Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) (7 page)

She then turned back toward the entrance to the hall, with the two knights on her heels.

The warmth inside made her cheeks sting, and she heard Octavian mutter in French to the effect that he was happy to be indoors again.

Luc was looking around very curiously. “I hope your father has recovered from his illness. Where is he?”

Domina was ready for this question with a little lie. “Thank you, yes. He is tending to a matter at one of our northern holdings, Sir Luc. I do not know precisely when he will return.”

“Unfortunate. I wanted to speak to him in particular.”

“Until you can, please direct your questions to me,” she said, hoping to discourage him from speaking to her servants at all.

Turning to the other man, she said, “Were you not also Luc’s companion that night in London? When my party was set upon?”

Sir Octavian nodded. “Yes. Apologies for not introducing myself at that time.”

She laughed, unexpectedly delighted at the man’s serious demeanor. “You were otherwise occupied, sir, and I found no fault with your behavior that evening.”

Octavian broke into a smile. “How reassuring.”

“You said de Levant?” she asked. “Are you from the Holy Land, then?”

“I was born in the city of Aleppo.”

“Ah, how I wish my father could speak to you. He spent some years in the Levant when he was young. He would enjoy hearing more recent news of the place.”

“When he returns here, I shall be most pleased to speak with him,” Octavian said.

Mina froze for a second, realizing her mistake. Then she pasted on a smile. “I look forward to the time when I can introduce you to him,” she said. “For the moment, my servants will show you to your chambers. We will dine in one hour.”

In the guest chamber he’d
been shown into, Luc found a small fire blazing away in the fireplace. He went to it immediately, stretching his hands toward the flames. The heat seeped into him. If only the lady of the castle was half as warm as this! Domina might have been carved from ice, the way she’d stood on the steps in nothing but a blue gown. Not even a cloak, though she’d surely been waiting for them for some time. Her cheeks glowed pink, but that was the only hint that she even felt the cold wind and the bite of the oncoming winter in the air.

Poor Octavian had been complaining of the cold all day. He was not made for the climate in Britain, he often pointed out. Well, he’d got a smile out of the icy Domina, so that ought to have warmed him sufficiently. Luc suppressed a spike of jealousy. Just the thought of Domina laughing sent a coil of heat into his belly. He could imagine her, her head thrown back and those red curls. He pictured her long neck exposed for a kiss, and her body twined with his…that idea took care of any lingering cold he felt.

He shook his head, trying to banish the admittedly delicious image. It was dangerous to think of Domina as anything other than the unwilling hostess she was. For all he knew, she was part of the conspiracy that so troubled the spymaster Drugo. He’d keep her at arm’s length. Not that she seemed the slightest bit inclined to seduce him with her charms.

Luc found Octavian, and they went down to the hall together. In honor of her guests, Domina had arranged what must be a far more festive meal than usual. Still, it was no great celebration, and the mood was almost somber when Luc and Octavian entered the great hall.

The lady herself stood near the high table, and she gestured for the men to join her there. Luc noted her posture and her movement—so proper, so controlled. She was outwardly graceful—like a swan, he thought darkly—but that grace concealed a stiffness in her attitude. Because Luc was sent by the king? Or merely because she had to host two strange men when she had no one to support her? Perhaps that was reason enough. She’d let her guard down soon. Luc would charm her into pliancy. He’d never met a woman he couldn’t coax a smile out of eventually.

The lady introduced the castle’s steward, Ancel, and then a few others. The big man who called himself Sir Haldan introduced himself, and when Domina rather pointedly did not use the man’s title, Luc got curious. Who exactly was this giant of a man, and what was his relationship to the lady of the castle?

Domina did thaw a bit over supper. She answered most of his questions with no hesitation, and in some cases grew positively voluble. Luc never thought the change in wool prices could be interesting, but when discussed in Domina’s gorgeous, contralto voice, they were fascinating.

At one point, Tav threw him an amused look. Luc shook his head, warning his friend not to make him laugh. Although he should be laughing at himself. How could a woman’s voice be that seductive?

“If I remember correctly, my lady,” Tav said then, “your father went on crusade.”

“Yes,” said Domina. “He took the cross at a young age. He was eager to see the Holy Land.”

Tav nodded. “I heard the name of de Warewic when I lived in Aleppo, and later Jerusalem. People there remember the deeds of the Franks—both good and bad. Godfrey de Warewic was a name people used with reverence. He once stopped a company of Frankish soldiers from slaughtering a group of people in a marketplace. He said that any soldier who would strike down unarmed folk was not worthy of the cross. He escorted the residents to a nearby mosque and stood guard till the Frankish company left. One man against twenty! They say he didn’t need to draw his sword. His gaze kept the would-be attackers at bay.”

Domina’s eyes widened as Tav spoke. “I don’t remember him telling me that. I always pestered him for stories.”

“He was perhaps too modest,” Tav said.

“Likely,” she agreed. “But I’m glad I could hear it from you.”

The talk turned to Luc’s past, and he gave Domina a brief account of his family and upbringing.

“I took the martial path,” he concluded, “knowing that I may well need to defend my lands once I come into them. Though my father is likely to live for many years yet, and I wish him health.”

“So you became a soldier to occupy your time,” she said, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him.

“It was either that or the church.” Luc flashed a grin. “I’ve not got the disposition for the religious life.”

That earned him a genuine smile, which felt like a much larger victory. Luc was about to venture into slightly more dangerous territory with his interrogation, but Domina interrupted with a new topic.

“Who is that man?” she asked, lifting one finger toward the tables where the servants were dining. “The one sitting by my maid Constance?”

Luc glanced over and saw the man in question. He was indeed paying rather close attention to the maid. “That’s Ban,” he said. “He’s served my family for years.”

