Page 42 of The Robber Knight's Love
Then she drew back hurriedly and almost ranout of the room—leaving behind a robber knight who had suddenlyforgotten all about the black pudding he was still lying on.
SirIsenbard
I was only checking on hishealth. That's all. I was only checking on his health. My handslipped from his forehead by pure accident.That becameAyla's mantra the next morning, directly after waking up. She wasmore than a little disturbed by what she had done, what she hadfelt, when she had suddenly been so close to Reuben, and alone withhim in the dark. That her dreams that night had reflected thosefeelings hadn't helped matters much. Just to think of them madeAyla blush.
She couldn't allow herself to think of him inthat way. For God's sake, the man was a commoner, and an arrogantpiece of horse manure to boot!
“Milady?”
Ayla's head jerked up. Dilli was standing infront of her, a steaming bowl of soup in her hands.
“Oh, Dilli, it's you. Why didn't youknock?”
“I did, Milady. Three times, in fact. Youseemed to be... preoccupied.”
“Sorry, Dilli. I was just thinking... aboutthe siege. Yes, that's what I was thinking about.” She eyed thebowl in Dilli's hand suspiciously. “What's that?”
“You had a tiring day, yesterday. I thoughtyou might appreciate breakfast in bed.”
“Thanks, Dilli. That's so nice of you.”
With a smile, Ayla took the bowl from themaid and began to spoon the soup into her mouth. It was so hot thatit almost burned her throat, but it helped to revive her and gether thoughts back to where they were supposed to be.
“How are things with the castle servants,Dilli?” she asked. “What do they think about this business?”
Dilli gnawed on her lower lip. “Well,everybody is anxious of course, and there's been a bit of rumblingabout the rationing, when no one has even seen so much as one ofFalkenstein's banners yet. But nothing serious.”
“So they...” Ayla hesitated, then plowed onin a rush: “So they don't think I'm an incompetent little girl whois dooming them all to death and destruction?”
Dilli looked truly shocked. “No, of coursenot, Milady! Whoever could think such a thing?”
“Err... well, never mind,” Ayla muttered andreturned her attention to her soup, her face reddening.
Dilli didn't leave, eying her mistress withconcern.
“Dilli?”
“Yes?”
“Did you wander through the castle lastnight?”
“During the night? No, Milady.”
“And any of the other maids or servants?”
“Not to my knowledge, Milady.”
“Thanks, Dilli.”
Ayla fell into silence again and continuedeating. She had almost finished her meal when, from outside thecastle, there came a faint sound, long and deep.
Ayla's hand froze halfway to her mouth. “Didyou hear that?”
“What, Milady?”
Again, the sound rang out, louder this time,unmistakable.
“That!” Ayla shouted and sprang up, delightshining on her face.
