Irene Radford Merlins Descendents 02 Guardian of the Trust

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.For the sake of propriety he carriedher gently.He just didn t look into her eyes.The simple chapel had been added onto the manor with entrances from the Halland from the forecourt.Sir Nigel lit an oil lamp near the entrance and waved them in, then he drewthe painted linen curtain across the doorway, giving the illusion of privacy.Perhaps ten or twelve people could stand comfortably in the nave at one time.The altar rail was wide enough to accommodate four kneelers.Two tiny stainedglass windows up near the ceiling reflected the vigil light.The simplesanctuary was unadorned except for a polished pewter cross on the altar and abowl filled with delicate wildflowers.The shrouded body ofWalter Geoffrey de Chancell lay on a bier before the altar within the rail.Hugh set Ana on the single step separating the altar rail from the nave.Sheremained upright with her back resting against the rail.He had to push herhands back into her lap.She looked at him pleadingly.Her big, midnight blue eyes seemed to bore clear through to his heart.Whatdid she want? He ached for her.The old injury to his right thigh throbbed insympathy, reminding him of the day he d received the wound in battle.He dlain on the battlefield, alone, helpless, in deep pain, for hours.His throathad ached with thirst.As his blood fed the earth, he d grown weaker, driftingin and out of consciousness.Several times he was certain that God and SaintMaurice, the patron of soldiers, called him home.He hadn t the strength tofight for life.No mortal shared the vigil with him.Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlThen, just as he was ready to give his soul back to God, King Richard s medicshad found him and carted him back to the hospital.Someone had washed thewound with wine and he d screamed with the pain.But the treatment had savedthe leg and his life.He knew how helpless Ana must feel.No control.No ability to help herself.Dependent upon strangers for the simplest necessities and protection. I won tdesert you, Ana.But you ve got to try to help yourself.You did it oncebefore, he whispered as he adjusted her hands into an attitude of prayer.Hethought he felt a slight flicker of pressure from her fingers pressing againsthis.But he wasn t certain, so he turned back to his king.John paced the tinychapel while Hugh related the details of his journey to Mendip Mor tonegotiate terms of fosterage for his stepson.He told of seeing smoke beforehe spotted the castle. The black-clad raiders melted into the shadows atfirst sight of us.We were left to deal with the fire, the dead, and therescue of the sole survivor, he said in a rigid monotone.If he gave his words any inflection, all of his anger and grief for LordEdmund and Lady Hilary and all of their household would come pouring out.Hecouldn t allow that.Not yet.He needed to be a soldier, reporting facts, nota friend in sorrow.John nodded his acceptance of the details.He, too, hadPage 71ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlbeen a solider and knew the procedures for dealing with the aftermath of asiege.Hugh launched into recounting the ambush in the hills as he, Archie,and Ana had ridden away from Mendip Mor Castle. WalterGeoffrey de Chancel died in the fray.I slew him, not knowing his identityuntil afterward.From his armor and equipage, I must presume he and his meninvaded Mendip Mor. Hugh ground his teeth against disclosure of just how hehad won that little skirmish.The miracle of shattered weapons and fleeingraiders bothered his logic and his pride.He hadn t won the battle.Themiracle had handed him survival only.With that thought he finally askedhimself the question that had been bothering him ever since.If a lodestonehad separated the raiders from their weapons and shattered them, then why didI still have my sword? It should have flown into the rocks as well.Archie hadretained his weapons as well. WalterGeoffrey de Chancell, King John said, almost spitting the name. We havewithdrawn our goodwill from his patron, de Briouze.De Chancell should havereturned to his brother s mercenary ranks, or to me, as my liege man ratherthan risk our wrath.Obviously this raid was some form of revenge against me.DeBriouze will pay for this as well as his other crimes against me. King John scomposure slipped along with his use of the royal we. What did de Briouzedo to earn your displeasure, Sire? Hugh asked rather than speculate onmiracles. He owes us a great deal of money.We called in the loan to help pay for ournewest campaign.DeBriouze refused to pay even a part of the �10,000.He is not welcome at courtuntil the loan is paid in full. De Briouze had to have trespassed more thanthat.He d owed the money for years.SuddenlyHugh realized that John liked having his barons in debt to him, that hecontrolled their loyalty more fully as long as they owed him.Hugh certainlyowed John his wealth, his position, and the wardship of youngJohn.The promise of a title of his own had died with Ardyth and their son.Hugh swallowed.His throat worked as if a heavy lump impeded his speaking.Heowed John a goodly sum of money as well as his loyalty [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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