by Lynn Kurland
“Time will tell,” Anne said grimly.
Robin hugged her briefly. “Aye, it will. Now, let us unravel this tangle here.” He kept his arm around her and turned to face his siblings. “The tale, if you please.”
Anne soon found herself sitting on a stool while Robin paced and listened. But she could hardly concentrate. No matter what Robin thought, she knew what she had seen.
And she had seen her own failing in the face of that. She’d had a weapon, yet been powerless to use it. Perhaps ’twas time she enlisted Amanda’s aid in the like. She suspected by the condition of her foster sister’s clothes that defending herself with a blade or two had not been beyond her abilities. Anne herself could attest to Amanda’s ready tongue and flat of hand, for Amanda had defended her honor many a time against pages who were cheeky enough to voice their insults.
“Where is the missive?” Robin asked.
Amanda produced a crumpled, bloody bit of paper and handed it to Robin. Robin smoothed it out and stared at it.
“I did not send this.”
Miles laughed a half laugh. “I told Amanda you spelled with more skill than that, but she was convinced.”
Robin scowled at his sister, then looked at his brother. “Who delivered it?”
“No one we knew.”
“Then why did you believe it?”
Miles pointed to the back of the letter. “Your seal, brother.”
Robin flashed a look at Anne, then looked back at his siblings. “Who set upon you?”
“Hired ruffians,” Miles said promptly. “But a goodly amount of them. Perhaps a dozen.”
“How many slain?”
“Eight, perhaps. Fortunately for us, Nick’s guard arrived as we were almost overcome. The rest of our assailants fled as they heard the men approach.” Miles smiled at Amanda. “Our sister was most fierce. I daresay they believed to find a swooning maid when they realized that her hose and tunic were a ruse. Instead they found themselves facing a mightily wielded dagger.”
“Dispatch any?” Robin asked his sister.
She looked at him bleakly. “Aye. One.”
Robin was silent a moment or two, then he crossed the chamber, bent down, and put his arms around his sister.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “That never comes without a price.”
Amanda looked as if she might burst into tears. Anne watched her take a deep breath and then let it out raggedly.
“Aye,” she agreed. “It didn’t.”
Robin kissed her forehead, then rose and looked down at her. “You seem to have earned your share of marks.” Amanda managed a tremulous smile. “Apparently I need more practice with a blade, for words certainly didn’t defend me as well as they usually do.”
Anne watched as Master Erneis turned his attentions to Amanda and realized that her fierceness had indeed not come without cost. Though her wounds were not grave, she did have a hurt or two that would require needle and thread. Perhaps skill with a blade came more dearly than Anne had counted.
“To continue our sorry tale,” Miles said, taking a deep drink of the healer’s draught, “after the rest fled, we gathered ourselves and the guard up and rode hard for the keep. ’Twas all we could do to get past your men.” He looked at Robin. “I assume you’ve had further troubles?”
Robin produced his own note and handed it to his brother.
“What’s it say?” Nicholas asked weakly.
“Someone has Rob’s death on their minds,” Miles said mildly. He looked at Nicholas and shrugged. “The usual.”
Anne reached for Robin’s hand, a single name burning in her mind.
“Anne, my love,” he said, “Edith doesn’t want me.”
“You don’t know that—”
“Her sire has suitors for her,” Robin insisted.
“But you didn’t see her—”
“She was likely as disturbed by these events as we are.”
“I am unconvinced.”
He sighed. “I will keep watch for her.”
“And for Sedgwick as well,” Miles put in. “He surely has no love for you.”
“There are many who have no love for me,” Robin said grimly. “And we’ve little to fear from Baldwin, as he hadn’t deigned to grace us with his august presence of late.”
Anne felt the entire chamber still. Even the healer ceased with his ministrations and looked up at Robin. They remained thusly for several moments, no one moving, no one scarce breathing.
“You don’t think . . .” Miles whispered.
“It couldn’t be,” Amanda said, shaking her head.
“Well,” Nicholas croaked, “the spelling of the note . . . was indeed dreadful.”
Anne looked up at Robin in surprise. “Think you ’tis possible?”
“I think,” he said slowly, “that any decision we make right now will be the wrong one. We’ve all suffered too many hurts of late to reason clearly.” He looked at his siblings and managed something of a smile. “Rest this night and we’ll think on the tangle tomorrow. I’ve no doubt things will look much clearer in the light of day.”
“I doubt it,” Miles said quietly. “But I could do with some rest. Unless you’d have me stand guard?”
“My guards are without. Nick’s can be sent for. We’ll be perfectly safe here.”
“But what of your grandmother?” Anne asked. “And Jason? He was left inside to keep watch over her.”
Robin hesitated. “She is not incautious.”
“But she might not be looking in the right direction.”
He sighed. “Very well. I’ll have word sent to her.”
“Better that you lock Edith in the dungeon,” Anne said with a shiver.
“And then how are we to know if she’s behind it?” Robin asked with a smile.
“The attacks would cease.”
“Better that they continue,” he said, suddenly looking very intent. “Aye, there is great sense in that. Perhaps we have been going about this in the wrong manner.”
