Gaetan fought off a grin. “That is a terrible casualty,” he said. “I am sorry we could not prevent it.”
The boy looked him up and down, an expression on his face suggesting he rather liked what he saw. He was used to the men around him, sometimes weak or colorless, or both, but this enormous knight in mail and leather in his midst was an example of what men could grow in to. Perhaps that was what he wanted to grow in to, someday.
“You fought with swords,” the boy finally said. “I saw you.”
Gaetan nodded. “We did, indeed.”
“Will you teach me to fight with your big sword?”
Gaetan did smile, then; he couldn’t help it. He rather liked young eager boys, willing to learn, willing to fight. But he had tasks to attend to and time was growing short, so he simply nodded his head.
“Mayhap I will, someday,” he said. “In the meantime, learn to fight with the smaller blades that your men use. Understand how to use that blade before you use a bigger one. When it comes time for that, I will teach you.”
The child simply grinned, brightly, and Gaetan went along his way. It was a rather nice village, he thought, peaceful when it wasn’t being attacked by bone-wearing barbarians. He was starting to see why these people protected their way of life so fiercely – it was worth protecting.
Coming around the corner that led to the row of cottages where Ghislaine’s hut was situated, he saw the women at the pond, washing their clothes in the early morning. As he walked by the pond, every lady turned to look at him. He felt rather on display.
Approaching Ghislaine’s cottage at the end of the row, he could see Jathan sitting out in front of it, cleaning his weapon. Drawing nearer, the door of the cottage suddenly opened and Lygia appeared, closing the door very quietly behind her. She and Jathan caught sight of Gaetan at about the same time, and Jathan set his sword aside.
“Good morn to you, Gaetan,” Jathan said. “’Tis a fine day.”
Gaetan acknowledged the priest. “I have come to see the lady,” he said. “Is she awake?”
It was Lygia who spoke. “She is not, my lord,” she replied. “Her leg was paining her a great deal after she returned to her cottage last night and old Pullum gave her a potion to make her sleep. I am afraid the lady is dead to the world right now.”
Gaetan was disappointed. “I see,” he said. “I do not wish to wake her, but I wanted to tell her that my men and I are leaving this morning. We must finish our task and we cannot wait until her leg heals, but I wanted to reassure her that we will return for her. I will return for her.”
“I can tell her, my lord,” Lygia said. “Even if you tried to wake her now, she probably would not remember the conversation. Pullum’s potions are powerful.”
Gaetan was growing more disappointed by the moment. He was hoping for a sweet word and a tender kiss with Ghislaine. But as he pondered his disappointment, he noticed that Jathan had stood up and was gathering his things around him, preparing to depart with the rest of the knights.
“Nay, Jathan,” Gaetan said. “You are not going. You will remain with the lady as her protector and companion until I return.”
Jathan, too, now had the look of disappointment. “But… you may need me, Gate.”
Gaetan shook his head. “I realize that, but it is more important to me that you remain with Ghislaine.” He could see that Jathan didn’t understand, so he sought to clear up the man’s confusion. “It is far more important for her to remain here so that her leg may heal. Moreover, I am giving you a very important task of protecting my future wife. Will you do this for me?”
Jathan’s eyes widened. “Wife?”
A glimmer of a smile appeared on Gaetan’s lips. “Aye,” he said. “I know it is shocking, but believe me when I tell you it is the truth. The lady and I intend to wed, so it is very important to me that you remain with her while I go to retrieve Kristoph. Please, Jathan… will you do this?”
Jathan still wasn’t over his shock that Gaetan and Ghislaine were to be married, but he nodded. “Indeed,” he said. “If you wish it.”
“I do,” Gaetan said. Then, he looked to Lygia. “I would thank you for the great care you have taken of Lady Ghislaine and for the great care you will continue to give her while I am away. Please assure her that I will return as soon as I can. And I am leaving the dog here as well. I am assuming he is in the cottage with her?”
Lygia nodded. “Passed out like a drunkard on the bed next to her, my lord.”
Gaetan’s grin spread. “That sounds like my dog,” he said. Then, he looked at the door of the cottage. “May I take a look at her before I go? I promise I will not wake her.”
Lygia nodded and very quietly opened the door, allowing Gaetan to stick his head inside. He immediately spied Ghislaine over on the cozy bed, sleeping so heavily that she was snoring. His gaze upon her was warm, wishing with all his heart that he could speak to her before he left, but it was not meant to be. He hoped she understood. It only made him want to return to her that much faster.
With a sigh, he backed out of the cottage and carefully closed the door behind him.
“It is good that she is sleeping,” he said. “She needs to rest. Jathan, I will take my leave of you here. Make sure she knows I will return.”
Jathan was well aware of the determination of Lady Ghislaine. “And if she tries to follow?”
Gaetan turned to look at him. “Tie her to the bed if you have to. Do not let her come after me. That is a command.”
Jathan nodded his head, watching Gaetan head back in the direction he had come. He wasn’t particularly thrilled at being left behind when the rest of the knights were going to rescue Kristoph but, in a sense, he understood. Someone had to stay behind to protect Lady Ghislaine and he was the logical choice.
But he wasn’t happy about it.
As Jathan wrestled with his disappointment, Lygia was watching Gaetan until he disappeared from view. Then, she turned to Jathan.
“Would she really try to follow them?” she asked.
Jathan picked up his cleaning rag and resumed cleaning his blade. “My lady, you have no idea what Ghislaine of Mercia will do. I have never in my life seen a more determined or courageous woman.”
Lygia thought of the rather pale woman sleeping the sleep of the dead in the cottage. Other than being quite beautiful, Lady Ghislaine didn’t seem anything out of the ordinary to her. She was curious.
“Truly?” she asked. “Will you tell me why you say such things?”
Jathan looked at her, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Lady Ghislaine is worthy of the great tales told about her,” he said. “In fact, some day I may write them all down. Here, now; sit down and listen. I think you will be amazed.”
Jathan had been right. After the story of their trip north from the battle near Hastings, she was amazed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
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Distraction is Deadly
Later that morning