Page 68 of The Robber Knight's Love
“That bad?” he asked with trepidation.
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla watched nervously as the knight leadingthe first group approached. At least she hoped he was a knight. Hewore no mail, preferring instead baggy robes that made him lookmore like a scholar than a warrior. Yet he was the only one amongthe men riding on a horse, so who else could he be but theirlord?
About ten paces away from her, the horse cameto a halt. The gangly youth on its back tried to dismount, butsomehow managed to get his foot stuck in his riding gear. It took awhile for him to disentangle himself.
When he had finally managed, he approachedAyla on his over-long legs and gave an awkward bow, his Adam’sapple bobbing. “I... err... hear that you are having some slightdifficulty with one of your neighbors, Milady, and require myassistance?”
“Slight difficulty? Yes, you could say that.”Ayla pointed across the river to the sea of enemy tents behind her.“That's my slight difficulty.”
The young man's eyes went even wider thanthey already had been. “Dear me. Those are a lot of tents. Whywould all those people be camping in front of the bridge likethat?”
“I guess it's because they want to conquerand kill us.”
“Conquer and... kill? My goodness. Have youtalked to them? Asked them nicely not to?”
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla contemplated Reuben's question for amoment, remembering. Then she nodded.
“Yes,” she answered Reuben. “That bad.”
*~*~**~*~*
Sir Waldar arrived a few minutes later. Threemen helped him off his horse. The poor animal seemed to beexceedingly glad to be free of the burden.
“Isenbard, you old sack full of sauerkraut!”Sir Waldar stamped towards them and slapped his paunch, a greetinghe apparently considered more appropriate than a bow. Or maybe hejust would have fallen over if he'd tried that. “How are ye holdingup?”
“I am well, thank you,” Isenbard responded.“Greetings, Sir Waldar.”
“Greetings Sir Waldar? Greetings!” Waldarburst out laughing as if the word were the best joke he had everheard. “Listen to him! Going on like we're at the Emperor'scourt.”
“We are not,” Isenbard said. “In fact, we areat the court of your liege lord, the Lady Ayla von Luntberg. Ibelieve you have yet to pay homage.”
He indicated Ayla who stood beside him,staring at Sir Waldar with open amazement.
Waldar glanced over at her and grinned.Several of his teeth were missing. “Oh. Sorry, lass, didn't see youthere.”
“You need not apologize, Sir Knight,” shesaid, raising an eyebrow. “Not everybody draws attention as easilyas you do.”
He blinked at her for a moment, then burstout laughing again. “You mean not everybody is as fat a fart as oldWaldar? Well, you're right!” He slapped his enormous belly again.“When I saw you just now, I thought you were no good, but now I seeyou're really old Luntberg's girl. You've got spunk!”
“If I do have 'spunk', as you put it, Sir, Iassure you it accumulated merely accidentally. Do you know why youhave been summoned hither?”
“God's breath! Just like the old Count! Heused to get all formal too when something tickled his gallbladder.”
“Kindly refrain from befouling the air withyour tongue whilst on my land, Sir Waldar. Will you be so kind asto answer my question now?”
“Sure, lass, sure.” The jolly little fat mannodded. “You've got some trouble with that upstart little pisser ofa Margrave and want Waldar to rush to the rescue.” He leanedforward conspiratorially and whispered: “You have absolutelynothing to worry about. It's good swordsmen you need? Well, let metell you, I am a master of the steel!”
Ayla felt a tiny glimmer of hope. Perhaps theappearance of the man was deceiving. Perhaps he was a fiercewarrior who just didn't look the part.
“At least as long as the steel comes in theform of a metal beer mug,” he added, and burst out laughing again.“Ha! Got you! That was a good one, wasn't it?”
*~*~**~*~*
Ayla seemed to consider the matter for amoment longer, and then added: “In fact, maybe even a little bitworse than that bad. Really, really, really bad.”
