Page 38 of The Robber Knight's Love
His eyes snapped open—there was the gatheringdark.
A man who sought honor and glory? Bah! Thatman was a dead man. That man no longer existed. He had died fromhis wounds a long time ago, wounds severe enough to kill any mortalman. Nothing would ever bring him back again. And that was how itshould be—that man had been a bloody fool.
Reuben's eyes zeroed in on a group of peoplein front of the stone bridge that spanned the river separating thevalley into two halves. They were building something. Looked likethey were erecting poles. For tents, perhaps? Yes! They wereplanning some kind of feast! That was why no one had come to seehim. They were planning to make merry without inviting him!Abominable villains!
In a few strides, he was away from the windowand over at the door. He would show them what it meant to slightSir Reuben Rachwild!
His hand hesitated on the door.
He couldn't show them. Not yet. That blastedgirl who fancied herself a great lady was sure to be there,feasting along with the rest of them, while he was supposed to bestuck here forcing down fennel soup. More importantly, her guardswould also be there. If he so much as uttered the word “knight” inher presence, she would realize who he really was, and she wouldhave his head on a pike.
Reuben felt his back and chest. There was nopain, naturally, but he could feel it in his bones: he wasn't readyto face them yet. He would have to endure this humiliation for acouple of days longer, until he was fully restored. Then he wouldreveal himself, and they would all cower before him! That he sworeto himself, then marched back to his bedstead. He would have hisrevenge.
But the girl he would leave alive. Yes. Notout of compassion, of course. He was beyond that. No, it would beamusing to leave her alive and let her see his triumph. She wasactually funny to have around, if she wasn't busy acting crazy. Andhe would love to see howshelikedfennel soup.
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla had just finished her supper and wascrossing the entry hall when she almost bumped into Dilli who wascoming out of the corridor that led to Reuben's chamber.
“Milady! I didn't expect to see you here. Areyou on your way to see our guest?”
That was exactly what Ayla had been about todo, but she answered in a haughty tone: “Him? I'm not going towaste my time on the likes of him. No, I'm on my way to see myfather.”
Her face darkened, for it was no mere excuse.She had put the encounter off all day, telling herself that it washer duty to make all the necessary preparations first. But now thatthe watch was organized, the riders were dispatched, and everythingelse was taken care of, she had no choice but to go and tell herfather that she, his only daughter, was the reason why hundreds ofenemy soldiers would soon be marching into this peacefulvalley.
“It is time someone told him his castle isabout to be attacked.”
Dilli hesitated. “Is that... wise, Milady? Inhis state of health?”
Ayla pulled a face. “Better he finds out nowthan when the arrows start raining down on us.”
Dilli had to agree. “But do you have to tellhim yourself, Milady?” The maid could see how much her youngmistress dreaded the coming encounter and wanted to spare her thispain. “Surely, Burchard or one of the servants...”
“Did Burchard or the servants get us intothis mess? No.”
“But neither did you!” the maid protestedloyally. “The fault is the Margrave's, Milady, not yours.”
Ayla smiled at the maid's indignantexpression at the thought of anyone laying blame on her mistress,even the mistress herself.
“That may be so, Dilli. But it was I whopicked up the gauntlet, and so it is I who must answer to myfather.”
“If you say so, Milady.”
Ayla was about to leave when Dilli hesitantlyasked: “Milady?”
“Yes, Dilli?”
“Why did you ask me to tell our guest that wehad a great feast and that you ate five courses, when in truth,you've ordered the entire castle, including yourself, to be set onstrict rations as long as the threat from the Margrave lasts?”
Ayla grinned, feeling, just for the moment,completely free of worry. “For the fun of it, Dilli. Just for thefun of it.”
Then she went away, whistling, leaving herconfused maid behind.
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla's good mood lasted about two minutes,exactly the same amount of time it took her to climb the stairs toher father's bedchamber. He had deliberately chosen one of the highchambers, from which he could overlook the entire valley and enjoythe wonderful view. Ayla wished now that he hadn't. Surely he hadalready seen every bit of the siege preparations that had beengoing on down there. Count Thomas von Luntberg might be old, but hewas neither blind nor senile. Exactly the opposite, in fact.
Finally, she reached the old oak door thatled to the Count's chamber.
