciting.
“Out,” Ayla commanded everybody when they hadfinished moving things around. “I need to look after him, and Ineed to concentrate.”
“Milady,” Burchard's deep voice growled, “weshould discuss our plans. We are in serious trouble without...”
“Later, Burchard! Now, everybody, out! Iwon't repeat myself again.”
They left, albeit grumbling, in Burchard'scase.
For a minute or two, Reuben heard nothing butquiet steps, the clinking of metal, and the swishing of cloth.Opening his eyes a fraction, he risked a look. Ayla was standing atthe opposite end of the room, bent over a man in armor. From wherehe lay, Reuben couldn't see the man's face. Ayla began to turn, andquickly Reuben closed his eyes again.
Once more, clinking and swishing.
And then, Reuben heard something much worse:one quiet, heart-breaking sob.
Ayla was crying.
Reuben had to use all his strength to staystill. The need to get up and go to her, comfort her, was so strongthat he thought it might even have overcome the weakness of thefever. But he stayed where he was, listening closely.
Not long after, Ayla left the room, andReuben opened his eyes. There were two other beds in the room. Onthe first lay a soldier with a blood-soaked bandage around hishead. On the other bed in the room lay a knight. His heart suddenlyconstricting with fear, Reuben stared into the limp, gray-beardedface of Sir Isenbard. Her last protector.
*~*~**~*~*
Not wanting to walk into the arms of the manycurious people still waiting out front, Ayla left the keep throughthe back exit. She had done all that was in her power for Isenbard.All that she could now do was wait and see what would happen.Preferably in some quiet place where people wouldn't be pesteringher with questions. Questions would only lead her to think of whatmight happen next. And any thoughts of what might happen next wouldmake her cry.
As she stepped out into the back courtyard,Ayla saw a little figure sitting in the dirt, playing with twodolls. The figure seemed familiar, somehow. She blinked, for amoment forgetting her distress.
“Is it you?” she asked.
Farmer Gelther's daughter turned her head,and a broad grin appeared on her face as she recognized theapproaching adult.
“Lady Ayla!”
The little girl sprang up, ran up to her, andthrew herself at Ayla with such force as to almost make her toppleover.
“Hey there! I'm glad to see you too,” shelaughed. “Though I have to admit, I don't even know your name. I'veonly been introduced to your doll, Agnes.”
“LadyAgnes,”the girl corrected her admonishingly, proudly holding up her newdoll in the fine silk dress.
Ayla nodded gravely. “Of course. Where have Ileft my manners—Lady Agnes. I humbly beg your pardon. And what isyour name, if I may ask?”
“Fye. My name is Fye. And you have to callher 'Milady'. That's what you call a lady, you know, when you'retalking to her.”
“Certainly.” Ayla inclined her head towardsthe doll. “Once again, my most sincere apologies, Milady. It won'thappen again.”
“Thank you, Milady.” Fye made what wasprobably supposed to be a curtsey and grinned up at Ayla. “LadyAgnes is very pleased. And she knows you're a lady too, so shewon't have you whipped for your dis... your discussy...”
“Discourtesy?”
“That's it!”