Domina’s eyes narrowed, and Luc instantly caught her concern. “He’s a good man.”

“So all men say of other men,” she responded skeptically.

“Do you wish me to order all my men to stay away from your people? They’ll obey if I tell them so.”

She said nothing for a moment, still gazing at the scene. Then she took a deeper breath, saying, “It’s no great matter. Constance has leave to enjoy the company of a guest. After all, it will only be a short time until your retinue has to leave again.”

Perhaps
, Luc thought.

After supper, Domina excused herself.

“What do you think?” Luc asked Octavian, once they were alone at the table.

“Of the lady? Or her castle?”

“Everything.”

“It all looks quite normal.”

“Her people are looking at us in a strange way,” Luc insisted.

“Everyone always looks at me that way,” Tav said simply, “so I hadn’t noticed. If you think it’s strange, you may be right. On the other hand, maybe you’re determined to see a problem where there is none.”

“The king would not pursue the matter if he wasn’t concerned.”

“He’s not infallible. The evidence against the lord Godfrey is not strong enough for the king to issue any proclamation. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? He needs more evidence than he has now.”

“You’re right,” Luc admitted.

“Remember that story of Godfrey on crusade. It’s not in character with a man who would become a traitor.”

“Stories are often exaggerated,” Luc said.

“Perhaps,” said Tav. “But is that the action of a man who would betray the king he swore fealty to?”

Luc knew exactly what Octavian meant, though he remembered Drugo’s damning accusations as well. “Here’s another reading of your story,” he said. “Godfrey’s action in Jerusalem showed he was a man who wanted peace. Perhaps he thinks the empress will bring peace, and that’s why he’s switching sides.”

“We won’t know until we ask.”

“You can’t ask that outright!” Luc warned. “We must be circumspect.”

“This is your mission,” Tav said. “I won’t say a word, for I want no part in your politics. I’m only here to lend you aid.”

“Thank you.”

“But for what it’s worth, I think you’ve been given a task far more difficult than you deserve. And for what?”

For an earldom
, Luc thought. But of course he could not say that. So all he said was, “Because I owe the king my loyalty.”

* * * *

The very next day, Luc began to work on his ostensible reason for being at Trumwell Castle. He walked along the castle’s walls and parapets. He consulted the man in charge of the garrison in Godfrey’s absence.

Haldan had an open countenance and broad smile, but there was something in his eyes—a calculating look—that made Luc wary. Yet, just as with Domina, perhaps Haldan’s concern was nothing more than suspicion of a stranger.

Luc thus kept his questions mild as he probed for information.

“You think Godfrey a good master?” he asked Haldan.

“I could not ask for better!” Haldan said. “Trumwell is a good place for me. I plan to stay here for a long while,” he added, with an outsized confidence that struck Luc as boastful.

“And the lady Domina? Does she concern herself with the castle’s defense?” Of course, Luc remembered her clear voice reciting Trumwell’s strengths back when she’d stood before the king. But he wanted to hear Haldan’s thoughts.

“She does,” Haldan noted, his tone souring. “Too much, for a woman. She forgets her place.”

“What’s her place?” Luc asked.

The big man smirked. “Oh, I can think of a few places for her, like that big fancy bed she’s got in her chamber.”

Luc felt a strong desire to challenge Haldan to single combat. “You say that about the lady of the castle?” He spoke very quietly, because that was the only way he wouldn’t start yelling.

Haldan noticed Luc’s lack of amusement, but he forced a chuckle out. “Just a joke, sir knight.”

But it wasn’t just a joke—Luc recognized lust as well as anyone else, and that’s what had been in Haldan’s voice. A true knight would immediately leap to Domina’s defense, just for the insult to her virtue.

Instead, he contained his rage and asked Haldan about his combat experience. Luc listened with half an ear to Haldan’s list of accomplishments, annoyed at himself for needing to ferret out information instead of following his instincts and challenging Haldan to a duel.

Eventually, he calmed enough to listen to the end of the speech. The man, it seemed, knew a bit too well how bandits in the area liked to operate. “They’ll not trouble us here, though,” Haldan said in conclusion.

Luc then asked for a short demonstration of the garrison’s readiness for battle.

“Now, sir knight?” Haldan asked, nonplussed.

“You rarely get much warning when a battle is about to begin,” Luc noted. “So yes, now.”

Haldan looked about to argue, but then, remembering Luc was acting as the arm of the king himself, gave a short nod. “Indeed, sir. If you’ll stand at the side of the courtyard…”

Luc moved to the suggested spot, and watched impassively as Haldan sounded a mock-alarm and directed the men who appeared in the courtyard, popping up like rabbits from all corners of the castle.

Haldan kept glancing at Luc as he directed the garrison through several drills. Luc gave no hint to his thoughts, though he was forming a rapid impression of what he saw.

Soon after, Luc raised a hand, indicating that he’d seen enough. “Thank you for indulging me with a demonstration,” he told the group at large. “Return to your normal tasks now. I’ve no wish to disturb the order of the day more than I already have. God keep you all.”

Without speaking to Haldan further, Luc asked for his horse to be saddled. He rode out of the gates, taking his horse around the perimeter of the castle, surveying the stone walls, the ditches, and the few redoubts set further out.

He then faced outward, just as he would need to if he expected the enemy to ride up. His gaze went to the lake not far from the castle itself. Spying a figure standing at the shore, he nudged his horse and rode down the slope to the water.

Domina heard him, and turned. She’d been tossing bread crusts to a flock of white swans who’d gathered near the shore.

“I should have guessed that the de Warewics would have swans,” Luc said in greeting.

Domina nodded. “There have always been swans here, ever since my family first took charge of this castle.”