Page 56 of While Angels Slept
“I am not Charles Penden’s chattel to be brokered,” she backed away from Dagan with Arabel in her arms. “And I am certainly not to be brokered to a lowly knight in exchange for a madman’s freedom. Have you lost your senses?”
Dagan remained cool. “Fortunately, no,” he said, rather drolly. “I realize this is something of a shock, Lady Penden, but perhaps you will come to understand my reasoning if you would allow me to explain.”
Cantia was still backing away from him, nearly in a panic. “I will not listen to anything,” she snarled, trying to get a glimpse of Val still lying in a heap near the road. “Let me see to Val immediately and you had better pray that she is not severely injured, do you hear me? You will go back to your horse and wait until we are ready to continue.”
She was giving orders, trying to gain control of the situation, but Dagan would not relent. “You may not see to Val,” he was standing between Cantia and Tevin’s downed sister. Then he looked at Hunt, huddled apprehensively behind his mother. “Master Penden, you will go and retrieve your mother’s palfrey. She is over by the tree line.”
He was pointing but Hunt shook his head fearfully and burrowed his face into the back of his mother. Cantia was trying to edge her way in Val’s direction.
“I am not going anywhere with you,” she snarled. “You are mad, do you hear? I am going to help Val and I will kill you if you stand in my way.”
Dagan’s movements were slow, deliberate, as he kept himself between Cantia and Val. Cantia was trying very hard to reach the woman but it was difficult considering she had the burden of a small boy and acrippled girl. Dagan admired the woman’s pluck.
“I understand and appreciate your loyalty, but you will forgive me when I deny you again,” he said evenly. “Send your son to get your palfrey. I’ve already killed two this night and a third would not be such an effort if I feel my wants are not being met.”
Cantia’s rage took a dousing. She stared at the man. “Why are you doing this?” she finally asked, hoarsely. “What have we done that would make you do this to us?”
Dagan struggled against his innate sense of regret, of uncertainty. It was difficult to stay on course. “Nothing, my lady,” he said after a moment. “But you must understand that you do not have any choice in the matter. The decision has been made. It would be best if you do not resist.”
“Please… do not do this.”
“Tell your son to retrieve your horse. Do it now.”
Sickened, terrified, she swallowed her resistance and sent Hunt to gather the mare. In her arms, Arabel was sniffling and trembling, and she squeezed the girl reassuringly. The truth was that her arms were beginning to hurt, carrying the girl around, but she would not let on. The only other alternative was for Dagan to carry her and Cantia wasn’t about to let the man touch her.
Frightened and edgy, Cantia found herself wondering how she could get herself and the children out of this. As it turned out, Geoff wasn’t the one to worry about at all. It had been Charles and a rogue knight. The irony of the situation was unfathomable. She wondered if she would live long enough to tell Tevin.
As she stood several feet away from Dagan, inspecting the man, trying to determine her next course of action, a shrieking sound pierced the air a split second before something hit Dagan in the chest and the man grunted, hurling to the ground. Startled, Cantia screamed, realizing there was a big arrow protruding from Dagan’s torso. Behind her, she could hear Hunt yelling, the yellow dog barking, and the palfrey nickering fearfully.
As she turned around, she could see men rushing from the trees. They were shrouded by shadows and it was difficult to get a good look at them, but she could hear Hunt hollering and panic swamped her.
“Hunt!” she screamed. “Hunt, come to me! Run!”
It was a futile call because Hunt was already being swallowed up by the phantom men. They were everywhere, like a swarm of locusts, and she could hear their frightening chatter. They only used the light of the moon to guide them as they overcame their victims. The next thing Cantia realized, someone put a blanket over her head as she tried to get away with Arabel in her arms. Struggling, fighting, Arabel was taken from her and she could hear the young girl screaming.
Terrified, Cantia fought like a wildcat as someone picked her up and hauled her off, wrapped up in a hot, smelly blanket so she couldn’t see or get her arms free. She began screaming for the children, calling their name, before finally resorting to begging for their lives. But her abductors never said a word to her. They just kept running.
As quickly as they had emerged, they disappeared back into the darkness, leaving two dead knights in their wake.
CHAPTER TWELVE
It was nearing noonon a day that was showing the promise of warmer weather. A cloudless sky glistened overhead and Tevin found himself gazing from the lancet window, looking up to the sky and wondering how Cantia was faring. The solar of Rochester had a west-facing window and he leaned against the sill, watching the birds flock over the river, hearing the distant bells of the boats. It was lovely and serene, but it meant absolutely nothing to him without Cantia by his side.
He hadn’t been away from her for more than twelve hours but, as he had predicted, he missed her more with each breath he took. It was a physical pain, manifesting itself in his chest until he could scarcely breathe. He turned away from the window, his thoughts moving from Cantia to Geoff and thankful for the fact that his cousin had drank himself into a stupor the night before and was still sleeping off the excess. The man hadn’t given the effort of thought to the missing Lady Penden or to Val, and Tevin was grateful. The delay had given him time to think up a plausible reason for the missing. He was prepared.
So he went back to his map table, studying the area north of the Dartford crossing where two of Geoff’s men, who had been in the area only yesterday, had come to Rochester with tales of an armed buildup. An army was gathering and Tevin was preparing to send more of his trusted men into the area as spies to see what more information they could gather.
He immediately thought of Simon and John for the duty, those two disobedient knights who had shrugged the escort duty to Dagan and Gavril. He hadn’t seen the men since yesterday but he knew they were around, more than likely attempting to wait out their liege’s displeasure.He smirked when he thought of sending the pair on a scout mission into dangerous territory. Perhaps running into an ambush or having arrows shot at their head would make them sorry they had disobeyed their liege on the relatively easy escort mission.
As he settled down to figure out a covert route for his men to take where they could make a quick escape, Myles appeared in the doorway.
“Tevin,” his voice was low, swift. “You must come immediately.”
Tevin didn’t give thought to the fact that the man did not address him formally. He was more concerned with the tone of his voice.
“What is the matter?” he asked.
Myles’ expression tightened. “No questions,” he hissed. “You must come.Now.”