“How?” she asked. “By protecting ourselves?”
“Exactly,” he said. “Perhaps I would do better to make myself an easy mark and see who comes to take me.”
“You cannot be serious,” she said.
“He is,” Miles said. “Look at that fiendish light that has entered his eyes.” He shook his head. “It never bodes well.”
Anne looked up at her husband and saw that Miles had it aright. And she very much suspected that there would be absolutely nothing she could do to dissuade him from whatever witless plan he was brewing up in his head.
And if he intended to find himself dead on the morrow, there was naught she could do but hold on to him well that night. She pushed him toward the door.
“Send your grandmother’s message,” she commanded.
He blinked, then went to the door to do just that. Anne turned to her foster brothers and sister.
“You three rest.”
There were three nods of varying degrees to answer her. Then she turned to Master Erneis.
“Have you a place Robin can rest in peace?” There were beds aplenty in the chamber they stood in, but there was no privacy to be had. And given that she had other things in mind for her husband besides sleep, those beds out in the open simply wouldn’t do.
“Aye, my pallet in there,” he said, pointing across the chamber. “You can draw the curtain if you wish to block out the light.”
“You’ll keep watch over my family?” Robin asked wearily. “Wake me if aught goes amiss.”
“Aye to both, my lord.”
Robin looked at him and shivered. “Forgive me, Master Erneis, but I’ve passed too much of my life in these chambers of yours. Know ’tis with great reluctance that I deprive you of your bed.”
Anne pulled Robin along before he could think better of it.
Erneis’s little chamber wasn’t as luxuriously private as Robin’s tent, but it would do. Anne pulled the curtain across and wrapped her arms around him. He l
ooked down at her with a frown.
“No sleep?” he asked.
“Later.”
He pulled her close to him and hugged her tightly. “All will be well, Anne. I vow it.”
“But in case it isn’t, come you here and endeavor not to make too much noise.”
She felt him smile against her mouth.
“Ah, Anne, I do love you.”
“Then show me,” she said as she pulled him down to the pallet with her. “’Tis the night, after all.”
“And I do keep my promises.”
“Then promise me you won’t do anything foolish.”
“I don’t know if ’tis fair to wring a promise from a man whilst he is abed with his lady wife.”
“Promise me, Robin,” she said, pulling his head down to hers and kissing him thoroughly. “Promise me.”
He only groaned in answer and she supposed that was assurance enough. She shuddered to think what he might have in mind, and she only hoped it wouldn’t be foolhardy enough to end his life. For even though she couldn’t have said who was behind the attack on Nicholas, Amanda, and Miles, she had no doubts who had written the note Robin had found. But there was one thing she didn’t understand, and it was the one thing that left doubt in her mind over her assumption.
Why would Edith want Artane?
And if she did want Artane, why would she want Robin dead?
“Anne, stop thinking,” Robin whispered.
“I can’t—”
“Aye, you can. Here, let me help you.”
Well, she couldn’t deny that he was persuasive and very distracting. And perhaps Robin had it aright and things would look clearer in the morning. There was no sense in not making best use of the night while she had it.
42
Five days later Robin stood on the steps leading up to the great hall and chafed at the sight greeting his eyes. It had taken him this long to politely invite all his guests to leave, and that had been accomplished only after several days of expensive entertainment and sustenance. He’d even gone so far as to have a private little bit of jousting for their enjoyment, knowing full well ’twas outlawed save for tournaments the king might call for his own sport.
He’d never had a more unpleasant day on the field.
He had come to realize that there was much more to being lord of a keep than he’d suspected before and it had mostly to do with endeavoring not to humiliate his potential allies in the lists. He had, of course, come away the victor in the end, for he would not fail just to appease someone else’s pride, but it had been an exhausting bit of exercise, for he’d dragged each and every match he’d been party to out far longer than he would have liked.
And then there was having to continually keep half his attention focused on Anne and his grandmother in the stands.
Not to mention looking out for himself so he didn’t find the addition of an arrow lodged between his ribs.
So it was with great enthusiasm and relief that he had watched the last of his neighbors depart through the front gates. If he could only move his grandmother and her entourage along with the same alacrity, he might be able to turn his attentions back to his original plan.
Becoming easy prey.
He felt a hand slip into his and he didn’t even have to look to see who it was. He smiled in spite of himself. By the saints, what he had almost missed through his own stubbornness.
“I don’t suppose it will serve me to tell you yet again that I do not like this.”
He looked at his lady and felt his heart ache within. It seemed he couldn’t look at her anymore without immediately wondering how it would be to lose her.
Or to lose himself and thereby never have her again.
“You can tell me,” he said calmly, “but nay, it will not serve you.”
“Bloody stubborn man.”
He winced at the genuine worry in her eyes. “Anne, what else can I do?”
She sighed. “Nothing other than this.”
“I will be careful.”
She held up her arm and he could see the blade inside her sleeve. “I could guard your back.”
“Let us pray you will have no need, but I would be glad of it just the same.”
Though after having seen what killing a man, albeit in defense, had done to his sister, Robin wasn’t at all sure he wanted Anne anywhere near a murderer. Amanda was still trembling almost a se’nnight later.
