Page 93 of The Robber Knight
However, only a small part of her mind couldbe bothered with fears like this. With the defense of the barricadein the hands of the very capable captain of the guard, Linhart, shecould, at least for now, concentrate her full attention on the sickand wounded.
Every day, she spent hours doing her best toreduce the ugly swelling at the side of Isenbard's head, and shesucceeded. After a couple of days, she thought its color mightslowly be beginning to change back from a disturbing black and blueto a more natural color. She would have been relieved and veryproud of herself indeed, were it not for one bitter fact: Isenbarddid not wake. He did not even stir or mutter a word in his deep,unnatural sleep. After the swelling had begun to retreat, there wasnothing Ayla could do, except wait, hope for the best, and lookafter all the other sick people in the castle. They needed her fullattention. Especially one of them.
“Eat,” she said, putting the bowl in front ofReuben and holding out a wooden spoon.
He wrinkled his nose at the smell of thefennel soup. “Do I have to?”
“You do, if you want to get on your feetagain. Come on. Do it for me.”
Immediately, he took the spoon and beganshoveling the stuff into his mouth. Ayla was so surprised that shejust sat there gaping at him.
After a while, Reuben glanced up at her andsaw her expression. “What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You actually did what I said.”
“Well, I want to get well again.”
“That hasn't stopped you from ignoring myorders before and generally behaving like an egotistical brat.”
“You are too kind, Milady.”
“So what changed your mind?”
He flashed her his trademark devil's grin.Until a few days ago, Ayla would have said everything about thedevil was abominable. But that grin... She could see the evilbehind it, and still, all she wanted to do was grin foolishly backat him, happy that he was happy.
“It was your gentle persuasion, of course,”he murmured very, very convincingly. “You are simplyirresistible.”
She gave him a slap on his arm. This was oneof the few ways of touching him she didn't feel too guilty about,and one she frequently indulged in. He certainly gave her plenty ofcause. “Be serious, please! I don't want to hear things like thatfrom you, understand?”
Suddenly, the grin had vanished from hisface. It was replaced by an unexpected earnestness that left herbreathless. “Why not?” he asked.
Ayla blinked. Had she imagined it or wasthere... hurt in his voice?
“Because you don't mean them,” shewhispered.
“What if I do?”
Almost without realizing it, Ayla had movedcloser to Reuben, until only a few inches separated her face fromhis. His face, his wild, hard, handsome face. He looked muchstronger now already, his cheeks a healthy color and only a lightsheen of sweat on his forehead. Sweat that actually might not comefrom the fever. Ayla reached up, touching her own face which wasflushed and moist with excitement.
“Reuben, I...”
Precisely at that moment, the door swungopen.
Guiltily, Ayla jerked around, thinking thatit might be Burchard. He had developed the annoying habit ofinterrupting her when she was with Reuben with increasingfrequency, God only knew why.
But it wasn't Burchard. It wasHeilswinda.
The maid stared at her mistress leaning overthe face of the handsome man on the bed, her cheeks flushed. A grinappeared on her face, and she curtsied.
“Begging your pardon, Milady. Didn't want tointerrupt.” She turned on the spot, waggling her hips suggestivelybefore closing the door. “Mum's the word,” she called from outsidein an excited, girly voice.
They could hear her giggling as she hurriedaway down the corridor.
Reuben raised an eyebrow at Ayla. “Mum's theword?”
Ayla wished heartily she could sink into thefloor.
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