from afar and, when Normans prevailed, being among the first to accept a new king to better his lot.”
“Nicola!” Vitalis put between his teeth what might have been heard by the others had not Guarin rebuked her the same and louder. But also to no effect.
“Only a fool would not see that you would be the first to return to the side of the Saxons had the resistance knocked King William off the throne and sent me and my people back across the sea. Instead, you seek to further your ambitions of gaining renown and reward by hunting a great warrior who defended his country as you did not have the heart nor true courage to do.”
Vitalis’s fists ached over his struggle not to clap a hand over her mouth. Fortunately, so intent was she in berating the traitor she did not notice Dougray bringing his mount alongside hers. “Cease, Sister,” he growled.
Mouth half open, she looked to him. “But he—”
He drew her close as if he might pull her onto his horse, and as their audience stared, said in a voice that did not carry beyond the five at Sir Maël’s back, “You show your heart, Nicola. In the sight of these men who regard Vitalis as the enemy and you a prize to be won, it does him more harm than good.”
True, Vitalis thought. This maiden, more lovely and exciting for the vixen that showed in her dislike of Daryl and her defense of this rebel could move these knights to act as they might otherwise hesitate to do should Vitalis find an opening to avenge Zedekiah.
“Termagant!” Daryl named her. “There is a reason no good Norman will take your sister to wife, Sir Dougray—many reasons, and we see them here. She refuses to learn her place in the world of men, not only donning chausses and tunic but a sword. She sympathizes with the enemy who have proven too weak to rule this land, and likely does more than sympathize.” He raised his eyebrows. “Tell, Lady, do you still engage in the ungodly behavior that saw you exiled from Normandy? Might a rebel babe grow in your belly?”
Vitalis jerked on his reins to bring his horse around, Nicola named Daryl every kind of knave in both Anglo-Saxon and Norman-French, and Guarin and Squire Eberhard turned their horses to block Vitalis’s way forward. Though the faces of the latter told they were enraged over what was said of Nicola, they exercised control that eluded the Saxon in their midst.
“Vitalis!” Guarin turned a powerful hand around his captive’s arm, then said low, “Now your heart is showing.”
His words were well-chosen, stilling Vitalis over the shock of what was believed of him, then holding him still as he sought words of denial and formed arguments to prove how wrong the Lord of Wulfen was.
But all melted away when Nicola’s high pitched words penetrated his muddied thoughts, returning him to the precariousness of the situation and the voices of knights roused to life. “Hit him again, Maël! Break his nose! Blacken his eye!”
The second her cousin might already have done, the gloved hand cupping Daryl’s nose evidencing blood. And perhaps the eye would have been next, but the knave turned sharply aside and spurred to a place between two knights.
Far more was due the coward than a bloodied nose, and Vitalis wanted to resolve the ill between them now, but Guarin kept hold of the one he believed had a great care for his sister.
“Be assured, Vitalis, my cousin’s blow was savage,” Guarin said low, “and he would have landed another were it not more satisfying to see the rat scurry for protection from the men he commands. Now we must—”
“Look there,” Dougray commanded. “The others ride.”
It was so, the second score of men advancing as if the first, having proved incompetent, were in need of reinforcement.
At nearly the same moment Vitalis recognized the colors worn by those approaching, Guarin growled, “De Warenne’s men, perhaps even De Warenne himself.”
The latter, Vitalis thought, certain the warrior would have joined the pursuit of the rebel leader who trespassed on his lands.
“An ill wind,” Guarin said. “Though I do not believe De Warenne will give custody of you to Daryl, I doubt he will allow us to deliver you to Wulfen Castle. He will wish the honor and recognition of being the one to imprison you, and since Red Castle is only hours distant, none will question him.”
Then just as there seemed no way