Page 108 of The Robber Knight
She managed to return a hint of a smile. “Yousee? Better he lives in blessed ignorance. You know how fragile hishealth is. I can't go up there and tell him the terrible thingsthat have been happening here.”
There was another reason she didn't want togo up to the tower chamber, although she didn't admit that toBurchard. Her father had raised her to be as kind and gentle a ladyas she could be. If she went up to him and told him all theterrible things she had done... What would he think of her? Sheshuddered at the thought.
“You really think it's better this way?”Burchard asked.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Please respect my wishesin this.”
He hesitated. “As you wish, Milady.”
She gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you,Burchard. Thank you very much. That will be all. Go back to yourplace. I don't want to keep you from your food, I'm sure you'veearned it.”
The steward didn't rise. He lookeduncomfortable. “I can't go yet, Milady. There's one more matter weneed to discuss.”
“Really?”
Ayla dipped a piece of bread into theporridge that had been her daily meal since the beginning of therationing she herself had ordered. It really didn't taste that badonce you got used to it. And she was ravenously hungry. The battlewasn't just taking its toll in the form of tiredness.
“Yes, Milady. I need your orders as to whatwe should do with the bodies.”
The bread stopped halfway to her mouth.Suddenly, Ayla didn't feel like eating anymore. “The bodies thatwashed up on the bank?”
“Yes, Milady.”
“Why do you want to do anything withthem?”
“Milady...” Burchard swallowed. “I realizeyou have never been in a war before. Neither have I. But I haveheard a few of Sir Isenbard's darker tales of his exploits. Taleshe wouldn't tell to a young girl. It isn't good to let bodies lieout in the open, especially in the warm sun, and where there iswater. Things get... unpleasant.”
“Leave them there?” Ayla was shocked her ownwords might have been construed that way. “No, Burchard, I didn'tmean for you to leave them. I just...” She shuddered and brokeoff.
After a few moments, she could feel thesteward's big, leathery hand on her shoulder.
Slowly, she turned to him, her eyes brimmingwith moisture. “I just have seen enough dead men to last me alifetime. And those are the worst—because I killed them.”
“You didn't. You didn't even shoot onearrow.”
“I ordered the arrows to be shot. That is thesame.”
The steward hesitated again, then seemed todecide it was best to get off this subject as quickly as possibleand return to practical matters.
“So what should I do with them?” heasked.
“You? Nothing.”
Ayla dipped her last piece of bread into thebowl to wipe it out and rose.
“Milady...”
She fixed her gaze on him, and the look inher eyes was so sad and soft it stunned Burchard into silence.
“I brought death to those men,” she said.“The least I can do now is bring them peace.”
*~*~**~*~*
Reuben was busy thinking. Ayla had given hima lot to consider. For example, this business about not liking tokill people, even if they were your enemies. That was just insane.But then, he had already decided she was slightly insane, so thatfit her perfectly.
Everything about her was perfect.
Now that Reuben thought about it, he realizedthat Ayla had always been more prone to help people than to hurt orkill them. She had taken care of countless wounded men after thefirst battle. She had taken care of a stranger she found in thewoods. She was a gentle creature who wanted to help everybody.