He stared out over the courtyard and wondered a great many things. Who could have put his seal on a missive without his having noticed it?
Unless it was his father’s seal.
Robin turned that thought over in his head. He doubted his sire would have left such a thing behind, but ’twas possible. It was also possible it could have been removed from his sire’s solar at any point over the last fortnight, by any number of people.
Baldwin, for instance.
But why would Baldwin want to hurt Robin’s family? Before he could give that more thought, his own words came back to him with the force of a dozen fists.
How is it best to wound a man? Strike first at what he loves best.
He blew out his breath slowly. Perhaps Baldwin was behind the attack. Robin was beginning to believe it more all the time. Baldwin had, after all, been absent for over a fortnight, he would have had ample time to filch something from Rhys’s solar, and he certainly had no love for Nicholas or Miles. And ’twas also a certainty that Baldwin couldn’t spell to spare his own life. Robin would have been surprised if the man could have signed his own name.
Why he would have wanted to injure Amanda was a mystery, but hadn’t Miles said the ruffians had been surprised to find her there? Perhaps Baldwin had wanted to slay Robin’s brothers and keep Amanda for himself.
Which certainly would have guaranteed him Artane in time.
Assuming Amanda wouldn’t have murdered him in his own bed.
Aye, Robin thought with a nod, ’twas entirely possible that Baldwin was behind the entire thing. He could have had Robin’s note written by someone else and slipped into the foodstuffs at precisely the right moment. He would have been away from the keep at the time, which would have removed suspicion from him.
The more Robin thought about it, the easier the thought rested with him. He could understand Baldwin’s motives, indeed he could sympathize with him. It would have chafed Baldwin sorely to have had Robin as his liege-lord, and that only if Baldwin had survived his uncle and his uncle’s infant son. And Sedgwick’s liege-lord was precisely what Robin would become on his father’s death. Not that Robin wanted Sedgwick, but it was his, after all. Baldwin had nothing. Why not seek for Artane itself if he were planning on a little murder?
The door opened behind him and Robin spun, his blade halfway from its sheath. His grandmother held up her hands in surrender.
“Only me, love, come to bid you farewell. If you’re certain—”
“I am,” Robin said quickly, replacing his sword. “Lovely to see you, Grandmère. Have a pleasant journey home.”
Joanna pursed her lips and frowned at him, then turned to Anne. His wife at least received a sunny smile.
“I’m so pleased to see you so well settled, my love,” she said, giving Anne a kiss. “I wish you good fortune of this one. A little more polish and he’ll be quite presentable.”
“Goodbye, Grandmère,” Robin said pointedly.
Anne only laughed as Joanna flicked Robin smartly on the ear before she descended the steps. Her lads made her comfortable in a spacious wagon, then the company set off—not as quickly as Robin would have liked, but they did leave eventually. And once they were gone, Robin turned to Anne.
“I’m going to the lists.”
“I’ll come.”
He hesitated. “I would rather see you safely guarded inside.”
“I’m sure you would,” she said, but she didn’t move.
“Anne . . .”
“Robin, I’m not leaving you alone.” She looked up at him and there were tears wellin
g up in her eyes. “Think you I could bear a single day without you?” she asked. “Have you thought of that?”
“Continually,” he said, pulling her close and wrapping his arms around her. “Every moment of every day, that is the thought that haunts me and breaks my heart.” He squeezed her gently, then pulled back far enough to look down at her seriously. “But I want an entire lifetime with you, Anne. We’ll not have that unless I end this. Today.”
“I’m coming with you.”
He hesitated, then relented. “You’ll sit by the wall. With my guards—”
“No guards.”
He blinked. “But—”
“You said yourself it wouldn’t serve you to have guards. I’ll not need them either.”
“But—”
“Robin, how else will anyone come against you?”
He knew she was right, but he could hardly stomach the thought of her sitting half a field away from him without anyone near her. As fond as she was of her little blade, he knew it would scarce serve her if someone came at her truly.
But surely Baldwin wouldn’t have a go at Anne if Robin were there, standing mostly empty-handed. He had seriously considered leaving his sword behind as well. It would be just too tempting a target for Sedgwick to resist.
Robin took Anne’s face in his hands, kissed her softly, then took her hand.
“Come along, then,” he said. “Let us have this finished.”
He slowed his pace down the steps to hers almost without thinking. But it was something else he could certainly repay Baldwin for, for it had been Baldwin to dare her to ride that stallion in her youth. Robin set his jaw. Baldwin would have no more power to work any more harm in their lives. Robin would see to that himself.
The short journey to the lists seemed to take nothing less than an eternity. With every step, Robin wondered if it would be the last he’d take with his love. By the time he had reached the inner bailey wall, he realized how useless such thoughts were to him. He would either survive or he wouldn’t. Brooding about it wouldn’t change anything.
Best, then, that he not fail.
He paused at a little bench set against the wall. He looked down at his lady, saw the weak sun glinting on her fair hair and her pale visage as she lifted it to him. He took her in his arms and kissed her with all the passion he had in him, so that she might never forget just how deeply he loved her.