Reckless (Age of Conquest #5) - Tamara Leigh Page 0,49

she tended the one dealt Vitalis’s mount.

He could not see her face, silvered dark hair curtaining it that side, but as he watched, he saw her shoulders shook and heard muffled weeping.

She cries for Nicola D’Argent, he told himself to vanquish emotions that would be of use to the enemy. Unlike anger.

Closing his eyes, he listened to and picked apart sounds in the night so he might become as deaf to her as he made himself blind. And succeeded—until he peered at her again.

Now she tended Zedekiah’s horse who he had not realized was also injured. Her face remained curtained, but as she applied salve to the beast’s neck, Vitalis no longer saw nor heard weeping. It was far easier to lose another’s friend than one’s own.

Nicola returned the medicines to the pack over her arm, glanced at the sleeping Vitalis, then stepped nearer Zedekiah’s horse.

More than muscles abused by the long, frightening ride, more than bare feet pressed hard into iron stirrups as she bent low over the animal’s neck, her heart and conscience hurt—much for the death of Bjorn, but more for the death of Zedekiah and the heart of Vitalis that ached greater than hers.

Of course it did, and for that and her part in Zedekiah’s death, he would not speak to her—would not even name her a Norman pig though he had more cause than ever she had to name him a Saxon pig.

She set a hand on the mane that would be silken if not for the dirt kicked up by Vitalis’s horse during their flight, then pressed her brow against the animal’s fouled neck.

Hear me, Lord, she prayed. I repent for making a game of life, for not considering how greatly what I think and do may harm others. Bjorn is lost, Zedekiah is lost, and Vitalis may be lost does he keep his word to Hawisa. I could not bear that, so surely I ought to…

She raised her head, looked to Vitalis. Did he sleep? If so…

She raked her teeth over her lower lip, turned her fingers around the reins draped over the horse’s neck. If she guided the horse distant, she could put enough leagues between them that Vitalis would relinquish what he believed his duty to return her to her family.

Oui, then more easily he could evade those who sought to deliver him to King William alive or dead and—

She nearly groaned. The girl advised her, believing her not only capable of crossing hostile lands to save herself, but that it would benefit Vitalis.

The woman knew better, that more greatly she would be in danger on her own. Worse, her actions would be detrimental to Vitalis who would not relinquish his duty even had Zedekiah not urged him to finish what was begun.

“Do not, Nicola,” growled he who had silently moved to her back.

Releasing the reins, she turned and opened her mouth to feign ignorance, but Vitalis stood so near and tall, face darker than could be blamed on the night, that she backed away from lies.

“I was considering it but accepted I am as bound to you as you are to me until you keep your vow to Lady Hawisa.”

His eyes narrowed. “I hope you speak true. Do you not, think on Zedekiah. And Bjorn.”

She swallowed hard, nodded.

“Make your bed,” he said and stepped aside.

Wincing over every footfall, she determined first thing in the morn she would bind up her feet.

Long after she closed her eyes and before sleep cast its pall over her, she felt Vitalis’s gaze across the distance. And prayed he believed her enough he would at least sleep lightly.

Chapter Twelve

Thetford

Norfolk, England

River Little Ouse ran alongside the wood, on occasion entering and exiting it like a child searching for its mother—in this instance, River Great Ouse that emptied into the narrow sea distant from her children. A good thing for the people of Thetford and other communities through which Little Ouse passed. And for Vitalis and his charge.

It had been a hard ride from dawn until dusk, and dangerous since much was across open land that made it impossible not to be seen by travelers. For that, Vitalis and Nicola had remained hooded lest tale of their distinctive hair reach Daryl. Unfortunately, as it was a warm day, it had made the ride more uncomfortable since they had to closely secure their hoods to keep them from dropping.

Before nightfall, they had made camp in the fairly dense wood that was near enough the town of Thetford to