“But you are well otherwise?”
“Other than the fact I could eat an entire cow by myself, I am well. But how did you happen to find me? Alary was convinced you had stopped following us, but I knew better. I knew you were around, somewhere. But how did you know?”
Gaetan pointed to Ghislaine. “It is all because of her,” he said. “You do remember her, do you not?”
Kristoph looked at Ghislaine and his eyes widened. “Of course I do,” he said, taking a few halting steps in Ghislaine’s direction. “My lady protector. It was you who helped my comrades find me?”
Ghislaine stood up, slowly because of her aching thigh. “It was because of me that Alary took you,” she said. “At first, I went to the Normans for help with vengeance in my heart. I wanted them to kill my brother for taking you away from me. But in the end, it was my own arrow that ended my brother’s miserable life and I am not sorry for that. For everything he has done and all of the people he has wronged, I suppose it was the least I could do.”
Her statement wasn’t missed by Gaetan. “It was you who put the arrow through his skull?”
Ghislaine nodded solemnly. “Aye,” she replied. “He cannot hurt anyone again. If it had to be done… it is right that I should do it. He has given our family a terrible name. We have much to atone for.”
Gaetan went to her, pulling her into his arms, and Kristoph watched with some astonishment. “What’s this?” he hissed. “Why do you hold that woman like that?”
Gaetan started to laugh. “Because I am going to marry her.” He watched the amazement on Kristoph’s face. “Do not look so surprised; you should be happy for me. Ghislaine is the only woman worthy of me, Kris, and I am not ashamed to admit that I adore her. It was a good thing her brother abducted you ’else I would have never known her.”
He meant the last part a jest, but not entirely because it was true. Kristoph looked at Téo, who simply nodded with a grin, as if the joke was on Kristoph. As Kristoph struggled to absorb what he’d been told, because he had many more questions than answers, more of Gaetan’s men wandered into the trees.
Aramis, de Reyne, de Moray, and de Lara all went straight to Kristoph, hugging the man just as Gaetan had, thrilled that he was alive and well. It was a tender, touching scene as men reaffirmed their bonds of friendship, of brotherhood. Joy was in the air on this dusky evening as the Anges de Guerre were made whole once again. A day that could have ended very badly had the best possible outcome.
There was much to be thankful for.
“The battle is over for the most part, Gate,” Aramis said. “Alary’s men have scattered.”
Gaetan took Ghislaine by the hand. “Come along,” he said. “Let us go and see to it.”
Ghislaine allowed him to lead her back through the trees, with his men in tow, until they all ended up back on the road where it was now a bloody mess with scattered bodies everywhere. Off towards the west, the Tertium were still chasing some of Alary’s men but, for the most part, the majority of them were milling around the dead and dying Saxons, stealing weapons and anything of value from their bodies. Gaetan surveyed the brutal scene.
“Give the Tertium anything they want from Alary’s wagons,” he told his men. “They can even have the horses if they wish. I will not lay claim to anything. This was their battle, not mine. It is the least I can do.”
As his men nodded, de Winter, St. Hèver, and Wellesbourne emerged from the mess, also heading to Kristoph to do exactly what the others had done. There was much hugging and rejoicing going on as their lost brother was reclaimed.
Holding tightly to Gaetan’s hand, Ghislaine watched it all. As she’d seen from the beginning with the Anges de Guerre, there was the strength of bond between them that was more powerful than anything she had ever seen. Now they were a complete brotherhood again and the joy in the air was indescribable. It almost made all of the pain and hardship they’d suffered worth the end. Certainly, one could not experience such great joy without suffering such great pain.
But that pain was only going to get worse.
Antillius appeared with a group of his men, heading straight for Gaetan. Ghislaine stood back as Gaetan went to Antillius to extend his hand in thanks. Antillius took the man’s hand and shook it.
“Words cannot express my gratitude,” Gaetan said sincerely. “That you would ride to our aid… without you, it is possible that this battle would have had an entirely different outcome. Allow me to present Kristoph de Lohr, the man you risked your life for.”
He introduced his knight, who nodded his head at Antillius. “I am in your debt, my lord,” Kristoph said.
Antillius looked at the knight they had rescued, dirty and scruffy and beaten. “There is no debt to speak of,” he said. “We have been well compensated for our efforts. Fortunately, we did not lose a man. I have a few injured, but nothing that will not heal.”
Gaetan wasn’t sure what he meant. “Compensated?” he asked, confused. “I do not understand.”
Antillius’ gaze moved to Ghislaine. “You have not told him?”
Ghislaine was back to feeling sick and miserable. When everyone looked at her, expecting an answer, she swallowed hard. She’d hoped to tell Gaetan without an audience but it seemed that was not to be.
“I… I have not,” she said quietly. “There has not been time.”
Gaetan didn’t sense anything amiss, at least not right away. He looked at Ghislaine. “What did you pay him with? I was not aware you had any money.”
Ghislaine took a deep breath, fighting to keep from breaking down. At this point, she didn’t care that others were listening. All she cared about was Gaetan and how he was going to react to everything.
“I do not have money,” she said. “I… I made a bargain with Antillius.”
“What bargain did you make?”
Ghislaine was struggling. She tried to open her mouth but nothing seemed to come forth. Gaetan was waiting; everyone was waiting. Her heart was pounding and her knees were weak. As she opened her mouth and tried again, Antillius spoke.
“The lady was terribly grieved at the thought of your demise, as you and your men faced her brother,” he said steadily. “In discussing the issue with me, she was determined to go alone and help you but I knew her help would be useless. In fact, it might even be a hindrance. I therefore offered my men in place of the army you were forced to leave behind at Westerham, but at a price.”
Gaetan was listening closely but he was starting to get the feeling that there was something wrong in all of this. He was holding on to Ghislaine’s hand and he could feel her trembling.
“What price?” he asked.